QSI 683 8.3mp Monochrome 
Cooled CCD Camera

• Full-frame 8.3 megapixel KAF-8300 sensor
• 5.4µm pixel provides high resolution

• 16-bit output. Low noise, wide dynamic range
• High Speed USB 2.0 and read rates up to 8 MHz

• 2-Stage TEC w/ cooling to 45°C below ambient
• Built-in mechanical shutter
• Available 5 or 8-position color filter wheel
• Widest range of filters available, including Astrodon 3nm narrowband and IDAS RS filters.

• Integrated Guider Port

• Broad Software support
• ASCOM-compatible Windows COM API
• Linux drivers and API 

 

The QSI 683 model camera employs an 8.3mp Kodak full-frame CCD image sensor with microlens technology. The increased Field of View, high quantum efficiency, wide dynamic range, dual read rates, low noise performance and internal 5 or 8-position color filter wheels make the QSI 683 ideally suited to a broad range of demanding scientific and astronomical imaging applications.

The compact design of the QSI 600 Series allows the 683 to set a new benchmark for cost and size in a high-performance, full-featured scientific CCD camera. With optional features and upgradeability, the QSI 683 can be tailored to fit your needs today and in the future.

The QSI 683wsg is available with an Integrated Guider Port (IGP) allowing astronomers to guide using the light from the main telescope while picking off the light from the guide star in front of the filters. 

The 683 camera system is supported by industry leading image acquisition software plus a full camera control API is available for creating custom Windows or Linux applications.

QSI 600 Series Cameras
with Integrated Guider Port 

QSI WSG models are an innovative new addition to the QSI 600 Series family of cooled CCD cameras. The WSG has an internal mechanical shutter and filter wheel like the 600 Series “ws” models, plus it adds an Integrated Guider Port. This allows guiding using the light from your main telescope while picking off the light from the guide star in front of the filters. The WSG option is available on all 600 Series models. 

Selecting the best guiding solution has always required a compromise. The Integrated Guider Port (IGP) of the WSG solves many of the problems associated with existing guiding solutions. 

The Right Guiding Solution

Guiding with a separate guide scope provides the most flexibility, but differential flexure can be an issue, especially with long focal length scopes. With an internal guide chip, you’re forced to guide with light through your filters and you can’t guide at all while the shutter is closed or an image is being downloaded. This is especially problematic for narrowband imagers. To get around those issues, you could add an external off-axis guider, but a traditional OAG can add an inch or more of back focus plus more weight and two new mounting surfaces that need to be held rigidly.

Flexible Guide Camera Options 

The Integrated Guider Port (IGP) built into 600 Series WSG models is designed to support any camera with 12.5mm of back focus or less that can be attached using C-mount or T-mount threads. Many cameras are designed with 12.5mm of back focus to be compatible with CS-mount lenses which use the same thread as C-mount (1″ x 32tpi) but with 12.5mm of back focus instead of 17.5mm for C-mount.  Alternatively, you can select the 1.25″ Filter Thread attachment to achieve 13.4mm of back focus.

Easy, Rigid Guide Camera Focusing 

The guide camera attaches to the WSG using a C-mount or T-mount threaded adapter (specified at time of order). The threaded adapter sits on top of the focus ring and allows the guide camera to be rotated to any position. The focus ring threads onto the focus base to allow 3mm of travel when focusing the guide camera. Once focus is achieved, the focus ring is locked with a set screw. The guide camera can still be rotated manually if desired without changing the focus. The end result is a rigid, easily focused guide camera that will not move or flex while your mount tracks the apparent motion of the night sky.

Guide with Light From 
in Front of the Filter Wheel

The QSI 600 Series WSG models solve the problems with other guiding solutions by integrating a precision off-axis guider directly into the camera body with the pick-off prism positioned in front of the integrated color filter wheel – right where it belongs.

Never Struggle With Finding a Guide Star

One of the main challenges when using a camera with an internal guide chip is to find a star bright enough to guide by within the limited field of view of the internal guide sensor. When shooting through red, green or blue filters, ⅔ of the available light is blocked by the filter and not transmitted to the internal guider chip, guaranteeing lower signal-to-noise stars for guiding. This problem is compounded with narrowband filters where as little as 1% of the total light from a star reaches the guide chip. By positioning the pick-off prism in front of the filters, you always have all the star’s light available for guiding.

WSG Supports Fast Optical Systems 

By integrating the Guider Port into the camera, we’re able to position the pick-off prism very close to the internal filter wheel adding minimal backfocus and eliminating any possibility of flexure or rotation compared to a traditional OAG. The large ½” square pick-off prism is optimally positioned close to the internal filter wheel, supporting the use of guide cameras with large sensors, while preventing any vignetting of the main sensor even with very fast optical systems.

 

Model 683 CCD Image Sensor Specifications

Feature	Standard	Optional
CCD Manufacturer & Model	Kodak KAF-8300	Kodak KAF-8300 (no coverglass)
CCD Architecture	Full Frame	Full Frame
Microlens	Yes	No
Anti-blooming	Yes (1000x)	Yes (1000x)
Imager Size: (WxH)	17.96mm x 13.52mm	17.96mm x 13.52mm
Pixel Array (WxH):	3348×2574 total pixels, 3326×2504 active (visible)	3348×2574 total pixels, 3326×2504 active (visible)
Pixel Size:	5.4µm x 5.4µm	5.4µm x 5.4µm
	Typical Values
Pixel Full Well Depth	25,500 electrons	25,5000 electrons
Absolute Quantum Efficiency	Peak: 57% 400nm: 38%	Peak: 60% 400nm: 40%
Pixel Dark Current	<0.02 electron=”” per=”” second=”” at=”” -10=”” c=”” td=””>
Dark Current Doubling	5.8° C	5.8° C
Intrinsic Read Noise	8 electrons RMS	8 electrons RMS
Dynamic Range	70 db	70 db
Charge Transfer Efficiency	>0.999995	>0.999995

 

Model 683 Camera Specifications  

Feature	Model 683s		Model 683ws(-8)
CCD Image Sensor	KAF-8300
Electronic Shutter	Mechanical, exposure range: 0.03 seconds to 240 minutes
Mechanical Shutter	Yes		Yes
Internal Color Filter Wheel	No		ws    – 5-Position CFW ws-8 – 8-position CFW Holds 1.25″ or opt. 31mm filters
Camera Body Configuration	Medium Enclosure		Full Enclosure
Dimensions	W4.45” x H4.45” x D2.00” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount)		5-pos, W4.45” x H4.45” x D2.50” 8-pos, W5.86” x H5.56” x D2.50” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount)
Weight, without Nosepiece	34 oz.  /  950g		5-pos, 40 oz.  /  1130g 8-pos, 51 oz.  /  1450g
Optical Back Focus (w/o Filters in path)	0.90″ w/ T-mount adapter 0.68″ w/ C-mount adapter 0.68″ w/ no adapter		1.40″ w/ T-mount adapter 1.18″ w/ C-mount adapter 1.18″ w/ no adapter
Thermoelectric CCD Cooling	Temperature regulation +/- 0.1°C, @ 0°C  to -40°C CCD temperature
In free air,  Fans @ Full Speed	Typically 45°C below ambient air temperature with 85% cooling power
With Opt Liquid Cooling – Fans Off	Typically 52°C below circulating liquid with 85% cooling power (adds 0.75″ to camera depth)
Cooling Fan Control	Intelligent, user configurable
Read Rate	User Selectable High Quality mode at 800KHz, High Speed mode at 8MHz
Camera Gain	User Selectable High Gain 0.5 e-/ADU (default), Low Gain 1.1 e-/ADU
Digital Resolution	16 bits (both High Quality and High Speed mode)
Total System Read Noise	Typically <8 electrons=”” rms=”” ccd=”” specification=”” limited=”” in=”” high=”” quality=”” mode=”” br=””>Typically <16 electrons=”” rms=”” ccd=”” specification=”” limited=”” in=”” high=”” speed=”” mode=”” td=””>
Pixel Dark Current	<0.1 electron=”” per=”” second=”” at=”” 0=”” c=”” td=””>
Full Image Read and Download Time	Typically <12 second=”” host=”” computer=”” dependent=”” in=”” high=”” quality=”” mode=”” 800khz=”” br=””>Typically ~1 second (host computer dependent) in High Speed Mode (8MHz) Image download times will be reduced with binning and/or subframe (ROI)
Binning Modes	Symmetrical and Asymmetrical binning up to 9 pixels horizonally or vertically
Status and Notification	User configurable multi-color LED status indicator and multifunction audible beeper. Over-temperature and high/low voltage alarms.
Power Consumption	12v, 2A (24 watts) at max cooling, max fans and filter moving (25 AC watts max with included 90-240V AC power supply)
Operating Environment	Temperature: -20°C to 30°C, Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing
Computer Connectivity	USB 2.0 High Speed (USB 1.1 compatible)
Other Ports	Optically isolated 4 channel control port for telescope guiding or input/output shutter trigger (See API Reference Manual for details)
T Mounting Adapter	Standard – T-Thread, 42mm x .75mm pitch
C Mounting Adapter (1″ x 32TPI) (Not recommeded for 540i)	Optional, C-Mount (Type II) lens focus compatible  (17.5mm backfocus)		Optional, for non-lens adapters and accessories  (standard C-Mount lens does not reach focus at infinity)
Nosepiece	Standard, T-Adapter to 2″ nosepiece Optional, T-Adapter  to 1.25″ nosepiece

 

Additional Model 683wsg(-8) Camera Specifications  

Feature	QSI 600 Series wsg(-8)
Camera Body Configuration	Integrated Guider Port  Enclosure
Dimensions	5-pos wsg,    W4.45” x H5.0” x D3.08” 8-pos wsg-8, W5.86” x H6.1” x D3.08” (add 0.225″ for T-Mount, 0.35″ for 2.156″ thread mount)
Weight, without Nosepiece	5-pos, 46 oz.  /  1300g 8-pos, 56 oz.  /  1600g
Optical Back Focus (without Filters in path)	2.10″ (53.3mm) with 2.156″ thread adapter (optional) 1.98″ (50.2mm) with T mounting adapter 1.75″ (44.5mm) w/o mounting adapter
Guide Camera Attachment	T-mount (42mm x 0.75mm) w/built-in manual rotator  C-mount (1″ x 32 tpi) w/built-in manual rotator
Guide Camera Optical Focal Depth	12.5mm +/- 1.5mm (0.49″ +/- 0.06″)
Face Plate Adapter	Standard adapter – T-mount (2.156″ x 24tpi adapter available)
Nosepiece	Standard T-mount to 2″ nosepiece.  Optional 2″ nosepiece for 2.156 adapter