1. The StarShoot Mini
CMOS camera
The StarShoot Mini cameras are lower cost alternatives to the
larger StarShoot G10 and above cameras. They are not cooled
which means that while the inherent noise will be a small bit higher,
the size, cost, and power requirements are considerably reduced.
The StarShoot Mini 6.3mp cameras are based around the Sony
IMX 178 CMOS chip, and excel at planetary imaging because of
the super-fast USB 3.0 port frame rates and the tiny 2.4 micron
pixels. The StarShoot 2mp Mono Autoguider includes the Sony
IMX 290 sensor, as well as a USB 2.0 port. In addition, they are
capable of deepsky imaging with exposures up to 1000 seconds.
They also feature a standard SBIG autoguider port, so they can
be used as a very sensitive autoguider while imaging through a
separate camera. For the most sensitive guiding, the Mini 2.0mp
or the mono version of the 6.3mp is recommended. Autoguiding
can be done with the SS 6.3mp Color version, but sensitivity is
always higher with a mono sensor. The Mini cameras are powered
fully via the USB port on your computer. No separate power source
is necessary.
Parts List
• StarShoot Mini camera
• 1.25" nosepiece
• USB cable (USB 3.0 for 6.3mp, USB 2.0 for 2mp Autoguider)
• SBIG guide cable
Telescope
The StarShoot Mini can be used with most all telescopes on the
market. The Mini cameras slip into a 1.25" focuser, or can thread
directly to male c-mount threads. Caution: Be sure to always firmly
tighten the thumbscrew(s) that secure the camera in the tele-
scope focuser, or it could fall out and onto the ground! The camera
comes with a 1.25" c-mount threaded nosepiece (
Figure 2
) which
should be used when slipping the camera into a 1.25" focuser (or
2" focuser with a 1.25" stepdown adapter). To utilize the c-mount
threads, do not use the 1.25" nosepiece, and thread the camera
directly onto the c-mount threads.
Back-focus Requirement
The StarShoot mini cameras feature a backfocus of 17.5mm from
the front c-mount threads. This means that when threaded onto a
c-mount device, the sensor sits 17.5mm back from that threaded
connection. However, when slipped all the way into a 1.25" focuser
instead of using the threads, the sensor sits 10.5mm IN FRONT
of the lip where the 1.25" diameter section of the camera ends.
So slipping into a 1.25" focuser means the camera has a 10.5mm
FORWARD focus requirement. This information may be useful
when determining rough focus positions for different camera/
telescope configurations.
2. Software and Hardware
Installation
The software and driver must first be downloaded from the Orion
website before plugging in the camera. Please go to: www.tele-
scope.com/Gseries to download all the relevant software for your
camera. Downloadable files include:
•
StarShoot Image Capture:
basic camera control program
• G series direct driver: for DirectShow applications
• G series ASCOM driver: for camera control in 3rd part astro-
imaging software.
Note it is HIGHLY recommended to install the ASCOM platform
and download the G series ASCOM driver to use with the camera.
Dedicated 3rd party camera control programs are available online
which will unlock the full astro-imaging potential of the camera. To
install the ASCOM platform, visit www.ascom-standards.org and
click the download button. Don’t forget to also install the G series
ASCOM driver from Orion’s website
AFTER
you install the main
ASCOM platform. When connecting to the camera in a 3rd party
program using ASCOM, choose “ASCOM StarShootG camera”
from the camera selection menu, and then the camera should
appear in the ASCOM camera selection window if the driver is
properly installed and the camera connected. Note the same driver
for all the Orion StarShoot Blue series cameras is the same, and
you may have multiple cameras listed if you also have a larger
Figure 2.
The included parts of the StarShoot Mini.
Figure 1
The back panel of the StarShoot Mini 6.3mp camera.
Note the 2mp Autoguider includes a USB 2.0 port
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