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An entry-level cooled color camera for galaxies and small nebulae
Why we like the ASI585MC Pro:
- Cooled color for less: two-stage cooling to about 35°C below ambient, zero amp glow and read noise down to 0.7e⁻, in a one-shot-color camera with no filter wheel to buy.
- Fine detail on small targets: 2.9µm pixels give 1.2″ per pixel on a 490mm refractor, a good match for galaxies, planetary nebulae and globular clusters.
- One camera for everything: it runs at 47 fps at full resolution, so the same camera that takes long deep-sky exposures can also record the Moon, Sun and planets.
- Worth knowing: the 11.2 × 6.3mm sensor gives a narrow field, so big nebulae need a short telescope or mosaics. If you want a wider, square field, the ASI533MC Pro is the next step up. You'll need 12V power and a computer or ASIAIR to run it.
The ZWO ASI585MC Pro is a cooled color (one-shot-color) deep-sky camera built on Sony's 8.3MP IMX585 STARVIS 2 sensor. ZWO describes it as an entry-level deep-sky camera, and it's a good first cooled camera for someone moving up from a DSLR or an uncooled planetary camera who wants clean, color images of galaxies and nebulae without a filter wheel. The body is 78mm across and 73.5mm long.
Key specs: Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2 color sensor, 1/1.2" (11.2 × 6.3mm) · 8.3MP (3840 × 2160) · 2.9µm pixels · 91% peak QE · read noise 0.7e⁻ · 40ke⁻ full well · two-stage cooling to 35°C below ambient · zero amp glow · 512MB DDR3 buffer · USB 3.0 plus 2-port USB 2.0 hub
What you can image
- Galaxies: the Whirlpool, Sunflower and Black Eye Galaxies, M81 and M82, and the Leo Triplet. On the 490mm ZWO FF70 the field is about 1.3° × 0.73° at 1.2″ per pixel; on the 612mm FF90 it's about 1.0° × 0.6° at 1.0″ per pixel.
- Emission nebulae with a dual-band filter: the Pacman, Eagle, Crescent and Bubble Nebulae and Thor's Helmet, even from a city backyard.
- Clusters and planetary nebulae: M13, M3 and the Double Cluster's cores, and the Ring, Dumbbell and Cat's Eye Nebulae.
- Wider targets: on a 250mm RedCat 51 the field grows to about 2.6° × 1.4°, enough for the Orion Nebula with the Running Man, the Rosette or the Pleiades' core.
- The Moon, Sun and planets: 47 fps at full resolution (10-bit high-speed mode) makes it a capable lunar and planetary camera too.
How it works
The camera connects to a computer or an ASIAIR Plus over USB 3.0 and runs its cooler from 12V (ZWO recommends 12V at 3–5A, 5.5 × 2.1mm plug, center positive, or an 11–14V lithium battery). Set the cooler to a fixed temperature, take a series of exposures, and stacking software combines them into one clean color image. Two USB 2.0 ports on the back power and control a guide camera or focuser right at the scope.
The sensor sits 17.5mm behind the camera face, including an 11mm T2 ring. The included 21mm and 16.5mm extenders and M42-M48 adapter bring the total to the standard 55mm used by most flatteners and reducers, with or without an off-axis guider, as shown in ZWO's diagram below.
Using it in Colorado
- Front Range skies: a dual-band filter lets you shoot emission nebulae from Denver, and broadband galaxies are best saved for darker sites like Jackson Lake State Park or the Westcliffe area.
- Big temperature swings: the cooler holds a set temperature as the night cools off, so your darks stay matched from dusk to dawn.
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.
- ASIAIR Plus: runs the camera, mount, guiding and focuser from your phone.
- A dual-band filter for nebulae from town: the ZWO Duo-Band or Optolong L-eXtreme, held in front of the camera in a ZWO M42 2" filter drawer.
- ZWO IR cut filter: for natural color and tight stars on refractors when you're not using a dual-band filter.
- ASI220MM Mini: a sensitive guide camera for a guide scope or the ZWO OAG.
- ZWO EAFN electronic focuser: keeps focus as the temperature drops.
- A telescope and mount: the ZWO FF70 + AM3N bundle is a well-matched, portable setup for this camera.
ASI585MC Pro vs. ASI533MC Pro vs. ASI585MM Pro
| ASI585MC Pro | ASI533MC Pro | ASI585MM Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | IMX585 color, 1/1.2" | IMX533 color, 1" square | IMX585 mono, 1/1.2" |
| Sensor size | 11.2 × 6.3mm | 11.3 × 11.3mm | 11.2 × 6.3mm |
| Resolution / pixels | 8.3MP, 2.9µm | 9MP, 3.76µm | 8.3MP, 2.9µm |
| Field on a 490mm scope | 1.3° × 0.73° | 1.3° × 1.3° | 1.3° × 0.73° |
| Filters needed | None (dual-band optional) | None (dual-band optional) | 1.25" filters and a filter wheel |
| Best for | Cooled color at an entry-level price, small targets | A wider square field in color | Narrowband and the most detail per pixel |
Want it all in one box? The ASI585MC Air pairs the same color sensor with a built-in ASIAIR and guide sensor. See all ZWO cooled deep-sky cameras.
What's in the box
- ASI585MC Pro camera and camera bag
- 1.25" nosepiece and M42-1.25" adapter
- USB 3.0 cable (2m) and two USB 2.0 cables (0.5m)
- M42-M48 extender (16.5mm), M42 extender (21mm) and M42-M48 adapter
- Four spacers and a cover
- Quick guide
The 12V power supply, filters and guide camera are sold separately.
ZWO ASI585MC Pro FAQ
Is the ASI585MC Pro good for beginners?
Yes. It's color, so there's no filter wheel, and the small sensor is forgiving of flattener spacing and tilt. Pair it with an ASIAIR and a small refractor and you have a simple, capable first deep-sky setup.
ASI585MC Pro or ASI533MC Pro?
The ASI533MC Pro has a square sensor with almost twice the area, larger 3.76µm pixels and a 14-bit ADC, so it frames larger nebulae better. The ASI585MC Pro costs less, has finer pixels for small targets and is fast enough for planets.
ASI585MC Pro or the uncooled ASI585MC?
Both use the same sensor. The Pro adds cooling and a USB hub for long deep-sky exposures and needs 12V power. For the Moon, Sun and planets only, the uncooled ASI585MC costs less.
Do I need a filter?
Not to start. Under dark skies it works with no filter at all. From the city, a dual-band filter like the ZWO Duo-Band makes emission nebulae stand out from light pollution.
Can I image planets with it?
Yes. It runs at 47 fps at full resolution in high-speed mode, so it works for the Moon, Sun and planets as well as deep-sky targets.
Does it need a computer?
It needs something to control it: a laptop with ASIStudio, SharpCap or N.I.N.A., or an ASIAIR Plus run from your phone.
Specifications
| Sensor | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2, back-illuminated, color |
| Format | 1/1.2", 11.2 × 6.3mm (12.84mm diagonal) |
| Resolution | 8.29MP, 3840 × 2160 |
| Pixel size | 2.9µm |
| ADC | 12-bit |
| Read noise | 0.7e⁻ minimum (high-conversion-gain mode from gain 200) |
| Full well | 40,000e⁻ |
| Peak QE | 91% |
| Amp glow | None |
| Performance | |
| Cooling | Two-stage TEC, 35°C below ambient (tested at 30°C ambient) |
| Max frame rate | 47 fps at full resolution (10-bit high-speed mode) |
| Physical and connections | |
| Data | USB 3.0 with 512MB DDR3 buffer |
| Hub | 2 × USB 2.0 on the camera body |
| Power | 12V DC for cooling, 3–5A recommended, 5.5 × 2.1mm center positive, or 11–14V lithium battery (supply not included) |
| Back focus | 17.5mm (6.5mm without the 11mm T2 ring); 55mm with included extenders |
| Mounting | M42 × 0.75 front thread; 1.25" nosepiece included |
| Size | 78mm diameter × 73.5mm |
| Model / SKU | ZWO-ASI585MC-P |