Xena 585M USB3.0 Mono Guide Camera

Product Overview

The Xena 585M is a compact monochrome guide and planetary camera from Player One Astronomy that pairs a large, sensitive sensor with a small body. It uses Sony's back-illuminated 1/1.2" IMX585 (STARVIS 2) CMOS — an 8.3-megapixel array (3856×2180, 2.9 µm pixels, 12.85 mm diagonal) with peak QE near 91%. In a 40 mm body with a 1.25" / M28.5×0.6 fit and an ST4 port, that large field makes finding and holding guide stars easy even in a short guide scope.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you want a guide camera with a large, sensitive field — so there is almost always a usable guide star in view — and the option to use the same camera for high-frame-rate monochrome planetary work. The generous 1/1.2" sensor is a step up in field and sensitivity over typical small guide chips.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2 mono CMOS: back-illuminated design with peak QE around 91%.
• Large 1/1.2" field: 8.3 MP across 3856×2180 makes guide-star acquisition simple in a small guide scope.
• Low read noise: 7.2 e− down to 0.7 e− with a 47k e− full well.
• ST4 guide port: direct pulse guiding to compatible mounts.
• 47 fps readout: 10-bit RAW8 at full resolution over USB3.0 (5 Gbps) for planetary lucky imaging.
• Compact 40 mm body: light enough for a mini guide scope or OAG.

Optical / Mechanical Design

The IMX585 is a 1/1.2" back-illuminated monochrome CMOS with 2.9 µm pixels, rolling shutter. Full-well capacity is 47k e−, read noise ranges 7.2 e− to 0.7 e−, digitised at 12-bit, with peak QE near 91%. Full-resolution readout reaches 47 fps in RAW8 over USB3.0 (5 Gbps, backward compatible with USB2.0). Sensor-to-flange backfocus is 7.5 mm — short enough to reach focus in most guide scopes and off-axis guiders — behind the D21×1.1 mm AR window. The 40 mm body uses a 1.25" / M28.5×0.6 interface and runs from USB power alone.

Recommended Uses

• Autoguiding: a large-field, sensitive guide camera that keeps a guide star in view in short guide scopes and OAGs.
• Planetary imaging: high-frame-rate monochrome lucky imaging on a small scope with a Barlow.
• Utility imaging: a compact camera for framing, polar alignment and check exposures.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

The camera presents a 1.25" barrel with an M28.5×0.6 thread and needs only 7.5 mm of backfocus, reaching focus in typical mini guide scopes and off-axis guiders. It runs over USB3.0 from the USB connection, provides an ST4 port for pulse guiding, and is recognised by common guiding software (PHD2 and similar) as a standard camera.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Large sensor in a small body: the wide field aids guide-star acquisition; for guiding, only a portion of the frame is typically used.
• Monochrome: the norm for guiding; planetary colour needs a one-shot-color camera.
• Short 7.5 mm backfocus: reaches focus in most guide scopes and OAGs without extra spacers.
• Published weight is 65 g: negligible load on a guide scope or OAG.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It slides into a 1.25" holder or threads via M28.5×0.6, connects over USB, and is recognised by standard guiding software; the ST4 port connects to the mount for pulse guiding.

What is it best used for?

Wide-field autoguiding where a large sensor makes star acquisition easy, plus high-frame-rate monochrome planetary imaging.

How does it compare to the Ceres 462M as a guider?

Both share the same 40 mm body, 7.5 mm backfocus and ST4 port; the Xena 585M carries a much larger 1/1.2" sensor for a wider guide field, while the Ceres 462M uses a small 1/2.8" chip.

Does it work with PHD2?

Yes — it presents as a standard camera to common guiding software.

Bottom Line

In short: a compact guide camera carrying a large 8.3 MP IMX585 STARVIS 2 sensor with ~91% peak QE, a 7.5 mm backfocus and an ST4 port — a wide-field guider that doubles as a fast monochrome planetary imager.