SBIG STF Series User manual

SBIG STF SERIES - CAMERA USER’S MANUAL
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SBIG®STF Series
Imaging Cameras
User’s Manual
Version 1.03 - November 4, 2021

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This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between the receiver and the equipment.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver
is connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
•Use shielded I/O cables when operating this equipment.
•You are also warned that any changes to this certified device will void your legal right to
operate it.
Industry Canada Compliance Statement
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
European Union - Compliance to the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
This product is in conformity with the protection requirements of EU Council Directive
2004/108/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic
compatibility. This product has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B
Information Technology Equipment according to European Standard EN 55022. The limits for
Class B equipment were derived for typical residential environments to provide reasonable
protection against interference with licensed communication devices.
Visit us at:
http://diffractionlimited.com
and
http://forum.diffractionlimited.com/
Diffraction Limited
59 Grenfell Crescent, Unit B, Ottawa, ON Canada, K2G 0G3
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
© 2019 Diffraction Limited. All rights reserved. Cyanogen Imaging® and SBIG® are registered trademarks
of Diffraction Limited. ST-4, STF, MaxIm DL, MaxIm LT are trademarks of Diffraction Limited. ON
Semiconductor, product, and service names profiled herein are trademarks of Semiconductor Components
Industries, L.L.C. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh is a registered
trademark of Apple Corporation. The Linux trademark is owned by Linus Torvalds. Ubuntu and Canonical
are registered trademarks of Canonical Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names
appearing in this guide are the property of their respective owners.

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SBIG STF User’s Manual
Table of Contents
SBIG STF Imaging Cameras ...................................................... 5
Camera Features ........................................................................ 6
1 –Installation............................................................................. 7
1.1 Supplied Components ................................................................................ 7
1.2 Installing the Software................................................................................ 9
1.3 Installing the Hardware............................................................................. 10
1.4 Testing the Camera and Filter Wheel........................................................17
2 –Operating your STF camera with MaxIm LT ..................... 18
2.1 Connecting the STF Camera to MaxIm LT............................................... 18
2.2 Basic Imaging Procedure ......................................................................... 22
3 –Image Calibration ............................................................... 25
3.1 Bias Frame Calibration ............................................................................. 26
3.2 Dark Frame Calibration............................................................................. 28
3.3 Flat-Field Frame Calibration..................................................................... 31
3.4 Understanding Calibration Groups.......................................................... 33
3.5 Calibrating and Combining Images.......................................................... 34
4 –Accessories ........................................................................ 37
4.1 FW8-8300 Filter Wheel .............................................................................. 37
4.2 Other Accessories .................................................................................... 38

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Appendix A: SBIG STF Camera Details ................................. 39
A-1 Connector pinouts ................................................................................... 39
A-2 Specifications........................................................................................... 41
Appendix B: Maintenance ...................................................... 47
B-1 Cleaning the sensor window .................................................................. 47
B-2 Regenerating the desiccant .................................................................... 48
B-3 Updating the camera drivers and firmware ........................................... 49
Appendix C: Troubleshooting ................................................ 51
Appendix D: Legacy STF camera models .............................. 52
Appendix E: Technical and Warranty Support ..............................53
Appendix F: Compatible software products ................................. 54
Appendix G: Concepts and Terminology ....................................... 55
IMPORTANT!
Please read this guide thoroughly before installing and
operating your new SBIG STF camera. It is important to fully
understand and follow all installation, operation, and
maintenance procedures as stated to ensure proper
functionality. Failure to do so may affect your warranty!

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SBIG STF Imaging Cameras
The SBIG STF series of imaging cameras is an evolution of the previous
ST series, where the “F” stands for “Fast”, signifying the substantial
performance improvements of these cameras over their predecessors.
Indeed, the STF series provides a superior cost versus performance
ratio, with low noise and fast readout speeds. The family includes both
monochrome and colour sensors and supports filtered imaging with the
optional FW8-8300 filter wheel.
SBIG STF models include:
•STF-3200W is the ultimate in sensitivity, with 85% peak quantum
efficiency. The KAF-3200 is one of the most sensitive front-illuminated
Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) sensors available.
•STF-4070 and STF-8050 are interline cameras with very strong cooling,
and are capable of both very short and very long exposures. Both
cameras feature an all-electronic shutter and are available as either
monochrome imagers (STF-4070M and STF-8050M), one-shot colour
imagers with a standard Bayer filter pattern (STF-4070C and STF-
8050C), or as enhanced one-shot Luminance, Red, Green, Blue (LRGB)
imagers utilizing the Truesense Sparse Color Filter Pattern (STF-4070SC
and STF-8050SC).
•STF-8300M utilizes the large and very popular 8.3 megapixel KAF-8300
sensor. The camera boasts very good sensitivity along with low noise.

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Camera Features
Our STF series cameras offer excellent performance, very low noise, and a rich
set of features. All STF camera models include the MaxIm LT application for
Windows for image acquisition and processing. The series features:
•Four different CCD imaging sensors by ON Semiconductor™
•Light-weight, compact design
•Centered optical axis for optimum instrument balance
•Support for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux
•USB 2.0 communications interface
•Full-frame image buffering eliminates readout artifacts
•Thermoelectric Peltier cooling with accurate temperature regulation
•Included 110V / 220V power supply and optional 12VDC operation
•User-rechargeable desiccant plug
•Built-in 1/4-20 tripod mount
•Support for 8-position filter wheel FW8-8300
Refer to Appendix A-2 Specifications for detailed camera specifications.
Multi-platform operation
The STF cameras are compatible with Windows (versions 7 through 10),
MacOS 10.14.4 (32-bit), and Canonical Ubuntu Linux 18.04LTS.
The STF camera interface specification is also fully documented, supporting
the development of custom interfaces.

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1 - Installation
1.1 Supplied Components
Camera
Your STF camera and accessories are provided in a foam-lined hard shell
protective case. Observe proper handling procedures for sensitive electronic
equipment and unpack the contents carefully in a clean, dry, static-free area.
Inspect the contents to ensure all components are present and in good order.
You should find the following:
•STF main camera body, with desiccant plug installed
•Camera dust cap
•Power for models STF-4070 or STF-8050:
o+12V 6A Power supply (60012A)
oPower cable with US plug (51089), European plug (50392), or
Australia/New Zealand plug (50390) (type specified on ordering)
oPower extension cable
•Power for models STF-3200W or STF-8300M:
o+12V 3A Power supply (60013)
oPower cable with US plug (51089) or European plug (50392), or
Australia/New Zealand plug (50390) (type specified on ordering)
•+12 VDC Battery power cable (CA-ST402BATTERY). Note that this cable
is an option in lieu of the AC power supply and works with all STF
camera models.
•USB flash drive
•2” Nosepiece adapter
•Camera handles (qty 2) and 8-32 x 5/16" socket head cap screws (qty 4)
(STF-8300, STF-8050, STF-4070 only)
•Ferrite snap-on chokes to reduce radio frequency interference (qty 2)
(STF-8300, STF-8050, STF-4070 only)
•Guider-to-telescope mount interface cable (TIC) RJ11-RJ11.
NOTE: This cable has its pin connections flipped from one end to the
other –they are not straight-through connections.
•USB cable, 15 feet (4.6 meters)
•Allen key, 9/64”

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FW8-8300 Filter Wheel
The optional FW8-8300 filter wheel is designed for use with the monochrome
STF cameras, including the STF-3200W, STF-8300M, STF-4070M, and STF-
8050M.
The one-shot colour cameras are not usually used with a filter wheel. However,
the FW8-8300 will mechanically fit and operate with the STF-4070C, STF-
4070SC, STF-8050C and STF-8050SC cameras. Since these cameras do not
employ a mechanical shutter, this is useful for customers who wish to capture
dark frames without having to manually cover the camera. With an FW8-8300
filter wheel in place, such captures can be performed remotely by using a
blackened filter slot as a mechanical shutter to cover the sensor.
Inspect the supplied contents to ensure all components are present and in
good order. You should find the following:
•FW8-8300 - 8-position filter wheel with I2C cable
•2” Nosepiece adapter with cap
•O-rings, 2-027 (qty 8) (41006)
•Allen key, 9/64”

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1.2 Installing the Software
The MaxIm LT imaging application allows you to operate your STF camera
using a Windows computer. A MaxIm LT license is now included at no cost
with purchases made after October 1, 2019. CCDOPS software is available at
no cost for older cameras, or you can purchase a MaxIm LT license at a
discounted price. For previous purchases, refer to Appendix F: Compatible
software products. Drivers only are provided for the MacOS and Linux
operating systems.
System requirements
The following hardware and software is required for MaxIm LT:
•MS Windows (applicable versions: 7, 8, 8.1, 10)
•Recommended minimum memory size: 1 GB or larger.
Processing larger images or opening multiple images simultaneously will
require correspondingly more memory. 2 GB memory is recommended
for processing large arrays, including images larger than 6 megapixels.
•Disk space: 100 MB for program installation
•Video display: 1024x768, 16-bit color or higher
•Mouse
•Internet browser
Windows installation
1. Go to the Registration page on the Diffraction Limited website at:
https://diffractionlimited.com/maxim-lt-registration
2. Enter the requested information and serial number to register for the
MaxIm LT application. Use your camera’s serial number for this. If your
camera is authorized for a free license you will be automatically emailed
a license key.
3. Insert the supplied flash drive into an available USB port.
4. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the flash drive’s root folder.
5. Double-click Launcher.exe, then click Install SBIG to install the SBIG
Driver Checker. When the installation is completed, launch the SBIG
Driver Checker.
6. Click the Update button to install the drivers.
7. Return to the Launcher and click the Install MaxIm DL button. Follow
the onscreen instructions to install the Maxim LT application and then
enter the license key you received when prompted.
NOTE:
To enter your license key properly, you must select all the text from the
email you receive and copy it to the clipboard. You then start MaxIm LT
and open the Enter License dialog. The license key will be entered
automatically –there is no need to paste it since MaxIm LT finds it on
the clipboard and pastes it for you.
8. Click OK to finish. You can then proceed to the next section to install
your hardware.

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1.3 Installing the Hardware
This section details the steps required to connect an STF camera and FW8-
8300 filter wheel. Diffraction Limited recommends that filters are installed as
part of this procedure when mating the filter wheel to the camera.
Note that these installation instructions are illustrated showing an STF-8300M
camera body but are also applicable to the STF-3200W, STF-4070M, and STF-
8050M cameras. However, most of this procedure is not applicable to the one-
shot colour camera models STF-4070C, STF-4070SC, STF-8050C and STF-
8050SC since these do not normally require the use of a filter wheel. For those
cameras you can proceed directly to step 15, unless you’ve chosen to install
the filter wheel for use in collecting dark frames.
CAUTION:
Do not touch the connectors, wires, or circuit board visible on the exposed
inner faces of the camera or filter wheel. Components on the circuit board
can be damaged by electro-static discharge. Use of an anti-static wrist-
strap and an anti-static mat with proper grounding is recommended.
1. Place the STF camera on a clean dry surface with the sensor side facing
up.
2. Remove the front cover plate of the camera by unscrewing the four cap
screws (use the supplied 3/32" Allen wrench) around the perimeter of
the plate and lifting it off the camera body.
The camera’s front plate is not used when a filter wheel is attached.
Retain this plate for possible future use and set the camera aside.

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NOTE:
If you are installing an STF-3200W or STF-8300M camera, note the
position of the round recess inside the front plate that allows for the
height of the camera’s shutter spindle, indicated below.
If you wish to re-attach the camera’s front plate in the future, you will
need to remove the filter wheel and orient the plate in the same way.
There is a similar recess in the filter wheel’s back plate that will replace
the camera front plate and it must be oriented over the shutter spindle
in the same way.
3. Place the filter wheel on a clean dry surface with the camera side facing
down.
4. Remove the four 4-40 cap screws (indicated) that secure the filter
wheel’s front plate and lift it off the base plate.
Set the front plate aside.

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5. Carefully place the filter wheel base plate over the top of the camera.
For STF-3200W or STF-8300M cameras, ensure that the top of the
camera’s shutter spindle goes into the round recess on the camera side
of the filter wheel’s base plate. The filter wheel bottom plate should fit
flush against the front of the camera.
6. Reinstall the four screws (circled) that you removed in step 2 through
the bottom plate of the filter wheel and into the camera.
7. Double-check that all pieces are properly seated and tighten the four
screws.
8. Separate the filter retainer from the carousel by removing the eight
Philips screws (circled) that attach the retainer to the carousel. Note
that the filter retainer is the same size and shape as the carousel and
simply attaches to the carousel over the filters to hold them in place.
Set the filter retainer aside.

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9. Determine and record the location you want for each filter. The carousel
slots are numbered 1 to 8. Although you can install the filters in any
order you wish, you should note what that order is for your software
setup later on. We suggest the following typical order:
•Slot 1: Luminance
•Slot 2: Red
•Slot 3: Green
•Slot 4: Blue
•Slot 5: H-alpha
•Slot 6: Sulfur II
•Slot 7: Oxygen III
•Slot 8: Other type or empty
10. The filter wheel supports 36 mm filters (or 1.25 inch filters with adapter
rings). Ensure that your filters are clean prior to installation.
11. If you are using filters that are 3 mm thick, then put one of the
supplied O-rings into the filter slot before placing the filter into the
slot.
If the filters are less than 3 mm thick (e.g., Baader), then place the filter
into the slot first, followed by the O-ring. For filters over 3 mm thick,
do not use the O-rings.
12. Replace the filter retainer plate over the filters and fasten it to the
carousel using the eight Philips screws and washers that you removed
in step 8.
13. Replace the filter wheel front plate being careful not to pinch any
internal wires or the outgoing I2C cable.
14. Fasten the front plate to the base plate using the four 4-40 cap screws
that you removed in step 4.

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15. To install the camera handles, place the camera on a clean dry surface
with the rear cover plate facing up. If you are not installing the handles,
proceed to step 19.
16. Remove the rear cover plate of the camera by unscrewing the four
indicated cap screws (use the supplied 3/32" Allen wrench) around the
perimeter of the plate and lifting it slowly off the camera body.
Be careful not to strain the cooling fan wires.
17. Attach the handles to the outer face of the rear cover plate using the
four supplied 8-32 x 5/16" socket head cap screws inserted through
the plate from the inner face, as indicated.

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18. Replace the rear cover plate onto the camera. Be careful not to pinch
the cooling fan wires and secure the plate using the four cap screws
around the perimeter.
19. Install the ferrite snap-on chokes at convenient positions along both
the USB cable and the TIC cable, preferably close to the camera ends of
these cables. Open a choke and lay the cable into the channel, then
snap the choke halves together.
20. Attach the cabling:
CAUTION:
Never “hot plug” the cables into or from the units. Always disconnect
power before connecting or disconnecting any cables.
•The FW8-8300 filter wheel has a short cable extending from it with a
DB-9 connector. If you are installing this filter wheel with your
camera, plug the DB-9 connector into the I2C port on the camera.
This cable supplies power and control signals to the filter wheel.

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CAUTION:
If you are not using the FW8-8300 filter wheel, keep the supplied
protective cover on the I2C port to protect the circuitry from
electrostatic discharge.
•The Telescope Mount Interface cable (TIC) (RJ11-RJ11) is only
required for auto-guiding purposes in astronomical imaging. It plugs
into the GUIDE PORT connector on the STF camera and connects to
the guiding port on a telescope mount.
•Attach the USB cable between the USB connector and your
computer.
•Attach the power supply cable between the POWER connector and
the power supply, but do not turn the power supply on yet. You
must thread the cable’s power connector outer knurled shell down
onto the camera connector to ensure that the cable does not come
loose.
The camera is now ready to be powered up and tested. Refer to Section 1.4
Testing the Camera and Filter Wheel.

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1.4 Testing the Camera and Filter Wheel
Once MaxIm LT is installed and the camera hardware has been assembled,
Diffraction Limited recommends that you perform a simple bench test of the
system. This should be done prior to mounting your camera on your optics.
You should read Chapter 2 to familiarize yourself with the basic software
connection and operating instructions prior to performing this test.
Proceed with the bench test as follows:
1. Verify that all cabling is properly connected.
2. Apply power to the camera.
NOTE:
The STF cameras come with a power supply capable of operating from
90 to 264 VAC. Actual power requirements are +12 VDC at 3A
maximum for the STF-3200W or STF-8300M models and 6A maximum
for the STF-4070 or STF-8050 models.
The camera may also be powered directly from a capable +12 VDC
source using an appropriate cable. The optional CA-ST402BATTERY
cable is available for this purpose. You can also refer to the power jack
pinout diagram in Appendix A-1 Connector pinouts to create such a
cable.
3. Open MaxIm LT and connect to the camera by following the procedure
in Section 2.1 Connecting the STF Camera to MaxIm LT.
4. Take a set of exposures including both dark and light frames. Set your
exposure length to a very short duration to avoid saturation if you are
conducting this bench test under bright lighting conditions.
Alternatively, you can limit the amount of light entering the camera by
covering the sensor opening using a piece of cardboard with only a small
hole in it.
5. If you are using a filter wheel, also take a set of light exposures using
each of the available filters to ensure proper operation of the wheel.
6. If your testing is successful, you are now ready to mount the camera to
your telescope or other optical device. You can use the supplied 2”
nosepiece or other proprietary adapter for this, as required.
NOTE:
When attaching the STF camera to your operational equipment such as a
telescope, consider looping the USB and power cables around one of the
camera handles to provide strain relief. Cable tie wraps can also be used for
this purpose.

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2 - Operating your SBIG STF camera with MaxIm LT
The MaxIm LT application allows full configuration and control of the SBIG
STF cameras and filter wheel. Calibrating files, automating imaging sequences,
logging, and various image processing tasks can all be performed. Please note
however that since MaxIm LT and MaxIm DL both share the same Help file, not
all features detailed in that file will be enabled in MaxIm LT. Full feature
access requires MaxIm DL Pro.
The procedures in this chapter are intended as a basic introduction to
connecting and operating the STF hardware. Consult the Help file for further
information on specific parameters, detailed procedures, and various tutorials.
2.1 Connecting the STF Camera to MaxIm LT
The following is the basic MaxIm LT procedure used to configure and connect
to the STF camera and an optional FW8-8300 filter wheel.
1. Launch the MaxIm LT application.
2. Click the Camera Control icon or press Ctrl-W to open the Camera
Control form and click the Setup tab.
3. Click the Setup Camera button under Camera 1 to open the Setup form.

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4. Click the Camera Model drop-down. Three choices are available: Simulator,
DL Imaging, and SBIG Universal. Select SBIG Universal.
5. Configure the remaining parameters as follows:
•Connect To: USB. If the camera is already plugged in, the Connect To
field will show the actual camera model instead of USB. This allows you
to set up one of multiple cameras, if present.
•Swap Chips: No
•Guide Chip: not applicable (setting is ignored)
•IP Address: not applicable (setting is ignored)
•Ext. Trigger: This is set to Off by default. Refer to
Appendix A-1 Connector pinouts for information on using the Trigger
In/Trigger Out function.
Note that the next time you open MaxIm LT, your option selections will
automatically appear in the Setup SBIG Universal form.
6. Click the Advanced button. The SBIG Universal Settings form opens.
This form allows you to check and set additional camera parameters. The
default settings should be fine for your initial connection - reconfigure
them if required. Full details on these parameters are available in the
MaxIm DL Help file and at:
https://diffractionlimited.com/help/maximdl/HIDD_SETUPST7.htm
Click OK to accept the settings and close the SBIG Universal Settings form.

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7. Click OK to accept the settings and close the Setup SBIG Universal form to
return to the Camera Control form.
8. Click the Options button under Camera 1. The Options (Camera 1) form
opens.
Configure the optional camera parameters as shown. Full details on these
parameters are available in the MaxIm DL Help file and at:
https://diffractionlimited.com/help/maximdl/HIDD_SETUPST7.htm
9. Click OK to accept the settings and close the Options (Camera 1) form to
return to the Camera Control form.
10. Click the Setup Filter button under Camera 1 in the Camera Control form if
you are using an FW8-8300 filter wheel controlled by MaxIm LT. The Setup
Filter form opens. Otherwise, go to step 17.
NOTE:
Controlling filter wheels from other manufacturers requires a fully-featured
application such as MaxIm DL Pro or other supportive software.
11. Select SBIG Universal from the Filter or Controlling Camera Model drop-
down menu.
12. Select FW8-8300 from the Model drop-down menu. The COM Port setting is
not applicable and can be ignored.
13. Edit any of the eight filter names that you want to by double-clicking an
existing name in the list to make changes.