SBIG ST-8300C User manual

Brand: SBIG

Model: ST-8300C

Type: User manual

This manual is also suitable for

ST-8300M

SBIG ST-8300C is a high-resolution 8.3-megapixel color camera based on Kodak's KAF-8300 full-frame CCD. With 3326 x 2504 pixels at 5.4 microns, it's suitable for both short, fast optics and longer focal lengths, thanks to its 2x2 and 3x3 binning capabilities. Antiblooming and microlens technology enhance the sensor's effective Quantum Efficiency, making it versatile for various optical configurations.

The USB 2.0 interface ensures fast download rates and rapid focus mode, while the small, lightweight body accepts both C-mount and standard 35mm Nikon camera lenses. The built-in mechanical shutter enables automatic dark frames, and the camera can also function as a guider.

ST-8300M and ST-8300C

High Resolution 8.3 Megapixel

CCD Cameras

Resolution, Pixel Size and Transfer Time

ST-8300 Full

Frame

Half

Frame

Quarter

Frame

High Res

(unbinned)

3326 x 2504

5.4 microns

7.5 sec

1663 x 1252

5.4 microns

2.7 sec

832 x 626

5.4 microns

1.3 sec

Medium Res

(binned 2x2)

1663 x 1252

10.8 microns

4.0 sec

832 x 626

10.8 microns

1.8 sec

416 x 313

10.8 microns

0.9 sec

Low Res

(binned 3x3)

1109 x 835

16.2 microns

1.8 sec

554 x 417

16.2 microns

0.8 sec

277 x 209

16.2 microns

0.5 sec

Ultra

Low Res

(binned 9x9)

370 x 278

48.6 microns

0.7 sec

185 x 139

48.6 microns

0.3 sec

92 x 70

48.6 microns

0.2 sec

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 Efciency of the

sensor. As a result it can be used in a wide variety of optical congurations. 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 eld imaging with short fast

telescopes and camera lenses and at the same time is exible

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 lter 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 eld

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.

Unbinned Binned

2 x 2

Binned

3 x 3

FL mm 5.4u 10.8u 16.2u FL inches

5000 0.22 0.45 0.67 200

4750 0.23 0.47 0.70 190

4500 0.25 0.49 0.74 180

continued

Unbinned Binned

2 x 2

Binned

3 x 3

FL mm 5.4u 10.8u 16.2u FL inches

4250 0.26 0.52 0.79 170

4000 0.28 0.56 0.84 160

3750 0.30 0.59 0.89 150

3500 0.32 0.64 0.95 140

3250 0.34 0.69 1.03 130

3000 0.37 0.74 1.11 120

2750 0.40 0.81 1.21 110

2500 0.45 0.89 1.34 100

2250 0.49 0.99 1.48 90

2000 0.56 1.11 1.67 80

1750 0.64 1.27 1.91 70

1500 0.74 1.48 2.23 60

1250 0.89 1.78 2.67 50

USB 2.0 Interface

The ST-8300 will download a high resolution, full frame image

in approximately 7.5 seconds, and focus with approximately

1 second update rates in planet mode (a high resolution 20

x 20 pixel box located anywhere on the CCD by the user)

when connected to a high speed USB 2.0 port. Full frame low

resolution, high sensitivity nding and focusing may be done

with ~ 2 second frame updates. The camera is also compatible

with USB 1.1 ports albeit at a slower download rates.

I2C Accessory Port

The 9-pin I2C port allows the use of our lter wheels with

the same interface. The power and commands for the lter

wheel all come from the camera through this port, so there

are no other cables or power supplies needed to operate

the lter wheel. Also, the same software that controls the

camera also controls the lter wheel. SBIG plans to offer two

custom lter wheels for the ST-8300M camera. The rst will

be a 5-position lter wheel that will be thin enough to accept

a Nikon lens adapter for shooting ltered images through any

Nikon 35mm lens. The second lter wheel will hold more than

5 lters and is intended for those wishing to do both LRGB

and tri-color narrowband imaging without having to change

lter wheels. In both cases, automatic exposure sequences

may be set in advance for hands off acquisition, or the user

may control the lter wheel for each exposure if desired.

Standard (ST-4 pin compatible) Autoguider Output Port

The guider port on the ST-8300 is the same as on the other

ST cameras, using a modular telephone type 6-pin jack to

connect the ST-8300 to the user’s mount when using the

camera as an autoguider. The internal relays used in the ST-

8300 design are opto-isolated, so that no external relay box

is required with any mount if the camera is being used as an

autoguider or if it is being used to control the telescope in

Track & Accumulate mode. Of course, a relay box can still

be used, although not required, for convenience if the user

already has one wired to a mount for another camera.

Solid Machined Construction

Although small and light, the camera is built to last. The front

plate, main body and rear plate are each machined from

solid aluminum block for maximum strength and then hard

anodized over a special bead blasted nished for durability.

Connector labels are laser etched and will never wear off.

12VDC Operation

The ST-8300 comes with

its own universal AC power

supply. This supply will

operate from 100-240VAC

and provides 12VDC at

3.75A to the camera. The

ST-8300 also has a built-

in voltage regulator and

can therefore be powered

directly from any unregulated 12V (10 - 14 volts) source

such as a battery for operation in the eld. The universal AC

power supply is relatively small (1.2x2.3x5.2 inches, 30 x 58 x

132mm) and light weight (9 ounces, 254 grams). However in

the event that the user needs to locate this supply more than

6 feet (~2m) from the camera, an 8 foot (~2.4 m) low loss

extension cable with matching locking connectors is available

as an option. SBIG also sells a 12VDC battery cable with

alligator clips and a cigarette lighter adapter plug.

Even-Illumination Shutter

A mechanical shutter is

included to facilitate dark

frames. This is a necessity for

anyone operating remotely,

even if remotely means a few

feet away from the telescope.

Adding a shutter to a camera

design increases the cost and

size of the camera body but

we feel these trade-offs are worth the added convenience

and functionality. Since the early days of the original ST-7

camera, SBIG has been providing even-illumination shutters

in our cameras, something not found in the majority of other

cameras made for astrophotography.

“Even-illumination” means that the shutter mechanism is

designed to open and close in such a manner that it does

not change the proportion of light falling on the sensor due

to the shape or motion of the shutter itself. This is what one

nds for instance with an iris type of shutter that opens-

up starting at the center and closes over the center last. In

the ST-8300 we use a simple and very robust shutter wheel

with a fan-shaped aperture of the same design that we have

employed in the ST series cameras for the

past 15 years. The ST-8300 shutter sweeps

over the CCD without leaving any area of the

sensor exposed for a different period of time

than any other area. Another benet of the



Dark Current Characteristics

According to Kodak, the dark current of the KAF-8300 is

less than 200e- at 60 degrees C with a dark current doubling

temperature of 5.8 degrees. This means that for approximately

each 5.8 degrees C that one warms the CCD, the dark

current is doubled, and for each 5.8 degrees C one cools the

CCD the dark current is halved. Extrapolating this to -10C

we can calculate the maximum dark current we can expect

to nd at that temperature. In fact, Kodak’s specications are

usually very conservative when it comes to dark current, and

this value can vary from chip to chip by 50% or more and still

remain within the allowed specication. When we measured

the 8300 CCDs we found many to be less than half of Kodak’s

allowed specication. This is also typical of what we have seen

in other Kodak CCDs. In our tests we measured the dark

current in some samples to be as low as 0.01 electrons at

-10C. Again, these are extremely low dark current values for

a full frame CCD. The Dark Current chart on this page has

been updated using the average of the rst production run of

cameras. Even at zero degrees C the typical dark current is

well below 0.2 electrons! At -10C the average of our current

production units is around 0.04 electrons making it the lowest

dark current of any camera currently made by SBIG.



rotating disk type of shutter is that it has only one moving

part - the motor. These motors are extremely reliable and

can operate for millions of exposures without failure. In 15

years with thousands of cameras in the eld taking millions

of exposures, this shutter design has proven itself better than

we can describe. Since the ST-8300 can also be used as a

guider, a myth that needs to be addressed here concerns the

use of a shutter in any camera or autoguider design. Interline

CCDs such as the ones used in the ST-2000 and STL-11000

do not require a mechanical shutter to time exposures or

to read out the sensor without smearing. Full frame CCDs

such as the ones used in the ST-8, ST-10 and this ST-8300

cameras do require a mechanical shutter to cover the CCD

to prevent smear during the read out process. But there is

another important reason why we have put shutters in all of

our cameras after the original ST-4, and that is the ability to

automatically take a dark frame. We recently read comments

that having a shutter in an autoguider might be undesirable

due to the reliability factor and the number of exposures it

had to take. We completely disagree, provided of course

that the shutter design is as reliable as the use to which it is

intended. In fact having a shutter for taking darks was one of

the “must have” requirements for any autoguider we made,

and is the reason we built one into the new SG-4 autoguider.

Having a shutter enables the autoguider to take a dark frame

periodically to improve the guider’s sensitivity to faint stars by

reducing noise in the image and by reducing the bright pixels

that can confuse the autoguider. Guiding on bright pixels

appears to be quite accurate, until one sees the resulting

image! Just remember that not all shutters are of the same

design and not all shutters suffer from the same problems.

Our design is proven and reliable.

TE cooling

In our tests of production

samples, the camera reached

a maximum of -40 degrees

C below ambient in a warm

room in less than 3 minutes

after the cooling was

turned on. It was allowed

to stabilize and after a few

more minutes the regulation

was enabled A few degrees were then given up for regulation

with the camera running at only 80% TE cooling power

to maintain -36 degrees C below ambient. Because of this

CCDs extraordinarily low dark current, great temperature

deltas are not required to achieve a dark current low enough

that it becomes relatively insignicant compared to the read

noise and sky background (See dark current data below). For

example, in a test, one 15 minute dark frame taken at -10C

was subtracted from another 15 minute dark frame taken at

the same temperature. The total noise in the remaining image

was ~15 electrons which included both dark current noise

and read noise. This is exceptionally low.



Cooling Delta-T

ST-8300

Dark Current

ST-8300

Quantum Efciency

In the past, one of the drawbacks in using sensors with small

pixels and antiblooming structure has been the trade-off

of some quantum efciency. However, Kodak’s microlens

technology has largely made this trade-off a thing of the

past. The KAF-8300 uses microlenses to focus more light on

each pixel that would otherwise be lost due to the opaque

antiblooming gate structure of the sensor. As a result, the

KAF-8300 antiblooming protection can handle up to 1000X

the full well saturation and at the same time this CCD has a

quantum efciency comparable to that of a full frame sensor

without ABG. Moreover, the QE curve for this full frame

sensor has a peak in the middle of the visual spectrum and

good sensitivity well into the red and near IR. The QE at the

important wavelength of H-alpha is nearly 50%.

Linearity

Linearity is measure of how at the CCD response is to light

with increasing exposure times. For instance, an ideal CCD

will record exactly twice the signal in a 20 second exposure

as it does in a 10 second exposure from a constant light

source. This is particularly important in photometric studies

where the CCD is used as a tool for measuring light at

various wavelengths to determine the temperature of stars.

The sample we measured is about 10X better than Kodak’s

allowed specication, with a response that is within about 1%

of linear (up to approximately 50,000 counts (binned 2x2).



FW5-8300

Five-position,

36mm Filter Wheel



FW8-8300

Eight-position,

36mm Filter Wheel

Integrated Filter Wheels

Due to the large size of this CCD, 1.25” lters are just too

small to fully cover the sensor without some vignetting in the

corners. This may be acceptable at f/7 or longer focal lengths,

but at shorter focal lengths the effect becomes greater. Also,

the ST-8300 cameras are ideally suited for use with camera

lenses, and we wanted to make a system available that would

accommodate the back focus requirement for typical 35mm

camera lenses with a lter wheel attached to the camera. For

this reason SBIG designed a new 5-position lter wheeland

a new 8-position lter wheel specically for the ST-8300

cameras that will hold 36mm lters for unvignetted images

at any focal ratio and at the same time accommodate 35mm

camera lenses. These lter wheels plug directly into the I2C

port on the ST-8300 camera and do not require separate

power or control cables. Fully automatic function is controlled

by the same software that controls the camera. Full sets of

36mm LRGB and narrowband lters by Astrodon and Baader

Planetarium are now available and a new set from Custom

Scientic will be available in the near future. We have also

been informed that Astronomik intends to make lters in the

36mm size. So there is a wide variety of lters available. In

addition, for those who may already have 2” lters we have

designed an adapter plate to mate the ST-8300 camera to our

FW8-STL 8-position 2” lter wheel. The FW8-STL holds both

2” lters in threaded cells and 50.8mm round unmounted

lters.

Finally, for those users with slower optical systems, 1.25 inch

lters may be acceptable. In this case both the CFW9 and

CFW10-SA lter wheels will t the ST-8300 camera and these

too will operate automatically by plugging into the I2C port

on the ST-8300 camera. In the sample image gallery below the

narrowband image of the Pacman Nebula was shot with the

ST-8300 using a CFW8A and 1.25” lters.

Quantum Efciency

ST-8300

Linearity

ST-8300

appearing in this brochure are the property of their respective owners.

ST8300.072011

36mm Filters

LRGB and

Narrowband Filters



CLA7-8300

Nikon Lens Adapter

for use without a lter

wheel



CLA-8300

Nikon Lens Adapter

for use with a lter wheel

(FW5-8300 or FW8-8300)



CLA-EOS-8300

Canon EOS Lens Adapter

for use with or without a

lter wheel (FW5-8300 or

FW8-8300)



12VDC Power Cable

8 foot (2.4 meter) power

cable with cigarette lighter

plug and battery clips



12VDC Extension Cable

8 foot (2.4 meter) Low Loss,

12V Power Extension Cable

with locking connectors



Pelican Case

Water proof, dust proof,

crush proof, professional

case with custom cut foam

for ST-8300 Camera with

lter wheel attached



T-to-C Adapter

C-mount lens adapter

• Rugged camera body with rack handles and 2” nosepiece

• New KAF-8300M or KAF-8300C imaging CCD

• High speed USB 2.0 interface

• I2C bi-directional accessory port for integrated lter wheel

control

• Standard guider output port (ST-4 pinout compatible with

internal opto-isolated relays)

• Internal mechanical shutter

• Large Cooling Fan

• Tripod mount 1/4-20 threaded side plate

• 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

• Software Bisque’s CCDSoftV5 camera control and image

processing software

• Software Bisque’s TheSky v5, Level II

• Printed Operating Manuals

• Princeton carrying case with pre-cut foam for your camera

and small accessories

• One Year Warranty Parts and Labor on the CCD

• Two Year Warranty Parts and Labor on the camera other

than the CCD

• Demo CD-ROM with sample images and software

SBIG ST-8300C User manual

Brand: SBIG

Model: ST-8300C

Type: User manual

This manual is also suitable for

ST-8300M

Download PDF

report

SBIG ST-8300C User manual

This manual is also suitable for

SBIG ST-8300C User manual

Related papers

Other documents