Starlight Express SVXF-M7C one-shot color CCD camera for astro-imaging

Starlight SXVF-M7C

Small-Chip Cooled Astronomical CCD Camera

 

 

SVXF-M7C-1

I bought a used SXVF-M7C one-shot color camera at a very good price, played with it, and then sold it for a small profit. I never really did any serious imaging with it. This camera (and others by Starlight Instruments) has a very small diameter, and could potentially be used in a "Hyperstar" system. The Hyperstar (manufactured by Starizona) is an accessory lens system that replaces the secondary mirror on selected Celestron and Meade scopes, making them very fast - i.e., f/2 rather than f/10 (i.e., this could allow as much as 25X shorter exposure, and provides very wide-field views). I had considered buying a C8 and Hyperstar to image in the field; as the system is very fast, a good mount isn't necessary - so my LXD-75 should work fine. However, my priorities changed, and I never implemented this system. I also had the SXVF autoguider head with this camera, which is similar to the SBIG remote guide head.

 
To the right, you can see the rear panel of the SXVF camera, which includes the power input, USB connection, guider connection, socket for the external guide head, and indicator LED.

 

SVXF Rear
SVXF-3

 

The specifications of the SXVF-M7C are shown at left, taken from the Starlight Instruments web site.

Starlight Express SVXF-M7C one-shot color CCD camera for astro-imaging