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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 Poseidon-C Pro Color Cooled Astrophotography Camera

Player One Poseidon-C Pro Color Cooled Astrophotography Camera

by Player One
SKU POA-Poseidon-C-Pro
$1,399.00 - $1,399.00
$1,399.00
$1,399.00 - $1,399.00
$1,399.00
Price Match Policy!
  • 26 Megapixel APS-C Sony IMX571 Color Sensor
  • Massive 71.7k e- Full Well Capacity
  • 16-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
  • 2-Stage TEC Cooling with 40°C Delta T
  • Onboard DDR3 Memory Buffer
  • 17.5mm and 12.5mm Back Focus Options
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Downloads
  • Warranty

  • Player One Poseidon-C Pro Color Cooled Astrophotography Camera

    The Player One Poseidon-C Pro combines Sony's 26 MP IMX571 APS-C sensor with a deep 71.7k e- full well and true 16-bit ADC for exceptional deep-sky imaging. Its 3.76μm pixels are optimized for modern telescopes, capturing high-resolution 6252×4176 images with readout noise as low as 1.0e. A powerful 2-stage TEC cooler achieves a 40°C delta-T below ambient, suppressing thermal noise for clean, long-exposure data acquisition.

    Sony IMX571: 26MP, 16-bit ADC, and 71.7k Full Well

    At the core of the Poseidon-C Pro is the Sony IMX571, an APS-C format sensor with a 28.3mm diagonal that's ideal for capturing wide-field nebulae and large galaxies. The native 16-bit ADC provides 65,536 levels of gray, preserving subtle tonal variations in faint structures and allowing for aggressive post-processing without introducing banding artifacts. Combined with an exceptionally deep 71.7k e- full well, this camera excels at maintaining star color in dense fields and capturing the full dynamic range of bright targets like the Orion Nebula (M42).

    Cooling System: 2-Stage TEC with 40°C Delta T

    To combat thermal noise during long exposures, the Poseidon-C Pro integrates a 2-stage thermoelectric cooling system capable of reducing the sensor temperature by up to 40°C below ambient. This aggressive cooling dramatically reduces dark current, resulting in cleaner raw frames and a higher signal-to-noise ratio. The system also includes a built-in anti-dew heater for the protective window, ensuring clear optics even on nights with high humidity.

    Advanced Readout: DDR3 Buffer and Non-Amp-Glow Architecture

    An onboard DDR3 memory buffer ensures stable, drop-free data transfer from the camera to your computer, even at the maximum 16-bit frame rate of 7 FPS. This buffer eliminates the data transmission bottlenecks that can cause lost frames, a critical feature for both deep-sky sequences and high-frame-rate lunar or solar imaging. The IMX571 sensor is also engineered for zero amp glow, which simplifies calibration by eliminating the bright glow that can contaminate the edges of long exposures in other cameras.

    Mechanical Design: 4-Point Tilt Plate and Dual 17.5mm/12.5mm Back Focus

    The Poseidon-C Pro features a user-accessible 4-point sensor tilt plate, allowing you to precisely square the sensor to your telescope's focal plane for sharp stars across the entire APS-C field. This is essential for achieving perfect focus with fast optical systems like f/4 Newtonians or astrographs. The camera also offers two native back focus distances—17.5mm and 12.5mm—providing the flexibility needed to integrate filter wheels, off-axis guiders, and other accessories into your imaging train while maintaining the correct spacing.

    Poseidon-C Pro vs. Other IMX571 Cameras: Frame Rate and Full Well

    While several cameras use the popular Sony IMX571 sensor, the Poseidon-C Pro distinguishes itself with superior specifications in key areas. Its performance is a direct result of Player One's custom electronics and hardware implementation.

    • Full Well Capacity: The Poseidon-C Pro boasts a 71.7k e- full well, significantly deeper than the 50k e- capacity found in competing models like the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro. This allows for longer sub-exposures without saturating bright stars.
    • Frame Rate: At full 26MP resolution, the Poseidon-C Pro delivers 7 FPS in 16-bit mode and 15 FPS in 8-bit mode. This is more than double the maximum frame rate of many competing IMX571-based cameras, making it a more capable option for high-resolution planetary or lunar imaging.

  • How does the Poseidon-C Pro's 16-bit ADC improve my deep-sky images?

    A 16-bit ADC captures 65,536 brightness levels, compared to 4,096 levels for a 12-bit ADC. This higher bit depth provides smoother gradients and tonal transitions in faint objects like nebulae and galactic dust lanes. It also gives you far more flexibility during image processing, allowing for aggressive stretching of your data without causing posterization or banding artifacts.

    What is the benefit of the Poseidon-C Pro's 71.7k e- full well on bright targets like the Orion Nebula (M42)?

    The extremely deep 71.7k e- full well allows the camera's pixels to collect more photons before becoming saturated. When imaging M42, this means you can use longer exposures to capture the faint outer nebulosity without completely blowing out the bright Trapezium star cluster at the core. This high dynamic range makes it easier to capture the full brightness range of the object in a single set of exposures.

    Can I use the Poseidon-C Pro with my 8" f/4 Newtonian for imaging the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)?

    Yes, the Poseidon-C Pro is an excellent match for an 8" f/4 Newtonian. The large APS-C sensor (23.5mm x 15.7mm) will provide a wide field of view, perfect for framing large targets like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) or the North American Nebula (NGC 7000). The camera's integrated 4-point tilt plate is also crucial for fast systems like an f/4 Newtonian, as it allows you to correct for any sensor tilt and achieve sharp stars across the entire frame.

    What do the 17.5mm and 12.5mm back focus options on the Poseidon-C Pro let me do?

    The dual back focus options provide critical flexibility for building your imaging train. The standard 17.5mm distance is common for use with many filter wheels and off-axis guiders. The shorter 12.5mm option gives you more room to work with when using accessories like rotators or adaptive optics units, helping you reach the standard 55mm back focus required by most coma correctors and flatteners.

    What power supply do I need for the Poseidon-C Pro camera?

    The Poseidon-C Pro does not include a power supply. To power the TEC cooling system, you must use an external 12V DC power adapter with a 5.5x2.1mm center-positive plug. While the camera's maximum power consumption is 3A, Player One recommends using a power adapter with a minimum rating of 5A to ensure stable operation.

    How does the Player One Poseidon-C Pro compare to the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro?

    Both cameras use the same excellent Sony IMX571 sensor, but the Poseidon-C Pro offers a few key advantages in its implementation. The Poseidon-C Pro has a significantly deeper full well capacity (71.7k e- vs. 50k e-) and a much faster maximum frame rate (7 FPS at 16-bit vs. 3.5 FPS). These differences make the Poseidon-C Pro better suited for high-dynamic-range targets and give it more versatility for high-resolution imaging.

  • Sensor SONY IMX571 APS-C CMOS (Color)
    Resolution 26 MP (6252×4176)
    Pixel Size 3.76μm
    Image Size 23.5mm × 15.7mm
    Diagonal 28.3mm
    ADC 16 bit
    QE Peak ≈80%
    Full Well 71.7k e-
    Readout Noise 3.9e - 1.0e
    Shutter Type Rolling shutter
    Exposure Range 32μs - 2000s
    Cooling System 2-Stage TEC
    Cooling Delta T 40℃ ± 2℃ (below ambient)
    Protective Window D46*2MM AR Plus Multi-Layer Coating
    Data Port Type-C USB 3.0 / USB 2.0
    Back Focus 17.5mm, 12.5mm
    Adapters M48x0.75, 2", 1.25"
    Diameter 90mm
    Weight 650g
    Max Frame Rate (Full Res) 15 FPS (RAW8) / 7 FPS (RAW16)
    Frame Rate (3840x2160) 36 FPS (RAW8) / 13 FPS (RAW16)
    Frame Rate (1920x1080) 70 FPS (RAW8) / 25.5 FPS (RAW16)
    Power Consumption (Cooler) 3A max (requires 5A minimum power adapter, not included)
    Operating Temperature -10°C to 60°C
    Operating Humidity 0% to 80%
  • Player One 2-Year Warranty