Santa Barbara Instruments Group STL-11000M Research Grade astronomical CCD camera

The SBIG STL-11000 has become the new "golden boy" among astronomical CCD cameras. While cameras like the SBIG STL-6303Eare more sensitive, there is something magical about a CCD chip that is the same size as a 35mm film frame!   The 11000 sacrifices some quantum efficiency (50% peak) for a larger field of view and anti-blooming capabilties.   While the camera is a wonderful performer,the truth is that not too many optics can cover the entire 11000 chip.  Likewise, for most applications, the extra chip space doesn't offer much for the astrophotographers.  The exception would be for wide-field imaging where traditional CCD would require mosaics to cover the entire field.  Similiarly, the 11000 chip can be a good match for big aperture, long focal length instruments, whereas  the increasesdfield allows for more of a particular object to be pictured.  It will also yield larger enlargements at the printer.  

The disadvantage to using this chip is simply the size of the files that it generates, which translated to the need for some heavy processing power.  The chip also trades off some efficiency at the 656.3nm h-alpha emission line, where the chip only boasts 30% QE.  While this is still quite manageable for most people for spectral line imaging, it's good to have the STL-6303e available for that kind fo work.  The 6303 is twice as sensitive at this important wavelength, where emission-type nebulae shine.

The STL-11000 really shows it stuff when matched to wide field, fast refractors such as the Tak FSQ-106.  Because you are very likely to have many bright stars in the field of view, the anti-blooming characteristics of the Interline chip really make it easier to use.  By comparison, the STL-6303 requires much shorter exposures in order to manage the blooming with this chip.  Because of this, the 6303 is limited to 2 to 5 minutes shots with such a refractor whereas the 11000 can yield beautifully shaped stars for more than 10 minutes, if necessary.  

As will all newer Research grade STL cameras, the 11000 has an integrated color filter wheels with standard 2" filters.  The current filter carousel is equipped with red, green, blue, clear (non IR blocking), and Luminance (IR blockiing) filters.  

This camera, supplied by the Three Rivers Foundation (3RF), is truly a wonderful instrument.  It is my first choice for RGB imaging with fast scopes.