CentralDS Astro D850 User manual
CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Astro D850
User Guide
Version1.1!
September2019
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Contents
*ThankyouforpurchasingaCentralDSproduct.
Introduction 3
Informations of product 3
Camera usages 4
Package contents 4
Camera operation and responsibility 5
Handling precaution 5
Nomenclature 6
Taking Pictures 6
Characteristics of the modification 8
Safety of the User and the Camera 9
Product Warranty 9
Astro D850 system Chart 10
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Introduction
Astro D850 is a cooled camera that modified D850 of Nikon.We took out the image sensor from the
inside of camera body and attached a TEC cooling module on to it and made it to a high
performance Astronomical cooled camera.The image sensor can be cooled maximum -18℃( ±
2℃) below ambient by the installed TEC cooling module.
Informations of product
＊Cool down the temperature of CMOS sensor 18 Celsius degree(±2℃) from that of ambient air.
＊Absolutely high-Quality image in B-shutter use compared with usual unmodified DSLR
＊Realtime Monitoring of the cooling temperature by digital thermometer
＊Drop-in filter system
＊Use of high efficiency Thermo electric cooler module
＊Power Source - Cooling Module: 5V, 1.5A DC , Camera: Li-ion Battery (EN-EL 15a)
＊Optimal design by 3D CAD Modeling
＊Precision manufacturing by CNC machine
＊Perfect tuning of optical axis of CMOS sensor by 3 point alignment
＊Permanent Anti-dew system applied.
＊Hoya MC Clear Filter"Installed
* Internal Silent cooling fan installed
* Live-view Focus function alive.
＊Net weight: 1,580g
＊Disabled function:Low Pass Filter, Mechanical shutter, Sensor Cleaning, Camera Body to Lens
Communication
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Camerausages
Youwillgetusedtothiscameraandunderstandthecamerabetterwhilereadingthismanualandtaking
testimages.Pleaseread‘Handlingcaution’and‘Safetyoftheuserandthecamera‘thoroughlytoprevent
anyaccidentsordamagestothecamera.
Packagecontents
Pleasecheckfollowingdevicesandaccessoriesareallincludedinthepackage.!
Ifanythingismissing,pleasecontactCentralDSorthedealerthatyoupurchasedfrom.
1. AstroD850body
2. FRM72/BaseAdapter(M72x0.75mmpitchMaleThread)
3. CM2C/Drop-InFiltersystem+CanonEFMount(CM2N/Drop-InFiltersystem+NikonFMount)
4. DFH48/48mm(2”)&52mmFilterHolder
5. FR1/FieldRotator(M72x0.75mmpitchMaleThread)
6. ECR48/AdapterforWideTthread(M42x0.75mmPitchFemaleThread)
7. ECR54/AdapterforTakahashiTelescope(M54x0.75mmPitchMaleThread)
8. DTH-1/DigitalThermometer
9. CT18/ThermometerCable
10. PSC2/5VPowerCableforCoolingModule(USBto3.5mm/1.4mmPlug)
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Cameraoperationandresponsibility
You can record the images to the storage(Memory Card) of this camera. CentralDS will not be
responsible for any inconvenience or loss due to failure of storing images to the Memory Card or
defectiveimagesstoredinthecard.
Youcanusethiscameraforpersonaluseanywhereintheworld.
Handlingprecaution
•Thiscameraisahighprecisiondevice.Pleasedonotdrop
andavoidanyphysicalimpactagainstcamera.
•This camera is not waterproof product. If you drop the
camera in water, wipe off any water droplets from the
camera with a dry cloth and contact CentralDS
([email protected])
•Do not leave the camera under the direct sunlight. High
temperaturecandamagethecamera.
•Donotdisassemblethecamera.
•Do not touch Parallelism Alignment Screws (3 pieces of
M2.5+screws)onthebeneathofFRM72.
•If the Parallelism Alignment Screws were adjusted by
personnel not authorized by CentralDS, the warranty will
bevoided.
•Pleaseuseadustblowertoremovedustsonthefilter.
•Donotdisassemblethefilter.Iftheairtightsealingisdamaged,dewcanforminsidethecamera.
•IfthecameraisdisassembledbypersonnelnotauthorizedbyCentralDS,thewarrantywillbevoided.
•Donotleavethecameraattachedtoatelescopewiththecoolingsystemoffforlongtime.Dewcan
formonthesurfaceofthecameraandthiscandamagethecamera.
•Ifcondensationformsonthecamera,donotusethecamera.
•Ifthecameraissuddenlybroughtinfromthecoldintoawarmroom,condensationmayformonthe
cameraandinternalparts.Topreventcondensation,firstputthecamerainasealedplasticbagand
letitadjusttothewarmertemperaturebeforetakingitoutofthebag.
•Store the camera in a sealed container with desiccants (i.e. Silica gel) or cool, dry, well ventilated
location.
•Imagesensordust–CentralDStestseachcamerawithtestexposurestochecktheimagesensoris
dust free before shipping. However about 2 – 4 % of the customer reported dusts on the image
sensor. If you see marks on your image due to the dusts on the image sensor, please contact
CentralDSforservicing.Donotdisassemblethecameratocleanthedusts.
•Lens Release Lever of CM2C or CM2N : Push Upward] is more convenient than [Push
Downward]tounlockthepinoflensmount.Pleaseseebelowlink.!
http://www.centralds.net/cam/?p=14761
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Nomenclature
Taking Pictures
•Youcanoperatethecamerawiththefollowinginstruction.
1. AttachfirmlythecameratoTelescopeusingFR1+ECR48orECR54.
2. InsertaFilterinDrop-InFilterHolder.(**veryimportanttomaintainBackFocusDistance)
3. Connectpowercable(PSC2)andtemperaturesensorcable(CT18).
4. ConectDC5V,2APowersource(=PowerBankor5V2A~3Acharger)toPSC2
5. InsertLi-ionBattery(EN-EL15a)inBatteryslotofcamera
6. PowerOnNikonCameraBody.
7. Checktheworkingofcamerabodyandcoolingmodule.
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
8. Check the cooling temperature. Within 7~10minutes the temperature of CMOS will drop to
maximumcooledtemperature.
9. Using[Liveview]modeofcamerafindthesubjectandadjustthefocus.
10. Taketheshots.
*CoolingModuleofAstroD850hasnoON/OFFswitch.WhenyouconnecttheDC5V,coolingmodule
starttoworkatthesametime.
!
* Astro D850 has no Temperature controller. When cooling get reach to stable condition the CMOS
temperaturewillbeitsmaximumcoolingstate.!
!
*BackFocusDistanceofAstroD850is44mm(CM2C)/46.5mm(CM2N),ThesearesametoCanon
EF-mountorNikonF-mount,andadjustedattheconditionof2mmthicknessglassfilterinstalledatthe
drop-infilterholder.Ifyoutaketheshotswiththecameralens,incaseofnofilterindrop-infilterholder,
infinityfocusingerrorwillbeoccurred.Werecommendtoinstallafilter(2~3mmthickness)intodrop-in
filterholderalways.
(Recommendedfilters:HoyaMCClear,BaaderUV/IRcut,IDASLPSP2etc)
*IncaseofBaader2”filters,youcanuseonlyLowProfileFilterCell(LPFC)products.
*TECcoolingmoduleismoreefficientwhentheambienttemperatureishighbutthe efficiency is lower
when the temperature is low in the winter. This is due to the electricity consumption per temperature
characteristicsofthePeltierelementswhichisoneofthemostimportantpartsintheTECcoolingmodule.
Asaresult,thecooledimagesensortemperaturemaynotreachtomaxcoolingtemperatureof[product
information]inthewinterseason.
!
*ThecameratemperatureshowinginBackyardNikonorotherAstroimagingprogramsisnottheactual
sensor temperature but the temperature at the temperature sensor installed on the PCB circuit board
placedbehindtheimagesensor.
**ThetemperaturevaluedisplayedatDTH-1isfromthetemperatureoncoldfingerandit’sneartoreal
CMOStemperatureandthetemperaturethatAstroimagingprogramsisdisplaying(fromNikonexifdata)
isabout3-7Chigherthanthisvalue.
!
*In high humidity ambient, if the camera is exposed to the air outside with the cooling module off for
extendedperiodoftime,thecameracanbe internally damaged due to problemssuchasshortcircuits
causedbydewcondensation.!
!
*Ifyouhavetoleavethecameraoutsideforextendedperiodoftime,coverthecamerawiththedew
shieldcoverassoonasturningoffthecooler.
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
Characteristics of the modification
•AstroD850ismodifiedversionsofNikon’sgeneralpurposeDSLRcameras.Some
oforiginalfeaturesoftheNikoncameraareremovedandnewfeaturessuchasTEC
cooling and general purpose Drop-In filter holder are added for high quality
astrophotography.Followingsarethedifferencesmadebythemodification.
1. Low Pass Filter of original CMOS
sensorwasremoved.
2. In Astro D850 Hoya Clear filter
installed , and image blurring can
occur due to chromatic aberration
on the infrared lights recorded on
thesensorsotheimagesharpness
cansuffer.!
This is more pronounced in the
imagestakenwithrefractionoptics
thanreflectionoptics.!
We recommend you to install in
Drop-In filter holder UV/IR cut
filter, light pollution filter and deep
sky filter at the same time while
imaging.
3. WithAstroD850,youcantakeIR
images by mounting a visible light
blocking/infraredtransmittingfilter
suchasaHoyaR72filter.
4. Various2”imagingfiltersor52mmfilterscanbemountedintheDrop-Infilterholder.
5. Drop-InFiltersystem(CM2C/CM2N)doesnothavetheelectroniccommunicationcontactssothe
autofocus,lensinformationrecordingandpulsesignaltransferformotoroperationwhicharebased
on the communication between the camera body and the lens are disabled even when a Camera
lensisused.
6. IncaseofDrop-InFiltersystem(CM2C/CM2N)youalwayshavetofocuslensesmanually.Some
lenses need power from the body for manual focusing and you cannot focus these lenses even
manuallywhentheyaremountedonAstroD850.
7. ViewFinderwasdisabled.
8. ShutterspeedcontrolbyMechanicalshutterisnotvalidinsub-secondexposure,onlybevalidinBulb
Shutter mode.If you are to take sub-second shots, use electric shutter mode [= ‘silent live view
photography’setting].
9. PleasecheckthespecificationsofyourPowerbankor5Vcharger.AvailableCurrentAmperemust
be2Aormore.
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
SafetyoftheUserandtheCamera
Follow these safeguards and use the equipment properly to prevent injury and
equipmentdamage.
1. Donotleavethepoweradapterandthepowercordnearanobjectemittingheat.Thiscancausefire
duetodeformationanddamageoftheinsulator.
2. Donotusethecameranearinflammablegas.
3. Iftheinternalpartsofthecameraareexposedafterthecameraisdroppedorthecamerahousingis
damaged,donotconnectthepowertothecameraduetodangerofanelectricshock.
4. Donotdisassemblethecamera.Itcancauseanelectricshock.
5. Keepthecamerafromthereachofsmallchildren.
6. Donotusetheequipmentindustyorhumidplaces.Thisistopreventfireandelectricalshock.
7. Do not use the camera with medical equipments. The electromagnetic interference can cause
malfunctionofthemedicalequipments.
8. Topreventfireandelectricalshock,followthesafeguardsbelow:
•Alwaysinsertthepowerplugallthewayin.
•Donothandleapowerplugwithwethands.
•Donotexcessivelybendthecord.
•Donotputaheavyobjectonthepoweradapterandcord.
•Donotconnecttoomanypowerplugstothesamepoweroutlet.
•Donotuseacordwhoseinsulationhasbeendamaged.
•Ifthesurroundingnearthepoweroutletisdustyorhumid,thepoweroutletcanbeshort
circuited.Cleananddrythesurroundingbeforeusingtheequipment.
•Donotusethecamerainsideacarunderthehotsun,underthedirectsunlightornearaheat
source.Thecameracanbedamagedorcausesskinburns.
•Donotusepaintthinner,benzene,acetoneorotherorganicsolventstocleantheequipment.
Doingsomaycausefireorahealthhazard.
ProductWarranty
CentralDSProvides1yearproductwarrantyforcustomerswhopurchasesbrandnew
AstroD850.!
Incaseof[Usersuppliedcameramodificationservice],CentralDSoffers60days
productwarranty.
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CENTRALDS ASTRO D850 USER GUIDE
AstroD850systemChart
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