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IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
Player One Ares-M Pro Mono IMX533 Cooled Astrophotography Camera

Player One Ares-M Pro Mono IMX533 Cooled Astrophotography Camera

by Player One
SKU POA-Ares-M-Pro
$999.00 - $999.00
$999.00
$999.00 - $999.00
$999.00
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  • Features Sony's IMX533 1" square monochrome CMOS sensor
  • 9 Megapixel resolution (3008x3008) with 3.76μm pixels
  • Deep 73k e- full well capacity for high dynamic range
  • High quantum efficiency with a peak of approximately 91%
  • 2-stage TEC cooling provides a 35°C-40°C delta below ambient
  • High-speed readout at 43 FPS at full resolution (10-bit)
  • Lightweight 420g body with integrated sensor tilt plate
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Downloads
  • Warranty

  • Player One Ares-M Pro Mono IMX533 Cooled Astrophotography Camera

    The Player One Ares-M Pro camera combines the 9 Megapixel Sony IMX533 monochrome sensor with an advanced cooling system and high-speed electronics. Its 1-inch square format and 3.76μm pixels are ideal for a wide range of telescopes, while the deep 73k e- full well captures immense dynamic range in bright deep-sky objects. A 2-stage TEC cooler achieves a 35°C-40°C temperature reduction below ambient, and the camera can sustain a readout speed of 43 FPS at its full 3008x3008 resolution.

    Sony IMX533 Mono Sensor: 9MP Square Format with 73k Full Well

    At the core of the Ares-M Pro is the Sony IMX533, a back-illuminated 1-inch square sensor delivering 9MP resolution in a 3008x3008 array. The square format simplifies framing and creating mosaics, while the 3.76μm pixels offer a balanced image scale on many mid-focal length refractors and SCTs. With a peak QE of approximately 91% and an exceptionally deep 73k e- full well, this camera captures both faint nebulosity and brilliant star cores without saturation, preserving detail across a vast dynamic range.

    2-Stage TEC Cooling: 40°C Delta-T and Zero Amp Glow

    To control thermal noise during long exposures, the Ares-M Pro integrates a 2-stage thermoelectric cooling system capable of reducing the sensor temperature by 35°C to 40°C below ambient. This powerful cooling, combined with the IMX533's inherently low dark current, produces exceptionally clean raw frames. The sensor architecture exhibits no visible amplifier glow, resulting in a uniformly dark background that simplifies calibration and processing.

    High-Speed Readout: 43 FPS at Full Resolution

    While designed for deep-sky imaging, the Ares-M Pro is also a highly capable planetary, lunar, and solar camera. It can stream its full 9MP, 3008x3008 resolution at up to 43 FPS over USB 3.0. This speed is crucial for "lucky imaging," allowing you to freeze moments of atmospheric stability for maximum sharpness. For even higher frame rates, windowing the sensor to 640x480 yields an impressive 272 FPS.

    Advanced Mechanical Design: 420g Body with Dual Tilt Plates

    The camera body is constructed using carbon fiber to achieve a low weight of only 420g, minimizing the load on your focuser and mount. An integrated anti-dew heater with adjustable power protects the sensor window from moisture. To ensure a perfectly flat field, the Ares-M Pro includes both a front 3-point tilt plate for standard setups and a rear 4-point plate for use with accessories like filter wheels and off-axis guiders.

    Ares-M Pro vs. Standard IMX533 Cameras: Deeper Well and Faster Readout

    The Ares-M Pro pushes the Sony IMX533 sensor beyond its standard implementation. Its key advantages lie in electronics and thermal management that enable superior imaging results.

    • Deeper Full Well (73k e-): Captures significantly more signal before saturation compared to typical 50k implementations, providing greater dynamic range for targets with both bright cores and faint extensions, like the Orion Nebula (M42).
    • Faster Frame Rate (43 FPS): The high-speed readout architecture allows the Ares-M Pro to excel at high-resolution lunar and solar imaging, a task where slower cameras would be limited by atmospheric turbulence.
    • Zero Amp Glow: Advanced sensor control ensures clean, uniform dark frames, simplifying calibration and producing a pristine background for deep-sky work.

  • What makes the Player One Ares-M Pro good for both DSO and planetary imaging?

    The Ares-M Pro combines features ideal for both. For deep-sky objects (DSO), its 2-stage TEC cooling, low readout noise, and 73k e- full well are critical for clean, long exposures. For planets, the Sun, and the Moon, its ability to capture 43 frames per second at full 3008x3008 resolution allows you to use lucky imaging techniques to overcome atmospheric seeing.

    How do the dual sampling modes on the Ares-M Pro work?

    The camera offers two readout modes for different targets. Normal Mode provides the fastest frame rates, making it the best choice for planetary, lunar, and solar imaging. LRN (Low Readout Noise) Mode optimizes the sensor for the lowest possible read noise (down to 1.0e) and higher dynamic range, which is ideal for capturing faint detail in galaxies and nebulae.

    What kind of power supply do I need for the Ares-M Pro's cooling system?

    To run the 2-stage TEC cooling system, you need an external 12V DC power supply with a 5.5x2.1mm center-positive plug. The power adapter is not included. Player One specifies that while the camera's maximum draw is 3A, a power adapter with a minimum rating of 5A is required for stable operation. If you only connect the camera via USB-C without the 12V supply, it will function as an uncooled camera.

    Why does the Ares-M Pro have both front and rear sensor tilt plates?

    The dual plates offer flexibility for correcting sensor tilt in any imaging train. The default front 3-point plate is used to adjust tilt directly at the camera's face. The alternate rear 4-point plate is designed for situations where you have a fixed-angle filter wheel or OAG attached, allowing you to make tilt adjustments from the back of the camera without disassembling your setup. This is particularly useful for users of RASA systems.

    How well will the Ares-M Pro's 1-inch sensor frame the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2244) with an 80mm f/6 refractor?

    This is an excellent pairing. An 80mm f/6 refractor has a focal length of 480mm. With the Ares-M Pro's 11.31mm x 11.31mm sensor, you get a field of view of approximately 1.35 x 1.35 degrees. Since the Rosette Nebula is about 1.3 degrees in diameter, you can capture the entire nebula and its associated star cluster comfortably in a single frame.

    Can I use the Player One Ares-M Pro to capture a full-disc image of the Moon with a Celestron 8" SCT?

    No, not without a focal reducer. A standard 8" SCT has a focal length of about 2032mm. At this focal length, the Ares-M Pro's 1-inch sensor will only capture a small, high-magnification section of the Moon's surface. To fit the entire lunar disc in the frame, you would need to use a 0.63x or 0.7x focal reducer to shorten the telescope's effective focal length.

  • Sensor Sony IMX533 1" Monochrome CMOS
    Resolution 3008×3008 (9MP)
    Pixel Size 3.76μm
    Sensor Diagonal 16mm
    Image Size 11.31mm × 11.31mm
    ADC 14-bit
    Quantum Efficiency (Peak) ≈91%
    Full Well Capacity 73k e-
    Readout Noise 4.46e to 1.0e
    Shutter Type Rolling Shutter
    Exposure Range 32μs - 2000s
    Max Frame Rate (Full Res) 43 FPS (10-bit)
    Cooling System 2-Stage Thermoelectric (TEC)
    Cooling Delta T 35°C - 40°C below ambient
    Data Port USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 (Type-C)
    Power Port (Cooler) 12V DC 5.5x2.1mm (5A minimum adapter required)
    Protective Window D32*2mm, AR Plus Multi-Coated
    Back Focal Length 17.5mm
    Mounting Threads M42x0.75
    Diameter 78mm
    Weight 420g
    Operating Temperature -10°C to 60°C
    Operating Humidity 0% to 80%
    Frame Rates (USB 3.0)
    3008×3008 43 FPS (RAW8) / 19.5 FPS (RAW16)
    2560×1440 95 FPS (RAW8) / 40 FPS (RAW16)
    1920×1080 125 FPS (RAW8) / 53 FPS (RAW16)
    1280×720 185 FPS (RAW8) / 79 FPS (RAW16)
    800×600 220 FPS (RAW8) / 93 FPS (RAW16)
    640×480 272 FPS (RAW8) / 115 FPS (RAW16)
  • Player One 2-Year Warranty