STXL-16200

Product Description

The SBIG STXL supports up to 35 mm format CCD sensors.  An eight position filter wheel is available.  For guiding a remote guide head option is available, as well as the StarChaser SC-3 off-axis guide camera, which provides a guide sensor in front of the filters.

The STXL-16200 includes a high sensitivity, 16 megapixel CCD with 6 micron pixels.

STXL has two-stage cooling with deltas up to -60C, is water cooling ready, and includes ethernet and USB 2.0 computer interfaces. Many innovations for serious imagers have been designed into this professional camera, including:

• USB 2.0 and Ethernet in each camera
• Web browser control ready
• Two-Stage TE Cooling
• Cooling Delta up to -60 C with Air Only
• 12VDC operation (9-14VDC)
• Full frame image buffer
• Optional Self-Guiding in front of the filter wheel via SC-3
• Optional Remote Guide Head
• Photometric shutter for large arrays
• Variable speed fan
• Quick Disconnect Water Cooling Ready
• User Rechargeable Desiccant Plug
• Opto-isolated Relays for Telescope Control
• Tracking Relay LED Indicators
• Power Management LED Indicators

New Software Included!

All new SBIG STXL series cameras purchased on or after September 1, 2019 include a license for our renowned MaxIm LT software, a $200 value, at no extra cost.

Self-Guiding in Front of Filters

It is well known that the advantage of easier guiding through a separate guide scopes is often limited by differential deflection of the guide scope relative to the main optical axis due to mechanical flexure or shifting of the mirror in the main OTA.

We solved this problem by introducing the StarChaser SC-3, which attaches to the FW7-STX filter wheel and adds only 0.87″ of additional back focus distance.  With the guide sensor in front of the filter wheel, the optical design is optimized for guiding.

The StarChaser SC-3 includes built-in AO support.

Micron-Precision Filter Wheel

In addition, STXL filter wheels are designed with a same precise positioning mechanism. With precise positioning, a filter is returned and held in precisely the same position every time it is rotated into the optical path, even after a loss of power and no matter how many times the filter wheel has moved. We measured this accuracy at better than 5 microns (less than one pixel).

USB 2.0 and Ethernet Interface

The STXL series has both USB 2.0 and Ethernet interface capability for the greatest versatility with a variety of computer systems. Users do not have to choose between the two. The Ethernet interface makes control of the camera over a network easy and less expensive than requiring a local computer to be controlled remotely. Moreover, the camera has a built-in web server. Also, with Ethernet, no camera drivers need to be installed.  The STXL camera has a built-in web server that can be accessed from any browser.

Superior Cooling

The STXL uses an innovative pin fin heat sink. This design is the most efficient for dissipating heat per given volume, and while it is more expensive than typical parallel fin heat sinks commonly round elsewhere, it provides superior performance and minimizes size and weight at the same time. This is one of the reasons the STXL camera weighs less than competing cameras with similar cooling performance. The new heat sink is an optimized design for this camera using a large custom pin fin heat sink mated directly to the hot side of the 2 stage TE cooler to achieve maximum heat dissipation with a single large fan. In less than 5 minutes the STXL achieves a delta of -60C using air cooling only.

Water Circulation Ready

While the design is aimed at sufficient cooling without water assist, it is possible to use water instead of air or in addition to air for optimum cooling. Using water instead of air will not require the use of a fan.

Even-illumination Shutter

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 astrophotography cameras. “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 finds for instance with an iris type of shutter that opens-up starting at the center and closes over the center last.

User rechargeable desiccant

In order to allow the user the greatest flexibility in the field, and to avoid having to return the camera to the factory in order to purge the CCD chamber, we have designed the chamber to accept a rechargeable desiccant plug.

Full Frame Image Buffer

The STXL series cameras have a full frame image buffer for storing image data during download. This prevents possible corruption of the image due to processing delays in the main computer during download.

Variable Speed Fan

If the user desires air cooling only, the fan speed is controllable through software. Variable speed control allows the user to “tune” to fan to eliminate any resonance with the user’s telescope thus suppressing harmonic vibrations.

I2C AUX Port

The STXL cameras have a convenient I2C AUX port, which controls all accessories including filter wheels and AO-8T Adaptive Optics accessories.

Tracking Relay LED indicators

This handy set of 4 LEDs will tell you at a glance if the camera is issuing corrections to the mount in +X, -X, +Y or -Y directions during an imaging session.

 12VDC Operation

The STXL will internally regulate a 12VDC supply so that the camera can be connected directly to any unregulated source such as a car battery. Four power LEDs indicate if the supply voltage drops to 11, 10 or 9 volts and when it is “good.” Operation of the camera is possible with a supply voltage of 9.1 to 14 volts DC. Other LEDs indicate camera status and operation of the relays during guiding.

Guiding

STXL models can connect to a Remote Guide Head, which is suitable for piggyback guide telescopes or off-axis guider devices.  It connects directly to the Guide Head port on the STXL camera, which provides all power and control signals.  This provides a convenient, integrated package and minimizes mount cabling.

The StarChaser SC-3 is a new self-contained guiding option with built-in AO support.

Optional AO-X Adaptive Optics

All STX and STXL models can operate with the AO-X Adaptive Optics accessory.  The AO-X uses a tip-tilt window to quickly and precisely adjust the image position in response to autoguider feedback.  With Adaptive Optics there is no backlash, stiction, or lag, and the movements are precise and accurate.  This allows the AO-X to not only remove the effects of periodic error, drift, and wind gusts, but also reduce the effects of atmospheric seeing.

For more information please see AO-X.

Carrying Case

All STXL cameras include a deluxe carrying case, universal power supply, power extension cable, USB cable, guider cable and software.  All SBIG cameras purchased on or after September 1, 2019 include MaxIm LT software.

Additional Information

Dark Current e-/p/s	0.1 e-/p/s typical
Power	12 VDC
Full Frame Download	11 sec
Filter Size	50mm Round
Weight	5.2 lbs
A/D Converter	16 bits
Read Noise (typ)	9 e- typical
Cooling Delta	~60 °C delta to a minimum -35°C operating temperature
Exposure	0.18-3600 sec
Computer Interface	USB2 /Ethernet
OS Compatibility	Windows 7, 8, 10 x86/x64, MacOS 10.14 “Mojave” x86 binaries, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS x64, Ubuntu Mate arm64
Pixel Digitization Rate	1.8 MHz
Adaptive Optics Option	Y
Remote Guide Head	y
Shutter	Mechanical, Even-illumination
Peak QE	56%
Filter Wheel Option	y
Sensor Size	27 mm x 21.6 mm
Full Well Capacity	41,000 e-
Pixel Size	6 μm
Self-Guiding In Front of Filters	y
Sensor Grade	Class 1, Class 2
Imaging / Pixel Array	4500 px x 3600 px
Power Cable	US, European
OAG Option	StarChaser
Total Pixels	16.2 million pixels
Imaging Sensor	KAF-16200
Antiblooming	y
Temperature Regulation	y

Documentation

Product overview

Product overview of STX and STXL cameras.

Download

Operating manual

Installation, and operating instructions for STXL-Series cameras.

Download

Backfocus Table

Backfocus configuration table

Download

Software

SBIGUDrv

The SBIG Universal Driver is distributed via SBIG Driver Checker 64 on Windows, and via an installer on Mac OSX. Keeping your drivers up to date is the best way to ensure your camera runs smoothly, so remember to update your drivers regularly.

Download (Win) Download (OSX)

CCDOps

CCDOPS is a free program that operates USB based SBIG cameras.

Download (Win) Download (OSX)

Software Development Kit

Software development kit for the Windows platform.

Download (Win)