New USB Camera Announcement

The New ST-XE and XM Line of Self-Guiding CCD Cameras from SBIG:
Complete Systems with Faster Downloads, Better Cooling,
Better Autoguiding, Greater Expansion Capability and a New Entry

ST-2000XM, ST-7XE, ST-8XE, ST-9XE, ST-10XME
Production begins in April 2002

Updated April 10, 2002

FASTER DOWNLOADS
New high speed electronics and high speed USB interface are now standard with data transfer rates up to 426,000 pixels per second!

USB upgrades are also available for existing parallel based ST-7/8/9/10 cameras. See details below.

BETTER COOLING
The standard single stage cooling design has been improved to provide cooling performance previously available only with an optional second stage cooling booster. Preliminary specifications are as follows:

The standard cooling configuration is a single stage cooler with a newly designed heat exchanger that includes an inlet and outlet for water circulation should the user desire to maximize the cooling performance for hot climates. The new design does not require an additional power supply and may be operated with or without water supplied by the user. Even without water, the new design offers similar performance to two-stage cooling with much less current draw than a two-stage cooler. It is therefore less demanding on battery capacity when operating in the field. A circulating water pump and tubing are available from SBIG as optional accessories. In our experience, further cooling of Kodak CCDs beyond the performance above is unnecessary.

BETTER AUTOGUIDING

3/25/02:
The TC-211 tracking CCD has been replaced with a larger TC-237 in the ST-8/9/10XE models

The TC-237 autoguiding CCD is seen here just below the larger KAF-1602E in an ST-8XE camera is the same CCD used in our $1300 ST-237A imaging camera and $2300 STV autoguider. The TC-237 is 2.7X larger than the TC-211 CCD which means there is a more than double the chance you will find suitable guide stars anywhere you happen to be looking without having to hunt. The sample images below demonstrate the difference in field of view.

In the tracking configuration, the TC-237 CCD will normally be binned 2x2 for increased sensitivity. When binned 2x2 the field of view remains 2.7X that of the TC-211 however as the pixel size is increased to 14.8 microns. The user may also image with the TC-237 CCD in high resolution (unbinned) mode if desired.

Even with a smaller field of view, however, the TC-211 remains an excellent autoguider for the ST-7XE and ST-2000ME cameras. With ~15 micron pixels and low noise performance the TC-211 unbinned is more sensitive than the TC-237 in unbinned mode and as sensitive as the TC-237 in binned mode. In tests performed under moderate light pollution with an F/6 telescope, random pointing of the telescope in areas of the sky away from the Milky Way, we found stars on the TC-211 image bright enough to guide on 95% of the time. ThsSky software from Software Bisque automatically generates finder charts showing the correct placement of the guiding CCD field of view relative to the imaging CCD's field of view. Using this tool to plan your nights imaging is a great compliment to the self-guiding cameras.

Previously, the camera had to be oriented so that the X and Y dimensions of the tracking CCD were aligned with the RA and DEC of the telescope, limiting the possible rotation of the camera to four possible positions around a target at at 90 degree steps. Now, with CCDSoftV5, the autoguiding capability of the TC-211 (and TC-237) is improved so that the camera may be placed in any orientation relative to the telescope's RA and DEC, allowing a full 360 degrees of rotation around a target for easier guide star acquisition.

Of course, guiding with either the TC-211 or the TC237 tracking CCD means that the imaging CCD spends 100% of its time and quantum efficiency gathering the image. You are not required to compromise for half the quantum efficiency or twice exposure time as you might with other self-guiding designs.

Upgrades to a TC-237 autoguider are also available at the time of a USB upgrade. See details below.

GREATER EXPANSION CAPABILITY
All new production USB cameras and upgrades will include a bi-directional I²C accessory port.

The new I²C accessory port adds bi-directional communication capability for the development of a new family of "smart" accessories. The standard accessory port is also provided in order to maintain backwards compatibility with our existing accessories (CFW8, AO-7, Relay Adapter Box) and customer's existing telescope interface cables.

These cameras are complete systems. There is no need to add in the additional cost of an interface or an autoguider or a nosepiece or better software to make these cameras actually operate as they should. Everything that is needed to make these camera systems operational is included in the base price. We even include some non-essential, but desirable, items such as a custom hard carrying case and extra nosepiece.

SBIG continues to explore new methods and accessories to make professional quality imaging an achievable standard for amateurs.

SBIG is the only company offering adaptive optics and a self-guiding spectrograph to the amateur astronomy community at an affordable price. Both the AO-7 Adaptive Optics device and the SGS Self-Guiding Spectrograph are available to amateurs because of our patented dual sensor self-guiding camera design. In the case of the AO-7, the smaller tracking CCD is exploited to monitor star motion and drive the AO-7's mirror at correction rates up to 50Hz. SBIG is exploring the possibility of an on-axis AO device in the near future. The Self-Guiding spectrograph uses both CCDs in the camera head to provide simultaneous images of the object, slit location and spectra. It then guides itself during the exposure to keep the object on the slit.

The following options and accessories are available for the ST-XE and XM cameras:


CFW8A Color Filter Wheel	Custom dichroic filters for color imaging	Integrated CFW8A design

AO-7 adaptive optics accessory	Submersible water pump	Relay Adapter Box

90-240VAC Universal Power Supply	Quick Disconnect Accessory	Self-guided Spectrograph

35mm Camera Lens Adapters	Bi-directional Accessory Port	T-thread Visual Back Adapter

We feel that if one compares ALL of the included parts, features and costs of the camera / autoguider system with any competitor, SBIG remains a leader in price vs. performance. For example, just adding in the cost of a TC-237 based autoguider and premier software comparable to CCDSoftV5 could run well over $1000. Instead of charging $50 extra for a nosepiece, we give you two at no additional charge. Water cooling capability is now standard, as is high speed USB. There is no extra charge for a custom hard carrying case, etc.

The response we received from our estimated price increase for the USB cameras has been very helpful. While we strive to include more features and accessories in our standard camera system price, we still must be mindful of our costs and the final price to our customers. We feel that the features and accessories in the list above should be included with every camera but we have removed some of the additional software in order to keep the final price as reasonable as possible. Also, we do not want anyone who purchased a camera during the special sale to pay more for the same system, software and USB upgrade than a new USB camera with the same set of optional software, etc. In order to balance these considerations three programs that were included in the special sale are now optional with new cameras: CCDSharp ($149), Ethernet Server software ($99) and Hartmann Mask analysis software ($99). We feel that making these items optional has the least impact on the functionality of the camera and allows us to offer a lower than estimated list price for the new ST-XE line of cameras. In the case of each camera model, with the exception of the ST-8E, when the price of the optional software is accounted for, the sale price plus the discounted USB upgrade price is still lower than the price of a new ST-XE camera. Therefore, in order to be fair to those bought an ST-8E during the sale period (December to end of March) , we are increasing the discount for the USB upgrade for ST-8E purchasers by $345 ($745 total discount) so that ST-8E purchasers, like purchasers of the other models, will still pay less for the camera plus USB upgrade plus software than the total cost of the same items after the sale at the new prices. We are also adding the new cooling design modifications to single stage ST-8E and ST-7E USB upgrade packages at no additional cost.

High Speed USB Model	Imaging CCD	Imaging Array	Built-in Autoguider	Autoguiding CCD	Autoguiding Array	Cooling (Typical)	Full Frame Download	List Price
ST-2000XM *	KAI-2000M	1600 x 1200 at 7.4 microns	Yes	TC-211	192 x 164 at ~15 microns	-45 C	~ 4.5 sec.	$3495
ST-7XE	KAF-0401E	765 x 510 pixels at 9 microns	Yes	TC-211	192 x 164 at ~15 microns	-45 C	~ 1 sec.	$2695
ST-8XE	KAF-1602E	1530 x 1020 pixels at 9 microns	Yes	TC-237	657 x 495 at 7.4 microns	-45 C	~ 3.7 sec.	$5995
ST-9XE	KAF-0261E	512 x 521 pixels at 20 microns	Yes	TC-237	657 x 495 at 7.4 microns	-45 C	~ 0.7 sec.	$3695
ST-10MXE	KAF-3200ME	2184 x 1472 pixels at 6.8 microns	Yes	TC-237	657 x 495 at 7.4 microns	-45 C	~ 8.7 sec.	$6995
* Click here for preliminary information on the ST-2000XM

Accessory	List Price *
CFW8	$995
UBVRI Filter	$175 ea.
UBVRI Filter set + extra carousel	$950
AO-7 Adaptive Optics device	$1295
SGS Self-guiding spectrograph	$4950
Relay Adapter Box	$109
T-thread visual back	$49
Male-to-male t-thread adapter	$39
Camera Lens Adapter	$149
12VDC power supply	$160

Existing parallel based ST-7/8/9 cameras may be upgraded to high speed USB electronics for $995. The upgrade is free to ST-10E and ST-10ME owners. The upgrade consists of replacing both the analog and digital boards in the camera and adding the I²C accessory port. ST-7 and ST-8 cameras with single stage cooling only (i.e., without an existing cooling booster) will receive the new heat exchanger. Camera that already have the second stage thermoelectric cooling booster (i.e., all parallel ST-9E and ST-10E cameras) will retain the same cooling booster as it provides cooling performance that equals or exceeds the new single stage design with heat exchanger. Since we can only accommodate a fixed number of upgrades each month, this work must be scheduled in advance by contacting Linda Sasaki at upgrades@sbig.com, and mention that you would like to be scheduled for the USB upgrade.

We have had an early break through of sorts in the development of an improved autoguider for our self-guiding cameras. We have been experimenting with the TC-237 as an internal autoguider but until just this week we were not 100% satisfied with its integration into the ST-XE cameras and for that reason we did not plan to include this item in any upgrade or announcements. But our past experience with this CCD in the ST-237A camera and STV autoguider kept us interested in making the detector work as an internal tracker in our dual CCD head design. With Matt and Joel's continued diligence our latest round of testing resulted in excellent results with this CCD installed in the autoguider slot of an ST-8XE camera. Based on these results we are going to change to the TC-237 as the tracking CCD in the ST-8/9/10XE cameras. Upgrading an existing camera is more complicated because we must change out a number of parts that have already been installed. Nevertheless, we would like to make it available as an option for those who might want it as an addition at the time of a USB upgrade. The TC-237 autoguider is supported only by our new USB electronics so we cannot offer it as an upgrade to parallel cameras unless it is installed concurrent with a USB upgrade. We will have to replace the tracking CCD, imaging and tracking CCD pedestal, mirror assembly, flex circuit and possibly the front plate, window and other miscellaneous parts. Since we have only just made this decision it may take a few weeks to get sufficient additional quantities of new parts to perform everyone's upgrade and remain on schedule for our new camera production. Therefore if you are scheduled for an early upgrade and want this additional feature installed, please understand that this may take some additional time.

As an accommodation to those who are paying full price for the USB upgrade and TC-237 autoguider upgrade, we will extend the same offer of extra software that we made available to purchasers during the sale: CCDSharp (normally $149), Hartmann Mask Analysis software (normally $99), TheSky v.4, level II, and discount certificates for Maxim DL/CCD version 3 or the Mira version 7, all at no additional charge.

* Price and specifications subject to change without notice.
See our Price List section for current pricing and Product Catalog section for current specifications.

High Speed USB Download Rates	ST-2000XM	ST-7XE	ST-8XE	ST-9XE	ST-10XE
Full Frame	4.5 sec.	1 sec.	3.7 sec.	0.7 sec.	8.7 sec.
Focus Mode	~0.5 sec	~0.5 sec	~0.5 sec	~0.5 sec	~0.5 sec
Note: USB download times are processor dependent and will vary from computer to computer. These download times were measured on a 933 MHz Pentium III. Focus Mode rates were the fastest achieved using a 20 x 20 pixel subframe in Focus / Planet mode.

Cooling Performance (delta from ambient)	Typical	Minimum	Previous design
Standard single stage with water assist	-45^o C	-40^o C	not available
Standard single stage without water	-35^o C	-30^o C	-25^o C

Built-in Autoguider	Array	Pixel Size	CCD Dimension -------- ( Area )	Field of View at 80" FL	Number of Pixels
TC-237 CCD	657 x 495	7.4 x 7.4 u	4.9 x 3.7 mm ----- 18.3 mm²	8.2 x 6.2 arcminutes ( 51 arcmin² )	325,215
TC-211 CCD	192 x 164	~ 15 u	2.6 x 2.6 mm ----- 6.8 mm²	4.5 x 4.5 arcminutes ( 20 arcmin²)	31,000