The CCD Astronomer

presents

Professional CCD Cameras for Astronomy
from

Logo Bitran Corporation, Japan

Bitran Camera BJ-41L

We are happy to offer professional CCD cameras from Bitran Corporation of Japan. Bitran Corporation has many years of experience in developing cooled CCD cameras for industrial and astronomical applications. Here is the manufacturers homepage, but mainly Japanese language!

Concept of Bitran BJ-50 Series CCD Camera

High quality electronics for long life, low noise and precise 16bit A/D Conversion

Regulated Peltier cooling within 0.1°C Temperature range guarantees best possible 16bit image quality with highest Signal/Noise-ratio and uniform background. This image quality is not possible with any non-cooled digital camera, especially when underexposing

For our cameras with basic RGB-pattern on sensor, always true color balance is displayed. These are the one and only TrueRGB CCD-cameras for astronomy.

Uncomplicated Control software for Microsoft Windows with optimized window for precise and quick real-time focusing

High Speed USB2.0 connection

Camera types of Bitran BJ-50 Series CCD camera

First produced camera type of BJ-40 Series was BJ-41 with SONY ICX285AL/Q CCD sensor, introduced in July 2002 by Bitran Corporation. Since then, it is the best sold astronomical CCD camera in Japan. Since year 2011 Bitran offers SONY ICX285AL/Q CCD sensor in a new camera type called BJ-51L/C!

The Flagship BJ-52L with 22mm sized Kodak sensor KAI-4022 and 4 Million pixel is preferrable for large format imaging. Monochrome BJ-52L is an amazing imager with outstanding capabilities. Please enjoy a single exposure with wonderful BJ-42L (now BJ-52L): The Moon as a single 0.03sec exposure, carefully processed.

NEW!! We can offer you the newest Sony Sensor ICX694 in Astronomical BJ CCD-Camera!!
Please check out Sony product announcement!

This new SONY 'EXviewHAD CCD II'-Sensor is fantastic for narrowband imaging: High sensitivity and approximately 78% QE, a lot higher than ICX285 (ca. 62% QE). Relative response of 0.9 for Hbeta/OIII and Halpha/SII is unique! Lower noise electronics gives also better SN-Ratio than with ICX285. And in the end, 6 Mio. pixel of square 4.54 micrometer size makes it perfect for large format imaging with Lenses and short focus refractors. This is the most exciting CCD imaging system for low light imaging!

Further News:

It is now possible to control 4x2" and 7x1.25" motorized filter wheel NAUTILUS of Orion Telescope with our Bitran Control software. Name saving of exposured images is automatically according to set filter wheel position.

Imaging of series: For solar, lunar and planetary imaging frame rate in 16bit resolution, BJ-50 series imaging rate is a lot higher than with BJ-40 series. Bitran Control software offers therefore a powerful routine called "Sequential Imaging...". We use it successfully for planetary and short exposure deep sky imaging:

Saturn with Bitran Camera BJ-41L

Several hundred 256x256-pixel frames were recorded with BJ-41L through R,G,B CCD-Filter!

M109 with Bitran Camera BJ-42L

M109 through 18cm f/10-telescope, unguided 300x20sec with BJ-42L;
left is a single frame and right side the combined result with little image processing.

Camera Specifications:

Camera name	BJ-51L	BJ-51C	BJ-52L	BJ-52C	BJ-53L	BJ-53C
Camera type	Monochrome	Basic RGB pattern	Monochrome	Basic RGB pattern	Monochrome	Basic RGB pattern
CCD sensor	Sony ICX285AL ABG	Sony ICX285AQ ABG	Kodak KAI-4022M ABG	Kodak KAI-4022CM ABG	Sony ICX694ALG ABG	Sony ICX694AQG ABG
Sensor quality	Sony standard Grade		Kodak standard Grade		Sony standard Grade
Imaging area	8.8mm x 6.6mm		15.16mm x 15.16mm		12.5mm x 10.0mm
Pixel of imaging area	1.4 Mio or 1360x1024 pixel		4 Mio or 2048x2048 pixel		6 Mio or 2750x2200 pixel
Pixel size	6.45 x 6.45 micrometer		7.4 x 7.4 micrometer		4.54 x 4.54 micrometer
Exposure times	0.01s - 1s in 0.01s steps, 1s - 6500s in 0.1s steps
Read-out time	Fullframe 0.7s, center 256pixel 13.7fps		Fullframe 1.3s, center 256pixel 5.7fps		Fullframe 1.3s, center 256pixel 6.5fps
Pixel binning	2x2, 3x3, 4x4	2x2, 3x3, 4x4 (only B&W)	2x2, 3x3, 4x4	2x2, 3x3, 4x4 (only B&W)	2x2, 3x3, 4x4	2x2, 3x3, 4x4 (only B&W)
Cooling type	Single stage Peltier element, power control by software ; cooling support by water cycle possible
Minimum cooling down	-30°C below camera body temperature		-25°C below camera body temperature		-30°C below camera body temperature
Adaption / Backfocus	31.7mm (1.25") drawtube adapter with M28 filter thread, connected to camera head by C-mount thread. Backfocus 17.5mm		50.8mm (2") drawtube adapter with M48 filter thread, connected to camera head by M42 P0.75 thread. Backfocus 17.5mm		50.8mm (2") drawtube adapter with M48 filter thread, connected to camera head by M42 P0.75 thread. Backfocus 17.5mm
Power	DC 12V, max. power consumption 2A
Camera head size	78mm (W) x 110mm (H) 91.5mm (D) ; weight 550g		78mm (W) x 110mm (H) 120mm (D) ; weight 600g		78mm (W) x 110mm (H) 120mm (D) ; weight 600g
Connection to PC	Standard High-Speed USB 2.0 cable
Supported file format	Bitran 16bit raw file format (ccd, drk, flt), FITS, TIFF, BMP
OS and Software	Control Software (only English language) works with Windows XP SP2, Vista SP1 and Windows 7. MaxIm DL interface available

For more information, please download our Manual (size 1.72 Mb as PDF).

Please have a look at some images, made by us with CCD cameras from Bitran:

Prices: Please ask for actual price.

Conditions: Each camera is produced when ordered, so delivery of CCD camera to customer takes about 3-4 weeks. Payment before delivery.

Support: You will enjoy our support based on long term experience in astronomical CCD imaging, satisfaction guaranteed!

Guarantee: Valid for One Year after delivery, standard Japanese Manufacturer's Guarantee by Bitran Corporation, Japan.

Accessories: On purpose we do not offer much accessories, but we do individual consulting. Please ask us about everything, we help as best as possible.

Notes: Although Japanese BJ camera features autoguiding, we did not implement autoguiding for English BJ Series. Manual guiding is possible. Please do not buy Japanese BJ Series CCD camera, support for Japanese BJ Series CCD camera is only valid in Japan and you cannot use Japanese BJ Series CCD camera with English software. Also, English BJ Series CCD camera cannot be sold to USA and Canada. If still Japanese or English BJ Series CCD cameras are used in USA and Canada, there is no liability, guarantee and support by Bitran Corporation, Japan and by The CCD Astronomer, Switzerland.

For more specific information, please feel free to contact us!

Our company:

The CCD Astronomer
& Jan de Lignie
Located at Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland

Email: info(at)the-ccd-astronomer.ch