Player One Apollo-M Mini – Mono Solar and Planetary Camera with Sony IMX429 Sensor

Discover Stellar Precision with the Apollo-M Mini
The Player One Apollo-M Mini is a high-performance solar and planetary camera designed for serious astrophotographers. Featuring the Sony IMX429 2/3" monochrome sensor, this camera delivers ultra-sharp resolution, fast frame rates, and advanced imaging capabilities ideal for capturing the Sun, Moon, and even the International Space Station in exquisite detail.

🔭 Key Features

• Sony IMX429 Mono Sensor
  With a 2.8MP resolution (1944×1472) and large 4.5μm pixels, this 2/3" format sensor offers exceptional sensitivity and well depth (24.8ke), perfect for high-resolution imaging.

• Global Shutter
  Ideal for solar imaging and fast-moving objects like the ISS, ensuring minimal distortion.

• Fast Frame Rate
  Capture up to 84 frames per second in RAW8 mode via USB 3.0.

• 12-bit ADC & HCG Mode
  Enhanced dynamic range with low read noise (as low as 1.45e) thanks to 12-bit ADC and automatic High Conversion Gain (HCG) mode above gain 71.

• Passive Cooling System (PCS)
  Efficient heat dissipation for daylight use, even with global shutter sensors.

• 256MB DDR3 Buffer
  Ensures stable data transmission with no dropped frames—even over USB 2.0.

• Dead Pixel Suppression (DPS)
  Automatically corrects sensor anomalies for smoother final images.

⚙️ Technical Specifications

🌞 Designed for Solar Imaging Excellence

Thanks to the global shutter and high-resolution sensor, the Apollo-M Mini excels in solar imaging—whether using white light filters, H-alpha, or Quark Chromosphere setups.

• Works optimally at f/15–f/20 focal ratios.

• Compatible with solar telescopes like Lunt or Daystar.

• Excellent results with 1.25" ERF filters and Player One’s Photosphere 10nm filter.

Used by experts:
Akihiro Yamazaki and Andrea Cuozzo have produced incredible solar images using the Apollo-M Mini on setups like CFF200mm, PowerMate 4x, and Daystar ION.

🧊 Optional Accessories

• ACS – Active Cooling System
  External fan-based cooler that keeps the camera within 7°C of ambient temperature. Great for solar or DSO lucky imaging.
  Learn more »

• Sensor Tilt Plate (2nd Gen)
  Helps reduce Newton Rings by slightly adjusting the sensor tilt—perfect for solar prominence work.

• Photosphere Filters
  Pair with H-alpha or white light filters for enhanced contrast and image quality.

🧠 Innovative Design and Build

The Apollo series takes its name from the Greek god of the Sun. This model features:

• Stylish hexagonal chassis with high-quality frosted finish.

• Orange and black aesthetic for high-end appeal.

• Built-in light-blocking sponge pad to prevent side leakage.

📈 Performance & Compatibility

• Compatible with most capture software: SharpCap, FireCapture, N.I.N.A., ASCOM, and more.

• Supports BIN2 mode (for 9μm effective pixels) to increase brightness and full well capacity—ideal for solar imaging.

• Works smoothly on USB 2.0 and 3.0 thanks to the internal DDR3 cache.

🧪 Sensor Performance & QE

• Peak QE: ~79%

• True 14-bit image output in BIN2 mode (16-bit RAW)

• Download drivers, manuals, and test tools at:
  Software & Manuals »

📦 What’s in the Box

• Player One Apollo-M Mini Camera (IMX429 Mono)

• USB 3.0 Cable

• ST4 Autoguide Cable

• Dust Cap

• Quick Start Guide

🎯 Why Choose the Apollo-M Mini?

If you're passionate about solar or planetary imaging, the Apollo-M Mini provides exceptional value and performance. With cutting-edge sensor tech, high-speed imaging, and a thoughtfully engineered design, it's an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals.

Shop with Confidence at Dark Clear Skies UK

• Trusted UK astronomy retailer

• Expert support from real astronomers

• Fast, insured UK delivery

Pregius Technology

Player One Apollo-M Mini (IMX429) is based on Pregius 3rd Generation. According to the introduction of technical documents, pixel size of 3rd Gen usually is 4.5um, and full well is 25Ke.

Format

 Player One Apollo-M Mini(IMX429) has 2/3″ format, this size is between IMX178 and IMX174.

Pixel size

4.5um pixel size is smaller than IMX174 camera, which means it can works provide higher resolution in same focal length.

HCG mode

Player One Apollo-M Mini has HCG mode, when Gain>71 HCG will open automatically.

Highlights

With global shutter, Player One Apollo-M Mini are very suitable for sun and space station imaging. 4.5um pixel size and resolution 1944*1472, very easy to get high resolution images of the Sun.

Recommended accessories:

ACS (Active Cooling System)

ACS is a external air-cooled system, designed for solar and big format planetary cameras which already has PCS (Passive Cooling System). ACS can provide much better temperature control. When camera has PCS + ACS, temperature is only 7℃ higher than ambient, camera body is a little warm but won’t hot! ACS is not only can be used in daylight for solar imaging, it also could be used in night for DSO lucky imaging.

https://player-one-astronomy.com/product/active-cooling-system-acs-for-uncooled-cameras/

For better contrast, Player One Photosphere 10nm filter will be a good choice.

Photosphere in white light

Player One Apollo-M Mini Chromosphere in H-Alpha

introduce new 1.25″ ERF filter for Quark Chromosphere (Ha version) , intended to reject energy and extend life time of your Quark.

With Lunt or other solar telescopes, Apollo-M MINI also can provide very good performance @ f15-f20 focal ratio.

 Player One Apollo-M Mini users:

Akihiro Yamazaki : CFF200mm (F8), PowerMate 4x, Daystar ION (0.5A),  Player One Apollo-M Mini

Akihiro Yamazaki : CFF200mm (F8), PowerMate 4x, Daystar ION (0.5A),  Player One Apollo-M Mini

Akihiro Yamazaki : CFF200mm (F8), PowerMate 4x, Player One Apollo-M Mini

Andrea Cuozzo : acro 70/500, Daystar Quark, Player One Apollo-M Mini

Khisamutdinov Maksim : LX200 16″, Player One Apollo-M Mini

Reference setup:LXY80APO F6, Quark Chromosphere, Apollo-M MINI.

With Daystar Quark (4.2X version), we found that if use Bin2 mode, 4.5um become 9um, both full-well and brightness will increase 4X.

In 16bit RAW data, BIN2 mode can provide real 14bit data, it’s a big advantages in imaging and post-processing.

Features:

The naming of Player One Astronomy cameras is unique. Solar camera line, named after Apollo, the god of the sun. The suffix of the name describes the camera’s biggest feature.

Drivers and software download: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/

Manuals download: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

Player One Apollo-M Mini Cutting-edge Design

The planetary cameras developed by Player One Astronomy uses a scientific and technological regular hexagon to construct the main body line, supplemented by round chamfers to achieve both rigidity and flexibility. The positive orange, which is imply solar, is matched with the low-key and steady black, and the super-fine frosting process on the entire surface makes the camera look luxurious and cool, highlighting the style of high-end players, can’t take my eyes off 😀

2nd Gen – Sensor Tilt Plate

When taking solar photograph with prominence telescope, the Newton ring is annoying. Smoother solar image without Newton ring could be taken by adjusting the focal plate. Get a much smaller field curvature of the telescope.

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

Passive Cooling System

Solar cameras working in daylight, temperature could be much higher than night. Heat of global shutter sensors will be a problem, especially some big format like IMX432. Player One add a new feature called Passive Cooling System to conduct the heat from the sensor out.

256M DDR3 Cache

Player One Astronomy cameras are the first one who adpots the DDR3 cache in all planetary cameras in the world! It helps stabilize and secure data transmission, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readnoise.

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.

DPS technology

The planetary cameras from Player One Astronomy have DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology. The DPS is anaylse many dark frames to find out thoes fixed abnormal pixel and record the map in camera memory. In imaging, each exposure frames, thoes position of dead pixels will be given a median value according to the active pixels around that abnormal pixel.

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.

Data Port

When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 interface and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 84 FPS in RAW8 mode (12bit ADC). 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.

Use the ST4 guide cable to connect the camera and the AUTO GUIDE port of the equatorial mount to do guiding.

Performance

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.

We wrote a tutorial on our website: https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

After many rigorous readout noise tests, this camera can reach a low readout noise of 1.45e at a gain of 380.

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

QE Curve

Absolute Peak Value is about 79%.

HCG  Mode

The Player One Apollo-M MINI camera has a unique HCG mode. The HCG mode can greatly reduce the readout noise and retain the same high dynamic range as the low gain.

Mechanical Drawing