SBIG ST-402ME Single Sensor, Lightweight USB 2.0 Camera with KAF-0402ME Class 1 CCD, Enhanced Cooling

The new ST-402ME is a simple and easy to use yet powerful camera. The ST-402ME uses the same Microlensed, Blue Enhanced, Full Frame KAF-0402ME CCD as the ST-7XME camera. The array is 765 x 510 pixels at 9 microns square. The same technology that is used to achieve such high quantum efficiency in the KAF-3200ME CCD is also used with the same effectiveness in the KAF-0402ME CCD. With a peak QE of nearly 85%, this camera bows its head to no other when it comes to recording faint detail in dim objects.

A full frame download takes less than a second with the new USB 2.0 electronics. Focus mode updates the computer screen about 2x per second. The small size and light weight makes this camera very easy to handle and set up. A custom internal filter wheel and shutter lets you take dark frames and tri-color images automatically. Best of all, the low noise and extraordinary QE of the KAF-0402ME CCD makes this one of the most sensitive CCD cameras available to amateurs at any price. Simply put, there is nothing that can touch it in its class.

This single sensor camera is designed for light weight, low cost and high performance. The ST-402ME is so sensitive, one is virtually guaranteed to find a guide star in the field of view no matter where it is pointed using SBIG's small eFinder accessory lens (1" f/4). The ST-402ME's internal relays allow the camera to autoguide almost any commercial telescope with an autoguider port. It will also control an external Relay Adapter Box for unusual telescope drives or older ones that need to be isolated electrically from the autoguider.

Like the ST-237A, this camera uses a monochrome CCD with an optional internal filter wheel and custom filters enabling it to do both high sensitivity B&W imaging and RGB/LRGB color imaging with the same camera. The CCD is centered in the camera body and is correctly spaced for Celestron telescopes having Fastar or Hyperstar optics. The camera body is all metal construction (black hard anodized aluminum). Single stage, regulated, thermoelectric cooling with fan assist is provided on the standard astronomical model.