The ToupTek G3M 715C colour camera stands out with its small pixel size, enabling high-resolution lunar and planetary imaging even with shorter focal length telescopes.
One advantage of the camera, equipped with a Sony IMX715 back-illuminated sensor, is that it does not include a built-in UV/IR-cut filter, so it remains sensitive in these spectral ranges as well. The sensor measures 5.57 x 3.13 mm and has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels (8.3 megapixels), capable of 12-bit image capture. In addition to imaging the Sun, Moon and planets, its high sensor sensitivity (91% QE) also makes it an excellent choice for photographing compact deep-sky objects.
The camera can be inserted directly into a 1.25" focuser and also features an ST4 port on its housing. These features allow it to be used as an autoguider camera as well. Thanks to the standard C-mount connection, it can also be used directly with optional C-mount lenses, and with a suitable adapter it can even be used as a microscope camera.
When used as a solar, lunar or planetary camera, it records video at full resolution at 47 fps with 8-bit colour depth, meaning that a large number of frames can be captured in just one minute—an essential requirement for successful planetary imaging. At the lower 1920 x 1080 resolution, this can be increased to up to 70 fps. The 1.45-micron pixel size offers an advantage in rendering fine details and also helps preserve more detail during post-processing.
Due to its high colour depth and resolution, the camera uses a USB 3.0 connection, so suitably powerful computer hardware is also required.
Numerous free image capture applications are available online. For Windows, SharpCap and FireCapture are particularly recommended, although the camera also works excellently with the manufacturer's own ToupSky software. The popular PHD2 software also supports the camera, while the ASCOM driver ensures even broader compatibility. The camera can be used with Windows, Linux and macOS operating systems.
Package contents:
- ToupTek G3M 715C colour camera
- USB cable (2 m)
- ST-4 cable (2 m)
- C-mount / 1.25" adapter
