Apollo 428M MAX Pro Camera - Exclusive from Dark Clear Skies

PRE-ORDER for October 7th 2024

Introducing the Apollo 428M MAX Pro Camera, the most advanced, cutting-edge cooled camera designed specifically for solar imaging. Developed by Player One Astronomy, this camera integrates the latest in astronomical imaging technology to deliver unrivalled performance. Available exclusively from Dark Clear Skies, this is the ultimate tool for professionals and serious enthusiasts alike.

The Apollo 428M Max is available for Pre-Order Here

Pre-orders are now open for early October 2024 delivery! Don't miss your chance to own the future of solar imaging.

* Notice: Solar camera requires energy rejection and light reducer, such like Baader film or Herschel wedge. Please DO NOT use it directly imaging the Sun.  

Cutting-Edge Features and Technology:

• Sony IMX428 Sensor: Utilizing Sony’s latest 1.1" monochrome sensor with 3rd Gen Pregius technology for superior global shutter performance and unmatched image clarity.

• High Resolution: Boasting a 7.1 MP sensor (3216 x 2208 pixels) with 4.5 μm pixel size, this camera offers exceptional detail for even the most demanding imaging applications.

• Revolutionary Cooling System: With a 2-stage TEC cooling system, the Apollo 428M MAX Pro can achieve an impressive 40°C below ambient temperature, ensuring top performance during extended imaging sessions.

• 51 FPS Speed: Capture fast, high-resolution images with a frame rate of up to 51 FPS, ideal for capturing dynamic solar events.

• Lightweight and Durable: Engineered with cutting-edge carbon fibre materials, this camera weighs just 420g, making it one of the lightest and most durable cooled cameras on the market.

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Innovative Technologies That Set It Apart:

• 512MB DDR3 Cache: Enhanced data transmission with a built-in 512MB cache ensures smooth, stable performance even under high data loads.

• Advanced BIN Modes: Offers multiple hardware and software binning options to improve dynamic range, speed, and data depth, providing versatility for all imaging needs.

• Anti-Dew System: Fully integrated anti-dew technology eliminates moisture issues, ensuring clear images in any environment.

• Global Shutter Technology: Sony’s 3rd Gen Pregius Global Shutter ensures distortion-free images even in fast-moving solar conditions.

State-of-the-Art Cooling and Anti-Dew Features:

The Apollo 428M MAX Pro employs a revolutionary 2-stage TEC cooling system that keeps your camera up to 40°C below ambient temperature, ideal for maintaining performance during extended imaging sessions. Combined with an integrated anti-dew heater, this camera is perfectly suited for all conditions, no matter how demanding.

Power Supply:

The power supply is not included in the camera package. You can purchase the recommended high-quality 12V 5A power supply here at Dark Clear Skies.

Download Drivers & Software:

Drivers and software for the Apollo 428M MAX Pro can be downloaded from the following links:

• Drivers and Software

• User Manuals

Warranty:

We offer a 2-year limited warranty for the Apollo 428M MAX Pro camera. Please contact our support team for any inquiries.

Exclusive Availability:

Available exclusively through Dark Clear Skies. Pre-order today for an early October 2024 delivery and be one of the first to own this ground-breaking camera!

Features:

DSO cooled camera line is the most advanced product line in Player One history. We start the project from 2021, through a lot of modify and rebuild we made this final version. It brings our newest technology and design to everyone, we are very proud to introduce this camera line.

 Product Description

Apollo 428M MAX Pro camera is developed by Player One Astronomy, a real cooled camera for solar imaging. Apollo-M MAX Pro camera, which adopts Sony IMX428 1.1” format monochrome sensor. The 4.5um pixel size accommodates a well depth of 25.3ke with a total of 7.1MP  (the resolution is 3216*2208), and the diagonal is 17.5mm.

Pregius Technology

Apollo 428M MAX Pro based on Sony Pregius 3rd Gen technology, it is global shutter technology used in CMOS sensors.

 Format

Apollo 428M MAX Pro has 1.1″ format, it is the biggest sensor in entire solar camera series currently, this size is quite big for imaging.

Pixel size

4.5um pixel size is half of IMX432 camera, which means it will have 4X resolution than classic Apollo-M MAX camera.

Interesting BIN Mode As we know Apollo 428M MAX Pro has 4.5um pixel size, half size of Apollo-M MAX. If we use bin2, it will more like an Apollo-M MAX, and 3 combination bin mode will have some advantages:

MONO8 hardware BIN2 mode: full well up to 4x (100Ke),  10bit ADC, FPS will up to 135FPS.

MONO16 hardware BIN2 mode: full well up to 4x (100Ke),  12bit ADC, FPS will up to 109FPS.

MONO16 Software BIN2 mode (sum mode): full well up to 4x (100Ke),  date bit depth up to 14bit, FPS will stay at 51FPS.

Highlights

Cutting-edge Design

The Apollo 428M MAX Pro cooled camera using same design as Ares cooled series, but a little difference! With a round body, a golden and black colour scheme, and using carbon fibre to keep weight down and cutting-edge outlook. We also integrated the sensor tilter plate and anti-dew PCB board. This series of designs makes the camera not only light and cool, but also functional!

Front 3P and Rear 4P tilter plate

When shooting deep sky objects, the sensor tilt plate can be used to adjust the sensor tilt angle to make the stars at the corners more rounded. Apollo 428M MAX Pro camera provide both front and Rear tilter plate fulfil all usage scenarios.

Front 3P tilter plate is the default part on camera, we believe most users has experience with this before. it works well in a lot of basic scenarios.

Rear 4P tilter plate is an alternate part for camera, when use filter wheel/filter drawer and OAG with fixed angel, it is necessary. And it is also convenient for RASA users to adjust the sensor tilt angel.

The built-in high-density sponge shading pad can block the light from the side slits without any side leakage.

Carbon fibre and light weight

The Apollo 428M MAX Pro uses a carbon fibre in the camera housing and has been optimized for weight reduction in its structural design. The camera weighs only 420 grams, making it one of the lightest models on the market.

Deep Cooling

Player One cooled camera series use 2 Stage TEC Cooling unit, after improved the structure design to reject the heat back to camera chamber, Camera Delta-T can reach 35-40℃.

Anti-Dew heater

In the design of lightweight cooled cameras, Player One still pursuing the perfection, any necessary features must have, especially anti-dew system, is the problem that a lot of small cooled cameras ignored.

HCG and Noise

HCG mode will automatic open when Gain ≥70, readout noise will drop to 2.4e. And dynamic range will rise to 12 drops again.

At 450 gain, readout noise of Apollo 428M MAX Pro camera is 1.4e, it is lower than IMX432.

Amp-Glow performance

Apollo 428M MAX Pro is not a non-amp-glow camera, but it’s amp-glow is very smooth, we believe it will be easier to be calibrated. In solar imaging, it won’t be a problem at all.

300s@gain=0, -10 degree, Dark frame of Apollo 428M MAX Pro camera: 

512MB DDR3 Cache

As an improvement, DDR3 cache in cooled cameras are increased to 512MB. It helps stabilize and secure data transmission, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readout noise.

With the DDR3 cache, the camera does not have high demands on computing needs any longer, it will still has excellent performance even if it is connected to a USB 2.0 port.

 Type-C Data port and Power port

Back piece of cooled camera has 2 Type-C data port and 12V DC 5.5×2.1mm power port.

Main data port support USB3.0 protocol, the camera can run 51fps under RAW8 mode. Type-C port is easier to plug in when assemble the imaging equipment in night.

When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.

The camera has 12V DC5.5*2.1mm port to provide enough power to TEC cooling system. If you don’t need to power up cooling, only need to connect the main Type-C port, the camera will works as a uncooled camera.

Cooling System and Anti-Dew Heater

In ASCOM window, we provide 3 adjustable parameters: Target temperature, Fan Speed and Anti-Dew power.

Standard Delta-T : 35℃-40℃(Long exposure mode）, 30℃(Video mode）, when ambient temp 30℃, fan speed 100%, dew heater 1%.

Recommend Delta-T settings: 30℃-35℃ below ambient, fan speed 50-70%, dew heater 10%, power consumption 40- 60%.

The rotation speed of cooling fan is also adjustable, the default value is 50% speed.

Dew problem is the biggest enemy in astro imaging, the camera integrated anti-dew heater in front of the camera. The heat power is adjustable.

 Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism

Player One cameras produced by the number one player ensures the safety of your camera and other equipment through overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms.

Performance

HCG open at gain=70.

Readout Noise

Regarding readout noise, we solemnly promise that all values are obtained from actual tests.  And for users, you could use Sharpcap 4 for testing. SC4 has a function called Sensor Analysis, provide a very simple way to test readout noise.

If you are interested in readout noise testing, you may try it yourself, which is very simple.

Dark current

The dark current is 0.08e/s/pix at -20℃, and 0.1e/s/pix at 0℃.