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- Mintron 12V6HC-EX Kit
- Mintron 62V6HP-EX kit
- Mintron 23S85HC-EX Kit
- Mintron 22S85HC-EX Kit
- Mintron 72S85HP-EX kit
- Watec WAT-120N+ Kit
- Watec WAT-902H2 Ultimate
- Astro Video Accessories
Mintron 12V6HC-EX Mono Camera - from £269
Evolved from the original Mintron 12V1-EX, but with enhanced features, the 12V6HC-EX has a 1/2" highly sensitive Sony EXview Mono CCD. This camera accumulates light for up to two and a half seconds outputting apparently continous video. All controls are on the back of the camera and it can be controlled remotely, from a PC, using our cable (see accessories sub-menu below). The controls cover a massive range of shutter speeds, up to 2x digital zoom, negative image and image flipping and masking. There are two video outputs, Svideo and BNC, with Svideo being very useful for imaging.
Capable of lunar & planetary work and chasing DSO's, the Mintron 12V6HC-EX is a most versatile observing camera. It can "grab" a lot of light in a short period making it excellent at meteor and guiding work. It places a low demand on the tracking accuracy of your mount. Image quality is very good with excellent control of amp glow.
Technical specifications
| Image device | 1/2" inline transfer SONY CCD |
| Signal system | CCIR |
| Picture element | 795(H) x 596(V) |
| Scanning system | 2 : 1 interlace |
| S/N ratio | More than 52dB |
| Resolution | 600 TV-Lines |
| Minimum illumination | |
| Typical | 0.01 Lux @ F1.2, 5600K, 30IRE |
| Star light mode | 0.0001 to 0.00005 Lux @ F0.8, 5600K, 10IRE |
| White balance | --- |
| Gain control | Selectable by OSD (On Screen Display) |
| Mode | AGC ON / OFF /MANU |
| Range | 0 ~ 18dB |
| Shutter control | Selectable by OSD |
| Mode | OFF / AUTO / MANU 1/50 ~ 1/120 000 second |
| Auto iris lens | AES / DC |
| Gamma | 0.45 |
| Back light compensation | ON / OFF ,48 zone, selectable by OSD |
| Negative image | ON / OFF, Selectable by OSD |
| Mirror function | ON / OFF, Selectable by OSD |
| Digital zoom | 1...2x, Selectable by OSD |
| Masking area | 4 x, Selectable by OSD |
| Video output signal | BAS and Y/C: 1Vpp, 75 Ohm load |
| Lens mount | C & CS acceptable |
| Operation temp. | -20°C ~ 50°C, 85% RH |
| Power supply | DC 12V |
| Power consumption | 180mA |
| Dimensions | 115mm(L), 51mm(W), 51mm(H) |
What you can achieve
Lunar/planetary imaging
Hartwig Lüthen's work illustrates well the Mintron's all round capabilities. He has images of the moon, planets, comets & meteors, as well as deep sky objects.
Deep Sky Astronomy in a large city
Martin Elsässer's image gallery of DSO's taken with a Mintron 12V1-EX. This page is in German, but some of the site is in English and is a goldmine!
In a backyard observatory on the outskirts of light polluted Munich, Ulrich Schmidbauer has created an impressive image gallery of DSO's taken with a Mintron camera on a 13 inch Newtonian Telescope, as well as creating an animated gif of asteriod 2002NY40. Visit his homepage at www.psw-muenchen.de
Guiding
Klaus-Peter Schroeder uses his Mintron with its on-board integration of images for up to 2.5 secs, for convenient guiding from a monitor, seated on a table instead of balancing precariously up a ladder by the newtonian focuser.
And amateur astronomer Alan Chen describes how he uses a Mintron for guiding his 12"LX200. Visit his image galleries taken with his SXV-H9C one-shot megapixel camera at www.heavenlyview.com
Standard kit contains:
- Latest enhanced Mintron 12V6HC-EX CCD observing camera
- 12v regulated mains supply
- 5m RG59 screened video cable (BNC - Phono)
- 1.25" telescope adapter with filter threads and dust cap
Complete kit contains:
- Latest enhanced Mintron 12V6HC-EX CCD observing camera
- 12v regulated mains supply
- 5m RG59 screened video cable (BNC - Phono)
- 1.25" telescope adapter with filter threads and dust cap
- USB2 Video Capture Device
- 5m PC Control Cable
- Software
Mintron 62V6HP-EX Colour Camera kit - £279.00
This is the colour version of the Mintron 12V6HC-EX with a 1/2" colour EXview CCD. Colour cameras are not as sensitive as their mono equivalents, so I usually only recommend them for use with larger faster scopes and on the brighter deep sky objects. However performance can certainly be improved by stacking frames then processing the resultant image. Other uses for the camera include Aurora work, meteors, nature & wildlife study, surveillance and solar system imaging. Kit includes power supply, telescope adapter and 5m video cable. All controls are on the back of the camera which can be controlled from a PC, using our cable (see accessories sub-menu above).
Our version of this camera is supplied without an IR block filter, for enhanced sensitivity. For best colour balance use an external high quality IR block or UV/IR block filter. The lens is for illustration only and not part of the kit.
Mintron 23S85HC-EX Mono Camera Kit - £229.00 !!!
This camera has a 1/3" CCD and the body is smaller and lighter than the 12V6HC-EX. It lacks the SVideo and PC ports of its bigger brother but a useful enhancement is the ability to expose for twice as long i.e. 5 seconds. It’s very well suited to portable viewing, and makes an excellent guider when used with a PC capture device. I recommend this camera for use with smaller telescopes (up to about 5" or 6") for guiding and as a video finder. Excellent value for money.
The lens is not part of the kit, which includes camera, power supply, telescope adapter and 5m video cable.
Mintron 22S85HC-EX Mono Camera Kit - £299.00
This Mintron camera is in many ways a simplified version of the 12V6HC-EX but with the added bonus of 5 second integration. The camera body is smaller, lighter and lacks the Svideo and PC ports of its bigger brother. A useful enhancement though is the ability to expose for twice as long i.e. 5 seconds. It’s well suited to viewing and imaging and makes an excellent guider when used with a PC capture device as the CCD used is the same as in the Starlight Xpress Lodestar. It can "grab" a lot of light in a short period making it excellent at meteor study.
The lens is not part of the kit, which includes camera, power supply, telescope adapter and video cable.
Mintron 72S85HP-EX Colour Camera Kit - £299.00
This is the colour equivalent of the Mintron 22S85HC-EX-R with a 1/2" colour EXview CCD. This is the most sensitive colour Astrovideo camera available today. It can switch, either automatically or manually, between Colour and Monochrome modes to get the best views of particular objects. Performance can also be improved by stacking frames, then processing the resultant image. Other uses for the camera include Aurora work with fast lenses, nature & wildlife study, surveillance and solar system imaging. The kit includes power supply, telescope adapter and 5m video cable.
Our version of this camera is supplied without an IR block filter, for enhanced sensitivity. For best colour balance use an external high quality IR block or UV/IR block filter. The lens is for illustration only and not part of the kit.
Watec WAT-120N+ Mono Camera Kit - £619
The Watec 120N+ is the supreme astrovideo device available today. Clearly designed to achieve the best possible image quality with ultimate sensitivity and control.
This camera can expose automatically up to 10 seconds whilst feeding an apparently continuous image to your screen. It also features an unlimited manual mode whereby exposures are controlled by a start/stop button, and a lunar/planetary mode with fast shutter speeds down to 1/2000 sec. The body of the camera is smaller than a 2" cube and weighs very little. A 3m cable connects it to a control pad which is extremely easy to use.
Image quality is clearly superior to that of the Mintron cameras and sensitivity is much better, the only limit is your mount's tracking accuracy and local light pollution which can be controlled by filters. With this camera and an 8"+ scope, clusters of galaxies and other exotic objects can be viewed from suburban gardens!
Watec 120N+ Kit
Our Watec kit includes everything you need to get started:
- Watec WAT-120N+ Camera inc. remote control
- Long 5m RG59 screened video cable
- C to CS lens adaptor
- 12V regulated power supply
- 1.25" telescope adaptor and end cap
- Detailed instructions and guide
- Royal Mail next day "Special Delivery" included
We can supply Watec kits tailored to your specific requirements. Monitors and wireless video systems can also be provided. Please 'phone or email for details.
Technical specifications
| Model | WAT-120N+(CCIR) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick-up element | 1/2" interline transfer CCD image sensor | |||||||
| Number of total pixels | 795(H) x 596(V) | |||||||
| Number of effective pixels | 752(H) x 582(V) | |||||||
| Unit cell size | 8.6µm(H) x 8.3µm(V) | |||||||
| Imaging system | Frame accumulation, Field readout | |||||||
| Synchronizing system | Internal | |||||||
| Scanning system | 2:1 interlace | |||||||
| Video output | Composite Video, 1Vp-p, 75ohms, unbalanced | |||||||
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| Minimum illumination | 0.00002lx F1.4 | |||||||
| S/N | More than 52dB (MGC=8dB, γ=1.0) | |||||||
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| MGC | 8 - 38dB | |||||||
| Gamma characteristics | γ=0.35(HI) / γ-0.45(LO) / γ=1.0(OFF) | |||||||
| Lens iris | Video / DC (EIAJ arrangement, Auto-select), Fixed full open auto iris lens is available | |||||||
| Power supply | DC+12V±10% | |||||||
| Power consumption | 2.16W (180mA) | |||||||
| Operating temperature | -10°C - +40°C | |||||||
| Storage temperature | -30°C - +40°C | |||||||
| Operating / Storage humidity | Less than 95% RH (Without condensation) | |||||||
| Lens mount | CS mount | |||||||
| Weight | Approx. 150g (Remote control: Approx 220g) | |||||||
What you can achieve
Martin Elsässer has some impressive image galleries including DSO's taken with a Watec camera and a 70mm/400mm refractor in H alpha light, as well as a gallery of large emission nebula. Much of Martin's site is in English and is a goldmine of information.
Watec WAT-902H2 Ultimate (Camera only) - £299
Min. Illumination: 0.0001 lux - f1.4 lens (AGC Hi)
High Resolution - 570 TV Lines
Compact Size: 1.8" Long w/out Lens
1/2" Mono CCD Camera
CS- Mount Lenses Or C-Mount Lenses w/5mm Adapter
S/N Ratio: More Than 50dB
Standard 1/4-20 Mounting Holes On Top & Bottom
"THE" camera for meteor, occultation and lunar impact study!
Technical specifications
| Model Number | Watec WAT-902H2 Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up Element | 1/2" Inteline transfer CCD image sensor | |
| Number of Effective Pixels | EIA: 768(H) x 494(V) | CCIR: 752(H) x 582(V) |
| Unit Cell Size | EIA: 8.4um(H) x 9.8um(V) | CCIR: 8.6um(H) x 8.3um(V) |
| Scanning System | 2:1 Interlace | |
| Synchronizing System | Internal | |
| Video Output | 1Vp-p, 75ohm unbalanced | |
| Horizontal Resolution | 570 TV lines | |
| Minimum Illumination | 0.0001lx F1.4 | |
| Gamma Correction | 0.35 (Hi), 0.45 (Lo), 1.0 (Off) | |
| Gain Control | High:5˜60dB, Low:5˜32dB, MGC:5˜60dB, | |
| S/N Ratio | 50dB | |
| Electronic Iris | EIA: OFF=1/60,1/60~1/100,000 sec. | CCIR: OFF=1/50,1/50~1/100,000 sec. |
| Power Supply | DC 12V(±10%) | |
| Current | max. 110mA | |
| Lens mount | CS-mount/C-mount (30CMA-R) | |
| Back light compensation | on/off | |
| Dimensions | 34.0 (W) x 35.0 (H) x 58.5 (D) mm | |
| Weight | approx. 98g | |
Accessories for AstroVideo Cameras
Short C mount 1.25" adapter - £19 including delivery
Short adaptor (15mm barrel) made of Anodised Aluminium and threaded for filters. Useful for reflector and most refractor owners. Used with our focal reducer needs less focuser in-travel and gives a reduction ratio of about .6x to .7x
Long C mount 1.25" adaptor - £19 including delivery
Longer adaptor (32mm barrel) made of Anodised Aluminium and threaded for filters. More suited for use with SCT and MCT's (long focal ratio instruments) when used with our focal reducer to give reduction of about .4x to .5x
C mount M42 lens adapter - £25 including delivery
Use your M42 mount SLR system lenses to view and image the larger deep sky objects like M31 and M45. Just add a camera tripod to observe the night sky quickly and easily.
C Mount Canon EOS lens adapter - £55 including delivery.
Use your Canon EOS lenses to view and image the larger deep sky objects like M31 and M45. Just add a camera tripod to observe the night sky quickly and easily.
Low Profile T to C mount adapter - £19 including delivery
Allows you to connect your Mintron, Watec or other C/CS mount camera to any scope, lens or accessory that has male T threads. Only 4mm optical depth!
Standard T to C adapter with internal 1.25 inch filter thread - £29 including delivery
Allows you to connect to any accessory with male T threads, has insert for a 1.25 inch filter - 22mm deep
Focal Reducer (1.25") - £24 including delivery
When coupled with our short adaptor it functions as a .66x reducer. This ratio is very useful for deep sky performance with most reflectors and refractors in the F4-F6 range. Larger and slower instruments benefit most from reducing the F ratio. Adding the C/CS adaptor supplied with each video camera results in a reduction of about .6x, but requires more focuser in-travel than many instruments can deliver, without modification. High focal ratio instruments are better off with the long telescope adapter. Using the focal reducer in this situation can result in a focal reduction of around .4x. Achieving focus is not usually a problem with these instruments. F8 + telescopes are transformed for deep sky work by a large reduction in the focal ratio. Brightens images and increases field of view with all scopes. Accepts 1.25" eyepiece filters.
USB2 Video capture device & Software - £39 including delivery
Capture images to disk via a USB2 port (reduced resolution with USB1) & Windows XP, Vista & W7.
Has Composite and S-Video inputs and includes capture, stacking & processing software.
PC Control Cable for our Mintron 12V6 and 62V6 Cameras (5m) - £29
This serial (RS232) cable allows control of our Mintron 12V6 & 62V6 camera settings via your PC - supplied with software.
This cable may or may not work with older cameras or those supplied by other sellers - please enquire if in doubt.
UCF 1 Universal Contrast Filter (1.25 inch) - £19.99 including delivery
Filters for AstroVideo cameras are hard to recommend due to the relatively short exposures involved. After many tests this gentle filter has shown merit in reducing light pollution and increasing contrast on all objects. It's effective mainly in areas where the local light pollution is due to Sodium (yellowish) light. It's also been found to be effective in revealing surface features on the planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as well as reducing glare when viewing the Moon.