Focus on Solar Imaging!
The Apollo series is the world’s first camera line designed specifically for solar photography, named after Apollo.
The Apollo series features Sony sensors with global shutters and focuses on monochrome sensors.
We have launched 5 models of Apollo cameras:
- Apollo 428M MAX (IMX428), 1.1-inch sensor, monochrome.
- Apollo-M MAX (IMX432), 1.1-inch sensor, monochrome.
- Apollo-M MINI (IMX429), 2/3 inch sensor, monochrome.
- Apollo-M (IMX174), 1/1.2 inch sensor, monochrome.
- Apollo-C (IMX174), 1/1.2 inch sensor, colour.
*Notice: Solar cameras require energy rejection and light reducers, such as Baader film or Herschel wedge. Please DO NOT directly image the Sun without proper equipment.
Product Description
The Apollo 428M MAX is a solar camera developed by Player One Astronomy, adopting the Sony IMX428 1.1-inch format monochrome sensor. The 4.5um pixel size supports a well depth of 25.3ke with a total of 7.1MP resolution (3216*2208) and a diagonal of 17.5mm.
Pregius Technology
The Apollo 428M MAX (IMX428) is based on Pregius 3rd Generation. The IMX428 offers a higher resolution compared to IMX432, with a 4.5um pixel size. In BIN2 mode, the pixel size increases to 9um, and the full well capacity grows to 100Ke.
Format
The Apollo 428M MAX (IMX428) has a 1.1-inch format, almost twice the size of the IMX174 chip.
Pixel Size
The 4.5um pixel size provides 4X the resolution of classic Apollo-M MAX cameras, offering sharper images and more detail.
Interesting BIN Mode
The Apollo 428M MAX Pro offers several bin modes for optimising performance:
- MONO8 hardware BIN2 mode: Full well capacity of 100Ke, 10-bit ADC, 135FPS.
- MONO16 hardware BIN2 mode: Full well capacity of 100Ke, 12-bit ADC, 109FPS.
- MONO16 software BIN2 mode: Full well capacity of 100Ke, 14-bit depth, 27FPS.
HCG and Noise
The HCG mode automatically activates when gain ≥70, reducing readout noise to 2.4e, while retaining a dynamic range of 12 stops. At 450 gain, the readout noise drops to 1.4e.
Highlights
The Apollo 428M MAX excels in solar imaging, eliminating banding issues commonly experienced with other sensors.
With its global shutter, the Apollo 428M MAX is ideal for imaging the Sun and space stations.
Recommended Accessories
- Active Cooling System (ACS) for enhanced temperature control during solar imaging. Learn more.
User Reference Images
Example solar imaging with the Apollo 428M MAX:
Technical Features
- Sensor Tilt Plate to eliminate Newton rings.
- Passive Cooling System to manage heat generated by global shutter sensors.
- 256M DDR3 Cache to stabilise data transmission and reduce read noise.
DPS Technology
Dead Pixel Suppression (DPS) technology analyses dark frames to eliminate dead pixels, ensuring smoother images.
Mechanical Drawing
