DESCRIPTION
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider has revolutionized autoguiding and the capture of deep-sky images by mechanizing the tedious and tiring method of manually guiding an exposure, which involved staring endlessly into an illuminated reticle eyepiece while tweaking your mount's electronic drive controls by hand to keep the stars pinpoint sharp. Until now, the problem has always been the lack of a simple, affordable autoguider camera to do the job.
Problem solved. The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider provides a user-friendly, dedicated autoguiding system for long-exposure astrophotography. It's compatible with virtually any mount equipped with an autoguider port and comes with the software and cables needed to work right out of the box!
The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider sensor is a high-resolution, half-inch format 1.3-megapixel CMOS monochrome chip, with 5.2 micron x 5.2 microns pixels for highly accurate guiding. That high accuracy is due to the small pixel size, and means you can use the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider with a smaller and less-expensive guide scope than is possible with other guide cameras (such as the now-discontinued ST-4). The chip resides in a super-compact, anodized-aluminum housing that measures just 2.5-inches wide by 2.35-inches long and weighs a mere 4.4-ounces. The housing of the StarShoot AutoGuider has a 1.25-inch nosepiece that can be removed to access a T-thread interface. And the AutoGuider's short inward focus requirement of only 15 mm from a typical 1.25-inch Plossl eyepiece makes it compatible with virtually any telescope.
The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider and its incredible ease-of-use will appeal to beginning and experienced astrophotographers alike. The included software requires no previous knowledge of autoguiding. This software offers automatic calibration and guiding with literally a single mouse click. The camera is powered via your computer's high-speed USB 2.0 connection with the included 10-foot USB cable; no other power source is needed. A 6-foot RJ-12 cable is also included to connect the AutoGuider to the mount without the need for an additional RS-232 adapter.
Requires PC running Windows 2000, XP ,or Vista 32-bit. Will not run on 64-bit.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider Features...
- An easy-to-use and affordable autoguider for accurate long-exposure astrophotography
- Orion StarShoot AutoGuider keeps track of a selected guide star and communicates constantly with connected equatorial telescope mount to correct any tracking errors throughout long exposure astrophotography sessions
- Uses a 1/2" format 1.3MP CMOS chip, with tiny 5.2 x 5.2 micron pixels for highly accurate autoguiding so your astrophotos feature pinpoint star images Included software offers automatic calibration and autoguiding with a single mouse click
- Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 Operating Systems
SPECIFICATIONS
| Accessory Type | Auto Guider |
| Camera Series | Orion Starshoot |
| Manufacturer | Orion |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Warranty | Orion Limited Warranty |
Customer Reviews
- Reviews
- Questions
Very good dealer
They seem to have an accurate stock info unlike other dealer which says in stock but sent you an email that it is back ordered.
Mediocre image and 2 have failed in 4 years
I use the StarShoot as my guide camera along with the Orion 90mm scope in the Awesome Autoguide package. I've always been disappointed with the image quality even after performing a simple calibration. It seems to have Lots of hot pixels. I've had 2 units fail within 4 years. I think the cameras can't take the Texas heat. I would not recommend this to a friend.
Perfect !
This a perfect guiding camera: easy to use (I use it with MaximDL), solid, never any problem to find a star, calibrate any kind of mount, and guide for long exposures (up to 20 minutes). Why ask for more ?
Guiding!
It worked wonders with PHD2,but the drivers needed some tinkering to operate over USB 3.0. Its not impossible, if anyone has experience with installing drivers on XP and olders windows versions the manual way then it would be rather straight forward. I would feel it unfair to rate the product less because of this minor issue, which can be solved via a simple google search. Thanks
Good low cost auto guider
I used the auto guider with a telescope drive with a large periodic error of 65 arc-sec. I got round star images on an imaging telescope with 400mm focal length and a guide scope with 325mm focal length. PHD Guide software is very easy to learn. Over all this is an excellent auto. Guide camera.
Doesn't work with USB 3.0
Orion's StarShoot Autoguider drivers will not operate with USB 3.0. Newer laptops only have USB 3.0 ports. I discovered this after spending lots of money on a new Acer Ultrabook. Orion says that the driver "doesn't play nicely with USB 3.0." That is an understatement because it doesn't work at all. Orion doesn't point out this incompatibility on its web site, in its sales info or any other documentation. Works ok on old XP laptops,though.