Announcement
Limited Time Offer
Prices Reduced on ST-7E and ST-8E Cameras
March 1, 2001

ST-7E   $2650.00 ST-8E   $5995.00

The leading CCD cameras in amateur astronomy, the ST-7E and
ST-8E, are now better and lower priced!

Two recent developments now make it possible to offer, for a limited time, the ST-8 with better detectors at lower prices.  First, because of SBIG's large volume last year we have a lower cost of goods for the ST-8E than we have ever had before.   Secondly, Kodak has improved the cosmetic classification specifications for their Class 2 KAF-1602E detectors.  A Class 2 detector used to allow for up to 2 column defects and the customer had the option of getting a Class 1 detector with no column defects for an additional $1250.  But the new specifications for Class 2 KAF-1602E detectors allow no column defects.  These two fortuitous events make it possible for SBIG to offer a new Class 1 ST-8E camera for the former price of a Class 2, and a new Class 2 ST-8E with has nearly the same specs as the former Class 1, for even less.  In addition we have decided to let customers make the decision regarding cosmetic detector classification and we will now also offer a more economical Class 3 ST-8 as a low price option to the improved standard Class 2 ST-8E.  To a lesser extent, similar reasoning applies to the ST-7E so these prices will also be reduced for a limited time.

Effective as of March 1, 2001, for a limited time, ST-7E and ST-8E cameras will be reduced in price.  Also, due to the significantly lower price of the Class 3 catagories, we no longer feel we should refrain from offering the Class 3 as an even lower priced option to our customers.  Keep in mind that the Class 3 detectors do allow column defects even under the revised specs, but at a significant savings in cost for a detector with over 1,500 columns and 1.5 million pixels.  Our software has a feature for repairing a bad column in an image that works quite well.  For users who don't mind using this image processing technique to fix the occasional column, the Class 3 option represents a real bargain for a megapixel array.   The Class 3 detectors are otherwise just as sensitive and have the same low read noise and dark current as the higher class of detectors.  The ST-7E also has better Class 2 specifications, but in this case the difference in price for the higher quality Class 1 is relatively small so we will continue to offer just the Class 1 detector for this camera albeit at a reduced list price.