Player One Ares-M Pro Mono IMX533 Cooled Astrophotography Camera

The Ares-M Pro: A 9MP Cooled Mono Camera for Deep-Sky and Planetary

Player One developed the Ares-M Pro as a camera that is great for deep-sky imaging and can also do solar and lunar imaging. For deep-sky work it brings a monochrome sensor, regulated two-stage cooling and readout noise down to 1.0e.

For high-resolution solar, lunar, and planetary work, the camera's high-speed readout and large buffer become critical. It reaches up to 272 FPS (RAW8) at 640x480, which suits lucky imaging. Its 1-inch square sensor can easily capture the full disk of the Sun and Moon with short focal length refractors, and makes mosaic work more efficient. Solar imaging needs a proper solar filter on the telescope.

The Sony IMX533: A 1-inch, 9MP Square-Format Sensor

At the core of the Ares-M Pro is the Sony IMX533, a back-illuminated sensor with a 1-inch format and a 16mm diagonal. Its 3008x3008 resolution gives 9MP in a square format on an 11.31mm x 11.31mm chip; the 1-inch size is quite big for imaging.

The camera is based on Sony STARVIS technology, a back-illuminated pixel technology for CMOS sensors, which places the wiring layer behind the photodiodes.

73k e- Full Well and Dual Sampling Down to 1.0e Read Noise

The full well is 73k e-, which is almost 1.5 times the 50k e- of the basic IMX533. A deeper well means bright stars take longer to saturate in each sub-exposure.

To optimize performance for different targets, the camera features two selectable readout modes:

• Normal Mode: This mode has the faster frame rate, and it suits planetary imaging.
• LRN (Low Readout Noise) Mode: This mode has lower readout noise and higher dynamic range, and it suits deep-sky imaging. HCG switches on at gain 125.

14-bit ADC and 91% Peak QE

Signal from the sensor is digitized by a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). This allows the camera to distinguish between 16,384 different levels of brightness, capturing subtle variations in nebulosity and faint stellar magnitudes.

The Ares-M Pro's monochrome sensor achieves a peak Quantum Efficiency (QE) of approximately 91%. This means that at its most sensitive wavelength, it converts 91 out of every 100 incoming photons into a measurable electronic signal.

2-Stage TEC Cooling: A 40°C Delta with an Integrated Anti-Dew Heater

To control thermal noise during long exposures, the Ares-M Pro integrates a 2-stage thermoelectric cooling (TEC) system. The standard delta T is 35°C to 40°C below ambient (at 30°C ambient, fan 100%). The recommended settings are 30°C to 35°C below ambient, fan 50 to 70% and dew heater 10%; the fan defaults to 50%. Dark current is 0.000044 e/s/pix at -20°C and 0.000996 e/s/pix at 0°C.

The cooling system is fully regulated, allowing you to set a precise target temperature for consistent calibration with dark frames. An anti-dew PCB sits at the front of the camera, in front of the D32x2mm AR Plus multi-coated window, and its heat power is adjustable; dew is the biggest enemy in astro imaging. You can control the target temperature, fan speed, and dew heater power directly in the ASCOM driver settings.

512MB DDR3 Cache and USB 3.0 for 43 FPS Capture

The Ares-M Pro is equipped with a 512MB DDR3 memory buffer. This cache acts as a temporary storage space for image data before it is transferred to your computer, and it stabilizes data transmission, effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readout noise. Recording speed also depends on your disk; a good solid state drive is recommended.

Over its USB 3.0 interface, the camera can stream its full 9MP (3008x3008) resolution at up to 43 FPS in RAW8 mode or 19.5 FPS in RAW16 mode. With the DDR3 cache the camera no longer needs a powerful computer and still performs very well on a USB 2.0 port.

Non-Amp-Glow

The Ares-M Pro dark frame is totally dark, and it is a Non-Amp-Glow camera; a 300s dark frame (gain 0, offset 10, -10°C) shows it.

This gives a very clean background, which makes high-quality images easier to get.

17.5mm Back Focus with Dual 3-Point and 4-Point Tilt Adjusters

A sensor tilt plate adjusts the sensor angle so that stars at the corners are rounder. The Ares-M Pro comes with both a front and a rear plate. The camera comes with a standard 3-point front tilt plate, which allows you to adjust the sensor plane from the front of the camera. Most users have experience with this type, and it works well in many basic setups. The back focus is 17.5mm.

For more complex imaging trains, a 4-point rear tilt plate is also included. It is necessary when you use a filter wheel or filter drawer and an OAG with a fixed angle, and convenient for RASA users. A built-in high-density sponge pad blocks light from the side slits. The camera body has 6x M2.5 holes on R27, so it bolts directly to Player One filter wheels and OAGs.

The Ares-M Pro Advantage: Monochrome LRGB and Narrowband Imaging

As a monochrome camera, the Ares-M Pro records every pixel through the filter you choose. Unlike a color camera where pixels are permanently filtered red, green, or blue, every pixel on a mono sensor is free to capture the full spectrum of light. This makes it significantly more sensitive, especially for narrowband imaging.

By shooting through separate Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue (LRGB) filters, you build full-colour images, and with H-alpha, SII and OIII narrowband filters you isolate the light of specific gases in emission nebulae, which also helps under light-polluted skies.

12V DC Cooler Power and Uncooled USB-Only Operation

To power the 2-stage TEC cooling system, the Ares-M Pro requires an external 12V DC power supply connected to its 5.5x2.1mm port. While the camera's maximum power consumption is 3A, use a power adapter rated for at least 5A to ensure stable and reliable cooler performance. The power adapter is not included with the camera.

The camera's design includes overvoltage and overcurrent protection to safeguard its electronics. The back of the camera has two Type-C data ports (the main one supports USB 3.0) and the 12V port. If you do not need cooling, connect only the main Type-C port and the camera works as an uncooled camera.

Drivers, ASCOM and Your First Night

Player One provides its drivers, including the ASCOM driver, on its software download page. The ASCOM window holds three parameters: target temperature, fan speed and anti-dew power. The manual also mentions SharpCap 4, whose Sensor Analysis function lets you test the readout noise yourself.

Getting started is straightforward. First, connect the camera to your PC via USB and, if cooling, connect the 12V power supply. Install the drivers from the Player One website. Open your capture software, select the Ares-M Pro from the camera list, and configure your cooling target. You are then ready to focus and begin your imaging session.