ZWO ASI2600MC Air: All-in-one Smart Astrophotography Camera?

The ZWO ASI2600MC AIR: Revolutionizing Astrophotography?

The ZWO ASI2600MC AIR promises to transform your astrophotography experience. This innovative smart camera integrates multiple functions into one sleek device, aiming to simplify the setup process and deliver breathtaking images of the night sky. But does it truly live up to the hype? Let’s explore its features, performance, and whether it’s the all-in-one solution for astrophotography enthusiasts.

The ASI2600MC AIR is available at ZWO (WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), Agena Astro (EU/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).

The Challenges of Deep-Sky Imaging

Astrophotography isn’t just about pointing a telescope at the sky and snapping photos. Capturing stunning images of deep-sky objects comes with a host of challenges. First, you need a telescope and a camera capable of long exposures. But to track celestial objects as they move across the sky, you’ll also need a computerized equatorial mount.

Even with precise polar alignment, mechanical imperfections in the mount can cause tracking errors, resulting in blurry photos. To counter this, many astrophotographers rely on autoguiding—a guide camera and guidescope monitor star positions in real time, sending corrections to the mount to keep everything aligned.

And then there’s the software. To run a successful imaging session, you need a computer or dedicated device (like the ZWO ASIAIR) to control your camera, mount, and guide system. Add to that the cables, power sources, and complex configurations, and you’ve got a setup that’s as time-consuming as it is rewarding.

How the ASI2600MC AIR Simplifies Astrophotography

Enter the ZWO ASI2600MC AIR. This smart camera is designed to simplify your astrophotography routine by integrating multiple functions into one device. Here’s what it offers:

A High-Performance Astro Camera: Based on the popular ASI2600MC Pro, it boasts the Sony IMX571 sensor with a 26-megapixel resolution, 3.76-micron pixels, and a maximum quantum efficiency of 91%.
Built-In Guide Camera: A 2MP guide sensor eliminates the need for a separate guidescope and camera, allowing guiding at the telescope’s native focal length.
Onboard ASIAIR Software: Wirelessly control your entire setup via Wi-Fi using the ASIAIR app on your smartphone or tablet. The camera comes with 256GB of onboard storage for your images and videos.

This integration reduces the amount of gear you need, minimizes cables, and eliminates the complexity of managing multiple devices. Simply connect the ASI2600MC AIR to your telescope, and you’re ready to start imaging.

Key Features of the ASI2600MC AIR

Integrated Guide Camera: Guiding takes place at the native focal length of your telescope, much like an off-axis guiding system but without the complexity.
Wireless Control: The built-in ASIAIR software enables wireless control of your setup, from focusing and polar alignment to imaging and guiding.
Sony IMX571 Sensor: With 26 megapixels, a full well capacity of 50K, and an IR-cut glass for accurate colors, this APS-C sensor is perfect for capturing large celestial objects like the Orion Nebula or Andromeda Galaxy.
Active Cooling System: The Peltier cooling system reduces the sensor temperature by up to -35°C below ambient, minimizing thermal noise during long exposures.
Dew Heater: Built-in protection against condensation ensures clear images on humid nights.

Real-Life Testing: Setup and Performance

Connecting the ASI2600MC AIR to my telescope was straightforward. The camera’s M54 thread fit my setup seamlessly, and ZWO provides an M54 to M48 adapter for added flexibility. After adding the 2″ filter wheel, I observed that the guide sensor was positioned just within the opening but near the edge of the circle, which could potentially cause light restriction issues. I powered the camera using the 12V output of my ZWO AM5 mount and connected my filter wheel and mount to the camera via USB cables. The result? A much cleaner, streamlined setup with fewer cables and less hassle.

Guiding Performance

I tested the guiding performance using my FF80 telescope at a 600mm focal length. With the guide sensor’s focal length matching that of the main telescope, I used the focusing knob to fine-tune the guide sensor. Guiding calibration worked smoothly, and the camera’s multi-star autoguiding routine kept the stars consistently sharp. Over multiple hours of imaging the Orion Nebula, guiding stayed within 0.4 to 0.8 arcseconds in both RA and DEC—more than sufficient for round stars in long exposures.

Using Narrowband Filters

When I switched to a 2-inch H-alpha filter, the narrowband restricted too much light, making it difficult for the guide sensor to track stars using 1 to 2 second exposures. Increasing the guide exposure to 5 seconds solved the issue, but it wasn’t ideal. As a workaround, I reattached my old guidescope, and the ASI2600MC AIR seamlessly recognized it, allowing normal guiding. For those with 3nm narrowband filters, it’s good to know that their is an option to reconnect your original guidscope to the 2600MC AIR.

Image Results and Processing

Over two nights, I captured 98 three-minute exposures of the Orion Nebula, totaling nearly five hours of data. Transferring the images to my computer via the USB-C port was quick and easy. Using PixInsight’s Weighted Batch Preprocessing script, I stacked the images and processed them for a final result.

The guiding accuracy and sensor quality were evident in the final image. Stars remained sharp even at the edges, and the colors were vibrant, thanks to the IR-cut filter. Measuring star eccentricity across all 98 images revealed excellent results, ranging from 0.25 to 0.6. Here’s my final picture. Since I’m imaging under Bortle Class 8 urban skies, I used DBE to remove the green light pollution and processed the stacked image in PixInsight.

Final Thoughts: Is the ASI2600MC AIR Worth It?

The ZWO ASI2600MC AIR is a game-changer for astrophotographers looking to simplify their setups. Its all-in-one design eliminates the need for a separate guidescope, guide camera, and ASIAIR device, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritize convenience and efficiency.

Pros:

Streamlined setup with fewer cables and devices
High-performance imaging and guiding capabilities
Wireless control via the ASIAIR app
Excellent image quality with minimal noise

Cons:

Limited compatibility with third-party gear
Less modular flexibility (if the camera fails, you lose guiding and ASIAIR functionality)
Potential guiding issues with narrowband filters (light restriction)

Priced at $1999, the ASI2600MC AIR offers good value when compared to a traditional setup with separate components. While it may not appeal to those who enjoy highly customized rigs, it’s a great option for astrophotographers seeking a simpler, more efficient way to capture the wonders of the night sky.