V1.0
V1.1

Professional Cooled Camera Features
Cooled camera series is our most advanced product line

Rear/Front Sensor Tilt Plate
To obtain a flatter image field
When do solar imaging with prominence telescope, the Newton ring is annoying. Smoother solar image without Newton ring could be taken by adjusting thesensor tilt plate. Besides, when you use a planetary camera for DSO lucky imaging, if you found the stars in corner are not perfect, you can adjust the sensor
tilt plate to obtain a flatter image field. get a much smaller field curvature of the telescope.

Deep coolingHigh quality 2-stage TEC cooling system
Cooling system is the core of cooled camera, we did an innovation on it, can give deeper cooling than a lot of competitors.

DDR buffer
512MB DDR3 Buffer
It helps stabilize and secure data transmission, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readout noise. Buffer size is according to the total
pixels of camera, we has 3 different buffer size for cooled camera line!

BFL Solution
Complete imaging train solution
Player One provide a lot of accessories for cooled cameras, such like filter wheel, filter drawer, OAG, adapters, can make sure the imaging system working onright BFL (back focal length).

Camera line introduction
Over view of cooled camera line

Camera external view
Familiar with cooled camera

Cable connections
Familiar with all cables

Driver and software installation
First time to run your camera

Imaging train
How to reach 55mm back focus length

Settings in DSO imaging
How to set Gain/offset and other settings

How to adjust tilter plate
Get perfect star roundness

Servicing and Warranty
After-sale service guide

FAQs

Camera line introduction
Over view of cooled camera line

1. Camera line introduction

One Map to understand cooled camera line
Cooled Camera Line

Aluminium Camera

Carbon Fiber Camera

Zeus Series

Poseidon Series

Artemis Series

FF format
IMX455 Mono/Color

APS-C format
IMX571 Mono/Color

4/3” format
IMX492 Mono/ IMX294 Color

Compatible Accessories:
Filter Drawer MAX, FHD-OAG MAX
Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Ares Series

Uranus-C PRO

1” format
IMX533 Mono/Color

1/1.2” format
IMX585 Color

Apollo-M MAX PRO

Compatible Accessories:
Filter Drawer MINI, FHD-OAG MINI
Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25”

1.1” format
IMX432 Mono

1. Camera line introduction

Cooled Camera Specification
Model

SensorFormatResolution

Total
Pixel

Pixel
Size

Noise

QE

FW

Delta-T

ADC

FPS

Exposure
Range

Window

Bayer
Pattern

Shutter

Weight

BFL

Poseidon-M PRO

IMX571 mono

23.5×15.7mm (APS-C )6252×4176

26MP

3.76μm3.9-1.0e≈91%

71.7ke-40℃±2℃

16bit

15FPS

32μs-2000s

AR-

Rolling

650g

17.5mmPoseidon-C PRO

IMX571 color

23.5×15.7mm (APS-C )6252×4176

26MP

3.76μm3.9-1.0e≈80%71.7ke-40℃±2℃

16bit

15FPS

32μs-2000s

AR

RGGB

Rolling

650g

17.5mmArtemis-M PRO

IMX492 mono

19.2×13mm (4/3" )8288×5648

47MP

2.3μm

7.7-1.46e≈90%

18.6ke-40℃±2℃

12bit

8FPS

32μs-2000s

AR-

Rolling

650g

17.5mmArtemis-C PRO

IMX294 color

19.2×13mm (4/3" )4144×2824

11.7MP

4.63μm7.8-1.2e≈75%

65.8ke-40℃±2℃

14bit

33FPS

32μs-2000s

AR

RGGB

Rolling

650g

17.5mmAres-M PRO

IMX533 mono

11.31×11.31mm (1" )3008×3008

9MP

3.76μm

4.46-1e

≈91%

73ke

-35 ℃~ -40℃

14bit

43FPS

32μs-2000s

AR-

Rolling

420g

17.5mmAres-C PRO

IMX533 color

11.31×11.31mm (1" )3008×3008

9MP

3.76μm

4.46-1e

≈80%

73ke

-35℃ ~ -40℃

4bit

43FPS

32μs-2000s

AR

RGGB

Rolling

420g

17.5mmUranus-C PRO

IMX585 color

11.2×6.3mm (1/1.2")

3856×2180

8.3MP

2.9μm

6.5-0.7e

≈91%

47ke

-35℃ ~ -40℃

12bit

47FPS

32μs-2000s

AR

RGGB

Rolling

420g

17.5mmApollo-M MAX PRO

IMX432 mono

14.5×9.9mm (1.1")

1608×1104

1.7MP

9μm

22.9~2.6e

≈79%

100ke

-35℃ ~ -40℃

12bit

126FPS

32μs-2000s

AR-

Global420g

17.5mmCamera external view
Familiar with cooled camera

2. Camera external view

Front Piece

Chamber Piece

USB2.0 Secondary Data Port

Heat Sinker

USB3.0 Main Data Port

12V 3A DC Port

Camera Housing
LED indicate
Chamber Seal Screw

Rear 4P Tilter Plate

Anti-Dew Heater

AR Protective Window

Back Piece

Magnetic Suspension Fan

2. Camera external view

Front Piece

Chamber Piece

Heat Sinker

USB2.0 Secondary Data Port

USB3.0 Main Data Port

12V 3A DC Port

Chamber Seal Screw

Carbon Fiber Camera Housing
LED indicate

Front 3P Tilter Plate

Anti-Dew Heater

AR Protective Window

Back Piece

Magnetic Suspension Fan

Cable connections
Familiar with all cables

3. Cable connections

Filter wheel

Guiding camera
AC Power 110-220V
Laptop Or PC

AC port has 4 standard

OR

Type-C to Type-C
0.5M USB2.0 Cable

Type-C to Type-B
0.5M USB2.0 Cable

Device port can be used toconnect USB accessories,
Such like filter wheel, guiding
camera, motor focuser, etc.

Type-C to Type-A
2M USB3.2 Cable

DC5.5*2.1
center positive

12V 5A Power Supply

Camera maximum power consumption: ≈ 30w
Camera maximum working current: ≈2.5A

3. Cable connections

Guiding camera

Filter wheel

AC Power 110-220V
Laptop Or PC

AC port has 4 standard

OR

Type-C to Type-C
0.5M USB2.0 Cable

Type-C to Type-B
0.5M USB2.0 Cable

Device port can be used toconnect USB accessories,
Such like filter wheel, guiding
camera, motor focuser, etc.

Type-C to Type-A
2M USB3.2 Cable

DC5.5*2.1
center positive

12V 5A Power Supply

Camera maximum power consumption: ≈ 30w
Camera maximum working current: ≈2.5A

3. Cable connections
Optional accessory:
Power supply is necessary if you want to open cooling system of cooled camera. It has different adapter so we can’t put it into camera standard package list.
Purchase link:

Driver and software installation
First time to run your camera

4.Driver and Software installation

1. Open Player One website to download:
https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/
For planetary imaging, Sharpcap 4 and upper is supported.
For DSO imaging, ASCOM 6.5 is supported.
Windows 7/8/10/11 is supported.
Linux and Mac OS is supported.

2. Driver installation（Don’t connect the camera before installation）
1) Double-click the driver installation package to enter the
installation page2) Click “Install” and wait for completion

3)In first installation, your computer will show up Windows
Security window, please click “Install”.

4)Click “Install Finished” to finish installation.

3

1
2

4

4.Driver and Software installation5) After installation, connect the camera to the computer USB3.0 port through USB

6) View the camera status in Device Manager

cable, and the camera will be automatically recognized.

344.Driver and Software installation

3. Install capture software

5) Check FPS

1) After the installation of the driver, you will need to install acapture software such as SharpCap.

FPS is a very important parameter, if FPS show a normal value such like the fps in camera specification, means the camera cantransmit data to your computer normally.

2) Select the installation path (the default path is generally
recommended).
3) After the installation is completed, open the software.
4) Open Camera: under the Cameras menu, go to Player One
Cameras and select the available camera models.

45

4.Driver and Software installation

6) Remove the camera cover7) Check the preview. Adjust the exposure, you will see the change of brightness from the preview. That means the camera is
working normally.

6

7

Imaging train
How to setup entire imaging train

5. Imaging Train

In deep sky imaging, telescope and camera is not enough, we also need some necessary accessories, like filter drawer, filter wheel, OAG and etc.

And some telescope required flattener or Coma corrector,
when use those optical accessories, we must considering
back focal length (BFL). Most flattener or Coma corrector
was designed 55mm BFL.
Our accessories system already considered almost all
combinations.
Color Cooled Camera + Filter Drawer + DSLR Lens

Mono Cooled Camera + Filter Wheel + Telescope

Reference on the right show up 4 different common
imaging train.
Drawing in next page, is our entire BFL solution for two kindof cooled cameras.
Color Cooled Camera + Filter Drawer + OAG + Telescope

Mono Cooled Camera + Filter Wheel + OAG + Telescope5. Imaging Train

Poseidon/Artemis PRO camera adapter system
0mm

M42 Telescope

M48 Telescope

M54 Telescope

M68 Telescope

17.5mm

Optical 20mm

Optical 17.5mm

Total BFL

5. Imaging Train

Ares PRO/Uranus PRO/Apollo PRO Camera adapter system
0mm

M42 Telescope

M48 Telescope

M54 Telescope

17.5mm

Optical 20mm

Optical 17.5mm

Total BFL

Accessory Compatible list
Model

SensorFormatSupport
Filter Wheel

Support
Filter Drawer

SupportOAG

Recommend filter size

Zeus-M PRO

IMX455 mono

36×24mm (Full-Frame)

Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Filter Drawer MAX

FHD-OAG MAX

2”/50mm

Zeus-C PRO

IMX455 color

36×24mm (Full-Frame)

Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Filter Drawer MAX

FHD-OAG MAX

2”/50mm

Poseidon-M PRO

IMX571 mono

23.5×15.7mm (APS-C )Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Filter Drawer MAX

FHD-OAG MAX

36mm/2”

Poseidon-C PRO

IMX571 color

23.5×15.7mm (APS-C )Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Filter Drawer MAX

FHD-OAG MAX

36mm/2”

Artemis-M PRO

IMX492 mono

19.2×13mm (4/3" )Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Filter Drawer MAX

FHD-OAG MAX

36mm

Artemis-C PRO

IMX294 color

19.2×13mm (4/3" )Phoenix Wheel 7x36mm/7x2”/7x50mm/5x2”

Filter Drawer MAX

FHD-OAG MAX

36mm

Ares-M PRO

IMX533 mono

11.31×11.31mm (1" )Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25”

Filter Drawer MINIFHD-OAG MINI

1.25”

Ares-C PRO

IMX533 color

11.31×11.31mm (1" )Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25”

Filter Drawer MINIFHD-OAG MINI

1.25”

Uranus-C PRO

IMX585 color

11.2×6.3mm (1/1.2")

Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25”

Filter Drawer MINIFHD-OAG MINI

1.25”

Apollo-M MAX PRO

IMX432 mono

14.5×9.9mm (1.1")

Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25”

Filter Drawer MINIFHD-OAG MINI

1.25”

ASCOM and Native Settings in DSO imaging
How to set Gain/offset and other settings in ASCOM and Native mode

6. Camera ASCOM driver installation
Many DSO imaging software (such as SGP and Maxim dl) require ASCOM platform and camera ASCOM driver to control the camera for DSO imaging.
The ASCOM driver of Player One camera is developed based on ASCOM 6.5, so you need to download the latest ASCOM6.5 platform and camera ASCOM driver from the official website to control thecamera normally.
https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/

6-1. Download ASCOM platform and camera driver
Click the download button to download the driver.
And wait for the download to complete.

12

6. Camera ASCOM driver installation
6-2. install ASCOM platform
1) Double-click the driver installation package to enter the installation page2) Automatically detect necessary files and click "Next" to continue.
3) Click "Install" to Install the platform
4) Installation completed

6. Camera ASCOM driver installation
6-3. install camera ASCOM driver
1) Double-click the driver installation package to enter the installation page.
2) Select the language, it is recommended to choose Chinese, and then click "OK" button.
3) Select "I Accept the Agreement" and click the "Next" button.
4) Click the "Install" button to Install and wait for completion.
5) Click "Finish" to complete the installation.

6-4. Download and install capture and guiding software
There are many software that support ASCOM platform, you can choose the software you are familiar with to shoot and guide the star, all thecommonly used software download links are as follows:
https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/6. Camera ASCOM driver installation
6-5. ASCOM setup window
1. ASCOM window introduction

1) ASCOM driver version: Shows the current version you used, recommend to use newest version.
2) Camera SN number: Camera SN is the identity of the camera, it is unique. It is important for warranty
and after-sale service.

1) ASCOM driver version3) Available cameras: Cameras which already connected to your PC.

2) Camera SN number

4) Customize name: Users can set names of your camera, especially when 2 same model connected.
5) Image bit depth: RAW8/RAW16, Recommend to use RAW16 for imaging.
4) Customize name3) Available cameras6) Camera information display: Basic info of the camera.
a. Sometimes when you found image download speed is too slow, check if connection is USB3.0 here.
b. Check the current temperature of sensor.

5) Image bit depth
Recommend to use 16bit

c. Check Resolution of the camera
6) Camera information display

d. Check bayer Pattern of the camera, only color camera has bayer pattern info.
7) 4 preset gains and offsets: We provide 4 default gain and offset preset settings.

7) 4 preset gains and offsets

8) Manual gain setting: Control the gain value manually.( For experienced photographers)

8) Manual gain setting9) Manual offset setting: Control the offset value manually. ( For experienced photographers)10) Manual USB bandwidth: Bandwidth can control the download speed of image, if has image download

9) Manual offset setting10) Manual USB bandwidth

failure, reduce the bandwidth to 40%.
11) Sensor Mode: Cameras which using IMX533/IMX571 sensor has 2 sensor mode. Normal mode has
faster FPS, Low Noise mode has lower readout noise.

12) Sum bin option11) Sensor Mode, some sneor has
2 sensor mode

12) Sum bin option: Sum bin means when do binning, brightness value of pixels will sum up, it will makethe image brighter. Most used in plate solve.

6. Camera ASCOM driver installation
2. Detailed explanation of Gain preset values

3. Cooler control panel

1) Zero Gain: Maximum dynamic range can be obtained, suitable for long exposures.

1) Cooler info: Show up current info of cooling system.

2) Low Gain (Open HCG Mode) : it is the lowest trigger gain to start the HCG mode ofa) Target Temp: Target temperature you set in capture software, it only could be set in capture software.

camera, and can obtain high dynamic and low readout noise.

b) Cooler: ON means cooler is active, TEC unit and Fan is running. OFF means cooler is inactive, TEC and Fan is not running.

3) Standard Gain: 1e /ADU can be obtained and minimize quantization error.

c) Cooler Power: Show up the power of cooling system.

4) Highest Analog Gain: obtain the lowest readout noise, suitable for short exposures.

2) Fan Power: Carbon fiber camera default power is 50%, Aluminum camera default power is 70%. If need maximum delta-T, set

5) Manually: Manual setting of gain and offset.

100% power.

*Notice: Preset values including offset and gain, no need to set offset manually.

3) Anti-Dew Power: All our cooled cameras has Anti-Dew heater, anti-dew can protect window against dew problem. Default
power is 10%, minimum power is 1%, maximum power is 100%.

1) Cooler info

2) Fan Power3) Anti-dew Power6. Camera ASCOM driver installation
4. Preset value and option table

Zero GainModel

HCG GainStandard Gain

High Gain mode

SensorDual Sensor Mode
Gain

OffsetGain

OffsetGain

OffsetGain

OffsetZeus-M PRO

IMX455 mono

0

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

SupportZeus-C PRO

IMX455 color

0

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

SupportPoseidon-M PRO

IMX571 mono

0

20

125

25

8

20

550

1200

SupportPoseidon-C PRO

IMX571 color

0

20

125

25

8

20

550

1200

Support

Artemis-M PRO

IMX492 mono

0

5

120

5

229

5

400

70

NO

Artemis-C PRO

IMX294 color

0

5

120

5

120

5

400

70

NO

Ares-M PRO

IMX533 mono

0

35

125

50

130

50

600

1000

SupportAres-C PRO

IMX533 color

0

35

125

50

130

50

600

1000

SupportUranus-C PRO

IMX585 color

0

3

210

6

210

6

498

120

NO

Apollo-M MAX PRO

IMX432 mono

0

12

145

13

280

45

385

130

NO

6. Camera Settings in NINA
6-6 Setup in NINA
1) Open the Equipment Bar
2) Open the Camera bar
3) Select Camera from combo box.
a) Select camera below “Player One”, means control the camera via native driver.
b) Select camera below “ASCOM”, means control camera via ASCOM driver. We provide 3 ASCOM camera option, users could setup at most 3 cameras for imaging and guiding.

1

2

3

6. Camera Settings in NINA
6-6-1 Native mode in NINA
1) Choose the Camera you want to connected1

as main camera.
2) Press2

to connect the camera. Then you

will see following picture, all functions areactive.
Dew heater open switch

Cooling system status

Camera info area:
Show up all basic info of the camera.

Gain/offset/ USB limit control area:
Setup Gain/offset/ USB limit, if you don’t
which value is the best, switch to ASCOM
connection in NINA and take a look of preset
settings.

Some camera has Readout mode, we
recommend to use Low Noise mode for DSO
imaging.

Dew heater recommend to set 10%, if
humidity is high, set higher value.
Fan speed can be adjusted from 10%-100%.

Cooling system control area:
Setup target temp, open or
close cooling system.

Cooling power and Sensor
temperature curve6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
6.6.2 How adjust offset to suitable value?
The effect of offset is to add a constant value to the brightness value of all pixels in the image, ensuring that all pixel brightness values are greater than 0.
In different software, offset value might not same, because they may use different algorithm to calculate.
There is a simple way to find out best offset value, take Sharpcap as an example:
1) We use Ares-M PRO (IMX533) camera ( camera was covered, we need to take dark frame). After connected, choose RAW16 mode and we set gain=125 and offset=0 in Sharpcap, take 10s
exposure to capture dark frame.

16. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
2) Clickto show up histogram 3)Set 10s exposure
23) Check Horiz.Zoom and Logarithmic.

We can see the left part of curve cut off, which means offset was too low.

3

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
4) Set offset value to 500, and take a shot again. We can see the whole curve can be seen, which means offset is high enough. But it left too much space on the left.

5) So we reduce the offset value, and take 10s dark frame again. After a few times attempts, we found 50 is the best value.

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
6.6.3 Offset in NINA
In NINA, offset looks different, histogram is not as same as Sharpcap.
1) We use Ares-M PRO (IMX533) camera ( camera was covered, we need to take dark frame). After connected, camera run under RAW16 mode and we set gain=125 and offset=50 in NINA, take 10s exposure
to capture dark frame.

16. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
2) Choose “Imaging” panel.
3)Set 10s exposure.
4) Take a single shot.
5) Check histogram in “Statistics”.

3

4

2

5

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
Offset = 50 should be the best value in Sharpcap, however it looks cut off in histogram in NINA. But when we check the Min value of pixel, it is 80, which means all pixel value is bigger than 0.
After check the histogram of image in different software, we believe Min value =80 is correct, but the preview of histogram is not precisely (maybe it isn’t start from 0 point).

6) If we want entire curve show up in histogram, we try to set offset to 1000, and take a 10s dark frame again.

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
We can see the whole curve can be seen, which means offset is high enough. But it left too much space on the left.

6) So we reduce the offset value, and take 10s dark frame again. After a few times attempts, we found 350 is the best value.

This time curve can be seen and close to the left. So offset = 350 is best value when gain = 125. This is looks like the good offset in histogram, but actually cause the Min value up to 1284 ADU.
This offset value also could be used but might lose some dynamic range.

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
6-7 Setup in SGP
Open the SGP Schedule Planner and go to the Camera section. Select Player One Camera from the dropdown list.

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
6-8 Setup in MDL
1) Open the Camera Control Window.
2) Select Camera1 or Camera2 as required and click Setup Camera.
3) Select the ASCOM option in Camera Model.

34) Click Advanced, .Pop up the ASCOM Camera Chooser.
5) Select Player One Camera from the dropdown list. We provide 3 ASCOM camera option, users could setup at most 3 cameras
for imaging and guiding.
6) Click Properties to set ASCOM camera parameters

1

4

2

6
5

6. Camera ASCOM Settings for DSO imaging
6-9 Setup in PHD2
1) Click the

button to open the page of connected device.

2) Select "Player One Camera(ASCOM)" from the Camera dropdown list.
3) Click the

button to set ASCOM parameters of the camera.

4) Click the "Connect" button to turn on the camera.

3

1

2

4

How to adjust tilter plate
Get perfect star roundness

How to adjust tilter plate

Servicing and Warranty
After-sale service guide8.Servicing and Warranty
Warranty Policy
2-year free warranty (time start from delivered) for Player One products. If the product has any issue, please send the image or video and description to support@player-one-astronomy.com forfurther check to confirm.
•Purchase from Player One official online store, we will provide warranty service directly.
•Purchase form dealer, we will provide warranty service through dealer.
Repair in warranty, customer only pay the shipping fee of shipping back the product to us or dealer, and no other extra fees.

Replacement Policy
You can request our Replacement Service:√ Within 30 calendar days of receiving the product if the product does not match the original description of the product in one or more significant respects.
√ Within 30 calendar days of receiving the product if the product suffers performance failure.
Please contact our After-Sales team by email to support@player-one-astronomy.com within 30 calendar days of receiving the products. Player One shall be responsible for the two-way
replacement freight for any products sent in for replacement due to performance faults.

Warranty and Replacement Policy Exceptions:× Warranty service time or replacement service time expired.
× Legal proof-of-purchase, receipts, or invoices are not provided, or are reasonably believed to have been forged or tampered with.
× A product sent to Player One for replacement does not include all original accessories, attachments and packaging, or contains items damaged by user error.
× A product is found to have no defects after all appropriate tests are conducted by Player One.
× Any fault or damage of the product is caused by unauthorized use or modification of the product, including exposure to moisture, entry of foreign bodies (water, oil, sand, etc.) or improper
installation or operation.
× Product labels or serial numbers show signs of tampering or alteration.
× Damage is caused by uncontrollable external factors, including falling down, fires, floods, or lightning strikes, etc.
× Proof of damage during transit issued by the carrier cannot be provided.
× Other circumstances stated in this policy.
In those situations, repair the product might has extra cost, we will estimate cost and email customer to know the information before send product back.

9.FAQs

nks

Choose Player One, to be Player One!
Company website:
https://player-one-astronomy.com/
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