ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS SSSSI-III User manual

Orion®StarShoot™Solar System
Color Imaging Camera III
#52018
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
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IN 349 Rev. A 11/08

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Welcome to a new world of adventure. Your new StarShoot
Solar System Color Imaging Camera III (SSSSI-III) is capa-
ble of capturing detailed, full-color images of astronomical
objects in our solar system. The planets, Moon, and Sun
(with optional solar filter) can all be imaged to create spec-
tacular views on your computer which can be saved for
emailing or printing later. The SSSSI-IIII can even be used
during the day to take images of terrestrial subjects. You’ll
find that this inexpensive, yet easy to use, camera will
enhance all of your journeys with your telescope.
Please read this instruction manual before attempting to
use the camera or install the needed software. For the
most detailed information on specific camera and software
functions, consult the MaxIm DL Essentials Help menu.
Parts List
• StarShootSolarSystemColorImagingCameraIII
•USBCable
• Parfocalring
• CD-ROM
System Requirements (refer to Figure 1)
Telescope
The SSSSI-III can be used with virtually any telescope that is compatible with
1.25" format eyepieces. The camera simply is inserted into a focuser in the
same way as a standard eyepiece (Figure 2). If you use a star diagonal, you
should remove it. In order to reach focus, the telescope must have approxi-
mately 0.2" (6mm) of inward focus travel relative to where a standard eyepiece
focuses. If your telescope does not have enough inward focus travel, you will
need to use and optional 1.25" barlow lens to extend the telescope’s focal
plane to the camera’s imaging plane.
For most types of astro-imaging with the SSSSI-III, using a telescope with a
focal length of at least 1000mm is recommended. Otherwise, the image scale
may be too small. To increase the effective focal length of your system, use a
barlow lens or other type of tele-extender lens.
Figure 1. To use the SSSSI-III, a
telescope, mount, and computer are
required.
Figure 2. The SSSSI-III fits into 1.25" focusers, just like a standard 1.25" eyepiece.

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Mount
An equatorial mount is not absolutely required for imaging with the SSSSI-III,
as the maximum exposure time is a fraction of a second, too short for astro-
nomicalobjectstodriftsignicantlyduringtheexposure.Useasturdymount
that is appropriately sized for the telescope tube being used.
For obtaining the best planetary images, however, we do recommend an equa-
torial mount. Planetary imaging requires combining many individual images,
and having an equatorial mount will prevent the planet from drifting out of the
field of view of the camera during the time it takes to acquire the large number
of images necessary. A motor drive (single-axis) is recommended too.
Computer
A computer is also needed. For astro-imaging in the field at night, a laptop
computer is highly recommended. MaxIm DL Essentials requires Windows XP
or Vista.
The following hardware is required:
• Processor–PentiumIII™orequivalent,orhigher
• Recommendedminimummemorysizeis256MB.
• DiskSpace–100MBminimum,500MBormorerecommendedfor
saving images.
• VideoDisplay–800X600,16-bitcolororhigher.1024x768orhigheris
recommended.
• Mouse
• InternetExplorer4orhigherrequiredtodisplayon-linehelp
• HighSpeedUSB2.0port
Software and Driver Installation
Before the camera can be used, software and a camera driver must be
installed onto your computer. Turn on your computer and allow the Windows
operating system to load as normal. Insert the included CD-ROM into your
computer’s CD-ROM drive, and the Launcher will appear (Figure 3). This allows
you to install the MaxIm DL Essentials software, and the Orion StarShoot Solar
System Imager camera driver.
Software Installation
1. Insert the CD-ROM into the drive. The Launcher will appear. If you
are using Windows Vista, the AutoPlay window will appear first. Select
Run Launcher.exe.
2. Click Install.
3. The InstallShield Wizard will start. Click Next.
4. Read the MaxIm DL License Agreement. If you agree with the terms, then
select I accept the terms in this license agreement and click Next.
5. You are now ready to install. Click Install. The installation will proceed.
6. Microsoft DirectX 9 or higher is required. Click Yes to install the update.
7. The installation is now complete. Click the Finish button.
Camera Driver Installation
Now that the software is installed, the camera driver must also be installed. Do
not connect the SSSSI-III to your computer yet.
1. Return to the Launcher and click Install SS Camera.
2. The InstallShield Wizard appears. Click Next.
3. The installation will commence.
Figure 3. The Launcher provides an
easy menu for software installation.
Figure 4. When initially
connecting the SSSSI-III to a
computer, a Found New Hardware
notification will appear and
automatically install the camera to
your computer.

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4. When the wizard is complete, click Finish. This has installed the driver
software; next we must install the camera itself.
5. Pluginthecameraintoyourcomputer’sUSBport.
6. A Found New Hardware notification will appear in your Windows task bar
(Figure 4).
7. Wait a few moments and the camera will automatically install on your com-
puter. When Device Installed Successfully notification appears you will
be ready to use the camera.
8. Open MaxIm DL Essentials from the icon on your desktop. The Live Video
and Camera Control Window should appear.
Once the driver is installed, the computer will recognize the SSSSI-III whenever
it is plugged in.
Getting Started During Daylight
We recommend using the SSSSI-III for the first time during the day. This way,
you can become familiar with the camera and its functions without having to
stumble around in the dark. Setup your telescope and mount so the optical
tube is pointing at an object at least a couple of hundred feet away. Insert an
eyepiece and focus as you normally would.
To obtain first images with the SSSSI-III, follow these step-by-step instructions:
1. Plugthecameraintoyourcomputer’sUSBport.NoticetheblueLEDshin-
ing on the camera; this LED light indicates the camera is connected and
receiving power from the computer.
2. Open the MaxIm DL Essentials icon now installed on your computer’s
desktop.
3. Essentials should automatically connect directly to your camera with a
Live Video Window and Camera Control Window. Your Live Video
Window will only show light and dark before the camera is coupled to your
telescope.
4. When the camera is connected to the computer for the first time, the Live
Video Window (and subsequent images captured with the camera) will dis-
play at 640x480 resolution. To change to full resolution mode, click the Setup
button in the Camera Control Window and select Video Capture Pin. In
the Properties window that pops-up, select 1280x1024 under the Output
Size heading, then click OK. The Live Video Window will now display at
full resolution, and will occupy most of the computer monitor’s screen. Any
images captured with the camera will now also be at full resolution. To move
the Live Video Window out of the way, click on the top bar of the window
and drag it to the desired location on the computer screen. Upon subse-
quent start-ups, the camera will automatically operate at full resolution.
5. To connect the camera to the telescope, simply replace the telescope’s
1.25" eyepiece with the camera. Make sure the securing thumbscrew on
the focuser drawtube is tightened after the camera is inserted.
6. You will now need to refocus the camera for the centered object. Focusing
will be the hardest thing to learn in the initial stages. If you are starting out in
daylight, as is recommended, you may need to turn the brightness control
of the camera down before attempting to focus. This is done by clicking on
the Setup button in the Camera Control Window. Select Video Capture
Filter, and to the right of Exposure make sure the Auto box is checked.
Then adjust Contrast and Brightness. If the daytime image brightness is
still too bright to produce an acceptable image on your computer screen,
you may need to stop-down the aperture of your telescope.
7. Turn the telescope’s focus knob so the focuser drawtube moves slowly
inward. The drawtube needs to go approximately 6mm inward from
where the eyepiece focuses (for most eyepieces). Look at the Live Video
Window on the computer screen and adjust the focus knob accordingly to
determine best image focus.
Note: The camera’s field of view is fairly small. It is approximately equivalent to
the field of view through the telescope when looking through a typical (i.e. not
wide-field) 10mm focal length eyepiece.
8. Image orientation can be changed by rotating the camera within the
focuser drawtube. Simply loosen the thumbscrew on the drawtube and
rotate the camera until the desired image orientation is achieved. Retighten
the thumbscrew on the focuser drawtube when done. You may need to
slightly refocus (using the telescope’s focus knob) if the focuser drawtube
has moved a bit inward or outward when the camera was rotated.
9. Select Light Color 1x1 mode in the Camera Control Window.
10. Set Frames to 1 in the Camera Control Window. You can increase this
number to automatically add successive frames into the resultant image
for higher image quality. If the object is moving due to poor atmospheric
Figure 5. The Live Video
Window and Camera Control
Window both automatically
appear when the SSSSI-II is
connected to the computer
and the MaxIm DL Essentials
program is opened.

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seeing conditions, wind, or a shaky mount, however, increasing the Frames
to more than 1 will generally decrease image quality. You can take many
individual frames and add them together (“stacking” or “combining”) later,
this will be discussed in detail in the “Astronomical Imaging” section.
11. Select the Single beneath the Mode box in the Camera Control
Window.
12. Keep the Calibrate box unchecked in the Camera Control Window.
13. Click the Expose button in the Camera Control Window. An image will
appear in a window.
14. You can save the image for processing later, if you wish. This is done by
selecting Save from the File menu.
You have now taken your first picture with the SSSSI-III! This simple method
of imaging is exactly how the camera is used to capture terrestrial subjects
during daylight hours. Close-up images of birds and other wildlife or faraway
vistas can all be obtained in this way with the SSSSI-III. Solar images can also
be taken during the day with an optional full-aperture solar filter over the front
of the telescope.
Take some time to use the camera and MaxIm DL Essential software during the
day to become familiar and comfortable with their basic operation. For best
results, you can optimize your images with the camera controls.
Camera Controls
For best images, you can adjust the camera controls though MaxIm DL
Essentials to fine tune the image. You can see how the camera controls affect
an image in the Live Video Window.
In the Camera Control Window, click the Setup button, then choose Video
Capture Filter and you can access the camera controls. Here you will find
the Brightness, Contrast (best at 50% or higher), Hue, Saturation (level of
color), Sharpness (keep this low as it can add noise), and Exposure controls.
The Exposure control is a gain adjustment that allows additional flexibility in
adjusting image brightness. You can either manually adjust this by unselecting
the Auto box and manually moving the slider, or have automatic adjustment
by leaving the Auto box selected. For usual operation, the ColorEnable box
should remain checked. For black and white camera operation, uncheck this
box. The Cancel Flicker button enables and disables the flicker function. The
default has the flicker function disabled, and there should be no reason to use
this function with normal usage of the camera. If the image in the Live Video
Window begins to flicker on and off, the flicker function has been mistakenly
enabled; click the Cancel Flicker button to cancel this function. To return the
camera controls to their default settings, click the Default button.
The other camera controls are available by clicking the Setup button, and
selecting Video Capture Pin. This accesses the Stream Format property
sheet, which allows you to set additional parameters. The Frame Rate, while
generally should be left at 15 frames/second for the sharpest planetary images,
can be toggled down to 7.5 frames/second for brightest exposures. (You can
also use the Video Capture Filter selection described previously to adjust
image brightness.) Check the Flip Horizontal box to change the orientation of
the image display in the Live Video Window. Color Space / Compression
selectsthecodecusedbythecamera;inthiscaseitisRGB24.TheOutput
Size can be used to shrink the image size if desired; the camera defaults to
640x480, but you should raise this to the highest setting (1280 x 1024) for the
maximum possible resolution. The other parameters shown with the Video
Capture Pin selection cannot be adjusted.
Try several different settings to get a feel of how the camera controls work
and affect the resultant image on the computer screen. The Brightness and
Exposure controls are the ones you will use the most. The telescope being
used, seeing conditions, and object being imaged will dictate how these cam-
eracontrolsshouldbeset.UsuallyExposurewillbesetrst,thenBrightness
is adjusted as needed.
Screen Stretch Window
The function of the Screen Stretch Window (Figure 6) is to properly map the
image brightness levels captured by the camera into corresponding image
brightness levels on the computer screen. A typical camera image has each
pixel (light detecting site, over 1,300,000 pixels form a single SSSSI-III image)
represented as a number depending on brightness. This has to be mapped
into the video monitor’s brightness range. It is important to set the screen
stretch appropriately, or a great image may look terrible!
Figure 6. The settings in
the Screen Stretch Window
greatly determine how an
image will appear on your
computer screen.