Professional monochrome astronomical imaging camera featuring the Sony IMX662 back-illuminated CMOS sensor, delivering exceptional low-light performance and ultra-low read noise for advanced planetary, lunar, and solar photography.
The G3M662M camera has excellent low-light photography capabilities, features high QE value and low readout noise, and can maintain low readout noise in high frame rate mode up to 100 frames/second. The monochrome design eliminates the Bayer color filter array, providing 100% pixel utilization and approximately 3x higher sensitivity compared to color versions. In addition, it also has the advantages of high full well, high dynamics and high sensitivity. This makes G3M662M have excellent performance in planetary photography, solar photography and lunar photography.
The G3M662M features a pure monochrome version of the Sony IMX662 sensor, eliminating the Bayer color filter array to achieve true 100% pixel utilization. With exceptional G sensitivity of 8970mv at 1/30s, this camera provides approximately 3x higher sensitivity than color versions. Each pixel directly captures all incoming light without color filtering, resulting in superior resolution and sensitivity for the most demanding astronomical imaging applications.
The monochrome G3M662M sensor offers exceptional spectral response across a broad range from visible light through near-infrared wavelengths. This extended sensitivity makes it ideal for capturing atmospheric details on planets that are more prominent in specific wavelengths, particularly when used with specialized filters for narrowband or infrared imaging.
The G3M662M features native 12-bit ADC providing 4096 levels of tonal gradation, ensuring smooth transitions and preserving subtle details in your astronomical images. The camera also offers 16-bit output mode for enhanced dynamic range processing. With support for hardware ROI, smaller regions of interest enable even higher frame rates for targeted imaging.
| Resolution | 16-bit Output | 8-bit Output | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB3.0 | USB2.0 | USB3.0 | USB2.0 | |
| 1920 × 1080 | 69 | 4.1 | 100 | 7.8 |
| 960 × 540 | 69 | 4.1 | 94 | 7.7 |
Unit: Frames Per Second (FPS)
Equipped with USB 3.0 high-speed interface and 512MB DDR3 high-speed buffer, the camera significantly reduces amp-glow caused by image data buffering. The advanced buffer system ensures stable and smooth data transmission even at the maximum 100 FPS capture rate, enabling uninterrupted imaging sessions during critical atmospheric conditions.
The G3M662M supports digital pixel binning from 1×1 to 8×8 (stacking or averaging methods) and hardware pixel binning from 1×1 to 2×2 (averaging method). Hardware pixel binning provides higher frame rates while improving signal-to-noise ratio, particularly beneficial when imaging through poor atmospheric conditions or when using narrowband filters.
The G3M662M supports HCG (High Conversion Gain), LCG (Low Conversion Gain), and HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode switching. HCG mode optimizes low-light performance, achieving ultra-low read noise of 0.47e⁻ for capturing faint planetary details. LCG mode provides a large full well capacity of 38.9ke⁻, suitable for bright targets. HDR mode intelligently combines the advantages of both gain modes, achieving an exceptional dynamic range of 77.69dB in a single exposure.
The G3M662M achieves "zero amp-glow" at the hardware level. Whether using long exposures or high gain settings, your imaging results remain pure and clear without unwanted thermal noise interference. This is particularly important for monochrome imaging where every photon counts and image purity is paramount.
The monochrome design ensures each filter captures data at full resolution with maximum efficiency, without the limitations of color interpolation.
The camera operates entirely through USB 3.0 interface power delivery. Once connected to the host system using the USB 3.0 cable, the device is immediately ready for operation. This single-cable solution simplifies setup and reduces potential failure points in your imaging system.
| Maximum Frame Rate (USB 3.0) |
16-bit: 69 FPS @ 1920×1080 8-bit: 100 FPS @ 1920×1080 |
|---|---|
| Read Noise | 0.47e⁻ (HCG mode) - 5.08e⁻ (LCG mode) |
| Full Well Capacity | 38.9ke⁻ |
| Peak Quantum Efficiency | >91% |
| Dynamic Range | 77.69 dB (HDR mode) |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 45.9 dB |
| Exposure Time Range | 0.1ms - 1000s |
| Gain Range | 1× - 150× |
| Sensor | Sony IMX662 Monochrome Back-Illuminated CMOS |
|---|---|
| Image Resolution | 2.1 Megapixels (1920×1080) |
| Pixel Size | 2.9μm × 2.9μm |
| Sensor Format | 1/2.8-inch (6.45mm diagonal) |
| Image Area | 5.57mm × 3.13mm |
| Color Type | Monochrome (No Bayer Matrix) |
| Shutter Type | Rolling Shutter |
| ADC Bit Depth | 12-bit |
| DDR3 Buffer | 512MB (4Gb) |
| Spectral Range | 380-690nm (with IR-cut filter) |
| Data Interface | USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Camera Adapter | Standard 1.25" outer diameter for telescope Standard C adapter for industrial lens |
| Back Focus Distance | 17.5mm with C adapter 12.5mm with CS adapter |
| Camera Dimensions | Diameter 37mm × Height 72.4mm |
| Weight | 70 grams |
| Cooling | Passive cooling |
| Supported OS | Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11 Mac OS X, Linux |
| SDK Support | Native C/C++, C#/VB.NET, Python Java, DirectShow, Twain, etc. |
The G3M662M supports HCG (High Conversion Gain), LCG (Low Conversion Gain), and HDR mode switching. Configure these modes freely according to your imaging needs to optimize dynamic range and noise performance for different celestial targets.
Camera Settings: Full resolution, RAW 12-bit mode
HCG (High Conversion Gain) mode is optimized for low-light astrophotography. The chart shows performance at different gain settings where read noise can be as low as 0.47e⁻, perfect for capturing faint planetary details and dark lunar regions. While the full well capacity is reduced to 4.1ke⁻, the extremely low read noise makes it ideal for lucky imaging of dim celestial objects and narrowband imaging applications.
Camera Settings: Full resolution, RAW 12-bit mode
LCG (Low Conversion Gain) mode provides larger full well capacity (38.9ke⁻), suitable for imaging high dynamic range celestial objects. This mode excels when photographing bright targets like the solar surface, lunar highlands, or bright planets such as Jupiter and Venus. The mode maintains excellent performance with read noise as low as 1.76e⁻ at optimal settings while preserving the ability to capture bright details without saturation.
Camera Settings: Full resolution, RAW 12-bit mode
HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode intelligently combines the advantages of HCG and LCG modes to achieve an exceptional dynamic range of 77.69dB. This mode is particularly suitable for capturing targets with extreme brightness differences, such as solar prominences, high-contrast lunar surface areas, or planetary features with both bright and dark regions. The mode maintains read noise as low as 0.51e⁻ while offering up to 31.1ke⁻ full well capacity.
The G3M series body, made from tough alloy, ensures a heavy-duty, workhorse solution. The camera is designed with high-quality AR coating to protect the camera sensor and maximize light transmission while eliminating reflections. With no moving parts included, these measures ensure a rugged, robust solution with an increased lifespan when compared to other astronomical camera solutions.
