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ST-8300M and ST-8300C
High Resolution 8.3 Megapixel
CCD Cameras
The new ST-8300M (monochrome) and ST-8300C (color) cameras are based on Kodak's
KAF-8300, 8.3 megapixel, full frame CCD. This CCD array has 3326 x 2504 pixels at 5.4
microns making it ideal for both short fast optics in high resolution (unbinned) mode,
and for longer focal lengths it can be binned binned 2x2 or 3x3. The CCD has both
antiblooming and microlens technology to improve the effective Quantum Efficiency of the
sensor. As a result it can be used in a wide variety of optical configurations. The camera electronics are USB 2.0 for fast download
rates and rapid focus mode. The small light body accepts both c-mount and standard 35mm Nikon camera lenses. A built-in
mechanical shutter is included for automatic dark frames. In addition to its imaging capabilities, it can also be used as a guider.
Large High Resolution Imaging CCD
The
KAF-8300
CCD
is
approximately
18
x
14mm and has a diagonal
measurement of about 22
millimeters. This is about
1.6X the image area of an
ST-10 and nearly the same
area as the STL-4020M. With
its relatively small pixels and
large image area it is ideal for wide field imaging with short fast
telescopes and camera lenses and at the same time is flexible
enough to be used on long focal length Schmidt-Cassegrains.
Partial Frame and Binning Modes
The ST-8300C single-shot-color version of this camera can
be used in high resolution mode (only) for color images, or
binned 2x2 or 3x3 for monochrome imaging. The ST-8300M
monochrome camera can be used with a filter wheel in any
of several binning and partial frame modes for monochrome,
color or narrowband imaging. Binned 2x2 the pixels are 10.8
microns square and binned 3x3 they are 16.2 microns square.
At 2x2 the array is still 2 megapixels and at 3x3 just under
one megapixel. This feature makes it possible to match the
pixel size to your seeing and scope, from a small refractor
to a large SCT. With the ST-8300M monochrome camera
binning will not only help optimize the sensitivity of the CCD
with the user's optics and seeing conditions, but also speeds
up the download rate. SBIG software drivers allow the user
to combine any of several binning modes and partial frame
in various ways to suit the user's optics, seeing conditions
and objects of interest. For example, when imaging planets
the sensor can be used in high resolution (5.4 micron pixels)
mode while downloading only a quarter frame to speed up the
data collection process. On nights of less than good seeing,
or when used at longer focal length scopes such as Schmidt-
Cassegrains, the sensor can be binned 2x2 or 3x3 in full frame
mode to match the conditions while maintaining the full field
of view of the CCD. The various frame and binning modes are
shown in the table below. These frame and binning modes,
coupled with the large sensor area and 8.3 megapixel array
make the ST-8300 cameras extremely versatile and adaptable
to a very wide variety of telescopes and conditions. For
these reasons, plus the camera's small size and breakthrough
price point, we feel the ST-8300 is an ideal camera for those
stepping up to a cooled low noise astronomical CCD camera
from a DSLR and a superb backup camera for even advanced
users.
Resolution, Pixel Size and Transfer Time
ST-8300
Full
Frame
High Res
3326 x 2504
(unbinned)
5.4 microns
7.5 sec
Medium Res
1663 x 1252
(binned 2x2)
10.8 microns
4.0 sec
Low Res
1109 x 835
(binned 3x3)
16.2 microns
1.8 sec
Ultra
370 x 278
Low Res
48.6 microns
(binned 9x9)
0.7 sec
Unbinned
FL mm
5.4u
5000
0.22
4750
0.23
4500
0.25
Half
Quarter
Frame
Frame
1663 x 1252
832 x 626
5.4 microns
5.4 microns
2.7 sec
1.3 sec
832 x 626
416 x 313
10.8 microns
10.8 microns
1.8 sec
0.9 sec
554 x 417
277 x 209
16.2 microns
16.2 microns
0.8 sec
0.5 sec
185 x 139
92 x 70
48.6 microns
48.6 microns
0.3 sec
0.2 sec
Binned
Binned
2 x 2
3 x 3
10.8u
16.2u
FL inches
0.45
0.67
200
0.47
0.70
190
0.49
0.74
180
continued
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Related Manuals for SBIG ST-8300M
Summary of Contents for SBIG ST-8300M
- Page 1 High Resolution 8.3 Megapixel CCD Cameras The new ST-8300M (monochrome) and ST-8300C (color) cameras are based on Kodak’s KAF-8300, 8.3 megapixel, full frame CCD. This CCD array has 3326 x 2504 pixels at 5.4 microns making it ideal for both short fast optics in high resolution (unbinned) mode, and for longer focal lengths it can be binned binned 2x2 or 3x3.
- Page 2 SBIG also sells a 12VDC battery cable with with ~ 2 second frame updates. The camera is also compatible alligator clips and a cigarette lighter adapter plug.
- Page 3 0.04 electrons making it the lowest the “must have” requirements for any autoguider we made, dark current of any camera currently made by SBIG. and is the reason we built one into the new SG-4 autoguider.
- Page 4 For the full well saturation and at the same time this CCD has a this reason SBIG designed a new 5-position filter wheeland quantum efficiency comparable to that of a full frame sensor a new 8-position filter wheel specifically for the ST-8300 without ABG.
- Page 5 • 15 foot USB cable (third party USB extenders available) • Telescope interface cable (for guiding) • Universal 100-240VAC Power supply • SBIG’s CCDOPS version 5 camera control software 12VDC Power Cable • Software Bisque’s CCDSoftV5 camera control and image 8 foot (2.4 meter) power...