QSI 683wsg8 monochrome camera with integrated off axis guider and 8x31,8mm filter wheel

The QSI 600 Series offers dual read rates of up to 8 MHz with high-speed USB 2.0 and full 16-bit output that allow 600 Series cameras to produce high quality images with high frame rates, extremely wide dynamic range, excellent linearity and exceptionally low noise. The QSI 600 Series has many different models and a variety of options and accessories are available to meet your specific medical, astronomical or industrial imaging objectives. The superb imaging performance of 600 Series cameras is wrapped in an attractive, compact design with outstanding power efficiency and investment protecting upgradeability. The refined engineering and impressive fit, finish and attention to detail will surpass your highest expectations.

QSI 683wsg8 monochrome camera with integrated off axis guider and 8x31,8mm filter wheel: main specifications

8.3 megapixel Kodak KAF-8300 sensor
Integrated off axis guider
Integrated filter wheel for 8x31,8mm filters
5.4µm pixel provides high resolution
High Speed USB 2.0 and read rates up to 8 MHz
2-Stage TEC w/ cooling to 45°C below ambient
Mechanical shutter
Broad Software support
ASCOM-compatible Windows COM API
Linux drivers and API

Integrated Guider Port

The WSG has an internal mechanical shutter and filter wheel like the "ws" models, plus it adds an Integrated Guider Port. This allows guiding using the light from your main telescope while picking off the light from the guide star in front of the filters. Guiding with a separate guide scope provides the most flexibility, but differential flexure can be an issue, especially with long focal length scopes. With an internal guide chip, you're forced to guide with light through your filters and you can't guide at all while the shutter is closed or an image is being downloaded. This is especially problematic for narrowband imagers. To get around those issues, you could add an external off-axis guider, but a traditional OAG can add an inch or more of back focus plus more weight and two new mounting surfaces that need to be held rigidly. The QSI 600 Series WSG models solve the problems with other guiding solutions by integrating a precision off-axis guider directly into the camera body with the pick-off prism positioned in front of the integrated color filter wheel – right where it belongs. The Integrated Guider Port (IGP) built into 600 Series WSG models is designed to support any camera with 12.5mm of back focus or less that can be attached using C-mount or T-mount threads. The guide camera attaches to the WSG using a C-mount or T-mount threaded adapter (specified at time of order). The threaded adapter sits on top of the focus ring and allows the guide camera to be rotated to any position. The focus ring threads onto the focus base to allow 3mm of travel when focusing the guide camera. Once focus is achieved, the focus ring is locked with a set screw. The guide camera can still be rotated manually if desired without changing the focus. The end result is a rigid, easily focused guide camera that will not move or flex while your mount tracks the apparent motion of the night sky.

Large 8.3mp Image Sensor

The large 3326x2504 sensor in the QSI 683 provides unprecedented field of view in a camera using standard 1¼" filters. The KAF-8300 sensor has excellent quantum efficiency between 350nm and 1000nm with peak QE over 60%. Low dark current and high pixel charge capacity result in a dynamic range exceeding 70db. Micro lenses cover the surface of the CCD to focus the light through the transparent gate to further increase optical response.

Compact Shutter

The 683s camera incorporates QSI's proprietary internal, even-illumination mechanical shutter in the 'mid-size' camera body configuration. The shutter is not only used for timing exposures, but can be left closed to produce 'dark frames' for subsequent image processing. Exposures can be as short as 0.03 seconds or as long as 240 minutes. The shutter is rated for more than 1 million cycles.

Connectivity

All QSI 600 Series cameras utilize High Speed USB 2.0 port (USB 1.1 compatible) for connection to the host computer and imaging application software. Read and transfer time for an entire 8.3mp image frame is typically approximately one second in High Speed mode and less than 12 seconds in High Quality mode. The frame rate can be further increased by reading just a portion of the image (ROI) or with flexible on-chip binning. A four channel optically isolated control port is accessible through a standard 6 pin modular connector. The signal pin-out is compatible with most modern telescope mount drive correctors and is intended to be used for telescope guiding.

High Performance Design

Two separate analog processing chains, providing dual read rates, allow the QSI 600 Series to meet two seemingly incompatible imaging goals. The QSI 600 Series High Quality mode provides the highest possible Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) for applications that require the lowest noise and widest possible dynamic range. High Speed mode has a read rate of 8MHz providing high speed reads at multiple frames per second. The read mode is easily changed under program control providing exceptional flexibility it tuning the camera's performance to the desired imaging goals.

Innovative, Aesthetic Body Design

Small enough to practically hide behind a CD-ROM, the medium format QSI 600 Series family sets new standards for full-featured, high performance scientific CCD cameras. The striking appearance, refined design and superior fit and finish only hint at the advanced technical performance lurking inside. Some have described it as a work of art.

Efficient, Low Power CCD Sensor Cooling

Key in the compact design of the 600 Series cameras is a very efficient custom 2-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) subsystem. Intelligent, programmable cooling fans are integrated into the rear of the camera body to remove the heat generated by the cooler. Typically, forced air cooling lowers the regulated CCD temperature by up to 45°C below ambient utilizing 85% power. Tight +/- 0.1°C temperature regulation is maintained at temperature settings of 10°C below ambient and lower. A slim liquid heat exchanger can be attached to the rear of the camera body to increase the cooling further, up to 55°C below the temperature of the circulating fluid.