ST-2000XCM Dual Sensor Color CCD Camera
The ST-2000XCM and ST-2000XCMI cameras are single shot color versions of the ST-2000XM and ST-2000XMI monochrome cameras. These single shot color versions use KAI-2020CM color CCD. This is essentially the same CCD as the KAI-2020M used in the ST-2000XM monochrome camera with the exception of an RGB filter matrix over the pixel array. All the other features are the same as the monochrome versions of the camera:
A relatively large CCD with a generous field of view - nearly the same size as the ST-8XME
More than a million pixels - nearly two megapixels
Good sensitivity
Low noise
Antiblooming protection - good for small refractors
High resolution on smaller telescopes with 7.4 micron square pixels
Flexibility of binning 2x2 on larger scopes with good image size
Self-guiding with a built-in TC-237H CCD
High speed download - about 4.5 seconds for a full 1.9 megapixel image
Professional software - see below
Easy to use
Full compliment of optional custom accessories
Lower price
SBIG quality and support
Like their monochrome counterparts, the ST-2000XCM and ST-2000XCMI cameras are the same, except that the ST-2000XCMI does not have the built-in TC-237H tracking CCD and some of the accessories that are included with the ST-2000XCM (see the comparison table below). Both versions use a high quality interline CCD from Kodak, the KODAK DIGITAL SCIENCE KAI-2020CM Image Sensor Megapixel Progressive Scan Interline CCD. The KODAK DIGITAL SCIENCETM KAI-2020CM is a high-performance multi-megapixel image sensor designed for a wide range of scientific, medical imaging, and machine vision applications. The 7.4 mm square pixels with microlenses provide high sensitivity and the large full well capacity results in high dynamic range. The vertical overflow drain structure provides antiblooming protection, and enables electronic shuttering for precise exposure control to 0.001 seconds. Other features include low dark current, negligible lag and low smear. The KAI-2020CM 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. This array is 75% larger than the Sony CCD used in competitors' "one-shot color megapixel" cameras, nearly as large as an ST-8XME, and the ST-2000XM is a self-guiding camera, utilizing SBIG's patented dual sensor design. Although the imaging CCD is nearly the same size as the KAF-1602E used in the ST-8XME, due to the smaller pixel size it contains nearly half a million more pixels than the ST-8XME.
The latest KAI-2020CM 2 megapixel CCD has all of the same improvements as the monochrome KAI-2020M: a high gain output amplifier that reduces the read noise by almost half compared to the previous CCD, 10X fewer bright points, and lower dark current. The ST-2000XCM also has the larger 657x495 pixel TC-237H built-in guiding CCD instead of the TC-211. This improvement was the same as the upgraded autoguider installed on the larger ST-8XE, ST-9XE and ST-10XE cameras.
The ST-2000XCM 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.
