Altair GPCAM3 715C USB3 Color Camera

• Capture crisp planetary detail, lunar mosaics, and deep-sky EAA from a compact, 8.3 MP BSI color sensor engineered for speed and sensitivity

• Tiny 1.45 μm pixels and a 7.7 × 4.3 mm active area pair beautifully with short-focal-length refractors and C/CS all-sky lenses

• ROI support boosts frame rates for high-magnification solar, lunar, and planetary work; 512 MB DDR3 buffer smooths data flow

• Ultra-low read noise (down to ~0.57 e-) plus >91% peak QE and 12-bit ADC deliver clean, high-dynamic-range data

• Thread-in UV/IR-cut window, 1.25" nosepiece, and C/CS compatibility make fast swaps across telescope, guide scope, and all-sky rigs

• Includes a FREE 1-year SharpCap Pro license to power polar alignment, live stacking, flat correction, and more

Specifications

• Sensor & Format

  • Sony IMX715 BSI color CMOS, rolling shutter

  • Resolution: 3840 × 2160 (8.3 MP) | Diagonal: 6.39 mm | Pixel size: 1.45 μm

  • Active area: 7.7 × 4.3 mm | Peak QE: >91%

• Performance

  • Read noise: ~1.35 to 0.57 e- | Full well: ~6.0 ke- | SNR: 37.7 dB | Dynamic range: 72.8 dB

  • ADC: 12-bit | Exposure range: 0.1 ms to 1000 s | Gain: 1× to 100×

  • DDR3 buffer: 512 MB (4 Gb) for stable high-speed capture

• Frame Rates (USB 3.0)

  • 24 fps @ 3840 × 2160 (12-bit) | 47 fps @ 3840 × 2160 (8-bit)

  • 70 fps @ 1920 × 1080 (8-bit or 12-bit)

• Frame Rates (USB 2.0)

  • Up to ~3.8 fps @ 3840 × 2160 (8-bit) | ~7.9 fps @ 1920 × 1080 (8-bit)

• Optics & Windows

  • Front glass: UV/IR-blocking AR-coated window (color version), 350–650 nm transmission

  • Clear AR-coated cover glass available (mono variant/accessory)

• Connections & Back Focus

  • Ports: USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible), ST4 guiding port

  • Adapters: 1.25" telescope nosepiece (M28.5×0.6 filter thread); C/CS lens interface

  • Back focus: 17.5 mm (with C adapter) | 12.5 mm (with CS adapter) | ~37 mm from 1.25"/M42 adapter face to sensor

• Mechanics & Power

  • Body: CNC-machined aluminum with external heat sink; passive cooling

  • Dimensions/Weight: Ø 37 mm × 72.4 mm | ~70 g

  • Power: 5 V DC via USB | Consumption: ~0.3 W (standby) / ~1.0 W (running)

• Operating Environment & OS

  • Temp: −10 °C to +50 °C | Max humidity: 80% RH

  • OS: Windows 8/10 (64-bit), macOS, Linux (via AltairCapture/SDK)

  • Recommended PC: Modern USB 3.0 host (2013+), i5-class CPU, dedicated graphics

What’s in the box?

• Altair GPCAM3 715C camera body

• High-speed 1.5 m USB 3.0 cable

• 1.25" nosepiece with female 1.25" filter thread

• Pre-installed CS-mount insert (12.5 mm BF)

• UV/IR-blocking AR-coated optical window (removable)

• 1.25" plastic dust cap & silicone sensor cap

• Padded storage box with foam inserts

• Free 1-Year SharpCap Pro license (activate upon first connection)

Software & Docs

• Capture & Control: AltairCapture (Windows/macOS/Linux), SharpCap (native support), PHD2, DirectShow/TWAIN

• SDKs: Multi-platform (C/C++, C#/VB.NET, Python, Java) for Windows/Linux/macOS/Android

• File Formats: RAW/8-/12-bit video (.SER/.AVI) and stills (.FITS, .PNG, .TIFF, .JPEG, .BMP)

• Downloads & Drivers: Current drivers, manuals, and quick-start guides available at altairastro.help

• Guiding: ST4 opto-isolated port compatible with iOptron, Celestron, and Sky-Watcher mounts

• Warranty & Support: 2-year manufacturer warranty; UK/EU English-language support and active user community

Great for: planetary and lunar imaging, solar (with proper filtration), EAA/live stacking, guiding, and compact all-sky builds.