Specifications
Section 1 - Introduction
Page 4
1. Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's Research
Model CCD cameras. These large format cameras are SBIG's sixth generation CCD cameras and
represent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise and advanced
capabilities, including Kodak's new Blue Enhanced E series of CCDs, high speed USB interface,
internal filter wheel and dual self-guiding modes. We feel that these cameras will expand your
astronomy experience by being able to easily take images like the ones you've seen in books and
magazines, of structure never seen through the eyepiece. SBIG CCD cameras offer convenience,
high sensitivity, and advanced image processing techniques that film just can't match. And now,
with these large format cameras, digital imaging is directly comparable to 35mm film with its wide
field of view. In addition, CCDs allow a wide range of scientific measurements and have
established a whole new field of amateur astronomy that is growing by leaps and bounds.
The Research Series cameras include several exciting new features: internal self-guiding (US
Patent 5,525,793), optional remote self-guiding, internal filter wheel, two-stage cooling, high speed
USB interface and more. These cameras have two CCDs inside, one for guiding and a large one for
imaging. An optional remote guiding head may be added for guiding through an external optical
system or through an off-axis guider placed before the camera. The low noise of the read out
electronics virtually guarantees that a usable guide star will be within the field of the guiding CCD
for telescopes with F/numbers F/6.3 or faster. The two-stage new cooling design is capable of
exceptional performance even in warm climates. The relay output plugs directly into most recent
commercial telescope drives and is easily modifiable to virtually any drive system. As a result, you
can take hour long guided exposures with ease, using either the built-in guiding CCD or the
remote guiding head. The internal guiding CCD eliminates differential deflection of guide scope
relative to the main telescope and requires no radial guider setup hassles. The remote guiding
head allows for a convenient alternative when imaging through narrow band filters where suitable
guide stars may be difficult to find. This dual tracking mode capability, coupled with the
phenomenal sensitivity of the CCD, will allow the user to acquire observatory class images of deep
sky images with modest apertures! The technology also makes image stabilization possible
through our AO-7.
The new Research Series of cameras incorporate the following design features and
improvements over predecessors:
Uses high speed USB for faster downloads with rates up to 425,000 pixels / second.
Adds a new I2C bi-directional AUX port for future use.
LEDs on the digital board show relay activations (helpful for troubleshooting).
New two-stage cooling with water circulation capability built-in.
No firmware ROM to update, software uploads to camera at boot-up.
New capabilities can be added to the camera by replacing the loader driver.
New Boot sequence, LED flashes and fan comes on when firmware upload is complete.
LED flashes when initializing shutter.
Mechanical/electronic design work to reduce shutter errors and stray light.
Larger TC237 autoguider CCD (656 x 495 at 7.4u).
Premier software, CCDSoftV5 and TheSky included with each camera.
CCDOPS version 5 camera control software included with major improvements