New STX Series Cameras - Baader Planetarium

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New STX Series Cameras 

The new STX Series Cameras from SBIG leave nothing to be desired: Greater cooling, faster 

download rates, better guiding, new imaging CCDs, larger tracking CCD, dual interface and more: 

• USB 2.0 and Ethernet Connections 

• 12VDC Operation 

• Full Frame Image Buffer 

• Air Cooling to –50C from ambient 

• Water Cooling Ready 

• Internal and External Self-Guiding 

• Simultaneous Dual CCD Guiding 

• Differential Guiding (patent pending) 

• Continuous Guiding During Download 

• Adaptive Optics Control 

• Even-illumination Mechanical Shutter 

• Gas Purge Option CCD Chamber 

• 40% Larger Tracking CCD 

• Focus Mechanism for Tracking CCD 

NEW CCDs Pixels Array Pixel Mono / Color Notes 

KAF-8300 8.3 Megapixels 3326 x 2504 5.4u Mono or color Full Frame Microlens ABG 

KAI-10100 10.1 Megapixels 3648 x 2760 4.75u Color 2x2 Color Binning 

KAI-16000 16 Megapixels 4872 x 3248 7.4u Mono or color 35mm format 

KAF-9000 9 Megapixels 3056 x 3056 12u Mono Full Frame Microlens ABG 

KAF-16803 16 Megapixels 4096 x 4096 9u Mono Full Frame Microlens ABG 

CCD42-40 4 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 13.5u Mono Back illuminated High QE 

CCD47-10 1 Megapixels 1056 x 1027 13u Mono Back illuminated High QE 

CCD42-00 262,144 Pixels 512 x 512 24u Mono Back illuminated High QE 

Internal and external guiders can be operated simultaneously for both fast and slow corrections to 

handle differential deflection. Guiding will continue during downloads and autograb sequences. 

The new 10100 color CCD can be binned 2x2 without losing color information, giving the camera 2.5 

megapixels at 9.5 microns, or 10.1 megapixels at 4.75 microns. More new STX features, details inside. 

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Santa Barbara Instrument Group 147-A Castilian Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93117 USA 

Tel (805) 571-7244 Fax (805) 571-1147 E-mail: sbig@sbig.com Web: http://www.sbig.com

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New Guiding Techniques for the STX 

It is well known that the advantage of easier guiding through a separate guide scopes is often limited by 

differential deflection of the guide scope relative to the main optical axis due to mechanical flexure or 

shifting of the mirror in the main OTA. This difficulty is addressed with two new guiding techniques 

developed by SBIG and implemented in the STX series cameras: Simultaneous Guiding and Differential 

Guiding. 

Simultaneous Guiding: The external guide head will not only 

continue to guide while the imaging CCD is downloading an 

image, but it can be operated simultaneously with the on-board 

guiding CCD. This allows a unique type of guiding through a 

separate guide scope that will correct for differential deflection 

by using the external guider to make fast corrections while the 

on-board guider makes slow corrections. Differential deflection 

tends to occur over a longer period of time than drive errors, 

typically minutes vs. seconds. A long exposure taken with the 

built-in guider is capable of reaching dim stars without searching, even though dark filters, and a long 

exposure with slow corrections by the on-board guider will correct for slow differential deflection typically 

experienced with separate guide scopes. In the mean time, the external guider will continue to make fast 

corrections using the brighter stars easily found with a short refractor mounted externally. With the new 

STX series cameras this technique will only require a Remote Guide Head. 

Differential Guiding: SBIG has a patent pending on a new 

guiding technique using an artificial guide star. Although 

artificial stars are used in a variety of techniques on professional 

telescopes, the SBIG technique is somewhat different and easy 

to implement on amateur scopes. An artificial star is created 

near the focal plane of the 

imaging CCD and an image of 

this star is retro-reflected into a 

separate guide scope. By using 

one real star in the FOV of the guide scope and the artificial star image 

reflected from the main scope, the difference in separation caused by 

telescope drift is used to make the corrections to the telescope drive. There 

is no problem with differential deflection and a single CCD external guider 

can be used to monitor both the real and artificial guide stars. The artificial star image is not seen by the 

imaging CCD. 

Larger Guiding CCD with Adjustable Focus: The guiding 

CCD in the STX cameras will be a new KAI-340 CCD with 

640 x 480 pixels at 9u. This CCD is approximately 40% larger 

than the TC-237 currently used in 

ST and STL series cameras. The 

KAI-340 CCD will also be used in 

a new Remote Guide Head made for the 

STX series cameras. As the imaging 

and guiding CCDs get larger, the guiding CCD gets pushed farther away from 

the center of the optical axis. Depending on the nature of the optical system, 

this can cause the image on the guiding CCD to be slightly out of focus when 

the image on the main CCD is in focus. To address this, the new STX cameras 

will have a user accessible adjustment for changing the focal point of the on-board guiding CCD. 

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Design 

Features for the STX 

USB 

2.0 and Ethernet: Both USB 2.0 and Ethernet will be 

available on each STX camera. The user will not have to choose 

the interface at the time of purchase. The STX cameras will have 

the same convenient I2C AUX port that we use on the ST and STL 

cameras for power and control of accessories such as filter wheels 

and Adaptive Optics, and will operate from any unregulated 

12VDC source. 

Full 

Frame Image Buffer: The STX series cameras will have a 

full frame image buffer for storing image date during download. 

We are exploring the possibility of using this buffer for preprocessing 

pixel defects based on a defect map provided by the 

CCD manufacturer, at the user’s direction. 

Improved 

Cooling: Our engineers have modeled an optimum 

cooling design for this camera using a large custom pin grid array 

heat sink mated directly to the hot side of the 2 stage TE cooler to 

achieve maximum heat dissipation with a single large fan. The 

STX is designed to achieve a minimum delta of -50 degrees C with 

air only, and a similar delta with water only. 

Water 

Circulation Ready: While the design is aimed at 

sufficient cooling without water assist, it is possible to use water 

instead of air or in addition to air for optimum cooling. Using 

water instead of air will not require the use of a fan. Chilled water 

may also be used alone or with the fan for even greater cooling. 

Variable 

Speed Fan Control: If the user desires air cooling only, 

the fan speed is controllable through software. Variable speed 

control allows the user to "tune" to fan to eliminate any resonance 

with the user's telescope thus suppressing harmonic vibrations. 

Desiccant 

+ Gas Purge Ports: In order to allow the user the 

greatest flexibility in the field, and to avoid having to return the 

camera to the factory in order to purge the CCD chamber with inert 

gas, we have designed the chamber to accept both a rechargeable 

desiccant plug similar to our current ST and STL cameras, and an 

optional quick disconnect gas purge port for purging the chamber 

with Argon or other inert gas . 

Even-illumination 

Shutter: From the first ST-7 camera, SBIG 

has incorporated an even illumination shutter for taking short 

exposure flat field frames on all self-guiding cameras. However, 

the rotating disk design becomes rather large with ever increasing 

CCD sizes. Therefore, a new shutter design will be introduced 

with the STX series that reduces the overall size and weight of the 

camera body, while maintaining even illumination on short 

exposures with large CCDs. 

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Current SBIG Camera Models and Accessories 

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Model CCD # Pixels Array Pixel Type Notes Price 

Remote Head TC-237H 325,215 657 x 495 7.4u Mono External Guider $695 

Seeing Monitor KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Measures Seeing $1995 

Meteor Camera KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Wide Angle $1995 

ST-402ME KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Single CCD High QE $1395 

ST-402ME RGB KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Internal RGB Filters $1595 

ST-402ME BVI KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Internal BVI Filters $1774 

ST-1603ME KAF-1603ME 1.5 Megapixels 1530 x 1020 9u Mono Single CCD High QE $3495 

ST-3200ME KAF-3200ME 3.2 Megapixels 2184 x 1472 6.8u Mono Single CCD High QE $5895 

ST-7XME Std KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $2195 

ST-8XME KAF-1603ME 1.5 Megapixels 1530 x 1020 9u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $4495 

ST-9XE KAF-0261E 262,144 Pixels 512 x 512 20u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $2795 

ST-10XME KAF-3200ME 3.2 Megapixels 2184 x 1472 6.8u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $5995 

ST-2000XM KAI-2020M 2 Megapixels 1600 x 1200 7.4u Mono Self-Guiding ABG $3395 

ST-2000XCM KAI-2020CM 2 Megapixels 1600 x 1200 7.4u Color Self-Guiding Color $2695 

ST-4000XM KAI-4021M 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Mono Self-Guiding ABG TBA 

ST-4000XCM KAI-4020CM 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Color Self-Guiding Color $3395 

STL-1001E KAF-1001E 1 Megapixel 1024 x 1024 24u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $6995 

STL-4020XM KAI-4021M 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Mono Self-Guiding ABG $5995 

STL-4020XCM KAI-4021CM 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Color Self-Guiding Color $5995 

STL-6303E KAF-6303E 6.3 Megapixels 3060x 2040 9u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $8995 

STL-11000M KAI-11002M 11 Megapixels 4008 x 2675 9u Mono Self-Guiding ABG $6995 

STL-11000CM KAI-11002CM 11 Megapixels 4008 x 2675 9u Color Self-Guiding Color $6995 

Model Item Description Price 

CFW-9 Filter Wheel 5 Position 1.25" filter wheel for ST-7/8/9/10/20 00 cameras (see notes below) $595 

CFW-10 Filter Wheel 10 Position 1.25" filter wheel for ST-7/8/9/10/2000 cameras $995 

CFW-10 SA Filter Wheel Same as CFW-10 but "stand alone" for use with any brand of CCD camera $995 

FW8-STL Filter wheel 8 Position 2" filter wheel for STL series cameras (replaces 5 position wheel) $700 

FW8-STL Filter wheel 8 Position 2" filter wheel for STL series cameras (add to 5 position wheel) $1195 

AO-8 Adaptive Optics Adaptive Optics for ST-7/8/9/10/2000/4000 cameras $699 

AO-L Adaptive Optics Adaptive Optics for STL series cameras $1795 

DSS-7 Spectrograph Spectrograph designed for ST-402 (will work with any ST series camera) $1595 

SGS Spectrograph Self-Guiding Spectrograph for ST-7/8/9/10/2000/4000 cameras $4995 

SGS High Res Spectrograph Same as SGS but with higher resolution grating $6150 

Please 

Note: The CFW-9 filter wheel is currently free with ST-8/9/10/2000 monochrome cameras. Offer is good 

through12/31/07. All STL cameras come with a built-in 5 position filter wheel, the 8 position filter wheel may be added 

for 

$700 at time of purchase The ST-4000XCM at $3395 is limited to a supply of CCDs on hand and the offer will expire when 

the supply is exhausted. The regular price for the ST-4000XCM after the special sale will be the same as the ST-4000XM 

monochrome camera. The rest of the prices above include any special offers in effect at the time of this writing and are 

good through 12/31/07. For information onclasses of CCDs available, industrial (single sensor) models of the ST series 

cameras, filters and accessories, with pricing, please see our official price list at 

http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/Pricelist_u.htm

New STX Series Cameras - Baader Planetarium

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