Orion StarShoot 51450, StarShoot 51451 Instruction Manual

Orion StarShoot™

Solar System Color

Imaging Camera V

#51450-1.3MP StarShoot, #51451-3MP StarShoot

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975

OrionTelescopes.com

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Corporate Offices [phone], 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

© 2008-2018 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

IN 618 06/18

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Welcome to a new world of adventure. Your new StarShoot Solar System Imaging
Camera V (SS-V) is capable of capturing detailed, fullcolor images of astronomical
objects in our solar system. The planets, Moon, and Sun (with optional solar filter)
can all be imaged to create spectacular views on your computer which can be saved
for emailing or printing later. The SS-V can even be used during the day to take

images of terrestrial subjects. You’ll find that this inexpensive, yet capable and easy

to use, camera will enhance all of your journeys with your telescope. Please read
this instruction manual before attempting to use the camera or install the needed
software.

Parts List

● StarShoot Solar System Color Imaging Camera V (SS-V)

● USB Cable

● Instruction booklet

Drivers and software are available as a download from our website. Before plug­ging in the camera, please go to www.telescope.com/StarshootV for both Mac and
Windows software.

System Requirements

Telescope

The SS-V can be used with virtually any
telescope that is compatible with 1.25"
format eyepieces. The camera simply is
inserted into a focuser in the same way as
a standard eyepiece (Figure 1). If you use
a star diagonal, you should remove it before
installing the SS-V. If your telescope does
not have enough inward focus travel, you
will need to use an optional 1.25" Barlow

lens to extend the telescope’s focal plane
to the camera’s imaging plane (Barlow sold

separately). For most types of astro-imag­ing with the SS-V, using a telescope with a
focal length of at least 1000mm is recom­mended. Otherwise, the image scale may
be too small. To increase the effective focal
length of your system, use a Barlow lens or

other type of tele-extender lens.

Mount

While using an motorized mount is recommended to achieve the best results, one is

not absolutely required for imaging with the SS-V, as the maximum exposure time is

Figure 1. The SS-V attached to the

telescope focuser.

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only a fraction of a second, astronomical objects will not drift significantly through a
telescope attached to an altazimuth mount or Dobsonian base during single image
captures. Use a sturdy mount that is appropriately sized for the telescope tube
being used. For obtaining the best planetary images, however, we do recommend
a motorized mount. Planetary imaging requires combining many individual images,
and having a motorized equatorial mount or a computerized Alt-Az mount will pre­vent the planet from drifting out of the field of view of the camera during the time it
takes to acquire the large number of images necessary.

Computer

A computer is required for normal use of the SS-V. For astro-imaging in the field at
night, a laptop computer is highly recommended. For windows users the camera
driver and Orion Capture software requires Windows 7, 8, or 10. For Mac, the soft­ware requires OS X (10.11 and newer).

Software and Driver Installation

Before the camera can be used, image capture software and a camera driver must
be installed onto your computer.

Windows Installation

Do not plug the camera into your computer yet. This needs to be done after install­ing the driver and software. Turn on your computer and allow the Windows oper­ating system to load as normal. Using a web browser, go to www.telescope.com/
StarshootV and locate the download .zip file for your Windows computer.

Unzip the TCapture install file, making sure to note what directory the computer will

unzip the file to. Double click on TCapture.exe to start the install process. Note –

you may be required to be logged in as administrator in order to successfully
install the software. Choose the language you wish to use, and click through the

next few windows:

1. Please choose the default directory for installation for the easiest install. If
you wish to set a customer directory, you may do so during installation.

2. TCapture will ask to select
the components for install
(Figure 2). Select Full
installation, and leave the

default check boxes alone to

install the driver and software.
If you wish to install additional
video compressor plugins,
you may do so at this time,
but they are not necessary for
standard imaging through the
software.

Figure 2. Select the components to install.

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3. On the next screen
involving selecting
additional tasks, leave

the yes box unchecked.

(Figure 3).

4. Finally, the system will
ask if you wish to install
the device driver. Click
install, and the software
will take a few moments to
install. Click finish when
prompted.

5. Once the software
has been installed, the
computer will recognize
the camera when it is plugged into an available USB 2.0 port. Plug the
camera in, and then open TCapture to start imaging.

Mac Installation

Mac installation is extremely easy. Using a web browser, go to www.telescope.com/
StarshootV and locate the ISListen download file for your Mac (OS 10.11 and later).

1. Plug the camera into an available USB slot on your computer.

2. Open the ISListen software you previously downloaded, and the program
will recognize the camera you have plugged in.

Image Processing Software

There are many popular free Image processing software to be used with your AVI

files to enhance your astro Images. Image Processing Software such as RegiStax or

AviStack can align and stack (combine) hundreds of individual images into a single
resultant image and perform some additional image processing to bring out subtle
details or to make the image appear more pleasing overall.

For detailed information on the image processing software consult the websites of
each software provider. Tutorials and user groups can be found online also.

Registax: http://www.astronomie.be/registax/

AviStack: http://www.avistack.de/

Lynkeos (Mac stacking software): http://lynkeos.sourceforge.net

Getting Started During Daylight

We recommend using the SS-V for the first time during the day. This way, you can
become familiar with the camera and its functions without having to stumble around

Figure 3. Leave the ‘yes’ box unchecked.