| This Orion StarShoot II Solar System Color Imager sets a new resolution standard in affordable, high-technology CCD color solar system imaging for amateur astronomers. The StarShoot is an easy-to-use high-performance electronic camera that allows every astronomer – including you – to shoot and process stunning images of the Moon and planets their first night out. And you can do it with a minimum of fuss and at a fraction the cost of conventional high resolution CCD cameras. The StarShoot II has a big 1280 x 1024 pixel 1/2" CMOS CCD sensor with 5.2 micron square pixels for higher resolution images than similarly-priced competing CCD cameras can offer. With the StarShoot, every image is a full-color image. There’s no need to shoot separate exposures through multiple filters to get a single color image, as you must with some competing cameras. The camera works with any telescope and can also be used as an autoguider for long-exposure astrophotography. A USB cable is supplied to connect the StarShoot II imager to your PC or laptop, so you can display your images on your computer screen immediately for all to see, and/or store them to print out later and display. Power for the camera is supplied by your computer via the included USB cable. The StarShoot II Solar System CCD Color Imaging Camera comes with MaxIm DL Essentials Edition image capture and processing software. This special software package has been customized for the StarShoot II from MaxIm DL, the CCD imaging software that has long been considered by many expert imagers to be the best software program available for CCD imaging. The MaxIm DL Essentials program displays the target object on your PC screen; automatically captures multiple exposures; automatically aligns and stacks a series of images, using state-of-the-art techniques, to provide an extremely low noise and highly detailed single composite color image; subtracts averaged dark frames for the best image quality: provides easy, real-time focusing assistance; allows the use of the StarShoot II as a high-precision autoguider for a larger CCD camera; and more. It includes tools to adjust the color saturation and balance, eliminating the need to use Photoshop or other aftermarket tools to accomplish this pre-publication step. No matter whether you consider the pixel count per dollar or the value of the advanced MaxIm DL Essentials software, the Orion StarShoot II CCD camera is one of the best-value solar system CCD cameras available. Features of the Camera . . . - Imaging sensor: High sensitivity/high dynamic range 1/2" CMOS progressive scan color imaging sensor. Most competitive cameras use a smaller (1/3") sensor with fewer pixels.
- One-pass imaging: Color images do not require multiple exposures through color filters as more expensive CCD cameras do.
- Resolution : 1280 pixels wide x 1024 pixels high (1.3 megapixels). Each pixel measures 5.2 microns wide x 5.2 microns high.
- Analog to digital conversion: 10-bit A/D conversion for great image depth and contrast.
- Multiple imaging capability: Take one exposure at a time or let the camera automatically collect continuous exposures at up to 15 frames per second (great for lunar occultations).
- USB 2.0: The StarShoot uses a fast USB 2.0 high speed connection to your computer. This allows fast data transfer for lunar and planetary imaging that lets you see your images almost as soon as you take them, making focusing and composing quick and easy. The StarShoot is also backward compatible with USB 1.1.
- IR filter: To become familiar with the camera and how to use it, Orion recommends that you take your first images during the day, when it is easier to read the instruction manual. A removable IR (infrared) filter is supplied that improves the contrast during daytime imaging. The filter can be left in place during nighttime lunar and solar system imaging.
- Connection to the telescope: The StarShoot has a 1.25" nosepiece that allows you to use it with any telescope having a 1.25" focuser. The nosepiece is threaded for standard 1.25" eyepiece filters.
- Power requirements: No batteries or power supplies are required for imaging. Just plug the StarShoot II’s USB cable into your laptop or PC and you are ready to image or autoguide. Your computer provides the camera’s power. No other power supply is needed for the camera.
- Included components: You get the MaxIm DL Essentials software on a CD-ROM; the StarShoot II Camera; a USB Cable; an IR filter; and an instruction manual.
- Computer requirements: The minimum computer configuration is a Pentium or higher computer; 64 MB of RAM minimum; 67 MB of available hard-drive space for program installation; CD-ROM drive; Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista; 800x600 16-bit color video display (1024x768 or higher is recommended); mouse; and a USB 1.1 port (USB 2.0 is recommended). Internet Explorer 4 or higher is required to display on-line help.
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