Saturn-C SQR USB3.0 Color Camera (IMX533)

The Player One Saturn-C SQR is a USB3.0 colour camera built around the 1" square Sony IMX533 back-illuminated STARVIS CMOS sensor. Its 1:1 square format means there is no wrong orientation to frame — you never rotate the camera to fit a target — and the larger 16 mm diagonal gives a generous field for lunar, planetary and solar imaging.

Product Overview

The IMX533 provides a 3008×3008 array of 3.76µm pixels, an 11.31 mm square imaging area. A deep 73k e⁻ full-well gives wide dynamic range, read noise falls to about 1 e⁻, and the 14-bit ADC delivers smooth tonal gradation with peak QE near 80%. The back-illuminated STARVIS design is known for very low amp glow and clean dark frames. Over USB3.0 it captures up to 43 FPS in Raw8 and 19.5 FPS in Raw16 at full resolution.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you image the Moon, planets and Sun and want a larger square sensor with wide dynamic range and clean output. The 1:1 format frames the full lunar or solar disc neatly and simplifies composition. It also autoguides through its ST4 port.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX533 square colour sensor: 1" back-illuminated STARVIS CMOS, 9 MP, 1:1 format.
• Deep 73k e⁻ full-well: wide dynamic range for bright lunar and planetary highlights.
• Very low amp glow: the STARVIS design yields clean dark frames.
• 14-bit ADC: smooth tonal gradation.
• Protective window: D32×2 mm with AR Plus multi-layer anti-reflection coating.
• 256MB DDR3 buffer and ST4 port: stable high-speed transfer, with autoguiding capability.

Optical / Mechanical Design

The Saturn-C SQR uses a rolling-shutter colour CMOS with an RGGB Bayer matrix and 3.76µm pixels. The larger square sensor and deep full-well suit bright, high-cadence solar-system targets while offering more field than the smaller planetary chips. 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 160 g.

Recommended Uses

• Lunar and planetary imaging behind a Barlow or long-focal-length scope.
• Full-disc lunar and solar imaging (with suitable solar filtration).
• Wider solar-system framing where a square field helps composition.
• 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. Note the larger D32×2 mm window and 16 mm diagonal — when adding a Barlow or filters, use components that clear the larger sensor without vignetting. Capture is over USB3.0 with common software, and the ST4 port accepts a standard autoguide cable.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Uncooled camera: it is optimized for bright solar-system targets and short exposures rather than cooled long-exposure deep-sky imaging.
• Larger sensor: the 16 mm diagonal benefits from Barlows and filters rated for a wider field to avoid vignetting.
• USB3.0 for full frame rates: USB2.0 works but caps throughput.

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?

Lunar, planetary and solar imaging where the square field and wide dynamic range are an advantage, plus autoguiding.

Why a square sensor?

A 1:1 format removes the need to rotate the camera to fit a target and frames round objects like the Moon and Sun symmetrically.

Can I use it for deep-sky astrophotography?

As an uncooled camera it is built for bright solar-system targets; long-exposure deep-sky work is better served by a cooled camera.

Does it autoguide?

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

Bottom Line

In short: a 9 MP, 1" square colour camera with a deep 73k e⁻ full-well and very low amp glow, well suited to detailed lunar, planetary and solar imaging on standard 1.25" and M42 threads.