Average customer rating:
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Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro CCD Camera and Software Package.
Manufacturer: Meade
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics
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Accessories:
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"Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing" with CD ROM, 2nd Edition, Hardcover Book by Berry & Burnell
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Photoshop Astronomy
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Meade DC Powered Fan Accessory for all Deep Sky Imager (DSI) Cameras.
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Meade Series 4000 f/6.3 Focal Reducer/Field Flattener (4-element/41mm dia.) for CCD, Photographic, & Visual Applications.
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Meade #644 Flip-Mirror System (1.25") with Ultra-High Transmission Coatings.
Product Features:
- Automatic and manual exposure - Auto and manual exposure settings will optimize the exposure automatically, or let you set it yourself.
- Automatic align and stack - The software can automatically align and stack a series of images, using state-of-the-art techniques, to provide an extremely low noise, highly detailed single composite image.
- Color saturation and balance - The AutoStar Suite includes the tools to adjust color saturation and balance, eliminating the need to use Photoshop or other aftermarket tools to accomplish this pre-publication step.
- Stretch options - Auto-stretch automatically brings out dim objects in short exposures. It optimizes the contrast of objects, with adjustable contrast settings.
- Automatic dark subtraction - Dark frames are automatically stacked and averaged, then subtracted, eliminating hot or cold pixels and giving you a clean final image. "Fix Cold Pixels" removes "holes" in images resulting from saturated dark pixels during long exposures. "Fix Hot Pixels" removes cosmic ray strikes and noise pixels f
ASIN: B0009OAXPE
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Product Description
The Deep Sky Imager Pro (DSI Pro) is a high-performance, easy-to-use black and white (monochrome) electronic camera and software package that allows every astronomer to shoot and process stunning images of galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, and planets their first night out. Adding an optional color filter set allows highly detailed tri-color imaging, as well. While the active array of the imaging sensor measures 510 x 492 pixels in size, the NASA-developed Drizzle technology included in the camera s software displays a 640 x 480 pixel image on your computer screen, with the true resolution of a 640 x 480 camera (not merely a stretched version of the 510 x 492 array). The Drizzle technology can actually produce a full resolution 2560 x 1920 pixel image from the 510 x 492 imaging sensor, as explained below. The Drizzle program also corrects field rotation, among other advanced features, eliminating the need to polar align the telescope. The DSI Pro camera itself works with any telescope, but the Drizzle software works only with an AutoStar-controlled Meade telescope. The DSI Pro is the first commercially available CCD camera to include Drizzle Technology in its software. Multiple camera control - The AutoStar Suite supplied with the DSI Pro supports multiple Deep Sky Imagers and one LPI. This lets you control one imager that is autoguiding through a photoguide scope, for example, while a second Deep Sky Imager simultaneously records images at pri
Product Description
This CCD color filter set for the Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro includes four high quality 1.25" red, blue, and green, and infrared interference filters for tri-color or LRBG imaging . . .
Average customer rating:
- Think twice before your buy
- Nice Deep Sky Imager could have better instructions
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Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro CCD Camera & Software Package with RGB Color Filter Set.
Manufacturer: Meade
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics
Other Telescope Accessories
|
Telescope
|
Accessories
|
Camera & Photo
|
Categories
|
Electronics
Other Telescope Accessories
|
Telescope Accessories
|
Telescopes
|
Optics
|
Camera & Photo
|
Categories
|
Electronics
Binoculars
|
Used Photo & Camera
|
Specialty Stores
|
Camera & Photo Features
|
Electronics
Telescopes
|
Used Photo & Camera
|
Specialty Stores
|
Camera & Photo Features
|
Electronics
Accessories:
-
"Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing" with CD ROM, 2nd Edition, Hardcover Book by Berry & Burnell
-
Photoshop Astronomy
-
Meade DC Powered Fan Accessory for all Deep Sky Imager (DSI) Cameras.
-
Meade Series 4000 f/6.3 Focal Reducer/Field Flattener (4-element/41mm dia.) for CCD, Photographic, & Visual Applications.
-
Meade #644 Flip-Mirror System (1.25") with Ultra-High Transmission Coatings.
Product Features:
- Automatic and manual exposure - Auto and manual exposure settings will optimize the exposure automatically, or let you set it yourself.
- Automatic align and stack - The software can automatically align and stack a series of images, using state-of-the-art techniques, to provide an extremely low noise, highly detailed single composite image.
- Color saturation and balance - The AutoStar Suite includes the tools to adjust color saturation and balance, eliminating the need to use Photoshop or other aftermarket tools to accomplish this pre-publication step.
- Stretch options - Auto-stretch automatically brings out dim objects in short exposures. It optimizes the contrast of objects, with adjustable contrast settings.
- Automatic dark subtraction - Dark frames are automatically stacked and averaged, then subtracted, eliminating hot or cold pixels and giving you a clean final image. "Fix Cold Pixels" removes "holes" in images resulting from saturated dark pixels during long exposures. "Fix Hot Pixels" removes cosmic ray strikes and noise pixels f
ASIN: B0009F7NGU
|
Product Description
The Deep Sky Imager Pro (DSI Pro) is a high-performance, easy-to-use black and white (monochrome) electronic camera and software package that allows every astronomer to shoot and process stunning images of galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, and planets their first night out. Adding an optional color filter set allows highly detailed tri-color imaging, as well. While the active array of the imaging sensor measures 510 x 492 pixels in size, the NASA-developed Drizzle technology included in the camera 's software displays a 640 x 480 pixel image on your computer screen, with the true resolution of a 640 x 480 camera (not merely a stretched version of the 510 x 492 array). The Drizzle technology can actually produce a full resolution 2560 x 1920 pixel image from the 510 x 492 imaging sensor, as explained below. The Drizzle program also corrects field rotation, among other advanced features, eliminating the need to polar align the telescope. The DSI Pro camera itself works with any telescope, but the Drizzle software works only with an AutoStar-controlled Meade telescope. The DSI Pro is the first commercially available CCD camera to include Drizzle Technology in its software. Multiple camera control - The AutoStar Suite supplied with the DSI Pro supports multiple Deep Sky Imagers and one LPI. This lets you control one imager that is autoguiding through a photoguide scope, for example, while a second Deep Sky Imager simultaneously records images at pr
Customer Reviews:
Think twice before your buy.......2007-12-23
THIS REVIEW APPLIES TO THE DEEP SKY IMAGER. . .THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
I want to be very clear. The reason this review applies to Meade's Original DSI is because I've had so many problems with it, I would NEVER buy another DSI from Meade. The customer support from Meade is nearly non-existent. Go to their website and TRY to find an e-mail address for customer support: you'll find an address, a phone number--but no where to e-mail questions or upload images or problems.
Fix after Fix after software fix; you'll see if you go to their website and find the "support" postings. The problems, which it has taken me, LITERALLY, two years to figure out:
a. YOU will MOST likely NOT be able to image on your first night out.
b. The software instruction manual is bare-bones. It does little to help an amateur take the first photos. . .
c. The infra-red filter attaches to the nose-piece of the imager--without rubber bumpers. I no sooner had opened my new DSI, but I broke the glass IR filter. . .BANG! Broken filter. . .new instrument out of the box!
d. This imager is NOT backwards compatible with USB 1.0 or 1.1. YOU MUST have USB 2.0 ports on your computer
e. IF you buy a USB card, for your laptop, you'd better buy one that you can power with a power-adapter. . .otherwise your motherboard on your computer will NOT be able to provide enough power to power the USB and the data coming to it from the camera. (This took me a year of trial and error to learn)
f. You MUST have a computer with at least a Pentium 2.0 gigahertz processor.
g. I would recommend at least 1 or 2 GB of Ram, too.
About one month ago, I sent screen shots (by mail--because they don't have an e-mail address) to Meade's "technical" customer support. It contained screen shots, photo's of my computer set-up, etc. To date, I've heard zip.
Buy a real CCD camera: buy one from the Santa Barbara Instruments Group (SBIG). . .and leave Meade alone. In my experience, including their telescopes, most of their products are over-priced, under supported, and have significant quality defects. This is a company that needs a severe internal overhall. You have choices: Celesteron, Takahashi, Astrozap, etc. Meade is NOT the company they advertise THEMSELVES to be. Go to Google and type in "Meade DSI Reviews" and find out for yourself.
Nice Deep Sky Imager could have better instructions.......2006-11-10
Having experience in astrophotography for only a very short time, I thought I would try the Meade DSI Pro, I have used a Solar System Imager on a few occasions and found it fairly easy to use, I expected the DSI Pro would be a bit more of a learning curve. For starters the DSI Pro is everything Meade says it is, I have put together some very nice images that have impressed many people, not too bad for a rookie. Attaching the camera to your scope and computer is very easy, obtaining focus and getting your image is a little more complicated, and all the rest is extremely difficult to figure out on your own or trying to find help on the web. This nice and powerful imager could really use a completely detailed instruction manual. It comes with a quick set up version manual, RGB filter and filter slide set, Autostar Suite software, and USB 2.0 connection cable. The software has an instruction manual on it, but again leaves alot to be desired, no examples of when and where to use long or short exposures, or any of the settings for that matter, the software also has a image processor, but again almost no helpful instructions, I have yet to use the RGB filter or slide because aside from explaining how to put the filters into the slide, there are absolutely no instructions or examples on how to use this feature, all my colors have been added in Photoshop. I take it that Meade assumes that everyone using this fine imager has had experience using another make or model. I am by no means a tech geek, but I have a home recording studio with digital recorders, sequencers and midi mapping that all have complete instruction manuals that explain procedures and functions in great detail. I have had to search the web for most of the info on the many questions I have had for setting exposure time to using the processing software, and have yet to find some info on how to use the RGB filters and combine them. I have about 20 hours into this on actual photography and processing and 2 months of searching for or trying to figure out certain procedures or functions, that to me is not a good ratio. I would have given this item a 5 star rating, but without detailed explanations in a instruction manual, DVD, or website I can only justify 4 stars, for the camera itself is very powerful and amazing, you really can get images like a pro and amaze yourself and others. Overall the Meade DSI Pro is a fantastic deep sky camera and I would reccomend it to anybody, it just suffers from the lack of instructions, and that leaves alot to be desired, hopefully Meade will put out a tutorial DVD and include it in future packages.
Product Description
Deep Sky Imager Pro II.... The user-friendly astrophotography revolution continues. Introducing the new DSI Pro II. It combines ease-of-use with a larger chip, greater sensitivity, higher resolution, and dramatically lower thermal noise. Meade engineers have invented a remarkable new way to reduce noise without a cooler.This means you can take exposures for hours at a time. And the new thermal monitoring sensors automatically match your dark frames to ambient temperature so it's nearly impossible to take an uncalibrated picture.The software includes a new zoom feature for easier focusing and the squared pixels of the new larger chip make processing simpler and images more beautiful than ever. The DSI II is the world's first un-cooled camera with low thermal noise. And that's as cool as it gets.This version includes RGB Color Filter Set.
Customer Reviews:
BEWARE!!!!!!!!!.......2007-09-06
Be careful before considering buying this unit! The description does not tell you that it is not compatible with many PCs because it requires a so-called "fully powered USB port" even if this is not specified in the description on the Amazon site.
I ordered one in May, it did not work on my hardware (even though I tried on several PCs that were supposed to have fully powered ports, even tried on powered USB hubs) and since then I am struggling to get it fixed or refunded: Amazon tells me to contact Optics Planet, Optics Planet tells me to contact Meade, and Meade is simply unreachable.
So if you are willing to waste 700$, go ahead!!
Insert tab "a" into slot "b".......2007-03-09
My review is not based on the quality of any photos that I have taken with this CCD camera. It is based on the initial setup and understanding of it. I didn't expect to start taking "amazing" photos the first night that I used the CCD camera, even though I have read reviews and seen the photos of people doing just that. But, I was still surprised at the total lack of documentation and basic guidance that is included with this equipment. They don't even give you the basic information on how to install the filters in the filter holder much less any technical info needed to run the software. Sure trial and error works but you shouldn't have to rely on that especially considering the cost for this product. From what I've read about this CCD camera it is possible to get some great shots with it and I'm sure that I eventually will get them. I just expected a little more initial help from the manufacturer.
DSI Pro II.......2007-01-28
Although I understand the frustrations of the other reviewers, this camera really is a great piece of equipment at this price point. Creating colour images by combining Red, Green, Blue and luminance monochrome images takes time and effort, but the results are worth the extra work. Meade also sells a one shot colour version of the DSI II which may be a better choice as a first CCD camera. If you have the patience though, you will get noticeably better images using the monochrome DSI Pro II and filters. I would highly recommend that you pick up a decent image processing package such as Photoshop, Paintshop Pro or similar to get the most out of the final images.
Very steep learning curve, mediocre results for now.......2006-05-16
No doubt, there are some amazing pictures people took with this CCD. But if you have no experience with astrophotography, plan to spend many, many hours before you'll get anything reasonable, and pretty much forget taking pictures of moon / planets (in all fairness, it is a Deep Space Imager...). Meade does a very poor job of explaining what some of the controls do (histogram, offset - you can slide them around but what do they actually do? Don't ask the manual). Focusing is still a problem (despite a software focusing assist included - it's pretty much useless). In addition the camera does really poorly in high contrast situations. All in all, it's too late for me to send it back which I'm really sorry about - I kept it too long trying to master it, now I guess I have to :-)
Product Description
This next step up in the DSI camera line brings numerous new features and enhancements that allow the user to achieve a higher level of imaging with the same ease of use and low cost that has made the DSI the camera of choice for so many beginning and advanced astro-imagers.
Product Description
Deep Sky Imager Pro II.... The user-friendly astrophotography revolution continues. Introducing the new DSI Pro II. It combines ease-of-use with a larger chip, greater sensitivity, higher resolution, and dramatically lower thermal noise. Meade engineers have invented a remarkable new way to reduce noise without a cooler.This means you can take exposures for hours at a time. And the new thermal monitoring sensors automatically match your dark frames to ambient temperature so it's nearly impossible to take an uncalibrated picture.The software includes a new zoom feature for easier focusing and the squared pixels of the new larger chip make processing simpler and images more beautiful than ever. The DSI II is the world's first un-cooled camera with low thermal noise. And that's as cool as it gets.
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