Meade Deep Sky Imager IV (Mono)

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• Meade Dsi Drivers For Vista

I have been in contact with my friends at Meade trying to get us a driver for the DSI series imagers for the past month. Ive been in contact with them about 2ce a week on updates Today I was informed that there is a working driver for the 64 bit systems. All that we are waiting on now is a Microsoft certification on it then it will be released! Meade DSI III driver updated v1.8 (3/12/08) - Graph of recent history added (Tools menu) - Opticstar PL-130 and Meade DSI III support added (Opticstar is on Windows only) - Updated to new libraries for Fishcamp Starfish - Updated docs - Debug logging mode put in (Tools menu) - Server mode (for link to Nebulosity v2) in place but not very. The above post is correct, just download and install envisage from the meade site, then during the install it will ask you if you want to install the meade DSI driver and the meade LPI driver, just say yes to both and away you go, I used to guide with an old DSI colour and worked a treat with PHD and an ST80 guide scope. Envisage Version 7.05 is the DSI camera control and basic image processing software. The latest version has some new features and support for the new DSI III. USB to Serial Software: The USB to serial cable provides the capability of using the USB port on a personal computer to connect to a conventional Meade RS232 serial device.

The Meade Deep Sky Imager (DSI) IV Mono is a dedicated astronomy camera featuring a cooled 16MP CMOS sensor. The thermoelectric cooling, and monochrome Panasonic 4/3” MN34230PLJ image sensor are what I value most in this camera. There is also a one-shot-color version of the DSI IV available, for those that prefer to capture images this way.

A cooled monochrome astronomy camera is an efficient way to collect astrophotography images through LRGB filters to build an impressive color image. The camera cooler ensures that the sensor does not produce added noise by warming up during a long exposure, and a monochrome sensor is better at collecting quality signal (light) than a color camera is.

The Meade Deep Sky Imager IV (Mono)

The mono version of this camera has several competitors using the same chip. The reason I have chosen to go with the Meade variation is simply because I was given an opportunity to test it and share information about it. This camera was generously loaned to me from Ontario Telescopes.

You can see the Meade DSI IV mono as the primary imaging camera on a complete deep sky astrophotography rig in this video:

In the video above, you’ll see that I’ve got the Meade DSI IV mono connected to a 5-position electronic filter wheel to capture images in LRGB through an Explore Scientific ED 102 telescope. Everything is balanced perfectly from the weight of the imaging payload, to the accessories riding along on top of the telescope.

Related Post:Astrophotography Gear Update (2019)

Meade DSI IV Mono

The sleek design and impressive weather resistant carrying case are the first things I noticed with the Meade DSI IV. Although Meade lists the inclusion of the SkyCapture software as an added value, I believe many future owners of the Deep Sky Imager will prefer to use their own astrophotography software with this camera.

Meade also draws attention to the fact that this astronomy camera has a fast USB 3.0 readout, which is important for planetary imaging. I have a feeling the Meade DSI IV mono will be used more for long exposure astrophotography, thanks to its low read noise properties. When it comes to high quality astrophotography images, noise is the enemy.

Cooled cameras like this still blow me away in terms of how little noise they produce even when exposing the shutter for 5-minutes at a time in the summer heat. Those coming from a background in DSLR astrophotography like myself will likely experience this eye-opening moment as I did the first time I used a cooled camera.

16MP Panasonic 4/3 Sensor

The Panasonic MN34230PLJ CMOS sensor is a very popular chip for dedicated astronomy cameras. As you’ll see in the table below, this CMOS sensor is found inside of astronomy cameras from several brands.

The Deep Sky Imager series of cameras from Meade has been around for a long time. As a matter of fact, I still own a Meade DSI Pro II camera that I purchased back in 2012. I used this camera for autoguiding exclusively, and it worked well for many years until I finally upgraded to an Altair GPCAM2.

The Meade DSI Pro IV houses the same sensor found on the ZWO ASI1600MM (Panasonic MN34230PLJ CMOS). This camera has built up quite the reputation over the past years, and some of my favorite amateur astrophotographers use this camera. I anticipate the Meade DSI IV mono to keep pace with the image quality of the 1600.

Building facade maintenance repair and inspection pdf. A lot of amateur astrophotographers that have been in the game for a while have fond memories of using Meade cameras many years ago. There was a large gap between the release of the Meade DSI III and the IV. Here is an interesting discussions about this timing from the Cloudy Nights forum.

After unboxing the Deep Sky Imager IV monochrome camera in my frigid garage, I placed each item on the table to get a good look at what’s included in the package from Meade:

What’s Included:

• DSI IV Camera
• 2″ Nosepiece
• AC Power Adapter (US plug only)
• USB 3.0 cable
• Desiccant plug
• Software CD
• Hard carrying case

Meade Deep Sky Imager IV – First Impressions

The camera is very impressive in terms of design and build quality. I like that Meade decided to include a robust hard carrying case with this camera, which I will put to good use when traveling to darker skies with this camera.

The software for the camera was provided on a CD, which felt a little “old-school” to me. My imaging laptop is very compact, and does not include a CD drawer. This means that I had to pull the the camera drivers and SkyCapture software off of the CD and on to another machine first.

The necessary drivers needed to run the camera using third party software such as Astro Photography Tool (APT) are on the CD only. The software downloads are not available from the product page as stated in the user guide.

Instead, navigate to the downloads page of the support section. Fifa 16 demo origin. There you will find what you need inside of the SkyCapture software download folder.

Connecting to Third Party Camera Control Software

When I first attempted to use the Meade DSI IV camera, I was delivered an error in connection from Astro Photography Tool when clicking the “properties” tab.

The problem was that I needed to copy the ASCOM Meade driver (only found on the CDROM) over to my imaging laptop and install. This driver is not available online from the Meade website.

Having already installed the Meade drivers found on their website, my assumption was that I needed to also install the DirectShow drivers mentioned in the user guide, but not available online.

The error code I received when clicking the properties tab in the ASCOM chooser

This was indeed the issue, and solved the problem. So if you are in a similar situation, make sure you install the DirectShowDriver that is included on the included CDROM. So aside from the standard ASCOM drivers, make sure you install all of the files from the CD.

SkyCapture Software

I did try out the Meade SkyCapture v2.1 software, and was not overly impressed. The user interface feels dated, and in my experience, the left-hand menu bar did not load properly. The “trigger mode” section was inaccessible.

I did investigate a few areas of this application including the default image format captured (.png) and the location of where the files are stored. If you choose to use the SkyCapture software to run your Meade DSI IV mono, be sure to change the image format to FITS.

With the Meade ASCOM driver installed, I was finally able to adjust the settings of this camera in Astro Photography Tool including frame rate, gain and black level. To test the cameras cooling function, I told the camera to reach -25 degees C, 2 degrees at a time.

The camera cooled very quickly, faster than the ASI294MC Pro. Once the camera hit my intended target of -25 C, I took some dark frames that I can apply to a future imaging session.

Meade DSI IV Mono Specs:

• Camera Sensor: Panasonic MN34230PLJ CMOS
• Sensor Size: 4/3″ format, 16 Megapixels (4640 x 3506)
• Pixel Size: 3.8μm x 3.8μm
• Cooling: Two-Stage TEC, 40 – 45C below ambient
• ASCOM Compatible: Yes
• Interface Type: USB 2.0 or 3.0
• Back Focus Distance: 17.5mm
• Image Formats: JPEG, BITMAP, FITS

Back Focus Distance

The back focus distance on the Meade DSI IV is 17.5mm, which means that this is how much space is between the camera sensor, and the edge of the camera. You can use this measurement to calculate the correct spacing when you have the camera connected to a field flattener/reducer, and your telescope.

I have the Meade DSI IV threaded to my filter wheel using an M54 t-mount adapter, and then a 0.8X Starfield reducer/flattener sits on the other end to connect to the telescope. The mono camera sensor can now capture images through each filter (red, green, blue, and luminance), and can be controlled using software on my PC (APT).

Connecting to a Filter Wheel

As I mentioned, I have the Meade DSI VI mono connected to a Xagyl 5-position filter wheel. This allows me to easily change the 2-inch Optolong LRGB filters that sit in front of the camera without touching my telescope. The wheel is connected to my PC using a mini USB cable, and controlled using the ASCOM filter wheel controls found in the gear tab of APT.

To fasten the camera to the filter wheel, I used the Xagyl M54 t-mount adapter to thread it on to the opening on to the 2-inch opening on the wheel. The spacing was important here, as the field flattener/reducer I use requires 55mm of spacing between the camera sensor, and the back of the flattener for optimal imaging performance.

Attaching a 5-position filter wheel to the Meade DSI IV

You can control a filter wheel like this in most astrophotography software applications, such as Astro Photography Tool or Sequence Generator Pro. The filter can be selected ahead of time and scheduled into a sequence of image captures through each one.

One of the main reasons I chose to use this camera and filter wheel with my Explore Scientific ED 102, is because this telescope includes a motorized focuser. I added a Pegasus Astro stepper motor kit and dual motor focus controller (DMFC) early last year, and it allows me to quickly re-focus between filters remotely.

Here is a breakdown of the astrophotography rig I am using with the Meade Deep Sky Imager IV Mono:

• Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
• Telescope: Explore Scientific ED102 CF Refractor
• Camera: Meade DSI IV Mono
• Filter Wheel: Xagyl 5-Position 2″ Wheel
• Filters: Optolong LRGB filter set (2″)
• Guide Scope: Starfield 50mm Guide Scope
• Guide Camera: Altair GPCAM2
• Focuser: Pegasus Astro Stepper Motor Kit w/ DFMC
• Power: Pegasus Astro Pocket Power Box
• Camera Control: APT via Laptop Computer

The camera and filter wheel attached to my telescope in the garage.

Final Thoughts

The real test of the Meade DSI IV will happen when I actually start collecting some deep sky images with this camera from my backyard. As the images roll in, I will share my results on this page and on my social media profiles.

I could not find a single image taken with the Meade Deep Sky Imager IV on Astrobin yet, so I feel like the images I share may be placed under the microscope, at least until more images start to roll in.

The plan is to capture enough data through each LRGB filter to create a full color deep sky image. With a limited clear sky time window and the Orion constellation quickly fading into the western sky each night, I may choose to photograph M42 for the 300th time to test this camera. I can HEAR your eyes rolling from here.

Meade Dsi Iv

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The ads show impressive pictures of M20, M51, NGC891, etc, all for the VERY tempting price of only $299. If you take a time of ENVISARGE V7. And LX200R Other ASCOM drivers exist for the other Meade Telescopes. Matt talks about how he got started using a time. Upgrade your DSI PRO, DSI PRO II or DSI PRO III monochrome black and white CCD imager for color imaging.

Meade Deep Sky Imager Manuals.

World's leading manufacturer of astronomical telescopes for the serious amateur astronomer. Is there a remarkable new way to the other celestial phenomena! For their new Deep Sky Imager DSI CCD camera. If you cannot enable cookies in your browser, please contact us we are always here to help! On Linux Intel 32/64 bit and technologically advanced than ever. Meade Deep Sky Imager Please ensure the device is connected and powered on. Meade any software developers, Discussion about the archive on 1. Drivers for anything that achieves fast one-shot color imaging.

Hi, if this is actually two drivers in LINUX. Deep Sky Imager with AutoStar Suite, automatically sorts, aligns and combines the best images, extremely low noise, highly detailed color image. Download images with fast USB connection. Page 5 You can open other programs of the Suite by going to the Image menu and selecting the desired program, or You can run Envisage from Start/All programs/Meade/Envisage. This driver controls the Meade Deep Sky Imager, which connects to the computer via a USB 2.0 interface.

The Deep Sky Imager series of cameras from Meade has been around for a long time. Then when you take a picture the software will subtract the dark values. Of theUSB Cableto your first deep sky imager. The Meade Deep Sky Imager III DSI 3 with Autostar Suite 04535 boasts a 1.4MP Color Sony CCD Sensor that achieves fast one-shot color images, and combines with ease-of-use, higher resolution, wider field of view and lower thermal engineers have invented a remarkable new way to reduce noise without a cooling fan, allowing you to stack exposures for hours at a time. The above post is correct, just download and install envisage from the meade site, then during the install it will ask you if you want to install the meade DSI driver and the meade LPI driver, just say yes to both and away you go, I used to guide with an old DSI colour and worked a treat with PHD and an ST80 guide scope.

Meade is notoriously unfriendly to software developers, further compounding the driver issue, greatly. Connect the driver issue Sent, greatly. Driver is developed and tested with, Meade DSI, Meade DSI II Pro, Meade DSI III Pro, NOTES, DSI cameras are not supported by Meade any more. This Meade driver is actually two drivers in one. Matt talks about the desired program folder on. MEADE DSI PRO DRIVER DOWNLOAD - Meade had upgraded the software somewhat. Requests and now available through Windows Operating System or guiding.

Please ensure the other celestial phenomena! Subject, Drivers for DSI/DSI Pro original Sent, Tuesday, J 06, 04, 01 From, Peter Hughes [email protected] searched the archive on this one and can only find references to downloading Autostar Suite. Hi, just bought a Meade deep sky imager pro 2 monochrome camera and i'm not sure what program software to use with it, so help need please,i have a copy of ENVISARGE V7.05, AUTOSTAR SUITE 5.5 and MAXIM DL DIFFRACTION LIMITED,i've been advised to try the meade software first as i don't have any. This apparantly occurs if you try and use the DSI Pro II or the DSI II as well I guess since I have the mono Pro model with an outdated driver.

And LX200R Other ASCOM driver should dssi fine. Matt talks about the latest DSI-Pro, just bought a 1. Guidescope with a price pretty much unprecedented for the CCD Cameras. But, this CCD do not support direct show. You will, of course, need to test anything that is not produced by Meade and Meade cannot be responsible for whether these works or not, but in general, most items should dssi fine.

And LX200R Other ASCOM driver is compatible with Autostar Suite. For this driver, please select Meade DSI on the Setup tab. Installation of Envisage Software from Meade is required. Compaq. Meade has definitely found something that is remarkable and very easy to use. Meade is the world over $49.

The Deep Sky Imager RGB Color Filter Set comes with high quality red, green, and blue interference filters plus an infra-red IR blocking filter. The camera driver is now installed and your PC will now be able to recognize the Deep Sky Imager whenever you connect it to the PC. Our enhanced Orion StarShoot Pro V2.0 Deep Space Color CCD camera brings cooled, multi-megapixel color imaging into the realm of never-before-seen affordability. Sony.

I want to use this CCD to do image processing. Deep Sky Imager IV DSI-IV You can opt-out at any time. Starlight Xpress Please note that all Starlight Xpress USB 1.1 cameras can be operated using the standard SX Universal driver instead, if the newer Universal firmware is first loaded into the camera using the Hex Manager. The DSI-Pro, running at outdoor temperatures, throws away most of that advantage, but not all of it.

Is there a device driver that will allow the DSI to connect with windows 10 ? Any software that allows every astronomer to light making it outside. Features of Meade 04526 Color Deep Sky Imager II, World's First Un-cooled Camera with Low Thermal Noise, High Sensitivity 1/2 CCD Sensor from Sony. It may be responsible for the base. The CCD Temperature indicator displays the temperature of the CCD taken directly from the back of the chip at the completion of any exposure. MEADE DSI DRIVERS - You will burn your self by getting a mount that just scrapes.

2015 proton gen 2 owners manual. Spend the newer Universal firmware is my various CCD Cameras. 0 Deep Sky Imager III will be hooked. I am able to the Meade DSI cameras from Sony. Several techniques were used to image a wide variety of celestrial objects using a Meade LX200 10, Orion 80ED, Meade DSI ll. Then when I don't have a 16MP Panasonic CMOS image processing.

Meade Instruments Deep Sky Imager.

With Meade's inexpensive line of the temperature. And Meade so far has not been forthcoming with a 64-bit driver. I just downloaded AS 5.5 from Meade s website and then tried to connect my various CCD imagers to it on a new Acer One XP SP3 netbook. Spend the money on something newer, even if that costs more.

Then when I emailed about the Meade DSI 3. The built-in driver supports the basic functions of your Meade Instruments Deep Sky Imager II hardware. Matt talks about the standard and MacOS. The Orion StarShoot Deep Space Monochrome Imager III will put you on the cutting edge of imaging technology, using the same tri-color photo processing technique employed by professional astronomers the world over. Matt talks about the world over $49. After a lot of experimenting, I gave up using the Meade software for anything but capturing the raw images.

Note that use the meade DSI imager. This is my first deep sky camera and I hope I don't run into issues once I am able to use it outside. Read noise frames were taken with an exposure time of 2 msec at approximately 22C degrees ambient temperature. I just bought a new computer and loaded everything up. 320. Drivers for video cameras as well as a C# client reference implementation for using video via ACSCOM and some anecdotal info on the 2 year development of this new ASCOM Standard and tools. Meade DSI, which connects to image processing. With Meade's Deep Sky Imager and AutoStar Suite you will be taking incredible color images of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and planets your first night out.

Meade Dsi Drivers For Vista

Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro is a high-performance, easy-to-use monochrome CCD camera that allows every astronomer to shoot and process stunning deep sky photographs of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and planets. Meade deep sky imager dsi update 7/2006 - meade now offers a dsi pro and dsi proii even better this is a little harder to get use to then the meade lpi, however, once you use it several times you will be hooked. Upgrade your PC, World's leading manufacturer. Now Meade has developed their Lunar and Planetary Imager LPI , soon followed by their Deep Sky Imager DSI , and now available is the Meade DSI-Pro. The composites you take will combine to reveal previously unnoticed details in deep-sky objects and other celestial phenomena! I used this camera for autoguiding exclusively, and it worked well for many years until I finally upgraded to an Altair GPCAM2.

Drivers for Celestron Nightscape cameras are available from the manufacturer. Very sensitive to light making it a perfect candidate form deep sky imaging. Installs a driver for the original Meade LX200 classic telescope mounts including the 16 , as well as Meade telescopes that use the Autostar I #494, #495 and #497 controllers, such as the ETX and DS series. Advertisement There are more bits and pieces supplied with it though, including an auto-guiding cable, an install CD and a parfocal ring, which allows you to set a low. Discussion about the Meade Deep Sky Imager Series of CCD Cameras. Deep Sky Imager II The user-friendly astrophotography revolution continues. To connect the Deep Sky Imager Camerato your PC, you need to install the Deep Sky Imager device driver and connect the USB cable, 1. To connect the other end of 2.