Imaging Source IS-1C Firewire CCD Camera - Color

• The Imaging Source IS-1C, or DFK 21AF04.AS, is a color CCD camera with a Firewire connection and 60 frames per second capability.
  
  
• The IS-1C sports the Sony ICX098BQ progressive scan CCD with a 640 x 480 pixel array.
  
  
• The Imaging Source IS-1C is equipped with an IR cut filter that blocks wavelengths above 700nm. Thus, its properties are similar to those of the human eye.
  
  
• Imaging Source cameras do not come with Firewire cables. 

• Model DFK 21AF04.AS

• Color FireWire camera with IR cut filter

• 1/4" CCD, progressive scan

• Resolution 640 x 480

• Max. 60 fps

• Max exposure time 60 min

• C/CS Mount

• Software included

At 60 frames per second (fps), the color CCD camera DFK 21AF04.AS, manufactured by The Imaging Source, is ideally suited for color astrophotography, where very fast image sequences are captured. Using the included software - IC Capture.AS - you can capture lossless and uncompressed image sequences as AVI files.

The Imaging Source camera DFK 21AF04.AS uses the color progressive scan CCD ICX098BQ from Sony®. With its 1/4" format, the CCD produces a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Even at long exposure times, its noise is minimal.

IC Capture.AS performs color interpolation on the raw color data (RAW format) from the CCD chip. This reduces the load on the camera processor. Should, on the other hand, the camera be installed on a host PC in which the CPU is not particularly fast, color interpolation can be performed by the camera itself. In this case, the maximum refresh rate is 30 fps. Alternatively, should color interpolation not be desirable at all, AVI files can be written in RAW format.

The DFK 21AF04.AS generates a fast stream of uncompressed color images. In order to transfer these to the host PC, a very fast bus is required. Hence, the camera is fitted with a FireWire connector.(cable sold separately).

The driver IC WDM DCAM TIS embeds all FireWire CCD cameras, manufactured by The Imaging Source, into Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP. By deploying this driver, all CCD cameras are compatible to DirectX®. Consequently, all The Imaging Source CCD cameras can be used with all astrophotography software that is compatible to DirectX®.

• PIII/800 MHz, 128 MB

• Graphics card with 24 or 32 bit

• Windows® 2000/SP2 or Windows® XP

• DirectX® 9.0c or higher

IC Capture.AS is authored by The Imaging Source and has been specifically designed for use with CCD cameras. Using IC Capture.AS, you can do the following:

• Set all camera parameters

• See the live image data stream from the camera

• Retrieve singular images from the camera and save them as BMP or JPG files

• Capture image sequences and save the single images as enumerated BMP or JPG files

• Capture image sequences and save them as lossless, uncompressed AVI files. These files can be post-processed in other astronomy applications, such as RegiStax.

• PIII/800 MHz, 128 MB

• Graphics card with 24 or 32 bit

• Windows® 2000/SP2 or Windows® XP

• DirectX® 9.0c or higher

Please note that in order to save image sequences, a host computer with a fast CPU and fast secondary hard disk is required.

With IC Capture.AS you can save the images outputted from the camera as an AVI file. There are two approaches to achieve this:

• If you would like to save a compressed AVI file, simply select the appropriate codec in IC Capture.AS (DivX, for example).

• If you prefer uncompressed AVIs, simply select the shipped codec (uncompressed Y800, uncompressed RGB24, uncompressed RGB32, uncompressed UYVY).

• RegiStax (Windows®): RegiStax can read the uncompressed AVI files that are created by IC Capture.AS

• Astro IIDC (Mac OS): Using Astro IIDC you can control all The Imaging Source FireWire CCD cameras on Mac OS.

  The Imaging Source IS-1C Camera Specifications...

  • Product Code: DFK 21AF04.AS
  • Type: Color FireWire camera with IR cut filter
  • Connection: FireWire
  • Manufacturer: The Imaging Source
  • Sensor: CCD
  • Type: progressive scan
  • Sensor Specification: Sony ICX098BQ
  • Format: 1/4"
  • Resolution: 640 x 480 pixel
  • Dynamic range: 8 bit
  • Exposure time: 1/10000 s to 60 minutes
  • Gain: 0 dB to 36 dB
  • FPS @ Max resolution: 60 fps
  • Video formats @ Frame rate: 640 x 480, BY8 (RAW) @ 60, 30, 15, 7.5, 3.75 fps 640 x 480, UYVY @ 30, 15, 7.5, 3.75 fps
  • Lens mount: C/CS mount
  • Supply voltage: 8 V to 30 V via the FireWire cable
  • Current consumption: Approx 200 mA @ 12 VDC
  • Dimensions (H x W x L): 50.6 mm x 50.6 mm x 50 mm
  • Weight: 265 g
  • Max. temperature (operation): -5 °C to 45 °C
  • Max. temperature (storage): -20 °C to 60 °C
  • Max. humidity (operation): 20 % to 80 %
  • Max. humidity (storage): 20 % to 95 %