Player One Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25

Product Overview

The Player One Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25" is a motorized, eight-position filter wheel built for imaging with 1.25" filters. It changes filters under software control, so you can run automated deep-sky and planetary sequences without disturbing the imaging train. A hybrid stepping motor paired with Player One's Hall Sensing Technology returns each filter to the same position every time, and the whole assembly is powered and controlled over a single USB Type-C cable.

Who It's For

This wheel suits imagers running a camera with a set of 1.25" filters — from monochrome deep-sky work to planetary and guiding setups — who want unattended, repeatable filter changes. It is designed for camera-based imaging rather than visual observing.

Key Features & Design

• Eight 1.25" positions: Holds eight 1.25" filters, giving room for LRGB plus several narrowband or specialty filters in one loadout.
• Hall-sensing positioning: Magnetic Hall sensors index each slot precisely, so filters return to the same spot for consistent flats and focus.
• Hybrid stepping motor: Drives smooth, quiet rotation between filters.
• Single-cable USB Type-C: One Type-C cable handles both control and power, so there is no separate power supply to route.
• Aluminum 6061-T6 body: A rigid, lightweight CNC-machined shell keeps the wheel flat and stable in the optical train.

Optical & Mechanical Design

• Filter capacity: 8 × 1.25" filters with M28.5 × 0.6 female cells.
• Filter thickness limit: Filter body less than 8.5 mm thick (thread portion 2.5 mm or less) to seat and clear inside the wheel.
• Physical thickness: 21 mm — this fixed value is what you budget into your backfocus and spacing calculation.
• Connection: M42 × 0.75 threads on both the camera side and the telescope side.
• Control & power: USB Type-C data port.
• Weight: 543 g.

Recommended Uses

• Automated LRGB and narrowband deep-sky imaging
• Planetary imaging with a set of 1.25" filters
• Guiding and multi-filter runs under sequencing software

Compatibility & Accessory Notes

The M42 × 0.75 threads on both sides let the wheel sit inline between a compatible Player One camera and your adapters. Player One lists compatibility with the Ares series, Uranus PRO and Apollo series cameras, as well as planetary and guiding cameras. It takes 1.25" filters that thread into M28.5 × 0.6 cells, so confirm your filters match that format before ordering.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Filters are not included: The wheel ships empty, so plan for your own 1.25" filter set.
• Filter body under 8.5 mm: Filters need a body thinner than 8.5 mm (thread portion 2.5 mm or less) to seat and rotate clear, so check thicker specialty filters against that limit.
• Budget 21 mm of spacing: The wheel adds a fixed 21 mm to the optical path, which you account for when hitting your camera's backfocus.

FAQ

How many filters does it hold? Eight 1.25" filters.

Is it difficult to set up? No. It threads inline via M42 × 0.75 on both sides and connects to your computer with a single USB Type-C cable that carries both data and power; your sequencing software handles the filter changes.

What size filters fit? Standard 1.25" filters with M28.5 × 0.6 threads and a body under 8.5 mm thick.

Can I use it for visual observing? No — it is designed for camera-based imaging, not eyepiece use.

Bottom Line

The Phoenix Wheel 8x1.25" gives an imaging rig eight repeatable 1.25" filter positions in a compact 21 mm-thick, single-cable package — a flexible way to automate deep-sky and planetary sessions.