The newly released ZWO ASI585MM Pro promises to be an exciting new addition to the world of astrophotography, offering a blend of advanced features and affordability. It’s designed for those ready to step into high-quality monochrome imaging without breaking the bank. In this preview, we’ll take a closer look at the specifications, as well as the potential pros and cons of this newly released camera.
The ZWO ASI585MM Pro packs an impressive set of features into a compact and affordable package, priced at $699 at the time of writing. Whether you’re stepping into monochrome imaging for the first time or looking for a versatile camera to expand your setup, this new camera model appears to offer the performance and reliability astrophotographers have come to expect from ZWO—without breaking the bank.
The ZWO ASI585MM Pro is available from ZWO (WW), Agena Astro (USA/WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).
Key Features:
- Sensor:
Equipped with the Sony IMX585 CMOS sensor, this camera boasts a 1/1.2″ format with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 (8.29MP) and a pixel size of 2.9μm. - Enhanced Sensitivity:
The STARVIS 2 technology provides enhanced low-light sensitivity and high dynamic range, allowing for cleaner, more detailed images of faint celestial objects even in challenging (e.g., light-polluted) areas. - Cooling System:
The two-stage TEC cooling can lower the sensor temperature by more than 35°C below ambient, significantly reducing dark current and sensor noise during extended exposures. - Zero Amp Glow:
Thanks to its hardware-level implementation, the ASI585MM Pro promises to deliver clean dark frames with zero amp glow, regardless of exposure length or gain settings. - High-Speed Data Transmission:
The USB 3.0 interface, combined with a built-in 512MB DDR3 cache, ensures smooth and stable data transfer, allowing the camera to run at 47fps at full resolution in 10-bit (RAW 16) high-speed mode.
Performance and Versatility:
The ASI585MM Pro’s high sensitivity and fast frame rate promises a versatile choice for various astrophotography applications, from high-resolution lunar and planetary imaging to detailed views of smaller deep-sky objects. Its fast frame rate is perfect for capturing high-quality videos of the Moon and planets, with the 585MM offering up to 47FPS at its maximum 8.3 MP resolution. It can go as high as an impressive 192.9 FPS at 640×480 resolution in RAW 8 mode when using a USB 3.0 connection—making it an excellent choice for mono planetary imaging. For deep-sky astrophotography, the large full well capacity of 38.7ke- allows for more efficient light collection, reducing the risk of highlight overexposure (blooming effects) and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Combined with the zero amp glow feature and the Peltier cooler (which can drop the sensor temperature to -35°C), this camera promises to offer outstanding performance for long-exposure shots and is a highly versatile tool for your astrophotography needs.
Why Choose a Monochrome Camera?
Opting for a monochrome camera like the ASI585MM Pro offers several significant advantages over one-shot color cameras:
- Superior Light Collection:
Without a Bayer matrix, monochrome sensors capture all incoming light at each pixel, resulting in better quantum efficiency and improved detail—especially crucial when imaging faint targets. - Enhanced Narrowband Imaging:
Monochrome cameras are ideal for narrowband imaging using filters like H-alpha, OIII, and SII, enabling highly detailed images of emission nebulae and other deep-sky objects that would otherwise be washed out, especially in light polluted areas. - Greater Flexibility in Post-Processing:
By capturing separate luminance and color channels (via filters), users can fine-tune and process and integrate specific image components (i.e. LRGB stacks), often resulting in cleaner, more contrast-rich final images as compared to imaging with a color camera.
Considerations Before Purchasing:
While the ASI585MM Pro is bound to deliver an impressive performance, it’s worth being aware of a few practical considerations:
- Sensor Size and Field of View:
The 1/1.2″ sensor gives a relatively narrow field of view compared to larger-sensor cameras. Depending on your telescope’s focal length, this affects how much of the sky you can capture in a single frame:- With a 250mm focal length: approx. 2.55° x 1.44°
- With a 500mm focal length: approx. 1.28° x 0.72°
- With a 2000mm focal length: approx. 0.32° x 0.18°
This makes the camera a great fit for planetary, lunar, and small-to-medium deep-sky targets—though wide-field imaging may require mosaics.
- Bit Depth and Dynamic Range:
The 12-bit ADC offers decent performance, though some advanced users might prefer 14-bit or higher cameras when working with extreme contrast or looking for more tonal precision in post-processing. - Hot Pixels at Higher Gain:
Some users have noted an increase in hot pixels when using higher gain settings with its predecessor, the ASI585MC Pro. While this is typically manageable with calibration frames and post-processing, it’s good to be prepared. - Monochrome Workflow Involves More Equipment and Time:
Imaging with a monochrome camera requires a more involved setup and workflow. You’ll need a filter drawer or filter wheel, as well as a set of filters (such as LRGB or narrowband). Capturing a complete image involves taking separate exposures through each filter and combining them in post-processing. This does add cost, time, and effort—but it’s a worthwhile investment. The result is significantly higher image quality, better resolution, and far more flexibility in both data capture and editing—making it the go-to choice for those seeking high-end results.
Conclusion:
The ZWO ASI585MM Pro stands out as a versatile and high-performance camera that strikes an excellent balance between capability and cost. Its advanced monochrome sensor, efficient cooling system, and flexible imaging potential make it a compelling choice for astrophotographers aiming to capture the night sky in vivid detail without breaking the bank. Whether you’re working on planetary close-ups, deep-sky narrowband portraits, or lunar landscapes, this camera has the tools to deliver exceptional results—especially in the hands of those willing to embrace the powerful workflow of monochrome imaging. We’re excited to see how it performs in real-world testing.
The ZWO ASI585MM Pro is available from ZWO (WW), Agena Astro (USA/WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).
Clear skies!
Wido Oerlemans
@Wido’s Astroforum