background image

 
 
 
the camera to handle extreme contrast (i.e. when pointing to the moon) without an 
auto iris lens and still provide good smear free image, vital when used through a 
telescope.  
 
Shutter speed and auto iris ranges can be set by the user to optimise the final image. 

owever if the camera is equipped with a good auto iris lens the static dynamic range 

r extended to 40,000,000. Such a dynamic range will allow the camera to 

s can be achieved by setting any of the 48 portions of 

e 8x6 LCD matrix to compensate for strong backlight that would normally 

er parts of the image. 

igher quality results by excluding overwhelming light 

the camera to take measurements from 

rker image areas. 

n your camera’s cooling sub-system and enjoy your Opticstar camera 

 the full. Please note that only VORTEX and ICE models incorporate cooling. 

 ATW mode the camera will execute White Colour Balance adjustment 

 selected the user can fix the current White Colour 

MANUAL in terms of the RED and BLUE 

omponents. 

Amateur astronomers are likely to find this mode more useful than super dynamic 
when the camera is directly connected and sees through the telescope or when a 
manual camera lens is used. 
 
H
will be furthe
see from direct sun light to star light, and provide excellent exposure and colour 
rendering.  
 

BACK LIGHT: 

Backlight Compensation (BLC) can be switched to ON or OFF. BLC 

allows the user to compensate for strong background lights that need to be accounted 
for during viewing sessions. Thi
th
underexpose oth
 
By blocking certain parts of the image the camera will take 
all its measurements from the non-blocked parts resulting in 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

h

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sources. 
 
This can also be used to deliberately overexpose parts of the 
image by forcing 

On-Screen Display (OSD) 

da
 

AGC:

 Automatic Gain Control (AGC) (ON/OFF) or MANUAL mode. In automatic 

mode your Opticstar camera adjusts gain automatically. As a rule of thumb high gain 
values when in AGC in ON will produce noise. To eliminate noise under any situation 
simply switch o
to
 

W/B SELECT:

 

This allows the user to select between Auto Trace White Balance 

(ATW), One Push Auto White Balance (AWC) and MENU mode. 
 
In
automatically. If AWC mode is
Balance by selecting the mode and pressing the selection button.  If the MENU option 
is selected values can be selected from a list of two (5600

o

K, 3200

o

K) or custom 

values can be set the user by selecting 
c

 

SYNC: 

This mode is only applicable to cameras with VD-Lock 

 

© Opticstar Ltd 2003, 2004 

14

Summary of Contents for 450CD series

Page 1: ...OPTICSTAR 450CD series Opticstar Ltd MANCHESTER UNITED KINGDOM Opticstar Ltd 2003 2004 Any breach of Opticstar s be vigorously prosecuted OPTICSTAR www opticstar com Intellectual Property Rights will ...

Page 2: ...scope 4 Connecting your Opticstar Camera to other Devices 6 Using your Opticstar Camera 7 Frame Integration Mode 9 Working in Frame Integration Mode 11 On screen Display OSD 12 OSD Menu Structure 16 Technical Specification 17 Opticstar Warranty 19 Opticstar Ltd 2003 2004 2 ...

Page 3: ...low you to enjoy exciting views of the s and their satellites in full colour as well as pleasing views of brighter deep sky et ticated integrated circuitry and unusual le frame store not found in other frame integration or Starlight cameras manage e drastically reduce smear and produce very high quality images even under plex and dem can find more information about your Opticstar under the Technic...

Page 4: ...amera cap and carefully screw the Opticstar adaptor in its place attach the camera to the telescope as if it was as an eyepiece and tighten up the locking screw Make sure the locking screw is securely tightened attach the Opticstar RF cable to the camera and to your Opticstar TFT monitor TV SCART cable video or computer via a video grabber connect power leads ensure that they are arranged in a tid...

Page 5: ... that the arrang secure The effec rofo ort tube telescopes like Maksutovs or Schmidt Cassegrai ement is t is less p ns und on sh Recommended Recommended Not recommended Connecting your Opticstar Camera to a Telescope Caution Do not open the casing of your Opticstar camera under any circumstances Opening the casing will invalidate your warranty Opticstar will not accept responsibility for any damag...

Page 6: ...erly an image through your telescope should be displayed on the isplay Connecting your camera directly to a TV set will require a modulator lternatively if your TV has a SCART input a SCART cable will suffice onnecting your Opticstar Camera to a Personal Computer onnecting the camera to a personal computer is normally only possible via a video bber available from Opticstar or at your local compute...

Page 7: ...trols to keep the target centred in the finder s field of view Now use the focuser on your telescope to bring the target into focus keeping a close eye on the display attached to your astro camera Observing With a Mounted Lens This is more difficult to achieve as you do not have a finder to point to your target and you will therefore need to use the arrangement as if it was a finder scope To your ...

Page 8: ... with maximum field of view optimum o A 1 3 lens on a 1 3 format camera will produce a rectangular image with maximum field of view optimum o A 1 2 lens on a 1 3 format camera will produce a rectangular image with a somewhat reduced field of view Tracking Alternatively you may wish to use you astro camera to aid tracking during long exposure photography when us c pr perly aligned before use You ma...

Page 9: ...llows the cameras to accumulate a variable number of frames at different shutter speeds beyond the standard 0 02 seconds to 0 008 seconds range However as your camera is capable of frame integr e 4 T b O m A lo Frame integration cameras accumulate photons on the CCD for periods from 2 up to 128 times the normal maximum exposure times found in typical video CCD cameras 1 50 second p reflected by an...

Page 10: ... simply need to power it up by rotating the knob on the side of your camera You can use the knob to alter the level of power to the air cooling sub system as required It will take approximately three minutes for the camera to reach optimum performance O The Opticstar camera Peltier cooling subsystem will keep temperatures several degrees below freezing and cool the CCD to reduce noise levels drama...

Page 11: ...Opticstar 450C and 650C frame integratio EX view CCDs that are 4 times more sensitive than C Equally the 450CD seri e This in conjunction with x32 or x128 frame integration mode provide a very high level of low light performance in general out performing Sony Super HAD CCDs for example by a factor of two In addition the 450CD series are capable of very high quality images because of a double memor...

Page 12: ...en more that one camera is used as it helps relating the displayed images to the actual cameras that generate them Use the cursors and highligh to ON mode Push the selection once more you will see the TITLE menu Use the cursors and the middle push button to type a name once done press RTN twice to return to the opening menu SENSOR UP This determine selected increments of x2 x4 x8 x12 off when obse...

Page 13: ...he exposure between 70 IRE and 150 IRE as well as choose normal or dual white balance mode In dual white balance mode the camera will perform very well when there are marked levels of contrast in the picture i e a planet on a dark background or when lighting temperatures from various light sources are different which is common in wide angle astrophotography ON mode super wide dynamic mode with man...

Page 14: ...ugh the telescope or when a manual camera lens is used H will be furthe see from direct sun light to star light and provide excellent exposure and colour rendering BACK LIGHT Backlight Compensation BLC can be switched to ON or OFF BLC allows the user to compensate for strong background lights that need to be accounted for during viewing sessions Thi th underexpose oth By blocking certain parts of ...

Page 15: ...red by individually setting the masks to OFF ON The four user definable mask v appeared in the picture frame POSI NEGA This function enables the user to select either a positive or negative image of th a H REV When engaged this function will produce a horizontal reverse image of the original view V REV When engaged this function o ZOOM This function allows the user to digitally zoom into the facto...

Page 16: ...OSD Menu Structure 4 refractor Opticstar Ltd 2003 2004 16 ...

Page 17: ...Technical Specification 450CD series Opticstar Ltd 2003 2004 17 ...

Page 18: ... Opticstar Ltd 2003 2004 18 ...

Page 19: ...se nor cover the damage resulting from adaptations or adjustments which may be made to the product without the prior written consent of Opticstar in order to conform to the national or local technical or safety standards in force in any country other than the ones for which the product was originally designed and manufactured 3 This guarantee will not apply if the type or serial number on the prod...

Page 20: ... Opticstar Ltd 2003 2004 20 ...

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