Mintron 72S85HP-EX-R Colour Camera Kit: £379.99

New model with 1/2" colour CCD chip

Comes complete with all the adaptors and leads to connect the camera to a monitor and a PC. Comes with capture software for taking stills as well as streaming video.

The new Mintron cameras differ from previous models in two essential ways:

1: They are only about half the size (length) and are thus more convenient for attaching to the scope and balancing the system.

2: They can now integrate up to 256 frames whereas the previous models could integrate up to 128 frames. This produces brighter images on maximum integration.

As before, the cameras output a continuous video stream that is updated at a rate determined by the level of frame-integration. So the displayed image is updated about every 5 seconds when the camera is set to maximum frame-integration. An on-screen display is used to set up the cameras via buttons on the back of the camera.

Using an appropriate capture card, AVI movie files can be captured at a low frame-rate and Registax can be used to produce an image from the data. The low-cost AstroVideo software from COAA can be used to capture frames at predetermined time intervals and the captured frames can be summed on the fly into 32bit FITS files, or incorporated into an AVI file for further processing in Registax or AstroVideo.

The video stream output by the camera can be displayed in real-time on a TV screen or video monitor screen and can be simultaneously recorded to video-tape or DVD. Recordings thus made can be enjoyed in the future as a way of viewing your imaging data, or they can be played back into a video capture card as previously mentioned for the synthesis of a still image.

With frame-integration set to high values, the astronomer can view deep-sky objects in real time far brighter than he/she will ever see them in the eyepiece. It is the equivalent of adding many inches to the aperture of your telescope. With the frame-integration turned off, or low, the Mintrons can be used for viewing and imaging the Moon and planets.

There is no more pleasing way of sharing the 'eyepiece' than looking together at the real-time images on a portable TV screen, or directly on the TV in your living room via a long video lead from your scope outside.
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.

Please note that stock levels do fluctuate so please call or email to check today's stock before placing your order.

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