Optional Liquid Cooling
All 500 Series cameras allow the attachment of a liquid heat exchanger to
increase cooling in warmer environments. Allowing the removal of the heat
exchanger when assisted cooling is not necessary keeps the depth and weight
of the camera to a minimum.
Slim Internal Color Filter Wheel
The 500 Series internal color filter wheel accepts up to 5 interchangeable
1.25" filters. Shown above is the standard LRGB color filter set in a 516ws
camera. The filter wheel only adds 1/2" to the camera depth and backfocus.
Tight Spaces Aren't a Problem
Pictured above is a fully configured 532ws camera with add-on liquid heat
exchanger. Even when attached with a 'generously' long 2" eyepiece adapter,
it still passes cleanly through the forks of a popular Schmidt Cassegrain
telescope.
Forced Air Cooling
The heatsink cooling fins are an integral part of the camera body
and the configurable, intelligent cooling fans are recessed into the
surface. This keeps the entire cooling system within the smooth envelope of
the camera and eliminates protruding structures that can tangle cables or
catch on the camera's surroundings.
Body Configurations
A defining feature of the 500 Series is the flexible design that permits
three progressively configured body styles with a minimal impact on overall
size. The three body configurations, Slim, Medium, and Full, are compared in
the image above.
The Slim
body is the thinnest version
and can be used with CCDs incorporating an electronic shutter. The
Medium body provides addition space for an internal mechanical shutter. The Full body
allows the installation of both the shutter and the five position filter wheel.
When Size Matters
The compact size and short backfocus can be a real asset when your optical
train gets long and complicated. The light weight, slim design significantly
reduces the camera moment-arm resulting in less strain on the intervening
components and greater overall stability.
Extended Life CCD Environmental Chamber
Located under the camera name plate is a user-rechargeable microsieve
desiccant employed to scavenge any water molecules that enter the
hermetically sealed CCD chamber. It is isolated from the CCD by a
sub-micron, permeable membrane. The desiccant can greatly extend the
interval between chamber re-purging and, depending on your requirements,
eliminate it all together.
Attachment Flexibility
The versatile design of the 500 Series cameras allows a range of attachment
options. Interchangeable T and C mount adapters are available for all
cameras. Pictured above is an adapter for a standard 35mm camera lens. Other
custom adapters and configurations are easily accommodated by direct
attachment to the front of the camera body.
Internal Mechanical Shutter
The 500 Series long-life internal shutter subsystem is designed for
flexibility. The thin shutter actually carries the control electronics for
the shutter and filter wheel embedded in its mounting plate,
minimizing the thickness of the entire assembly. Adding a filter wheel only
adds 1/2" to the overall camera depth.
Microscopy
Due to their exceptional imaging performance, compact size and light weight, the
QSI 500 Series cameras are well suited for microscopy and biological sciences
applications. Illustrated above is a 520ci mounted atop a stereo microscope
via the available C-Mount adapter.
CAD-CAM and CNC Manufacturing
Engineered with extensive use of sophisticated CAD-CAM design tools, the 500
Series is CNC machined from aircraft grade aluminum alloy. The image above
is a close-up of a production run of camera bodies ready for final quality
control inspection before anodizing.
Integrated Guider Port
The QSI 500 Series "wsg" models solve the problems with other guiding solutions by integrating a Guider Port directly into the camera body with the pick-off prism positioned in front of the integrated color filter wheel - right where it belongs.
600 Series 8-position Color Filter Wheel
QSI 600 Series cameras area available with an internal 5 or 8-position Color Filter Wheel. The 8-position CFW is shown above on a QSI 683. WS and WSG covers are available with the larger filter wheel. The size of the cameras is still remarkably small even with the 8-position filter wheel, which adds less than 1.5" to the height and width. Back focus is idential to the standard 5-position CFW models ensuring that only one set of adapters are needed when switching between 5 and 8-position models.
