Best Cameras for Deep-Sky Astrophotography (ZWO)

Hi folks! In this video I'll review all the Deep-Sky Astrophotography cameras from ZWO that are on the market in 2022. I'll review both color and mono cameras on their specifications such as resolution, image scale, read noise, amp glow, quantum efficiency and dynamic range. I hope this video helps you to make an informed decision about astrophotography cameras that are suited for deep-sky astrophotography from ZWO. Clear skies!
Wido - AstroForum
Link to T-shirt:
astroforumspace.com/shop/
Link to the video where I explain camera specs:
• Best ZWO Cameras for P...
Link to review video about cameras for planetary imaging (ZWO):
• Best ZWO Cameras for P...
Link to ZWO cameras Comparison Table:
astroforumspace.com/zwo
*Affiliate links to ZWO Color Cameras (USA and EU):
Color Cameras - USA (AGA):
ASI183MC Pro: bit.ly/3qdmMdF
ASI533MC Pro: bit.ly/3MZIJG7
ASI294MC Pro: bit.ly/3ortYT1
ASI071MC Pro: bit.ly/45zzPGe
ASI2600MC Pro: bit.ly/435VqEX
ASI2400MC Pro: bit.ly/3C0wd2J
ASI6200MC Pro: bit.ly/3MAlMrt
ASI 2600MC DUO!: bit.ly/3q4y17Y
EDIT: ZWO just announced an exciting new release of their ASI 2600MC DUO - including a guide camera sensor and the ASI2600MC Pro in one camera which should be available from July 2023!
Color Cameras - EU (Astroshop):
ASI183MC Pro: bit.ly/2Hdc2pr
ASI533MC Pro: bit.ly/3dM7UIP
ASI294MC Pro: bit.ly/3jeaZ5o
ASI071MC Pro: bit.ly/35h2bqN
ASI2600MC Pro: bit.ly/3kql0y9
ASI2400MC Pro: bit.ly/2FFu0Qy
ASI6200MC Pro: bit.ly/3dDwqM4
ASI 2600MC DUO!: bit.ly/3ODrZph
*Affiliate links to ZWO Mono Cameras (USA and EU):
Mono Cameras - USA (AGA):
ASI183MM Pro: bit.ly/3o22HkU
ASI533MM Pro: bit.ly/3PSbaVR
ASI1600MM Pro: bit.ly/2T2TAlH
ASI294MM Pro: bit.ly/3nbZC0D
ASI2600MM Pro: bit.ly/39ObSmd
ASI6200MM Pro: bit.ly/3m2zqVz
Mono Cameras - EU (Astroshop):
ASI183MM Pro: bit.ly/3BXUoP7
ASI533MM Pro: bit.ly/3OGQFNp
ASI1600MM Pro: bit.ly/422UIa0
ASI294MM Pro: bit.ly/43usoyC
ASI2600MM Pro: bit.ly/3C3Hf77
ASI6200MM Pro: bit.ly/3C3Hf77
EDIT: After this video, ZWO announced a new 100 MegaPixel mono camera which will cost about $14K! The ASI461MM Pro! Here's the link: bit.ly/43nTXKl
Music (artlist.io):
Adventus - Dear Gravity
Futuristic Cliche - Curtis Cole
Luminescence - Michael FK
Odd numbers - Curtis Cole
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:22 Camera specs recap
2:42 ZWO Cameras intro
3:44 Color Cameras prices
4:43 Resolution and Image scale
8:09 Read noise and Amp Glow
9:23 Other specs (QE, FW e-, ADC)
10:49 Conclusion: Best Color Cameras
12:27 Mono Cameras prices
13:18 Resolution and Image scale
16:03 Read noise and Amp Glow
17:14 Other specs (QE, FW e-, ADC)
18:15 Conclusion: Best Mono Cameras
I'm producing FREE content about astrophotography and space. Any SUPPORT is greatly appreciated! You can support me as follows:
1) Donate (PayPal): bit.ly/3LTXhTS
2) SUBSCRIBE to my KZbin channel: / astroforumspace
3) Visit my website: astroforumspace.com/
4) Buy some of my merchandise on my website: astroforumspace.com/shop/
5) Use one of my *affiliate links below to buy your Astrogear at your preferred shop. I get a small percentage to keep my YT channel and website going, and you pay the same price.
- Astroshop (EU): bit.ly/3ijbZVZ
- OPT (USA): bit.ly/3ikp9Sz
- Amazon (worldwide): amzn.to/3gGLWaK
Any support you can give is highly appreciated, thanks!
You can also find me here:
www.astroforumspace.com/
/ astroforum

[@dawgrules1]

Great job ! Thanks Wido !!

[@bluemax1955]

Great video! Love all your videos, thanks for all the detailed information on these cameras. Already have both of the ASI533's both color and mono but I'm now concidering a ASI2600mc with the sale on right now, this video has been a great help

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks John, enjoy the new camera! I have the mono version, it's very good.

[@alanprice9938]

Just added a comment above, mentioning the 533. Were you happy with it as a first choice? We’ll be using it on a c8 edge HD. Also, where to get it?

[@actudoran]

Very comprehensive review Wido! Thanks!

[@AstroForumSpace]

Glad it was helpful!

[@baejiaoflying9434]

Fantastic video. Very helpful. Thanks for doing this.

[@peterlaubscher3989]

Many thanks, Wido. I am glad that I am the first to comment on this report. Thank you so much. It is a superb overview. I hope to replace my elderly QSI 580 at some stage and I am looking at these cameras in the hope of buying one in 2023. This information is extremely helpful. I will show it to my bank manager when the time is right...

[@janetwillson3502]

Excellent! Very informative.

[@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy]

Wido, these camera compare videos are EXCELLENT. You certainly did your homework in gathering the information and your editing in displaying the graphics and text data. Well done, Wido. So, love your wife as she lets you buy more astronomy equipment. (Patrick)

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hehe, thanks Patrick 😉. And congrats on that needle galaxy, looks awesome!

[@aw7425]

Super review, thanks

[@AstroForumSpace]

I appreciate that, thank you!

[@Chorge1972]

Having already a ASI2600 MC Pro, I just added the small ASI183 MC Pro. Was a Bargain, and might be nice for Galaxies with my TS80SD APO

[@AstroForumSpace]

Enjoy!

[@snauzlover]

Thank you for all the hard work that you did putting this video together! It will help me a lot when I purchase a dedicated astro camera in the near future. I want to replace my Canon camera with a ZWO camera for my astrophotography work.😊

[@AstroForumSpace]

You are so welcome!

[@cbaorion]

Hi Wido, great video, very helpful and instructive. Just wanted to point out you have a typo in the primero of the ASI2600MM Pro, at min 20:14. It says $3480 while I think the price is more around $2480. Keep up the good work! Cheers, César

[@AstroForumSpace]

Yes, you're absolutely correct, sorry. Thanks and clear skies.

[@Robert-zm2rk]

Great video Wido! Which camera do you advise for shooting dso's in the city (class 6 bortle) with the 8" Celestron edge HD, .7 focal reducer and AVX mount?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Depends on your budget, for the city you'll probably want to look into narrowband imaging eventually.

[@jesusalbertoponcedeleon7124]

This video is one year old, but just happened to see it for the first time. It is still valid and useful, thanks. It seems that there is not "best" pairing camera for very short telescopes in the 260-360 mm range. I use a zwo asi294 for a 61mm and F4.4, and it does a fairly good job. But technically speaking one gets 3+ image scale size. One thing that I have tried to do is to estimate the equivalence of a given camera to an eyepiece. For example, I have estimated that the 533mc is equivalent to a 12-13 mm eye piece, and the 294 is equivalent to a 16-17 mm eyepiece. The way I do this estimate is based on the field of view that each camera has, and then I compare with the visual FoV with a likely equivalent eye piece. Once they match, then I "conclude" that is the closest equivalent eye piece. I try to maintain a 66 degrees eyepiece as the "standard". Any thoughts on this matter? Thanks for your good work.

[@liveinthesunshine3018]

Really helpful, Wido. I am thinking of changing my current 1600mm Pro to the 2600mm pro. Do you think the additional cost is worth the quality gain? I am pairing it with a 714mm refractor (Explore Scientific ED APO 102) so the FL is maybe a little short?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks! I'm in the middle of testing the 2600mm pro. The main advantage is the larger field is view. Hope to get a new video out in the next few weeks about the 2600mm pro. I also have an earlier video where I've compared the specs of the two cameras: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqScZZmimryeiKs hope this helps!

[@AstroForumSpace]

The 714 focal length is fine btw. You could check meteoblue astronomical seeing for your area. Most of the time, the arcseconds per pixel is > 1 anyway, so you should be fine with that focal length.

[@liveinthesunshine3018]

@@AstroForumSpace lovely thanks for coming back to me, Wido. Look forward to more videos. Chris

[@patrickshea7073]

Hey Wido, great video as usual. I have a suggestion or perhaps just a question. In one of your videos I recall you saying you use a mini-pc to control your gear and that you connect to the mini-pc via your wireless. My question is this, why did you choose to go with a mini-pc over the ASIAIR?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hi Patrick, thanks! The Asiair wasn't invented yet when I started astrophotography 😉. Also, a mini pc gives you more freedom to run the kind of capturing software you like best (firecapture, sharpcap, apt, SGP, Nina, phd2,, etc.)

[@patrickshea7073]

@@AstroForumSpace Certainly makes sense. I'm currently using APT, PHD2, Sharpcap, GS Server all running through a couple of USB hubs that eventually connect to my laptop. I'm considering moving to something more compact and haven't decided which direction to go; mini-pc or ASIAIR. I like the flexibility of using a mini-pc for the reasons you mentioned. That's for the info.

[@saulontheroad9605]

Great video ! Jsut curious, why 1 arc sec per pixel ??

[@AstroForumSpace]

That's the amount of sky I can capture per pixel with this camera and a 600mm telescope. Here's the formula: ( Pixel Size / Telescope Focal Length ) X 206.265

[@damiengalanaud3817]

Nice video again Wido. I happen to own 4 ZWO deep sky cameras, and my experience is totally in line with what you describe: - I would avoid the 183MC pro at any cost: the amp glow is terrible, and the 12bit ADC shows its limits. The 183MM has probably the same limitations - the 533 MC Pro is fantastic: it is very light and perfect for a travel rig - the 2600 MC Prp delivers stunning performance but you have to be certain that your optical path is wide enough to fit its larger sensor; for instance on my Edge 800 I have some significant vignetting, difficult to calibrate with flat frames. It is also much heavier than the 533 - the 1600 MM Pro was once the king of the crowd but now shows its age (12 bit ADC, low full well capacity). I am looking forward to replace it either with the 533 MM or the 2600 MM In addition, don’t forget that with the larger sensors, you will need larger, more expansive filters and filter wheel.

[@JuanChanclas]

T-shirt the best

[@alanprice9938]

Hey Wido, been a while since I engaged, but my wife is now looking for an Astro camera to put on the back of her C8 edge HD. After watching your camera discussions she seems to be settling on the zwo533, for deep sky. She’s a beginner, so planning to go colour. We’ll continue to scan what’s available, but does that sound right for a first choice? But my other question, is whether it means a different T shirt is appropriate 😃

[@AstroForumSpace]

The only potential drawback with the 533 is the squared field of view instead of landscape. If you're fine with that, then go for it! I also have an "I love my husband" version of the t-shirt 😆

[@alanprice9938]

@@AstroForumSpace superb 😃👍, yes I think she’s fine with the square field, so this sounds like the right choice 👍👍

[@desbarry8414]

Wido, you should be aware that ZWO prices are getting uncompetitive against Altair Astro Cameras. I have the excellent ZWO 533. However I am saving up for a larger sensor. The ZWO 2600 is almost £1949 whereas the Altair 26C which uses the same sensor is only £1450 UK as I write this. I know which one I will be getting. It would be interesting if someone would do a comparison between this Altair one made by Touptek and the ZWO 2600 as both use the same sensor but there is a massive £500 difference in price between them. Greta video.Best wishes from Scotland.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hi Des, right, always smart to compare prices between brands. Altair is a good option for UK based astronomers. But I think people outside the UK have to pay extra import tax and VAT on top of that price to import these cameras to another country. Cheers!

[@richpr751]

What is the best one for a refractor with a 660mm focal length?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Depends on your budget...

[@bobbymccourt6794]

Also depends on your average “seeing” limits as far as resolution goes.

[@yiwang3842]

where to get the T-shirt😆

[@AstroForumSpace]

😆. You can get these excellent t-shirts (ahum) here: astroforumspace.com/shop/

[@anthonygraham6449]

Omg. Can you say that again. Lol. Thanks for putting so much work into that. Next time wear a heart monitor!!!

[@Pipe-organ-recordings]

What breed of dog do you have

[@AstroForumSpace]

We have rabbits, lol