SXVF-M8C An SXVF camera with 4 million pixels   Super resolution one-shot colour at a low cost!

• Medium sized very high resolution 'SuperHAD' CCD chip, with 3,980,000 3.125µm pixels in a 7.225 x 5.375mm array.
• Exceptionally high QE over an extremely wide spectral range from near UV to deep IR
• Extremely low dark signal - no dark frames necessary for many deep sky objects
• Exceptionally effective anti-blooming with minimal effect on linearity and no lost active area
• Built-in very high speed USB 2.0 interface (USB 1.1 compatible) for sub-1 second downloads
• Built-in autoguider interface and output - compatible with the optional dedicated external guide camera
• Built-in dual serial ports for accessory control - drive filter wheels, GOTO 'scopes etc. (requires optional serial port module, only works with SX software)
• Single USB cable control for all features - get rid of that dangerous cable tangle!
• Only ONE computer needed to control all of the devices and functions
• Very low power consumption. Less than 1 amp at 12v DC
• Compact and lightweight - only 50mm in diameter x 100mm long - less than 200 grams load on the 'scope

Left: Rear view of the camera showing built-in ports.

(Note from Terry Platt: Sony calls it a 'Frame readout' device, but it's more or less the same as an interlaced CCD. You can read it with the same code as is used by the SXVF-M7 and it would normally operate in 'progressive' mode (sequential readout of even and odd fields). It can also operate in STAR2000 mode.)

The essential characteristics of the camera are as follows:

The SXVF-M8C camera specification:
CCD type:	Sony ICX406BQ SuperHAD CCD with ultra low dark current, RGB filter matrix and vertical anti-blooming. SXVF-M8C: Sony ICX406BQ.
Pixel size:	3.125µm (horizontal) x 3.125µm (vertical)
CCD image format:	2308 (horizontal) x 1712 pixels (vertical)
Image Area:	7.225mm (horizontal) x 5.375mm (vertical).
CCD quality:	Grade 1 or better - No bad columns, no dead pixels, no more than 50 'hot' pixels (saturated in <10 seconds).
Spectral Response:	QEmax at 540nm (~60%), 50% roll-off at 400nm and 650nm.
Readout noise:	Less than 10 electrons RMS - typically only 7 electrons.
Full-well capacity:	Greater than 10,000 e- (unbinned).
Anti-blooming:	Overload margin greater than 800x.
Dark current:	Dark frame saturation time greater than 100 hours. Less than 0.01 electrons/second @ +10C ambient.
System gain:	0.2 electrons per ADU
Data format:	16 bits.
Computer interface:	Built-in USB 2.0 compatible interface. Also works with USB 1.1.
Download time:	Sub 1-second full resolution using USBF 2.0, approximately 12 seconds with USB 1.1.
Power Requirements:	115VAC @ 12VA, or 12VDC @ 750mA max.
Cooling system:	Regulated constant-current cooling supply built-in. Single-stage thermoelectric cooler to give a CCD temperature of approximately 30C below ambient.
Size:	50 x 100mm black anodised aluminium barrel with 42mm 'T2' thread at the CCD window end & input/output plugs at rear.
Weight:	Approximately 200g.