Image similiar: The product image shows the camera with the optional Astrel Instruments 5" Touch Display and the also optional Astrel Instruments Mini wireless keyboard.
With the accessories Astrel Instruments 5" Touch Display, this camera turns into a stand-alone solution for sophisticated astrophotography: You have all the possibilities of an astronomik CCD camera, but do not need a PC or laptop at the telescope!
The AST8300 camera with integrated filter wheel is equipped with the Kodak KAF 8300 sensor. This is a full-frame chip with a mechanical shutter, which means that the entire chip surface is actually used for exposure. With a diagonal of 22.5 millimetres and a pixel size of 5.4 µm, it is ideal for most telescopes.
Thanks to advanced technologies such as anti-blooming and Truesense, the Kodak KAF 8300 CCD chip is used in a wide range of cameras.
Additional features of this camera:
- The brain: A powerful 1 GHz microprocessor is built into the camera. This not only allows the camera to connect wirelessly to a PC, tablet or smartphone via integrated WiFi, but also forms the basis for stand-alone operation via touchscreen. The open-source camera processor code allows you to program the camera freely.
- The memory: The camera has 8 GB of memory. This eliminates the need to store images externally. The memory can be expanded to 64 GB.
- Active cooling: The camera can be cooled to 42° Celsius below the ambient temperature. The temperature is regulated to an accuracy of 0.1° Celsius.
- Filter wheel with 7 positions: The camera moves precisely to each position and checks it visually. We offer special filters for Astrel cameras from Astronomik. The filter wheel is permanently integrated and therefore an integral part of the system.
The camera software: Everything you need! The camera's powerful microprocessor offers numerous possibilities. Whether you operate the camera with an external PC or as a stand-alone system with touchscreen, the following applications are available:
- Live view: In live view mode, the camera switches to 10x5 binning, which means that it combines pixels for high sensitivity and fast readout. This allows you to align your telescope very well with the object.
- Focusing: The focus mode helps you find the precise focus using a star.
- Camera control: Here you can set binning, exposure time, continuous shooting, etc. - individually for each filter!
- Temperature control: Only those who have control over the temperature can take reproducible images during long nights.
- Status and preview: What is your camera doing right now and what does the image look like? The software keeps you up to date at all times!
- Filter wheel: The camera controls the filter wheel during recording, but also in live view and focus mode.
- Planetarium software: Useful programs such as Cartes du Ciel are already installed in the camera.
- Autoguider: The camera has software for tracking control. All you need is an autoguiding camera with a guide tube or off-axis guider.
Included in delivery:
- transport cases
- Vacuum pump
- Ethernet cable
- Power cables with car plug (cigarette lighter)
Conclusion: The AST8300 camera combines the advantages of a system camera (DSLR) with the advanced technology of an actively cooled astro camera – especially with the accessories for stand-alone operation.
