ZWO ASI2600MC DUO Cooled Color Camera with Built-in Guide Sensor

One-shot color APS-C imaging with the guide camera built in

The ZWO ASI2600MC DUO is a cooled one-shot-color deep-sky camera that puts an imaging sensor and a guide sensor in one 90mm body. The main sensor is Sony's 26MP back-illuminated APS-C IMX571 with a 16-bit ADC, about 80% peak QE and zero amp glow, behind a UV/IR-cut window. The guide sensor is a 2MP mono SC2210 with 0.6e⁻ read noise and 92% peak QE. One USB 3.0 cable runs both. It's for imagers who want a wide APS-C color field and guiding at longer focal lengths without an OAG and guide camera. The camera weighs 715g (1.58lb).

Key specs: Sony IMX571 APS-C color sensor (23.5 × 15.7mm) · 26MP (6248 × 4176) · 3.76µm pixels · 80% peak QE · 16-bit ADC, up to 14 stops dynamic range · read noise 0.9–4.2e⁻ · built-in SC2210 guide sensor (1920 × 1080, 4µm) · cooling 30–35°C below ambient · zero amp glow · USB 3.0 with 512MB buffer · 715g

What you can image

• Large nebulae in color: the North America and Pelican, Heart and Soul, Rosette and California Nebulae, the Veil and the Orion Nebula region. On the 250mm RedCat 51 the field is about 5.4° × 3.6° at 3.1″ per pixel.
• Nebula detail: the Eagle Nebula, Lagoon and Trifid, the Elephant's Trunk and the Crescent. On the 612mm ZWO FF90 the field is about 2.2° × 1.5° at 1.3″ per pixel.
• Galaxies and star clusters: the Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies, M81 and M82, the Leo Triplet, the Whirlpool and the Pleiades. On the 770mm FF110 the field is about 1.75° × 1.2° at 1.0″ per pixel, and the guide sensor works at about 1.1″ per pixel, which is where a built-in guider earns its keep.
• Emission nebulae from the city: add a 2" dual-band filter and hydrogen-alpha and OIII targets like the Heart, the Veil and the Bubble Nebula become workable from a light-polluted backyard.

How it works

The main sensor records the color image while the guide sensor, about 18mm off center, watches a star at the edge of the same light cone and sends corrections to the mount. Both sensors share one USB 3.0 cable to your computer or ASIAIR Plus, and two USB 2.0 ports on the back power and control a focuser or filter wheel. The cooler needs 12V (ZWO specifies 12V at 3–5A, 5.5 × 2.1mm plug, center positive).

A knob on the side focuses the guide sensor separately, so you can make the guide stars sharp once the main camera is in focus. The sensor sits 17.5mm behind the front of the removable 5mm M54 tilt plate, and the included 16.5mm and 21mm M54 extenders bring that to the standard 55mm most flatteners and reducers expect. Three push-pull screws on the back adjust tilt without taking the camera off the scope.

ZWO's drawing places both sensors inside a 44mm circle, so choose a telescope sold as full-frame compatible, such as the ZWO FF quadruplets. On scopes with a smaller image circle, or with reducers at the wrong spacing, stars in the guide sensor's corners may not be round. ZWO notes that this doesn't affect normal guiding.

Using it in Colorado

• Front Range skies: from Denver, a dual-band filter makes emission nebulae practical. Save galaxies and reflection nebulae for darker sites like Jackson Lake State Park or the Westcliffe area.
• Cold nights: the cooler holds a set temperature as the night cools, and the heated window keeps frost off. ZWO rates the camera for −5°C to 50°C, so on the coldest winter nights keep an eye on it.

What to add for the best results

• 12V power (required for cooling): the ZWO 12V 5A adapter at home, or a PowerTank Lithium Pro in the field.
• A dual-band filter for city skies: the ZWO Duo-Band or the narrower Optolong L-eXtreme, in the 2" size so it covers the guide sensor too.
• ZWO M54 2" filter drawer: swaps a 2" filter in and out without taking the camera apart.
• ZWO EAFN electronic focuser: refocuses automatically as the temperature drops, and plugs into the camera's USB port.
• ASIAIR Plus: runs the camera, guiding, focuser and mount from your phone, if you'd rather not bring a laptop.
• A full-frame telescope and a mount: the ZWO FF90 or FF110 on a ZWO AM5N.

ASI2600MC DUO vs. ASI2600MC Pro vs. ASI2600MC Air vs. ASI2600MM DUO

See all ZWO cooled deep-sky cameras.

What's in the box

• ASI2600MC DUO camera and camera bag
• USB 3.0 cables (2m and 0.75m) and two USB 2.0 cables (0.5m)
• M54 extenders (16.5mm and 21mm) and an M54-M48 adapter
• Hex wrench and quick guide

The 12V power supply, filters, telescope and mount are sold separately.

ZWO ASI2600MC DUO FAQ

Is the ASI2600MC DUO good for beginners?

It's a good choice for someone who has learned the basics of a mount and stacking and is ready for a cooled camera. Color in one shot keeps processing simple, and the built-in guider means one less camera to set up. You'll still need a computer or ASIAIR, 12V power and a full-frame telescope.

ASI2600MC DUO or ASI2600MC Pro with an OAG?

The DUO costs about $125 less than an ASI2600MC Pro, a ZWO OAG and an ASI220MM Mini, and there's nothing to space or align between them. The Pro makes sense on a scope whose image circle is smaller than full frame, on short refractors where a small guide scope works fine, or if you already own a guider.

ASI2600MC DUO or ASI2600MC Air?

They share the same main and guide sensors. The MC Air adds a built-in ASIAIR with 256GB of storage and Wi-Fi for $200 more. Choose the DUO if you run NINA, SharpCap or another program on a computer, or already own an ASIAIR.

Color (MC) or mono (MM) DUO?

Choose the MC for full-color images in one shot with no filter wheel. Choose the MM DUO for narrowband from the city and the most sensitivity, if you're ready for a 2" filter wheel and filters.

Can I use a filter with it?

Yes, a 2" filter. The filter sits in front of both sensors, and the guide sensor is about 18mm off center, outside what a 1.25" or 36mm filter covers. Narrowband and dual-band filters dim the guide stars, so a fast telescope and slightly longer guide exposures help.

Do I need an IR-cut filter?

No. The color DUO's protective window is already a UV/IR-cut filter.

Specifications