DEEP
SKY IMAGER III™
The user-friendly astrophotography revolution continues with the introduction of the new DSI III. It combines ease-of-use with a 1.4 megapixel chip, greater sensitivity, higher resolution, wider field of view and lower thermal noise. Meade engineers have invented a remarkable new way to reduce noise without a cooling fan. This means you can stack exposures for hours at a time. The thermal monitoring sensors automatically match your dark frames to ambient temperature so it’s nearly impossible to take an uncalibrated picture. The software includes a zoom feature for easier focusing and the square pixels of the new larger chip make processing simpler and images more beautiful than ever. With extremely low noise, the DSI III is the world's best un-cooled astro imager.
Features and Benefits
* Deep Sky Imager III and Deep Sky Imager PRO III: Two new cameras are being added to the Deep Sky Imager family of CCD imaging. The Deep Sky Imager III boasts a 1.4MP Color Sony CCD Sensor. The Deep Sky Imager Pro III has a 1.4MP Monochrome Sony CCD Sensor. Achieve fast one-shot color images with the Deep Sky Imager III. With greater sensitivity of the monochrome chip, go deeper with the Deep Sky Imager PRO III and achieve greater detail with the CCD Color filter set.
* High Sensitivity (1.4MP) CCD Sensor from Sony®: The Meade Deep Sky Imager III utilizes Sony’s large 2/3" ExView HAD™ CCD Image Sensor. This sensor provides dramatically lower noise and higher dynamic range featuring a 16-Bit A/D converter.
* USB 2.0 High Speed: Download images with fast USB connection.
* 2x2 Binning Mode: Use binning for fast focusing, centering the image and advanced imaging techniques.
* Multiple Imager Operation: AutoStar™ Envisage™ will support any number of Deep Sky Imager cameras and one LPI™, so you can image with one DSI and guide with the other.
* Temperature Sensor: The DSI III has a built in temperature sensor for fast and accurate auto-dark frame subraction. The temperature sensor matches the current temperature of the CCD chip to each dark frame so it’s nearly impossible to take an uncalibrated picture.
* Less Noise Means More Data: You get all the data from your Deep Sky Imager without compression, and that means no loss of information in your raw images.
* Drizzle Technology: Drizzle was developed by NASA for processing images
from the Hubble Space Telescope. It will work on any AutoStar® controlled
telescope. There are three enhancements that Drizzle adds:
1. Increased Resolution - increases resolution without interpolation.
2. Extended View - a final image that is nearly four times larger.
3. Field De-Rotation - eliminate field rotation with simple two-star selection.
* No Batteries Required: Just plug the Deep Sky Imager’s USB 2.0 High Speed cable into your laptop and you are ready to image or autoguide. No other power supplies are needed.
* Envisage™ Software Camera Control and Image Processing Software is inclulded, eliminating the need to purchase expensive aftermarket programs.
* Lightweight and Portable: Weighs only 11 ounces and is very compact, measuring only 4.0" x 3.75" x 1.25" with no need for additional balance weights.
* Versatile: Deep Sky Imager works on any telescope and can also be used as a sensitive and simple-to-use Autoguider on AutoStar computerized telescopes.
* Priced For the Astronomer on a Budget: The DSI III is about 1/2 the price of competing brands.
AutoStar™ Suite Software with ENVISAGE™ Imaging
Software:
AutoStar Suite includes Sky Software, Image Capture
Software and Image Processing Software, including these features:
* Time Lapse Photography Tool
- Create movies of the rotation of Jupiter, moons transiting Jupiter, etc...
* Auto and Manual Exposure
Settings - Let Deep Sky Imager™ optimize the exposure, or set it manually.
* New & Improved Magic
Eye™ Focus - For super fast, hassle free focusing.
* Stretch Options - Auto-stretch
automatically brings out dim objects at short exposures. Optimizes the
contrast of objects, with adjustable contrast settings.
* Automatic Dark Subtraction
- Dark frames are automatically stacked and averaged, then subtracted giving
you a clean image. Automatically align and stack images using state-of-the-art
techniques.
* Live Histogram - Helps you
optimize for the best exposure..
CCD Color Filter Set Accessory (#04530):
Bring vibrant color to images taken with your
B&W Deep Sky Imager PRO by using Meade’s optional CCD Color Filter
Set. This high quality Dichoic CCD color filter set comes with Red, Green,
and Blue interference filters plus an IR blocking filter. Designed with
multiple high transmission coatings and strong 3mm thick glass, these filters
were designed specifically for the Deep Sky Imager PRO. They will also
perform perfectly well with standard filter wheels from other manufacturers.
Meade CCD Color Filters come in the standard 1.25" diameter with black
anodized filter rings. Their par focal design means you will not need to
re-focus when switching between filters. These unsurpassed interference
filters offer the ultimate in specific wavelength transmission for true
color images with minimum exposure times.
| Deep Sky Imager III | Deep Sky Imager III Pro | |
| CCD Sensor | High Sensitivity Color Sony EXview HAD™ CCD Sensor | High Sensitivity Monochrome Sony EXview HAD™ CCD Sensor |
| Sensor Model | ICX285AQ | ICX285AL |
| A/D Conversion | 16-bit (greater image depth and contrast) | 16-bit (greater image depth and contrast) |
| Min. – Max. Exposure Time | 1/10,000 of a second to one hour | 1/10,000 of a second to one hour |
| Housing | Coated die-cast aluminum | Coated die-cast aluminum |
| USB Capability | High Speed 2.0 only | High Speed 2.0 only |
| Size / Weight of Product | 4.0" x 3.75" x 1.25"/ 11.2 oz. | 4.0" x 3.75" x 1.25"/ 11.2 oz. |
| Chip Dimensions in Pixels | 10.2mm (w) x 8.3mm (h); 11mm diagonal (type 2/3) 1360 x 1024 pixels (1,392,640 pixels) | 10.2mm (w) x 8.3mm (h); 11mm diagonal (type 2/3) 1360 x 1024 pixels (1,392,640 pixels) |
| Pixel Size (in microns) | 6.45 microns (w) x 6.45 microns (h) Built in temperature sensor measures degrees in Celsius and matches it to each dark frame. | 6.45 microns (w) x 6.45 microns (h) Built in temperature sensor measures degrees in Celsius and matches it to each dark frame. |
| Minimum System Requirements | Pentium 4 1.4GHz computer (Pentium 4 2.1GHz recommended), 500 Megabytes of RAM (1 Giga-Byte recommended), 200 Megabytes of available hard-drive space (>1 GB recommended), CD ROM drive, Windows 2000/XP/Vista (Windows Vista recommended), USB 2.0 high speed available full-powered port. | Pentium 4 1.4GHz computer (Pentium 4 2.1GHz recommended), 500 Megabytes of RAM (1 Giga-Byte recommended), 200 Megabytes of available hard-drive space (>1 GB recommended), CD ROM drive, Windows 2000/XP/Vista (Windows Vista recommended), USB 2.0 high speed available full-powered port. |