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                      Deep Sky Imaging - mUltI PIXEL CCD
Our Deep Sky Multi-Pixel CCD Cameras are astonishing each using advanced technology from Sony which is at the forefront of our DS series cameras. The Opticstar XL's are thermo electrically cooled for long exposure image capture enabling our XL cameras to achieve higher performance levels than other Sony CCD based cameras! Due to their advanced electronics, incorporating real hardware gain, noise suppression &  superior cooling our XL cameras are 50% more light sensitive in practical use (100% max) than any other competing camera on the Market! Our 142 and 145 series are both use by Nasa, the US Army and the Japanese Space agency...They are just that good!
                   


              Opticstar DS-616C XL 6.1 Megapixel - 1.8" CCD - TEC Cooled - Hardware Gain - Video Mode  

The new Opticstar XL cameras use precision machined heavy duty aluminum alloy cases that provide unparalleled solidity and support sensor orthogonality. The camera uses long-life, high quality seals and offer 99%+ camera window transparency. A substantial heat-sink (five to ten times the mass of the typical heat-sink in comparable cameras) rapidly draws the heat away from the sensor via a powerful Peltier thermocouple for superior performance. This heat is then rapidly dissipated into the atmosphere with the assistance of a fan thus bringing noise levels down to an absolute minimum.

The larger than usual Sony 1/1.8” format CCD sensor offers a wide field of view allowing easier framing of larger deep-sky objects. Focus and preview modes run at a maximum 5 frames per second even at full resolution ( 3032x2014 ) which is many times faster than other single shot astronomy cameras, which makes critical focusing markedly easier to achieve!

The proprietary StarView mode enables semi real time viewing of deep sky objects in color with an incredible 3600% sensitivity boost with exposure times at up to 1ms and 1 hour, a very useful feature not available to other manufacturers’ single shot cameras!

Bundled with the camera, is a main power supply unit to power the thermo-electric cooling sub-system, 1 hard shell carrying case and adapters to attach the camera to the telescope. The camera also includes Nebulosity v2.0 camera control and image processing software as well as drivers for MaxImDL and Astroart. Exceptional Quality - COPIED but Never Equaled!!!

 
 
                  
                                 

          

         

              

  • 1.8" Sony ICX413AQ Interline Color CCD
  • Resolution: 6.1 Megapixels, 3032x2014
  • No Infra Red filter
  • Color Binning: 1x1, 2x2, 4x4
  • Thermo-Electric Cooling & Fan
  • Cooling to 30ºC below ambient temperature
  • Hardware Gain - up to 100% sensitivity boost
  • Hardware Black Level
  • Preview / Focusing @ 1 frame per second
  • Ragged aluminum construction
  • Semi-Video mode for real time Deep Sky
  • StarView mode
  • Bundled Software:
    • Nebulosity v2
    • Plugin for AstroArt
    • Plugin for MaxIm DL
  • Computer Requirements:
    • Microsoft Windows (32-bit & 64-bit) XP/Vista/7/8
    • USB 2.0 port
 

                                                 Gain versus noise.
       Showing the correlation between the Opticstar DS-616C XL's Gain level and sensor noise.                                
                         




                                                       
                                                                   Opticstar DS-142C ICE
                                              Peltier Cooled - Long Exposure - Sensitive - Colour Imaging
Opticstar DS-142C ICE.
  • Sony ICX205AK 1.4 Megapixel 1/2" CCD
  • Colour CCD: 1434 x 1050 pixels
  • Pixel size 4.65µm x 4.65µm
  • Quantum Efficiency (mono version): 42%
  • Noise reduction electronics
  • Gain functionality in hardware
  • Preview mode @ 1434x1050: 2.5fps
  • Raw 16-bit image transfer @ 1434x1050: 1 second approximately
  • Colour Binning: 1x1, 2x2, 4x4
  • Data output: 16-bit or 8-bit raw
  • Exposure time: 20ms to over 1 hour
  • Robust all metal case
  • Sealed sensor and electronics
  • Peltier cooled with fan assist,
    up to 30°C below ambient
  • USB 2.0 high-speed interface
  • Focusing preview mode
  • 2.5 meters in-situ USB cable
  • High quality regulated PSU
  • Full Nebulosity software included for camera control and image processing
  • Bundled plug-ins: Nebulosity, AstroArt & MaxIm DL
  • Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-142C ICE features.
A+ sensor. The Opticstar hand-selected hi-grade A+ sensor installed in this camera is noted for its uniform surface response and low noise required for low light applications.

 
                                                                     Opticstar DS-142M ICE
                                            Peltier Cooled - Long Exposure - Sensitive - Monochrome Imaging
New drivers for Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-142M ICE.
  • Sony ICX205AL 1.4 Megapixel 1/2" CCD
  • Monochrome CCD: 1434 x 1050 pixels
  • Pixel size 4.65µm x 4.65µm
  • Quantum Efficiency (max): 42%
  • Noise reduction electronics
  • Gain functionality in hardware
  • Preview mode @ 1434x1050: 3.5fps
  • Raw 16-bit image transfer @ 1434x1050: 0.5 second approximately
  • Binning modes: 1x1, 2x2, 4x4
  • Exposure time: 3ms to over 1 hour
  • Data output: 16-bit or 8-bit raw
  • Robust all metal case
  • Sealed sensor and electronics
  • Peltier cooled with fan assist,
    up to 30°C below ambient
  • USB 2.0 high-speed interface
  • Focusing preview mode
  • 2.5 meters in-situ USB cable
  • High quality regulated PSU
  • Full Nebulosity software included for camera control and image processing
  • Bundled plug-ins: Nebulosity, AstroArt & MaxIm DL
  • Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-142M ICE features.
A+ sensor. The Opticstar hand-selected hi-grade A+ sensor installed in this camera is noted for its uniform surface response and low noise required for low light applications.

Outline:
The DS-142M and C ICE Peltier cooled cameras come with fan-assist in a native 1.4 mega-pixel 16-bit greyscale CCD imager with a large and very sensitive Sony SuperHAD Chip of 1/2" diagonal (ICX205AL).

The DS-142M ICE uses the all new Z-MAX high-speed platform which adds a host of desirable features to this high quality camera.

Unlike other cameras in its class, gain support, noise reduction and black level are all implemented in the camera hardware and applied to the signal prior to the data been sent to the PC, thus ensuring the highest quality signal and brightest image possible at typical speeds of 3.5fps @ 1434x1050 in uncompressed RAW format.

A substantial heatsink, over five times the mass of the typical heatsink in comparable cameras, rapidly draws the heat away from the sensor via a powerful Peltier thermocouple. This heat is then rapidly dissipated into the atmosphere with the assistance of an essential 60mm diameter fan thus bringing noise levels down to a minimum.

Hardware Gain:
The camera's advanced features can easily be demostrated in StarView. The StarView mode is a real time video mode with exposure times up to 10 seconds per frame. There is no need to use any bias frames. Deep sky objects become visible in real time, making focusing much easier and quicker.
Gain at 100% and 50% respectively.
The StarView mode above demonstrates the Gain function in real time (10 second exposures). The    image on the left has 100% Gain applied to it. The image on the right has 50% Gain applied to it.         These images do not use any dark/flat/bias frames. In StarView mode the images are shown in colour as standard. Although StarView is part of the camera runtime software, it is accessible from Nebulosity, AstroArt and MaxIm DL.Screen shots shown form the color version of the camera. The monochrome version is approximately 2.5 times more light sensitive.                                    

The Gain function does not simply boost the signal evenly, it also improves the signal-to-noise (S/N)ratio dramatically. In fact, as the Gain increases the S/N ratio increase is 10:1. This is possible due to the camera's build-in noise reduction.                                                                                          .
Gain at 100%.
StarView mode at 100% Gain showing the M57 and M13 deep sky objects. Exposure time 10 seconds per frame.With a 7" Maksutov at f9.Screen shots shown form the color version of the camera. The monochrome version is approximately 2.5 times more light sensitive.                   



Quantum efficiency.
                                                                      The quantum efficiency of the Sony ICX205.
                                                         
                                                                         Opticstar DS-145C ICE
                                                   T.E.C. Cooled - Long Exposure - High Sensitivity - Colour Imaging
New drivers for Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-145C ICE.
  • Sony ICX285AQ 1.4 Megapixel 2/3" CCD
  • Colour CCD: 1434 x 1050 pixels
  • Pixel size 6.45µm x 6.45µm
  • Quantum Efficiency (max): 62%
  • Noise reduction electronics
  • Gain functionality in hardware
  • Preview mode @ 1434x1050: 3fps
  • Raw 16-bit image transfer @ 1434x1050: 0.5 second approximately
  • Colour Binning: 1x1, 2x2, 4x4
  • Data output: 16-bit or 8-bit raw
  • Exposure time: 3ms to over 1 hour
  • Robust all metal case
  • Sealed sensor and electronics
  • Peltier cooled with fan assist,
    up to 30°C below ambient
  • USB 2.0 high-speed interface
  • Focusing preview mode
  • 2.5 meters in-situ USB cable
  • High quality regulated PSU
  • Full Nebulosity software included for camera control and image processing
  • Bundled plug-ins: Nebulosity, AstroArt & MaxIm DL
  • Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-145C ICE features.
A+ sensor. The Opticstar hand-selected hi-grade A+ sensor installed in this camera is noted for its uniform surface response and low noise required for low light applications.

                                                                   Opticstar DS-145M ICE
                                                T.E.C. Cooled - Long Exposure - High Sensitivity - Monochrome Imaging
New drivers for Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-145M ICE.
  • Sony ICX285AL 1.4 Megapixel 2/3" CCD
  • Monochrome CCD: 1434 x 1050 pixels
  • Pixel size 6.45µm x 6.45µm
  • Quantum Efficiency (max): 62%
  • Noise reduction electronics
  • Gain functionality in hardware
  • Preview mode @ 1434x1050: 3.5fps
  • Raw 16-bit image transfer @ 1434x1050: 0.5 second approximately
  • Binning modes: 1x1, 2x2, 4x4
  • Data output: 16-bit or 8-bit raw
  • Exposure time: 3ms to over 1 hour
  • Robust all metal case
  • Sealed sensor and electronics
  • Peltier cooled with fan assist,
    up to 30°C below ambient
  • USB 2.0 high-speed interface
  • Focusing preview mode
  • 2.5 meters in-situ USB cable
  • High quality regulated PSU
  • Full Nebulosity software included for camera control and image processing
  • Bundled plug-ins: AstroArt & MaxIm DL
  • Bundled plug-ins: Nebulosity, AstroArt & MaxIm DL
  • Microsoft Windows (64-bit & 32-bit) 2000/XP/Vista/7
Opticstar DS-145M ICE features.
A+ sensor. The Opticstar hand-selected hi-grade A+ sensor installed in this camera is noted for its uniform surface response and low noise required for low light applications.

Outline:
The DS-145M ICE Peltier cooled camera with fan-assist is a native 1.4 mega-pixel 16-bit greyscale CCD imager with a large and highly sensitive EXview Sony HAD Chip of 2/3" diagonal (ICX285AL).

The DS145M ICE uses the all new Z-MAX high-speed platform which adds a host of desirable features to this high quality camera.

Unlike other cameras in its class, gain support, noise reduction and black level are all implemented in the camera hardware and applied to the signal prior to the data been sent to the PC, thus ensuring the highest quality signal and brightest image possible at typical speeds of 3.5fps @ 1434x1050 in uncompressed RAW format. 		Relative CCD sizes.
Relative CCD sizes.

A substantial heatsink, over five times the mass of the typical heatsink in comparable cameras, rapidly draws the heat away from the sensor via a powerful Peltier thermocouple. This heat is then rapidly dissipated into the atmosphere with the assistance of an essential 60mm diameter fan thus bringing noise levels down to a minimum.

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