Professional color astronomical imaging camera featuring the Sony IMX715 back-illuminated CMOS sensor with ultra-fine 1.45μm pixels, delivering exceptional high-resolution imaging with ultra-low read noise for advanced planetary, lunar, and solar photography.
The G3M715C camera possesses an exceptionally strong capability to capture infrared light with a high QE value at 850nm. With its ultra-fine 1.45μm pixels, it delivers outstanding resolution while maintaining excellent sensitivity. It also has a large full well capacity, high dynamic range, high sensitivity, and low readout noise among other advantages. This results in outstanding performance in planetary photography, as well as in solar and lunar photography.
The G3M715C features the Sony IMX715 color sensor with exceptionally fine 1.45μm pixels, providing the highest resolution capability in the G3M series. Despite the small pixel size, the sensor maintains excellent sensitivity with G sensitivity of 2375mv at 1/30s and peak quantum efficiency exceeding 91%. This unique combination allows for capturing the finest planetary details while maintaining excellent signal-to-noise ratio.
The IMX715 sensor offers exceptional spectral response across the visible and near-infrared spectrum. With high QE value at 850nm, this camera excels at capturing atmospheric details on planets that are more prominent in specific wavelengths. The extended IR sensitivity makes it particularly effective for imaging through certain atmospheric conditions.
The G3M715C features native 12-bit ADC providing 4096 levels of tonal gradation, ensuring smooth transitions and preserving subtle details in your astronomical images. The camera supports hardware ROI, enabling smaller regions of interest to achieve even higher frame rates for targeted imaging of specific planetary features.
| Resolution | 12-bit Output | 8-bit Output | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB3.0 | USB2.0 | USB3.0 | USB2.0 | |
| 3840 × 2160 | 24 | 1.9 | 47 | 3.8 |
| 1920 × 1080 | 70 | 3.9 | 70 | 7.9 |
Unit: Frames Per Second (FPS)
Equipped with USB 3.0 high-speed interface and 512MB DDR3 high-speed buffer, the camera helps maintain the stability of data transmission and effectively reduces amp-glow caused by image data buffering. The advanced buffer system ensures stable and smooth data transmission even at maximum frame rates, enabling uninterrupted imaging sessions during critical atmospheric conditions.
The G3M715C 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 is much faster than software binning and provides higher frame rates while improving signal-to-noise ratio. With 1.45μm pixels, binning modes can effectively increase sensitivity for challenging imaging conditions.
The G3M715C features an optimized single-gain architecture that provides exceptional performance across the entire gain range. With read noise as low as 0.57e⁻ at high gain settings and maintaining excellent linearity throughout, the camera delivers consistent results whether imaging bright solar features or faint planetary details.
The G3M715C 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 when capturing faint details with the ultra-fine 1.45μm pixels.
The ultra-fine pixel pitch ensures you capture every detail your optics can resolve, ideal for high-resolution planetary imaging.
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) |
12-bit: 24 FPS @ 3840×2160 8-bit: 47 FPS @ 3840×2160 |
|---|---|
| Read Noise | 0.57e⁻ - 1.35e⁻ |
| Full Well Capacity | 6.0ke⁻ |
| Peak Quantum Efficiency | >91% |
| Dynamic Range | 72.8 dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 37.7 dB |
| Exposure Time Range | 0.1ms - 1000s |
| Gain Range | 1× - 100× |
| Sensor | Sony IMX715 Color Back-Illuminated CMOS |
|---|---|
| Image Resolution | 8.3 Megapixels (3840×2160) |
| Pixel Size | 1.45μm × 1.45μm |
| Sensor Format | 1/1.8-inch (6.39mm diagonal) |
| Image Area | 5.57mm × 3.13mm |
| Color Type | Color (Bayer Pattern) |
| 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 G3M715C delivers exceptional performance across the entire gain range with its optimized single-gain architecture. The ultra-fine 1.45μm pixels provide maximum resolution while maintaining excellent sensitivity and low noise characteristics.
Camera Settings: Full resolution, RAW 12-bit mode
The performance analysis demonstrates the G3M715C's exceptional characteristics across the gain range. Read noise decreases from 1.35e⁻ at unity gain to an impressive 0.57e⁻ at higher gain settings, making it ideal for capturing faint planetary details. The camera maintains excellent linearity throughout the gain range, with a full well capacity of 6.0ke⁻ at low gain providing good headroom for bright targets. The dynamic range of 72.8 dB ensures you can capture both bright and dark features in a single exposure.
| Gain Value | 100 | 177 | 316 | 562 | 1000 | 1778 | 3162 | 5623 | 10000 | 15000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Noise (e⁻) | 1.35 | 1.00 | 0.72 | 0.63 | 0.65 | 0.62 | 0.57 | 0.57 | 0.56 | 0.57 |
| Dynamic Range (stop) | 12 | 11.72 | 11.36 | 10.76 | 9.87 | 9.08 | 8.38 | 7.55 | 6.74 | 6.13 |
The G3M series body, made from tough alloy, ensures a heavy-duty, workhorse solution. The camera is designed with high-quality IR-CUT filter to protect the camera sensor and block IR 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.
