Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

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RKBerta
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Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by RKBerta »

A club member just got one of these for Ha imaging. I saw some results and it looks pretty good. 3.0 USB download and small pixle size. One neat feature is you can tilt the chip without additional device that would add more back focus. Price currently is discounted 20%.

Wondering if any comments on this one or pro con recommendations?

https://agenaastro.com/player-one-neptu ... amera.html
Our Price: $349.00
Sale Price: $279.20

Bob Berta


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Player One Neptune mono with 178 chip, 256mm DDR, tilt plane for solar imaging
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Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by RKBerta »

Forgot to explain....the camera has three screws to adjust focal plane tilt and that would help those that get Newton rings.


80mm f6 Officina Stellare APO triplet, 152mm Officina Stellare f8 APO triplet, TV 85mm f7 ED APO, 8" SCT HD, 11" SCT.
Astro Physics 900 and 1100 mounts, Ioptron MINI Tower Pro ALT/AZ mount, ZWO AM5 mount,
Lunt 60mm Ha single stack, Coronado 60mm Ha single stack with BF 30
Day Star Quark Chromosphere
Player One Neptune mono with 178 chip, 256mm DDR, tilt plane for solar imaging
ASI 071 Pro cooled color for DS imaging
ATIK 490 EX OSC for DS imaging
SBIG STL 6303e mono with RGBL and Ha, SII, OIII filters for DS imaging
ASI AIR Plus

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Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by RKBerta »

I posted in this topic to see if anyone was familar with this camera/manufacturer. No comments but after seeing the results from the camera that my fellow club member has, I decided to get one myself while on sale.
I am please to report that it is a very good camera for Solar imaging. A couple of features push this beyond some of the competition:
1. It has a built in three point tilt plate to deal with Newton Rings. Normally this is a $45 option on other cameras. It also does not add any additional back focus.
2. Camera runs quite cool even though a non-cooled camera.
3. Had 256 MB DDR included and USB 3.0 for fast downloads.
4. Chip has hot and cool pixel auto removal.
5. Very clean and even frame illumination.
6. Drivers are included including ASCOM.
7. Has a standard auto-guide port so can be used double duty as an autoguider camera for night astrophotography.


80mm f6 Officina Stellare APO triplet, 152mm Officina Stellare f8 APO triplet, TV 85mm f7 ED APO, 8" SCT HD, 11" SCT.
Astro Physics 900 and 1100 mounts, Ioptron MINI Tower Pro ALT/AZ mount, ZWO AM5 mount,
Lunt 60mm Ha single stack, Coronado 60mm Ha single stack with BF 30
Day Star Quark Chromosphere
Player One Neptune mono with 178 chip, 256mm DDR, tilt plane for solar imaging
ASI 071 Pro cooled color for DS imaging
ATIK 490 EX OSC for DS imaging
SBIG STL 6303e mono with RGBL and Ha, SII, OIII filters for DS imaging
ASI AIR Plus

JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador
Michigan Scout observatory manager
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Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Thank you for the interesting link for this particular camera Bob.

To be able to adjust the tilt-angle of the sensor/chip is certainly a very innovative idea and could be very useful in the event of NR's.

If this successfully deals with that nuisance problem and can deal with not-having to fit a tilting-device, then the saving and price make this a useful addition to the camera market at that price...

Cheers
Terry


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Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by inhapi »

Hello,

Does this camera show the grid pattern issue in H-alpha imaging that e.g. appears in the ASI 178 with the same sensor ?


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Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by Bill_C »

Hi inhapi
I just finished using my new Neptune -M and had the grid show up in the ser files I took. I selected a random ser and ran through AS2 and did not notice grid after processing.

Bill


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Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

Post by marktownley »

Seems it is a feature of the chip regardless of camera branding.


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