The Player One Apollo 428M MAX is a monochrome camera designed for solar imaging. Its Sony IMX428 sensor offers 7.1 megapixels, with 4.5 µm pixels.
Price range: CHF 780.78 through CHF 848.21
Reference CAM-0045
Visit Apollo 428M MAX from Player One Astronomy is a high-performance solar camera designed around the sensor Sony IMX428 monochrome format 1.1″. Thanks to its 4.5 µm, and technology global shutter, It is a particularly high-performance solution for high-resolution solar imaging, prominence observation and even imaging of the International Space Station.
This sensor offers an almost twice the size of the famous IMX174, This allows for wider fields and more efficient solar mosaics.
The IMX428 sensor belongs to the 3rd generation Sony Pregius and uses a global shutter, eliminating rolling shutter distortion.
The 4.5 µm sensor can operate in the BIN2 to simulate 9 µm, offering increased sensitivity and a quadrupled load well.
These modes enable the camera to be adapted to both high-resolution imaging and long focal length configurations.
The camera features a HCG (High Conversion Gain) mode which activates automatically when the gain exceeds 70.
A frequent problem in solar imaging is the presence of horizontal banding. Tests with IMX428 sensors show particularly smooth images, with no visible banding.
Solar imaging is carried out in daylight, when temperatures can become very high. The camera incorporates a Passive Cooling System which efficiently dissipates heat from the sensor.
It can be combined with ACS (Active Cooling System) for even greater thermal control.
The camera features a built-in buffer memory 256 MB DDR3 for stable data transmission.
To take full advantage of the camera's performance, the use of a Fast SSD is recommended.
| Sensor | Sony IMX428 (Pregius Gen 3) |
| Type | Monochrome - Global Shutter |
| Format | 1.1″ |
| Resolution | 3216 × 2208 (7.1 MP) |
| Pixel size | 4.5 µm |
| Load wells | 25.3 ke- (up to 100 ke- in BIN2) |
| Minimum reading noise | 1.4 e- |
| Cover | 256 MB DDR3 |
| Interface | USB3.0 + ST4 |
Thanks to its large sensor, Pregius global shutter technology and perfectly clean, banding-free images, the Player One Apollo 428M MAX has established itself as a particularly high-performance camera for H-alpha solar imaging and demanding planetary applications.
| Features | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Player One |
| Manufacturer reference | Apollo 428M MAX |
| Sensor | Sony IMX428 |
| Acquisition | Monochrome |
| Resolution | 3216 × 2208 pixels |
| Definition Announced | 7.1 MP |
| Pixel size | 4.5 µm |
| Reported saturation capacity | 25.3 ke⁻ |
| Data Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Shutter | Global |
| Buffer memory | 256 MB DDR3 |
| Configuration | Manufacturer reference | Price in CHF (including tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Apollo 428M MAX | 780.78 |
| Camera + ACS | Apollo 428M MAX + ACS | 848.21 |
The photo shows the main product, not all the items in the kits. Only the listed contents are included.
Manufacturer's illustration.
La Player One Apollo 428M MAX est destinée avant tout au Soleil (avec un filtre ou un instrument solaire adapté, par exemple en Hα) et à la Lune, puis aux planètes. Le disque solaire ou lunaire entier tient sur le petit côté du capteur jusqu'à environ 1050 mm de focale ; au-delà, on réalise des mosaïques.
Le Sony IMX428 a un obturateur global sur un format 1,1″ (17,5 mm de diagonale) avec des pixels de 4,5 µm : toute l'image est exposée au même instant, sans déformation, sur un champ plus grand que les capteurs planétaires, à 51 images/s.
Non : elle est alimentée par son câble USB. Aucune alimentation externe n'est nécessaire.
Le backfocus de la caméra est de 12,5 mm. Raccordement : 1,25″ ; M42 × 0,75.
La fiche du fabricant (en anglais) est disponible ici : fiche Player One Apollo 428M MAX.
