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The ST-2000MX is designed to meet the needs of the casual imager who wants a big antiblooming CCD with lots of pixels, integrated self-guiding and professional software at a low price. A first for SBIG, the new model ST-2000XM (X=high speed USB, M=microlens) uses an high quality interline CCD from Kodak. The KAI-2000M CCD is a 2 megapixel progressive scan detector with an active image area of 1.92 million pixels. The active image area is 1600 x 1200 pixels at 7.4 microns. This array is 75% larger than the Sony CCD used in some competitors' "megapixel" cameras and ST-2000XM utilizes SBIG's patented dual sensor self-guiding design. The imaging CCD is nearly the same size as the KAF-1602E used in the ST-8XE but due to the smaller pixel size it contains nearly half a million more pixels than the ST-8XE. Full frame download time is approximately 5 seconds with our new high speed USB electronics. This camera is also fully compatible with all of our existing accessories such as CFW8 filter wheel and AO-7 adaptive optics device. The KAF-2000M CCD has antiblooming protection and the Quantum Efficiency is somewhat better than the new enhanced full frame "E" detectors used in the ST-8XE cameras with a shift in the peak sensitivity toward the blue. Compared to the ABG versions of the full frame "E" series CCDs, the KAI-2000M is more sensitive in the blue and green, and slightly less sensitive in the red. (See the comparison QE charts below).

The ST-2000XM comes equipped with our new cooling design including a heat exchanger ready for water circulation as standard equipment. This design will typically cool to -35^o below ambient (-30^o minimum) without water or typically down to -45^o C from ambient (-40^o minimum) with water circulation. Cooling is also regulated to 0.1 degrees. The ST-2000XM has an electronic shutter and, unlike conpeting models, a mechanical shutter as well. It can therefore automatically take and subtract dark frames while you are imaging - without having to cover the telescope or remove the camera. Exposure times are 0.001 sec to 600 sec.

	2 megapixels 7.4 microns High speed USB 5 second downloads Patented self-guiding CCD Introductory price $2995
What You Get with the ST-2000MX	Feature	SBIG ST-2000MX camera	Sony "megapixel" cameras
Over half a million more pixels	Total Pixels	2 million (1.92 million image area)	1.3 million
Larger array	CCD Array	1648 x 1214 (1600 x 1200 image area)	1300 x 1030
Slightly larger pixels	Pixel size	7.4 u	6.7 u
75% Larger CCD	CCD Dimensions	11.8 mm x 8.9 mm	8.7 mm x 6.9 mm
75% Greater image area	CCD Imaging Area	105 mm2	60 mm2
75% Larger FOV	FOV thru 8" f/10	20 x 15 arcmin	14.7 x 11.7 arcmin
Better blue response	QE at 400 nm	37%	26%
Greater Full Well Capacity	Full Well Capacity	50,000 e-	30,000 e-
Mechanical shutter for auto dark frames	Auto dark frames	Yes	No
Self-guiding CCD included	Self-guiding	Yes	No
Regulated cooling	Regulated Cooling	Yes (-45 C delta)	No (Unregulated -30C delta)
Additional water cooling available	Water cooling option	Included	Not available
Premium software: CCDSoftV5 and TheSky	Extra Software	Yes	No
Greater than 3X faster USB transfer rate	USB Transfer rate	up to 400,000 pixels / sec	120,000 pixels / sec
Greater than 2X faster even with more pixels	Full Frame Download	~5 sec	11 sec
Big Bang for your Buck	Introductory Price	$2995	$2495

This camera is a complete system. 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. Unlike other manufacturers, SBIG includes everything that is needed to make these camera systems fully operational in the base price.

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, the cost to add a capable autoguider and premimum software comparable to CCDSoftV5 to a camera system that did not have these features would be more than $1000 just for these items alone.