SBIG Camera and Image Processing Software

Camera Control/Image Processing Software

Section	Software / Platform	Notes
I	Selecting the Correct Software	Background Information
II	MS/PC DOS ST-4, ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6 ST-7, ST-8, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237	Free Programs and Manuals
III	Windows 3.1 ST-7 and ST-8 only	Free Program
IV	Windows 95/98 (with notes on NT) ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8 PixCel 255 and PixCel 237	Program Free with Cameras All Others $99 Free updates
V	Macintosh ST-4, ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7 ST-8, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237	Free Programs
VI	PixCel 255 and PixCel 237 Special PixCel version of CCDOPS for DOS	Free Program
VII	CCDSharp Window 95 only	Program Free with AO-7 All Others $149 Free Updates
VIII	Custom Software Developers Parallel Port Driver for ST-5C, PixCel 255, PixCel 237, ST-7 and ST-8	Updates Free

Section I. SELECTING THE CORRECT SOFTWARE

SBIG has several software packages supporting its various cameras on the PC, Macintosh and Windows platforms. These packages have image acquisition and image processing functions:

The CCD, CCDUTIL, CCDBLINK and CCDTRACK packages support the ST-4.
The CCDOPS for DOS package supports the ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237.
The CCDOPS for Windows 3.1 supports the ST-7 and ST-8 only.
The CCDOPS for Windows 95/98 supports the ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7, ST-7, ST-8, PixCel 255 and PixCel 237.
The PIXCELOPS for DOS package has specialized support for the Celestron/SBIG PixCel 255 and PixCel 237
The CCDSHARP for Windows 95 package has specialized Lucy Richardson image processing capabilities for all cameras except the ST-4.

These files are the latest production release of the SBIG Camera Control and Image Processing Software. They read and display SBIG native image formats. These are full working copies and can be used for evaluation or to upgrade your existing software if you are using a previous version with an SBIG camera.

Selecting to right software depends upon your computing platform and the camera you wish to support, or images you wish to process. Use the following list to determine which software is right for your needs.

Section II. MS/PC DOS Users

ST-4X, ST-5, ST-5C, ST-6, ST-7 and ST-8 users should download OPS380.ZIP [Released ver 3.80]. You might want to review the other changes made in the Readme File which is also included in the archive. The latest version of the CCDOPS Manual is also available in PDF format. Please note that the manual covers all the features of CCDOPS for DOS, Windows 95 and Macintosh.

ST-4 users should download CCD.ZIP [ver 2.08] and CCDUTIL.ZIP.
CCD controls the ST-4 camera for image acquisition and CCDUTIL allows you to make TIFF and FITS files from ST-4 images and offers other handy image processing functions not found in the ST-4's CCD software. Don't forget to get the CCDUTIL Manual (PDF format).

ST-4 users who desire to remotely control the tracking functions of the ST-4 may purchase CCDTRACK softrare for $99. CCDTRACK transfers all of the autoguide functions of the ST-4 to a remote computer up to 100 feet away from the ST-4 control box. CCDTRACK also offers a number of features not available with the ST-4 in stand alone mode such as text and graphic displays showing the tracking accuracy in real time during the guiding session and the accumulated error of the guide star image.

Section III. Windows 3.1 Users

SBIG has two software packages for Windows. The original CCDOPS for Windows 3.1 is a 16 bit software package that supports the ST-7 and ST-8 only. It runs under Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 and is available free of charge to all users. ST-7/ST-8 users may select this link to download CCDOPSW.ZIP [ver 1.09].
If you're using the older CCDOPS for Windows version 1.x then you should download an updated version of the ST-7 Driver DLL ST7DLL.ZIP [ver 2.50].
Instructions: Unzip and copy this file into your CCDOPSW directory and reboot your computer.

Section IV. Windows 95/98 Users

In June of 1998 SBIG released CCDOPS for Windows 95 (version 4.x), a full 32 bit program that supports all SBIG and PixCel cameras except the ST-4. CCDOPS for Windows 95 matches CCDOPS for DOS virtually feature-for-feature, including Auto Grab, Color Grab, AO-7 Support, etc. It also includes all of the tri-color merge functions of CCDCOLOR and supports color combining images from all of our cameras except theST-4. This software is included with each new camera purchased after June 1998 and is available for purchase separately by other users for $99. As such, we only post updates to CCDOPS for Windows 95 here on our web site. If you need the whole package please contact SBIG, or order directly from this link.

Registered users of CCDOPS for Windows 95 users should download OPSW405.ZIP [Released ver 4.05]. This fixes several bugs and adds a few features over versions 4.00. You can preview the changes with the Readme File file (included in the archive).

Instructions: Download and unzip the files in the archive and place them in the CCDOPS for Windows directory.
Special Note for AO-7 users: If you are using an AO-7 and it stops working after installing version 4.xx of the software you should move the file SBIG32.VXD from your CCDOPS Windows directory to the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory and re-boot your computer. As a check, after re-booting, the Camera Info command should report ver 2.66W32. This may also fix communication problems with cameras that are not being recognized by the Windows software.
NOTE for Windows NT - As of this release CCDOPS for Windows 95/98 does not run under Windows NT. If Windows NT is your only operating system and you need camera control software for this system we recommend CCDSoft by Software Bisque.

Section V. Macintosh Users

ST-4 users can download CCD.HQX [ver 1.50].
ST-4 Beta Testers can download CCD1R6.HQX [ver 1.6 Beta]. This is a fat-binary version which is now native on the Power PC Macs. New features include Balloon Help, Apple Guide Help and support for the Port Juggler.
ST-4X, ST-5, ST-6, ST-7, ST-8 and PixCel 255 users can download CCDOPS.HQX [ver 3.52]
PixCel237 users can download the Beta version OPS375B1.HQX [Ver 3.75 Beta 1]

[Note: At this time we do not have Macintosh support for the AO-7]

Section VI. PixCel 255 and PixCel 237 Users

PC based PixCel users should download PIXCELOP.ZIP [ver 3.75]. Also note that you can also use the standard CCDOPS software available for PC and Macintosh. You might want to review the changes made in the Readme File

Section VII. CCDSharp Users

CCDSharp users should download SHARPEXE.ZIP [ver 1.02]. This fixes a bug that would not allow reading some PixCel237 images
Instructions: Unzip this file and copy the resulting CCDSharp.EXE file into your CCDSharp directory.

Section VIII. Custom Software Developers

Parallel Port Driver. This Application Note describes the Parallel Port Driver for interfacing to ST-7, ST-8, PixCel255 and PixCel 237 cameras with custom PC software. You might also want to download the driver pardrv.zip (for PC) or pardrv.hqx (for Mac) which contains sample code (PC) and a .H file and library file for including with your projects.

Current Price List

Order Form