Diffraction
Diffraction Limited (SBIG brand) is a privately held Ottawa-based manufacturer of scientific-grade CCD and CMOS cameras, imaging software, and adaptive optics accessories serving astronomers, research institutions, universities, and life sciences laboratories globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Diffraction does
Diffraction Limited, operating under the SBIG (Santa Barbara Instrument Group) brand, is a privately held Canadian company founded in 1993 and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that designs and manufactures scientific-grade CCD and CMOS cameras and supporting ecosystem products for low-light imaging applications. The company's core hardware portfolio centers on the Aluma series of cameras (e.g., Aluma CCD47-10 with E2V back-illuminated CCD sensor, Aluma AC455 and AC461 with Sony IMX CMOS sensors reaching 102 megapixels), differentiated by proprietary SmartCooling dual-stage thermoelectric cooling (achieving up to -50C delta from ambient), user-rechargeable desiccant systems, and SFP+ 10 Gigabit fiber Ethernet interfaces enabling cable runs up to 300m. These cameras are tightly integrated with the MaxIm DL software platform (offered in LT, IP, Pro, Pro Suite, and Maestro tiers) and a surrounding accessory ecosystem including StarChaser SC-4 off-axis guide cameras, AO-X and AO-8A adaptive optics units, AFW filter wheels, MaxPoint pointing correction, dome automation, and cloud sensors. Manufacturing is performed at an ISO 9001:2015-certified North American facility, with USMCA-compliant goods sold globally through an authorized dealer network and direct sales channels, complemented by OEM and custom imaging solutions for non-astronomy applications.
Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales (cameras priced $9,999-$17,999; accessories $129-$3,667), annual software subscriptions (MaxIm DL tiers), and warranty/repair services. The customer base is horizontal and fragmented, spanning professional astronomers and research institutions, university astronomy and physics departments, life sciences and biomedical imaging researchers, advanced amateur astronomers, and OEM/custom integrators, with no disclosed anchor contracts or institutional investors.
Diffraction firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Diffraction
- Legal name
- Diffraction Limited
- Website
- https://diffractionlimited.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Diffraction Limited (SBIG brand) is a privately held Ottawa-based manufacturer of scientific-grade CCD and CMOS cameras, imaging software, and adaptive optics accessories serving astronomers, research institutions, universities, and life sciences laboratories globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Diffraction industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Imaging Cameras
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth) (HDAHALAF)
Keywords
Where Diffraction is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Diffraction business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Scientific Camera Hardware Sales: Sale of high-value scientific-grade CCD and CMOS cameras for astronomical imaging. Products range from $15,999-$17,999 for CCD cameras, $9,999-$17,499 for CMOS cameras. One-time hardware purchase with optional accessories.
- Accessories and Components: Sales of filter wheels ($1,399-$2,999), adaptive optics units ($599-$2,299), off-axis guider cameras ($1,499), mechanical adapters, cables, and replacement parts. Complementary products that enhance core camera systems.
- Software Licensing: Multi-tiered software licensing model: MaxIm LT (entry-level, included with cameras), MaxIm DL IP (image processing only), MaxIm DL Pro (full features with instrumentation control), MaxIm DL Maestro (multi-camera server capability), and MaxIm DL Pro Suite/Maestro Suite bundles with MaxPoint telescope pointing correction.
- Warranty and Repair Services: Warranty repairs and out-of-warranty repair services. Cameras warranted 1 year on sensor, 2 years on body. Repair items not covered by original warranty warranted for 30 days. RMA-based service model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SBIG Aluma CCD47-10 - Research-grade back-illuminated CCD camera with 1 megapixel sensor, 13.3 micron pixels |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SBIG Aluma AC461 - 102 megapixel research-grade CMOS camera with 10Gb Ethernet |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SBIG Aluma AC455 - 61 megapixel research-grade CMOS camera with enhanced cooling option |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SBIG StarChaser SC-4 - Off-axis guider camera with adaptive optics support |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | SBIG AO-X Adaptive Optics - Next-generation adaptive optics for large-format cameras |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | StarChaser SC-4 / AO-X Bundle - Combined off-axis guider and adaptive optics package |
| Subscription | Annual | MaxIm DL Software Tiers - Multi-level imaging and observatory control software |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | StarChaser Spacers - Mechanical adapters for customizing back focus distance |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Aluma AC Adapter Plates - Telescope interface adapters |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Diffraction product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Diffraction Limited designs, manufactures, and sells scientific-grade CCD and CMOS imaging cameras for astronomy and low-light applications under the SBIG brand, including the Aluma CCD47-10, Aluma AC455, and Aluma AC461 product lines. The company also licenses its MaxIm DL imaging software platform with multiple tiers (LT, IP, Pro, Maestro) and sells complementary accessories such as StarChaser off-axis guide cameras, AO-X adaptive optics, SBIG AFW filter wheels, cloud sensors, dome control systems, and MaxPoint telescope pointing software.
Product overview
Diffraction Limited (operating as SBIG — Santa Barbara Instrument Group) provides a unified portfolio of astronomy and scientific imaging products centered on its Aluma series of scientific-grade CCD and CMOS cameras, the MaxIm DL imaging software platform, and complementary autoguiding and adaptive optics accessories. The core offering consists of research-grade Aluma CCD cameras (e.g., Aluma CCD47-10) and Aluma AC (Advanced CMOS) cameras (e.g., AC455 at 61MP, AC461 at 102MP), which are supported by MaxIm DL imaging software with multiple tiers (MaxIm LT, MaxIm DL Pro, MaxIm DL Maestro). The ecosystem is extended through StarChaser off-axis guide cameras, AO-X and AO-8A adaptive optics units, SBIG AFW filter wheels, cloud sensors, dome automation, MaxPoint pointing correction, and Earth Centered Universe planetarium software. The company also offers OEM/custom imaging solutions for life sciences and industrial applications. All products are manufactured in the company's ISO 9001:2015-certified North American facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SBIG Aluma CCD47-10 The SBIG Aluma CCD47-10 is a research-grade back-illuminated CCD camera featuring an E2V CCD47-10 sensor with 1 megapixel resolution, 13-micron pixels, 93% peak quantum efficiency, two-stage thermoelectric cooling with -50C delta from ambient, USB 2.0 interface, and a mechanical even-illumination shutter. It is sold to observatories and research institutions for low-light scientific imaging applications, with pricing from $15,999 to $17,999 USD depending on coating options.
- SBIG Aluma AC461 The SBIG Aluma AC461 is a research-grade 102 megapixel scientific CMOS imaging camera built around a Sony IMX461 sensor with a 44x33mm image area, 3.76 micron pixels, 94% peak quantum efficiency, 10Gbps SFP+ fiber Ethernet interface, sub-second full frame download, and two-stage thermoelectric cooling with optional water cooling. It is designed for larger telescopes and research observatories requiring extremely low noise readout, priced at $17,499 USD.
- SBIG Aluma AC455 The SBIG Aluma AC455 is a research-grade 61 megapixel scientific CMOS imaging camera built on a Sony IMX455 industrial-grade sensor with a 36x24mm image area, 3.76 micron pixels, 94% peak quantum efficiency, 10Gbps SFP+ fiber Ethernet, 0.25s sensor readout, and optional Enhanced Cooling (AC455ME/CE) versions. It is offered in Monochrome (AC455M) or Single-Shot Color (AC455C) variants and is suited for dark sky observatories and research institutions, priced at $9,999 USD.
- SBIG StarChaser SC-4 The SBIG StarChaser SC-4 is an all-in-one off-axis guide camera with an integrated 1.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, adjustable pick-off mirror, 0.7X focal reducer, mechanical dark frame shutter, and Adaptive Optics control, offered in SC-4, SC-4C, SC-4U, and SC-4C-A variants. It is sold to astronomers using larger imaging cameras for autoguiding and adaptive optics control, priced at $1,499 USD.
- SBIG AO-X Adaptive Optics The SBIG AO-X is a next-generation tip-tilt adaptive optics unit for large-format SBIG cameras, operating at a 10Hz correction rate to reduce atmospheric seeing effects and telescope tracking errors. It is compatible with Aluma AC4040, AC2020, AC455, and older STX/STXL cameras and requires a StarChaser SC-4 off-axis guide camera, priced at $2,299 USD.
- MaxIm DL Imaging Software MaxIm DL is an astronomy imaging software platform sold in multiple tiers (MaxIm LT included with cameras, MaxIm DL IP for image processing only, MaxIm DL Pro for full instrumentation control, MaxIm DL Pro Suite with MaxPoint, MaxIm DL Maestro for multi-camera server capability). It provides camera control, autoguiding, adaptive optics, filter wheel control, dome automation, image processing, astrometry, and photometry, and is licensed to astronomers and observatories using SBIG and third-party cameras.
- OEM and Custom Imaging Solutions OEM and Custom Imaging Solutions is a service offering covering custom camera system design and manufacturing for OEM applications, life sciences, industrial, and scientific research markets. The engagement models include custom sensor configurations, optical interfaces, and system integration services, sold directly to enterprise customers requiring specialized imaging systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 94% peak quantum efficiency with back-illuminated sensor design
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Diffraction
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Diffraction technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature6 records
Diffraction partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Diffraction competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Diffraction social profiles
Digital presenceDiffraction compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Diffraction financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Diffraction leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Diffraction funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Diffraction M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Diffraction
What does Diffraction do?
Diffraction Limited designs, manufactures, and sells scientific-grade CCD and CMOS imaging cameras for astronomy and low-light applications under the SBIG brand, including the Aluma CCD47-10, Aluma AC455, and Aluma AC461 product lines. The company also licenses its MaxIm DL imaging software platform with multiple tiers (LT, IP, Pro, Maestro) and sells complementary accessories such as StarChaser off-axis guide cameras, AO-X adaptive optics, SBIG AFW filter wheels, cloud sensors, dome control systems, and MaxPoint telescope pointing software.
Is Diffraction a public or private company?
Diffraction is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Diffraction founded?
Diffraction was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Diffraction based?
Diffraction is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Diffraction make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Scientific Camera Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Components, software Licensing and warranty and Repair Services.
Does Diffraction have an API?
Yes. Diffraction Limited provides API interfaces for third-party software integration with MaxIm DL. The StarChaser SC-4 and MaxIm DL support API interfaces for third-party software running under Windows, MacOS, or Linux. The company uses both ASCOM standard drivers (for cameras, filter wheels, autoguiders, and AO units) and a native MaxIm DL API for advanced control. The ASCOM Platform must be installed before ASCOM drivers. No public REST/GraphQL API is documented. Developer documentation is at cdn.diffractionlimited.com/help/maximdl/CCD_Cameras_and_Autoguiders.htm.
What industry is Diffraction in?
Diffraction's product category is Scientific Imaging Cameras. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAF, Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth). Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3861.