NEPTUNE 664C USB3.0 Color Camera

The Player One Neptune 664C is a USB3.0 colour camera built around the 1/1.8" Sony IMX664 back-illuminated CMOS sensor. It combines a generous 4.2-megapixel field with a deep full-well and fast frame rates, making it a well-balanced planetary and lunar imager that also handles bright wide-field solar-system scenes.

Product Overview

The IMX664 provides a 2704×1540 array of 2.9µm pixels across a 9 mm diagonal. A 38.5k e⁻ full-well gives wide dynamic range, read noise falls to about 0.67 e⁻, the ADC is 12-bit, and peak QE reaches roughly 91%. Over USB3.0 it captures up to 93 FPS in Raw8 and 46.5 FPS in Raw16 at full resolution, so you can bank long capture runs during steady seeing.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you image the Moon and planets and want a larger, high-sensitivity colour sensor with strong dynamic range. Its field also frames more of the lunar disc than a 1/2.8" chip, and it autoguides through its ST4 port.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX664 colour sensor: 1/1.8" back-illuminated CMOS, 4.2 MP, with high peak QE near 91%.
• Deep 38.5k e⁻ full-well: wide dynamic range for bright planetary and lunar highlights.
• Fast capture: up to 93 FPS in Raw8 at full 2704×1540 resolution.
• Low read noise: down to about 0.67 e⁻ at higher gain.
• 256MB DDR3 buffer: stabilizes high-speed transfer to avoid dropped frames.
• ST4 autoguide port: doubles as a guide camera.
• Protective window: D21×1.1 mm with AR Plus multi-layer anti-reflection coating.

Optical / Mechanical Design

The Neptune 664C uses a rolling-shutter colour CMOS with an RGGB Bayer matrix and 2.9µm pixels. Its deep full-well and 12-bit ADC suit bright, high-cadence solar-system targets. The sensor sits at a 12.5 mm back focal distance, and the 66 mm body threads accept 1.25" and M42×0.75 (T-thread) adapters. Exposures run 32µs to 2000 s. The published weight is 180 g.

Recommended Uses

• High-resolution lunar and planetary imaging behind a Barlow or long-focal-length scope.
• Wider lunar framing through shorter focal lengths.
• Solar imaging with suitable solar filtration or a dedicated solar scope.
• Autoguiding through the ST4 port.

Compatibility & Accessory Notes

The camera connects through 1.25" nosepiece or M42×0.75 threads and fits any telescope with those interfaces. Planetary work typically adds a Barlow or telecentric to reach f/15–f/25. Capture is over USB3.0 with common software, and the ST4 port accepts a standard autoguide cable.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Built for speed, not long exposures: this uncooled camera is optimized for bright solar-system targets rather than faint deep-sky imaging.
• USB3.0 for full frame rates: USB2.0 works but caps throughput.
• A Barlow helps on planets: reaching a good image scale on the planets usually means adding a Barlow or telecentric.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It threads onto a 1.25" or M42 connection, installs its driver, and appears in your capture software.

What is it best used for?

High-frame-rate lunar and planetary imaging, plus solar imaging with filtration and autoguiding.

How is it different from the Neptune-C II?

The IMX664 has a deeper full-well and higher peak QE than the IMX464, giving more dynamic range and sensitivity across a similar field.

Can I use it for deep-sky astrophotography?

It is not intended for long-exposure deep-sky imaging; it is built for bright solar-system targets.

Does it autoguide?

Yes, through its ST4 port with a suitable guide scope.

Bottom Line

In short: a 4.2 MP, 1/1.8" colour planetary camera with a deep 38.5k e⁻ full-well and fast frame rates, well suited to detailed lunar and planetary imaging and usable as an autoguider on standard 1.25" and M42 threads.