Frequently Asked Questions

1. Disclaimer
2. What are the differences between the DMK, DBK and DFK series for astronomy?
3. What is the difference between a 6-Pin and 4-Pin FireWire cable in respect to the required power supply?
4. My camera is set to 60 fps. Why does the resulting AVI file contain fewer?
5. Where can I download your Getting Started guide?
6. What is the difference between DMK 21AF04, DMK 21BF04 and DMK 21AF04.AS?
7. Do I need a power supply for The Imaging Source FireWire CCD cameras?
8. Can I connect The Imaging Source FireWire astronomy cameras to a laptop?
9. How can The Imaging Source FireWire astro CCD cameras be mounted on telescopes?
10. Why does my color camera output only monochrome images?
11. Why do you manufacture two different types of color cameras?
12. Do The Imaging Source color CCD cameras output raw image data?
13. What do "debayering", "demosaicing" and "color interpolation" mean?
14. Which non-compressed AVI formats does the camera control software IC.Capture support?
15. How much bandwidth is required to write an AVI file?
16. Do The Imaging Source astro cameras work with RegiStax?
17. Do The Imaging Source CCD cameras run on Mac OS?

Disclaimer

The Imaging Source manufacturers FireWire cameras. We do not offer any individual consulting at system level. The following recommendations are only general in nature. The responsibility for the correct usage of the camera lies in the hands of the on-site engineer. The Imaging Source does not take any responsibility for errors, loss of data or other damages that are the result of these recommendations.

What are the differences between the DMK, DBK and DFK series for astronomy?

Although most astronomy pictures are taken in monochrome using the DMK series camera, for the color applications, we have two different models. The DBK is the more sensitive of the two due to the fact there is no IR cut filter in front of the CCD. The DFK that includes the IR filter in front of the CCD chip, has additional versatility for terrestrial use, when there exist an abundance of natural lighting (i.e. looking at birds and the like). Of course, it is possible to arrive at the same solution with the DBK model simply by adding a additional IR filter.

What is the difference between a 6-Pin and 4-Pin FireWire cable in respect to the required power supply?

The Imaging Source FireWire astronomy cameras may be powered with a 6-Pin to 6-Pin FireWire cable or a 6-Pin to 4-Pin Y-cable and power supply unit found at the 'Accessories' tab on each camera page.

My camera is set to 60 fps. Why does the resulting AVI file contain fewer?

Some frames are going missing in computer. This is known as 'frame dropping' or 'dropped frames'. Typically, the following are to blame:

1. CPU is too slow. We recommend a P4 or similar system.
2. Insufficient RAM. We recommend 1 GB.
3. Hard disk too slow. We recommend using a separate partition or separate hard disk when saving AVI files.
4. CPU cycles are being consumed by unnecessary processes. We recommend switching off network, blue tooth and WLAN interfaces.

Please note that these recommendations are very general. The Imaging Source does not take any responsibility for errors, loss of data or other damages that are the result of these recommendations.

Learn more about 'frame dropping' at:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/droppedframes.htm

Where can I download your Getting Started guide?

We ship a Getting Started guide with all cameras advertised on this web site. The guide offers a brief overview of the steps you should take when you first install your astronomy camera.

Download Now  [75.98 KB, PDF]

What is the difference between DMK 21AF04, DMK 21BF04 and DMK 21AF04.AS?

DMK 21AF04 and DMK 21BF04 are monochrome FireWire cameras that have been developed for industrial automation. Whereas, the DMK 21AF04.AS has been especially designed for astro-photography.

Do I need a power supply for The Imaging Source FireWire CCD cameras?

No. All FireWire CCD cameras, manufactured by The Imaging Source get their power via the FireWire interface.

Can I connect The Imaging Source FireWire astronomy cameras to a laptop?

Yes. However, you may need to purchase a FireWire interface card for your laptop. When choosing such an interface card, it is important that it can also supply the camera with power. Usually, you will need to connect an external power supply to the FireWire interface card in order to power the connected camera.

How can The Imaging Source FireWire astro CCD cameras be mounted on telescopes?

All The Imaging Source FireWire astro CCD cameras have standard a C-Mount. You can purchase adapters for various telescope mounts at your local telescope accessory store.

Why does my color camera output only monochrome images?

You are operating your camera in the color format Y800 (also see the question "Do The Imaging Source CCD cameras output raw image data?")

Why do you manufacture two different types of color cameras?

The Imaging Source manufactures FireWire color cameras with and without IR cut filters. The order codes for the cameras with IR cut filter begin with "DFK", whereas, those without IR cut filter begin with "DBK".

Unlike the human eye, CCDs are also sensitive to near infrared (NIR). NIR leads color cameras without an IR cut filter to be very biased toward red. With a built in IR cut filter, the user is protected from such undesirable color distortion.

Cameras without an IR cut filter offer users more flexibility, as they may be configured with specialized filters to the exact requirements of the application.

Do The Imaging Source color CCD cameras output raw image data?

Yes. The Imaging Source color CCD cameras offer two modes to achieve this:

Y800: Camera based color interpolation is turned off and the raw color data stream from the CCD is outputted in the monochrome format Y800. The camera control software IC Capture.AS displays color images in their raw form. Therefore, they appear to be monochrome at first sight. This mode is not suited to visualization applications. However, should you wish to capture an uncompressed AVI file, you should use this mode.

BY8: the structure of this format is equivalent to that of the format Y800. When BY8 is selected, the camera control software IC Capture.AS carries out color interpolation. The image stream from the FireWire camera is therefore displayed in color. BY8 is not suitable for the acquisition of uncompressed AVI files.

What do "debayering", "demosaicing" and "color interpolation" mean?

These three terms are synonymous and describe an algorithm for the post-processing of raw data from a color CCD. You can read an in depth article about this topic at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demosaicing

Which non-compressed AVI formats does the camera control software IC.Capture support?

Y800 for monochrome and color raw data; RGB24, RGB32 and UYVY for interpolated color data (also see the question "Do The Imaging Source color cameras output raw data?")

How much bandwidth is required to write an AVI file?

The following table shows the bandwidth (in MB/s) for the various video modes and frame rates:

Do The Imaging Source astro cameras work with RegiStax?

Yes. RegiStax can read the AVI files created with the camera control software IC Capture.AS.

Do The Imaging Source CCD cameras run on Mac OS?

Yes. The company ASC offers the software "Astro IIDC" for this purpose. You can read more about this software product at:

http://www.outcastsoft.com/ASCASTROIIDC.html