G3M678M User Manual
Version 1.0
September 2023
Product Overview
The G3M678M camera offers high infrared band light-capturing capability with a very high QE value at 850nm. It also features high full-well capacity, high dynamic range, and low read noise, making it suitable for planetary, solar, and lunar photography.
Key features of the G3M678M include:
- IMX678 monochrome CMOS sensor
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- 2-micron square pixels
- 1/1.8 inch sensor format
- 12-bit ADC
- 512 MB DDR3 memory
- G sensitivity: 5644mv at 1/30s
- Read noise: 0.5 to 2.55e-
- High frame rate, up to 47FPS at maximum resolution with 8-bit
- Maximum signal-to-noise ratio: 41 dB
- Dynamic range: 72 dB
Specifications and Performance
Camera Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor | Sony IMX678 Monochrome Back-illuminated Sensor |
| Diagonal Length | 8.47 mm |
| Image Resolution | 8.3 Megapixels (3840*2160) |
| Pixel Size | 2.0 µm x 2.0 µm |
| Image Area | 7.7 mm x 4.3 mm |
| Max Frame Rate (USB 3.0) | 12-bit: 24 fps @ 3840*2160, 70 fps @ 1920*1080 8-bit: 47 fps @ 3840*2160, 70 fps @ 1920*1080 |
| Max Frame Rate (USB 2.0) | 12-bit: 1.9 fps @ 3840*2160, 3.9 fps @ 1920*1080 8-bit: 3.8 fps @ 3840*2160, 7.9 fps @ 1920*1080 |
| Shutter Type | Rolling Shutter |
| Exposure Time | 0.1 ms – 1000 s |
| Gain | 1x – 100x |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 41 dB |
| Dynamic Range | 74 dB |
| Read Noise | 0.5 – 2.55 e- |
| QE Peak | >83% |
| Full Well Capacity | 11.6ke- |
| ADC | 12-bit |
| DDR3 Memory | 512 MB (4Gb) |
| Data Transfer Port | USB3.0/USB2.0 |
| Camera Interface | 1.25-inch adapter for 1.25-inch telescopes, C-mount adapter for industrial C-mount lenses |
| Protection Window | IR-Cut filter / Anti-reflection coating |
| Spectral Response Range | 380-1100 nm (with AR coating) |
| Camera Control SDK | Windows/Linux/macOS/Android SDK (Native C/C++, C#/VB.NET, Python, Java, DirectShow, Twain) |
| Shooting Mode | Still capture and video mode |
| Camera Size | Diameter 37 mm * Height 72.4 mm |
| Camera Weight | 70 g |
| Back Focus | 17.5 mm with C-mount, 12.5 mm with CS-mount |
| Cooling | Passive cooling |
| Supported OS | Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 (32 & 64-bit), macOS, Linux |
Sony IMX678 Spectral Response Curve
The G3M678M has a G sensitivity of 5644mv at 1/30s. The spectral sensitivity is shown in Figure 1. Sensitivity is measured using a standard test lens CM500S (t=1.0mm) as an IR-CUT filter and an F8.0 aperture. If the image is measured at F5.6, the result may be twice the current value.
Figure 1: IMX678 Spectral Sensitivity Characteristics
12-bit ADC and ROI
The G3M678M is a native 12-bit ADC. It also features a 12-bit output mode with 2x2 binning for lower resolution. The camera also supports hardware ROI, where smaller ROI sizes result in higher frame rates.
Table 2 shows the frame rates for the G3M678M in 12/8-bit modes at different resolutions and USB3.0/USB2.0 data transfer interfaces.
| Resolution | 12-bit ADC | 8-bit ADC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB3.0 | USB2.0 | USB 3.0 Interface | USB 2.0 Interface | |
| 3840 * 2160 | 24 | 1.9 | 47 | 3.8 |
| 1920*1080 | 70 | 3.9 | 70 | 7.9 |
DDR3 Memory
The G3M678M camera has 512MB (4Gb) of DDR3 memory, which helps maintain data transfer stability and effectively reduces glow caused by temporary image data buffering, eliminating the need to rush data to the receiving end.
Pixel Binning
The G3M678M supports digital pixel binning from 1x1 to 8x8 (summation or averaging method) and hardware pixel binning from 1x1 to 2x2 (averaging method). Hardware pixel binning offers higher frame rates than software pixel binning.
Gain Switching
The G3M678M supports HCG and LCG switching.
Power System
The camera is powered via the USB 3.0 interface. Once connected to the host system via the USB 3.0 data cable, the camera is ready to operate.
Camera Performance Analysis
Camera performance can be evaluated using e-/ADU, read noise, full well capacity, and dynamic range.
e-/ADU: Sensors in cameras for visual applications convert incident photons into electrons. The gain on CCD/CMOS cameras is the conversion factor from electrons (e-) to digital signal or analog-to-digital units (ADU). Gain indicates the number of electrons required for conversion to a digital signal, or the number of electrons per ADU (e-/ADU).
Read Noise: Read noise is the most important reference for measuring camera performance. Lower read noise generally means better signal-to-noise ratio and better image quality. Read noise is generated within the camera's electronics during readout, as electrons pass through analog-to-digital conversion, amplification, and processing steps to produce an image.
Full Well Capacity: Electrons are retained in each pixel and converted into charge, which can be measured to display the amount of light falling on each pixel. The maximum possible charge is called the "full well capacity." Under the same conditions of noise and A/D converter quality, the larger the sensor's full well capacity, the higher the sensor's dynamic range. Due to limitations in pixel depth, the full well capacity is generally proportional to the front area of the pixel's light-gathering element.
Dynamic Range: This is the ratio of the maximum output signal level to the background noise (background noise, i.e., the RMS noise level in a black image) when the signal is amplified at its minimum. The camera's background noise includes sensor read noise, camera processing noise, and dark current shot noise. Dynamic range represents the camera's ability to display/reproduce the brightest and darkest parts of a scene, and the variation between them. Technically, this is the dynamic range of the scene. In a single image, there may be a completely black area and a completely saturated area.
For the G3M series cameras, the gain value is in the xxx% mode. Here, xxx is used to describe the x-axis (gain value) of the camera's performance:
Gain (dB) = 20 * log10 (Gain Value / 100)
Read Noise (e-) = 100 * 10^(Gain Value / 20)
Read noise is the most important reference for measuring camera performance. Lower read noise generally means better SNR and better image quality.
Camera settings for performance analysis are as follows:
- Maximum resolution
- RAW 12-bit ADC
- LCG
Figure 2 shows the curves for the camera analysis data in Table 3.
Figure 2: G3M678M e/ADU, Read Noise, Full Well, and Dynamic Range
Camera Analysis Data
Camera analysis data is shown in Table 3:
| Gain Value | 100 | 177 | 316 | 562 | 1000 | 1778 | 3162 | 5623 | 10000 | 15000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logarithmic Gain (dB) | 0.00 | 4.82 | 9.95 | 14.78 | 19.87 | 24.96 | 29.81 | 34.87 | 39.96 | 43.53 |
| e-/ADU | 2.85 | 1.62 | 0.89 | 0.51 | 0.28 | 0.16 | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Read Noise (e-) | 2.55 | 1.39 | 1.38 | 1.17 | 1.07 | 0.92 | 0.77 | 0.86 | 0.85 | 0.9 |
| Full Well Capacity (ke-) | 11.7 | 6.7 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.07 |
| Dynamic Range (stop) | 12 | 12 | 11.37 | 10.8 | 10.08 | 9.45 | 8.91 | 7.91 | 7.1 | 6.45 |
The camera settings for performance analysis are as follows:
- Maximum resolution
- RAW 12-bit ADC
- HCG
Figure 3 shows the curves for the camera analysis data in Table 3.
Figure 3: G3M678M e/ADU, Read Noise, Full Well, and Dynamic Range
Camera Analysis Data
Camera analysis data is shown in Table 4:
| Gain Value | 100 | 177 | 316 | 562 | 1000 | 1778 | 3162 | 5623 | 10000 | 15000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logarithmic Gain (dB) | 0 | 5.12 | 10.23 | 15 | 20.09 | 25.22 | 29.91 | 34.96 | 39.95 | 43.07 |
| e-/ADU | 0.64 | 0.36 | 0.2 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0 |
| Read Noise (e-) | 0.54 | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.4 | 0.38 | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| Full Well Capacity (ke-) | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Dynamic Range (stop) | 12 | 11.67 | 10.86 | 10.21 | 9.43 | 8.63 | 7.86 | 7.04 | 6.15 | 5.62 |
Product Packaging and Connection
Packing List
Figure 1: G3M678M Packaging Information
Table 1: G3M678M Packing List
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Outer Box: Length 50cm, Width 30cm, Height 30cm (20 units/box, 12-17kg/box, 0.045 cubic meters/box). Not shown in the photo. |
| B | Inner Box: Length 15cm, Width 15cm, Height 10cm (Approx. 0.8-1.0kg per finished product box). |
| C | G3M Series Camera with standard C-mount interface |
| D | 2-meter USB3.0 high-speed cable (Type-A to Type-B) |
| E | 2-meter ST4 guide scope cable |
| F | 1.25-inch extension tube |
| G | CD (Driver and utility software, Ø12cm) |
Camera Dimensions and Mounting Bracket
Figure 2: G3M678M Dimensions and Mounting Bracket
The G3M series camera body is made of a sturdy alloy, ensuring a robust and durable camera structure. The camera is equipped with an IR-CUT or AR anti-reflection coated glass to protect the sensor and block infrared light while preventing reflection. There are no moving parts inside the camera. This design makes the camera more rugged and extends its lifespan compared to other industrial camera solutions.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| 1 | Directly fits into a 1.25-inch telescope eyepiece holder. |
| 2 | G3M with a 1.25-inch extension tube, directly fits into a 1.25-inch telescope eyepiece holder. |
| 3 | Standard C-mount interface directly adapts to industrial C-mount lenses. |
Camera Outline and Interfaces
Figure 3: Camera Outline and Interfaces
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| 1 | Built-in ST4 auto-guider interface for direct connection to equatorial mounts. |
| 2 | USB3.0 Type-B female port. |
G3M678M and Software
ToupSky Installation
For software, customers can visit our software website at https://touptek-astro.cn to download the latest ToupSky. The G3M series cameras can also be used with ASCOM and DirectShow SDKs. If third-party software is compatible with these drivers, customers can download software drivers from our website and install them in the third-party software.
ToupSky is a Windows application for ToupTek astronomy cameras. ToupSky is a professional software that integrates camera control, image capture and processing, image browsing, and analysis functions. ToupSky has the following features:
Windows:
- x86: XP SP3 or later; CPU supports SSE2 instruction set or above
- x64: Win7 or later
Features:
- Controls all camera functions for optimal performance.
- Supports trigger mode and video mode (RAW or RGB format).
- Supports automatic capture and fast recording functions.
- Supports multiple languages.
- Supports hardware ROI and software pixel binning functions.
- ToupSky has extensive image processing functions, such as image stitching, real-time stacking, flat-field correction, and dark-field correction.
Supported Cameras:
- All ToupTek astronomy cameras
User-Friendly Interface Design
- Reasonably arranged menus and toolbars for quick operation.
- Unique and well-organized design of camera, folder, undo/redo sidebars.
- User-friendly operation methods (double-click or right-click context menu).
- Comprehensive help manual.
ToupSky Video Window
ToupSky Browse Window
Professional Camera Control Panel
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Capture & Resolution | Sets real-time and capture resolution, and captures images or records videos. |
| Capture & Gain | Auto exposure (preset exposure target) and manual exposure (exposure time can be manually entered); Gain up to 5x. |
| White Balance | Advanced one-key intelligent white balance setting, with manual temperature and tint adjustment. |
| Color Adjustment | Hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, gamma initialization adjustment. |
| Frame Rate | Adjustable frame rate for different computer configurations to ensure smooth video streaming. |
| Flip | Select "Horizontal" or "Vertical" to correct video sampling orientation. |
| Binning | Binning mode for low-noise video streams; Interval sampling mode for clearer, smoother video streams. Supports video stream histogram expansion, positive/negative switching, grayscale calibration, focus sharpness factor, etc. |
| Bit Depth | Switch between 8-bit and 12-bit. 8-bit is the basic image format for Windows. 12-bit offers higher image quality but lower FPS. |
| ROI | Region of Interest. This function allows setting ROI in the video window. When the ROI group is expanded, a dashed rectangle with "handles" will appear around the video window, which can be used to change the ROI. Adjust the ROI size using the mouse button. If the ROI is correct, click "Apply" to set the video to the ROI size; the default value will be restored to the original size. |
| Dark Frame Correction | To enable dark frame correction, a dark frame image should be captured first. After capturing the image, the "Enable" button will be activated. Selecting it enables dark frame correction. Deselecting it disables dark frame correction. |
| Cooling | Set the TE target cooling temperature and control the fan (On/Off). |
| Presets | Load, save, overwrite, import, and export custom parameters for the camera control panel (including calibration information, exposure, and color settings). |
Practical Functions for Good Results
- Video Functions: Various professional functions: video broadcasting, time-lapse shooting, video recording, video stream grid, image stitching, video scale, date, etc.
- Image Processing and Enhancement: Control and adjust images through denoising, sharpening, de-interlacing, various filtering algorithms, mathematical morphology algorithms, range, binarization, pseudo-color, 3D surface grayscale maps, and line grayscale profiles.
- Image Stacking: Image stacking uses advanced image matching technology. Using recorded videos, regardless of video shift, rotation, or scaling, high-quality images can be stacked to reduce image noise.
Figure 4: Image Stacking
Compatibility
| Interface | Description |
|---|---|
| Preview Interface | Supports Twain, DirectShow, Labview, SDK Package (Native C++, C#/VB.NET) |
| Operating System | Compatible with Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / 7 / 8 /10 (32 & 64 bit), macOS, Linux |
| Multi-language Environment | Currently supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Russian, German, French, Polish, and Turkish, with support for adding new languages. |
Hardware Requirements
| Computer Configuration | Requirements |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core 2 2.8GHz or higher |
| Memory | 2GB or more |
| USB Interface | USB2.0 or higher high-speed interface |
| Display | 17” or larger |
| CD-ROM | Required |
G3M678M and Dhow
ToupTekDshowAstroSetup (download via the blue link on the left)
DshowAstro is an interface driver that provides Dshow standard support for ToupTek USB astronomy cameras.
Supported Operating Systems: Windows:
- x86: XP SP3 or later; CPU supports SSE2 instruction set or above
- x64: Win7 or later
Supported Cameras:
- All ToupTek astronomy cameras
G3M678M and Third-Party Software
Supported Software
| No. | Software | Version | Native | ASCOM | WDM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PHD Guiding | 2.3.0(2014) | √ | √ | √ | ／ |
| 2 | Nebulosity | 3.2.2(2014) | √ | × | ／ | ／ |
| 3 | MaxIm DL | 5.23(2013) | √ | × | ／ | ／ |
| 4 | SharpCap | 2.1(2014) | √ | × | ／ | ／ |
| 5 | MetaGuide | 5.2.0(2014) | √ | ／ | √ | ／ |
| 6 | FireCapture | 2.4.05(2014) | √ | ／ | √ | ／ |
| 7 | Astroart | 5.0(2014) | √ | × | ／ | ／ |
N.I.N.A
A powerful open-source free astronomy deep-sky imaging control system.
INDI
A popular third-party astronomy device driver, often used for Linux and MacOS systems.
ASCOM Platform
All AstroCam telescope camera drivers require the ASCOM platform to be installed.
Download ASCOM package from: http://www.ascom-standards.org/index.htm
You can download the ASCOM package from: http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm
PHD Guiding
Popular free guiding software: http://openphdguiding.org/
ToupTek telescope cameras support Native/ASCOM/WDM drivers for video operation.
Nebulosity
A popular cooled camera control/image processing software directly supported by ASCOM.
MetaGuide
An automatic guiding software with a novel approach to avoid atmospheric turbulence. The latest version supports GCMOS01200KPB. Guiding port: http://www.astrogeeks.com/Bliss/MetaGuide/
MAXIMDL
A well-known full-featured CCD control/image processing software, popular in the United States.
AstroArt
A well-known full-featured CCD control/image processing software, popular in Europe.
FireCapture
Great free planetary capture software. Supports some AstroCam series telescope cameras.
SharpCAP
A nice free planetary capture software that supports WDM cameras, including AstroCam series telescope cameras.
Registax
A popular free planetary stacking and processing software.
AstroStack
A planetary stacking and processing software.
DeepSky Stacker
Free deep-sky image stacking and processing software.
Service
For software upgrades, please refer to the "Download" section on our official website: https://ToupTek.com/
For customers who purchased cameras from local distributors, please contact your distributor for further inquiries.
For technical support, please contact the email address: karas@ToupTek.com.
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