ST-2000XM

2003 improvements include a higher QE KAI-2001M imging CCD from Kodak (1/1/03) and larger TC-237H guiding CCD from Texas Instruments (8/18/03)

Our customers have been invaluable sources of inspiration and direction.  It was in direct response to customer inquiries that we developed the ST-2000XM.  Now those casual imagers who wanted something bigger and better but not at such a high price as the ST-8 or ST-10 have got what they asked for.  The ST-2000XM has been developed to meet the needs of the astro imager looking for:

• A relatively large CCD with a generous field of view
• Lots of pixels - more than a megapixel
• Good sensitivity
• Low noise
• Antiblooming protection
• High resolution on smaller telescopes
• Flexibility of binning 2x2 on larger scopes with good image size
• Self-guiding
• High speed download
• Professional software
• Easy to use
• Full compliment of optional custom accessories
• Lower price
• SBIG quality and support

A first for SBIG, the new model ST-2000XM  (X=high speed USB, M=microlens) uses an high quality interline CCD from Kodak.  The KAI-2001M CCD is a 2 megapixel progressive scan detector with an active image area of 1.92 million pixels.   The active image area is 1600 x 1200 pixels at 7.4 microns.  This array is 75% larger than the Sony CCD used in competitors' "megapixel" cameras and ST-2000XM is a self-guiding camera, utilizing SBIG's patented dual sensor design.  The imaging CCD is nearly the same size as the KAF-1602E used in the ST-8XE but due to the smaller pixel size it contains nearly half a million more pixels than the ST-8XE.  Full frame download time is approximately 4.5 seconds with our new high speed USB electronics.   This camera is also fully compatible with all of our existing accessories such as CFW8 filter wheel and AO-7 adaptive optics device.  The ST-2000XM has antiblooming protection and the quantum efficiency is comparable to the ABG versions of the new enhanced full frame "E" detectors used in the ST-7XE cameras with a shift in the peak sensitivity toward the blue.  Compared to the ABG versions of the full frame "E" series cameras, the ST-2000XM is more sensitive in the blue and green, and slightly less sensitive in the red.  Moreover, because the ST-2000XM has two CCDs (a guiding CCD as well as an imaging CCD) in the same camera head, it is capable of self-guiding without any compromise in the quantum efficiency of the imaging CCD.  Other manufacturers use a scheme to split the lines of an interline CCD for self-guiding but this technique can only be used with specific types of detectors and if it is used the result is a loss of 50% of the camera's sensitivity.  The Sony "megapixel" CCD is incompatible with this method.  Neither of these problems plague the ST-2000XM.  In other words, not only CAN the ST-2000XM self-guide, it can do so without having to double the exposure time to compensate for the guiding feature. 

The ST-2000XM is equipped with our new cooling design including a heat exchanger ready for water circulation as standard equipment.  For the vast majority of applications the water circulation feature will not be needed.  This design will typically cool to -35^o below ambient (-30^o minimum) without water or typically down to -45^o C from ambient (-40^o minimum) with water circulation.  Cooling is also regulated to 0.1 degrees.  The ST-2000XM has an electronic shutter and, unlike competing models, a mechanical shutter as well.  It can therefore not only take very short exposures for high resolution planetary imaging, it can also automatically take and subtract dark frames without having to cover the telescope or remove the camera.

	2 megapixels 7.4 microns High speed USB 4.5 second downloads Self-guiding CCD $3495.00
Compare these features with Competitors'  Sony 1.3 Megapixel Camera	ST-2000XM	Sony Megapixel Camera
Pixel Array	1600 x 1200	1300 x 1030
Pixel Size	7.4 microns	6.7 microns
Total Active Pixels	1.92 million	1.33 million
CCD Dimensions	11.8 mm x 8.9 mm	8.7 mm x 6.9 mm
Active Area	105 sq. mm	60 sq. mm
Blue Response	50% QE at 410 nm	23% QE at 410 nm
Full Well Capacity	45,000 e-	30,000 e-
Anti-blooming Protection	Yes	Yes
Download rate	~425,000 pixels / sec	~125,000 pixels / sec
Full Frame Download Time	1.9 million pixels in 4.5 sec.	1.3 million pixels in 10 - 12 sec.
Mechanical shutter for auto dark frames	Yes	No
Ability to Self-Guide	Yes with built-in second CCD	No
Cooling	-35 C with air, -45 C with water	-30 C air only
User selectable cooling temperature	Yes, software selectable	Not available
Optional Integrated Color Filter Wheel	Yes, matching CFW8A with custom filters	No
Premimum Software Included With Camera	CCDSoftV5, TheSky, CCODPS, CCDSharp	Manufacturer's software

The size of the CCD determines the field of view through a given optical system

The pixel size should be matched to your optical system for best performance. Smaller pixels will generally improve resolution on smaller scopes (and on larger scopes during best seeing)

The pixel array determines how large the image size appears on your monitor (This has nothing to do with field of view - see CCD size above) At this scale an ST-10XME image would nearly fill the white background in the box.

Standard Accessories for the ST-2000XM:

CFW8A Color Filter Wheel with custom RGB dichroic filters for color imaging	Extra carousel available for additional specialty filters or UBVRI sets	Integrated CFW8A design mates to camera housing to form single unit
AO-7 adaptive optics accessory uses the tracking CCD built-in to the ST-2000XM	Optional submersible water pump and tubing for additional cooling performance	Relay Adapter Box uses signals and power from camera to operate mechanical relays

ST-2000XM First Light Images:

M3.   ST-2000XM "First Light" image. A single 240 second self-guided exposure through a 5" F/6 refractor from the patio of a light polluted apartment complex. The camera was uncooled for this exposure (cooling was OFF).  Dark frame and log scaled with CCDOPS. (Log scaling caused halos around brighter stars).  Image reduced 50%.   Michael Barber / SBIG

M51 and IC4263.   ST-2000XM "First Light" image. A single 600 second self-guided exposure through a 5" F/6 refractor from the patio of a light polluted apartment complex. The camera was uncooled for this exposure (cooling was OFF).  Dark frame and DDP with CCDOPS. Image reduced 50%.  Magnitude 15.1 IC4263 is seen near the lower left corner.     Michael Barber / SBIG

M63 and UGC8313 .   ST-2000XM test exposure. Two 600 second self-guided exposures through a 5" F/6 refractor from the patio of a light polluted apartment complex. DDP applied to each image and co-added with CCDOPS.  Images were binned 2x2. Magnitude 14.7 UGC8313 is seen near the lower right corner.     Michael Barber / SBIG

M106, NCG4248 and UGC7356.   ST-2000XM test exposure. A single 600 second self-guided exposure through a 5" F/6 refractor from the patio of a light polluted apartment complex. Dark frame and DDP with CCDOPS.  Image was binned 2x2. NGC4284 at mag 13.6 is below and to the right of M106.  UGC7356 at mag 15.1 is left of center. Michael Barber / SBIG

M51.   ST-2000XM. This LRGB test shot was taken by Ron Wodaski through a 6" refractor using a CFW8A filter wheel. The Luminance frame was 7x3 minutes and four sets of RGB frames were 3:3:3 minutes. The full field of view is shown above reduced 50% to 600 x 800.  The central portion at high resolution is shown below.

M51.   Same as above.  Cropped central portion at full resolution.

The ST-2000XM is a complete camera system.  There is no need to add in the additional cost of an interface or an autoguider or a nosepiece or better software to make these cameras actually operate as they should.  Everything that is needed to make the camera operational is included in the base price.  We even include some non-essential, but desirable, items such as a custom hard carrying case and extra nosepiece.

Each ST-2000XM camera system INCLUDES at no additional cost:

• Rugged camera body with imaging and autoguiding CCDs and new analog and digital electronics
• 2 Megapixel KAI-2000M imaging CCD
• Built-in TC-237H CCD autoguider with 10X the sensitivity of an ST-4 (TC-211 prior to 8/18/03).
• High speed USB interface (up to 421,000 pixels per second)
• New I²C bi-directional expansion port
• Standard accessory / telescope port
• User rechargeable desiccant plug (no need to return the camera to the factory for frosting problems)
• "Dummy" desiccant plug for dust prevention during recharging procedure
• Internal shutter
• 2 Nosepieces (1.25" and 2")
• Cooling Fan - on/off controlled by software
• New heat exchanger design with water cooling capability
• Tripod mount 1/4-20 threaded side plate
• T-thread ring
• 15 foot USB cable (third party USB extenders available for up to 500 meters!)
• Adapter plug for telescope interface cable (for autoguiding)
• Telescope interface cable (for autoguiding)
• Universal 90-240VAC power supply with remote on/off switch
• SBIG's CCDOPS version 5 camera control software
• Software Bisque's CCDSoftV5 camera control and image processing software
• Software Bisque's TheSky version 4, level II
• Operating Manual
• Custom design hard carrying case with pre-cut foam for your camera

Typical Specifications:

Model ST-2000XM CCD Specifications

Readout Specifications

Optical Specifications (8" f/10)

System Specifications

Physical Dimensions

Price and specifications are subject to change without notice

Revised: August 18, 2003 12:08:11 PM.
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