Hi
This unit cost $369 in Bintel. What do you think?
Here is the spec of the orion autoguider:
Product Specifications:
Imaging sensor Micron MT9M001
Imaging sensor size 6.66mm x 5.32mm
Pixel array 1280 x 1024 (1,310,720 total)
Pixel size 5.2 x 5.2
Imaging chip Monochrome
Video frame rate 15 frames/second at full resolution
Autoguider capability Yes
Exposure range 0.05 second to 10 second
A/D conversion 8 bit
Thermoelectric cooling No
IR filter No
Mounting 1.25" nozzle or t-thread
USB connection High-speed 2.0
Software compatibility Windows XP/Vista
Weight (oz.) 4.40
Warranty One year
StarShoot AutoGuider
- Finally, an easy-to-use, affordable autoguider for long-exposure astrophotography
- Uses a 1/2" format 1.3MP CMOS chip, with 5.2 x 5.2 micron pixels for highly accurate guiding
- Compact housing measures just 2.5" x 2.35" and weighs a mere 4.4 oz.
- Included software offers automatic calibration and guiding with a single mouse click
- Powered via your computer's high-speed USB 2.0 connection; no other power source needed
- ST4 compatible autoguide output jack on camera body
Autoguiding has revolutionized the capture of deep-sky images by mechanizing the tedious and tiring method of "manually" guiding an exposure, which involved staring endlessly into an illuminated reticle eyepiece while tweaking your mount's electronic drive controls by hand to keep the stars pinpoint sharp. Until now, the problem has always been the lack of a simple, affordable autoguider camera to do the job.
Problem solved. The StarShoot AutoGuider provides a user-friendly, dedicated autoguiding system for long-exposure astrophotography. It's compatible with virtually any mount equipped with an autoguider port and comes with the software and cables needed to work right out of the box!
The AutoGuider's sensor is a high-resolution, 1/2" format 1.3-megapixel CMOS monochrome chip, with 5.2µ x 5.2µ pixels for highly accurate guiding. That high accuracy due to the small pixel size means you can use the AutoGuider with smaller, less expensive guide scopes than is possible with other guide cameras (such as the now-discontinued ST-4). The chip resides in a super-compact, anodized aluminum housing that measures just 2.5"wide by 2.35" long and weighs a mere 4.4 oz. It has a 1.25" nosepiece that can be removed to access a T-thread interface. And the AutoGuider's short inward focus requirement of only 15mm from a typical 1.25" Plössl eyepiece makes it compatible with virtually any telescope.
The AutoGuider's incredible ease of use will appeal to beginning and experienced astrophotographers alike. The included software requires no previous knowledge of autoguiding. It offers automatic calibration and guiding with literally a single mouse click. The camera is powered via your computer's high-speed USB 2.0 connection with the included 10' USB cable; no other power source is needed. A 6' RJ-12 cable is also included to connect the AutoGuider to the mount without the need for an additional RS-232 adapter.
With the StarShoot AutoGuider, precision autoguiding for deep-sky photography is now easier and more economical than ever. Get one today for your imaging setup! One-year limited warranty.
Requires PC running Windows 2000, XP or Vista.