SBIG ST-8300M,ST-8300C User Manual
ST-8300M and ST-8300C
High Resolution 8.3 Megapixel
CCD Cameras
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 Efciency of the
sensor. As a result it can be used in a wide variety of optical congurations. 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.
or when used at longer focal length scopes such as SchmidtCassegrains, the sensor can be binned 2x2 or 3x3 in full frame
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,
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.
Resolution, Pixel Size and Transfer Time
ST-8300 Full
Frame
High Res
(unbinned)
Medium Res
(binned 2x2)
Low Res
(binned 3x3)
Ultra
Low Res
(binned 9x9)
3326 x 2504
5.4 microns
7.5 sec
1663 x 1252
10.8 microns
4.0 sec
1109 x 835
16.2 microns
1.8 sec
370 x 278
48.6 microns
0.7 sec
Unbinned Binned
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
2 x 2
Half
Frame
1663 x 1252
5.4 microns
2.7 sec
832 x 626
10.8 microns
1.8 sec
554 x 417
16.2 microns
0.8 sec
185 x 139
48.6 microns
0.3 sec
Binned
3 x 3
Quarter
Frame
832 x 626
5.4 microns
1.3 sec
416 x 313
10.8 microns
0.9 sec
277 x 209
16.2 microns
0.5 sec
92 x 70
48.6 microns
0.2 sec
continued
Unbinned Binned
2 x 2
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
Binned
3 x 3
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 ST8300 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 builtin 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 benet of the
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