ZWO Color Astro Camera ASI 533MC-PRO cooled, Sensor D= 16 mm

ZWO has taken another step forward with this new camera. The colour sensor with a diagonal of approx. 16 mm can be used on almost every telescope. Due to the square shape, the corrected image field of the telescope is optimally used. This even allows the use of many telescopes without a corrector.

One of the outstanding features of the ASI 533MC Pro is its sensational light sensitivity. The QE of 80% by the BACK ILLUMINATION technology and the very low amplifier glow make the camera very suitable for all astronomical applications, but especially for deep-sky astrophotography.

The "single shot" colour camera offers more comfort than monochrome cameras. Not everyone wants to go through the laborious L-RGB process for beautiful coloured nebula or planet images. The color cameras offer you the possibility to get beautiful pictures without changing filters. In direct comparison to the DSLR camera, the ASI camera convinces with a much higher light sensitivity, a smoother image and significantly more depth. Stars don´t burn out that easy.

Further advantages and product features of the ASI 533MC Pro color camera:

• USB 3.0 for fast download - can also be used with USB 2.0
• DDR3 memory buffer for stable data transfer with USB2.0 - minimizes amplifier glow
• Powerful Peltier cooling up to 35 °C under ambient conditions
• One of Sony´s most light-sensitive CMOS sensors
• High resolution by 3.76 µm pixels - ideal for fast and sharp telescopes like apos, Hyperstar, Celestron Faststar, Newtonian telescopes, ...
• Supplied with AR clear glass filter - full transmission also in infrared. If the IR is to be blocked, an IR cut filter is required.
• Distance T2 connection thread (female thread) to camera sensor: 17.5 mm
• Distance front surface to sensor (using male thread): only 6.5 mm
• High sensitivity - QE over 80% - ideal astronomy camera for low-light objects
• 14-bit ADC ... you reach a depth like with CCD cameras, but with a much higher sensitivity.

Application areas of the camera:

• Deep-sky images (nebulae and galaxies): due to the high sensitivity, nebulae and galaxies are imaged after only a few seconds. The camera can be cooled up to 35 °C below ambient temperature. This further reduces the already low noise. By raising the GAIN (comparable to the ISO setting for digital SLR cameras), you can reduce exposure times to less than 30 seconds. Effects caused by air turbulence or inaccuracies in the tracking are thus eliminated.
• Lunar and planetary images: extremely short exposure times due to high sensitivity freeze the air turbulence. Due to the high resolution of the sensor, many details can be imaged even with a shorter telescope focal length. Video astronomy is also possible.

Back illumination technology
Sony’s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor improves sensitivity and noise reduction – the key factors to enhancing image quality, while radically realigning their fundamental pixel structure from front-illumination to back-illumination. It has retained the advantages of CMOS image sensors such as low power consumption and high-speed operation.

The backside exposure improves the light absorption and increases the amount of light at the same time. This allows significantly shorter exposure times and leads to an improved quantum efficiency of 80%.

Sony has newly developed a unique photo-diode structure and on-chip lens optimized for back-illuminated structures, that achieves a higher sensitivity and a lower random noise without light by reducing noise, dark current and defect pixels compared to the conventional front-illuminated structure.

Zero amp glow
Traditional CMOS sensors produce a weak infrared light source during operation quite often seen in the corner of uncalibrated images as the tell tale signs of ‘amp glow’. As the ASI533MC Pro uses zero amp glow circuitry, you won’t have to worry about amp glow even when using high gain, long exposure imaging.

Important: external power supply required!
This camera requires 1 amp even in uncooled operation, which is a problem for USB sockets on computers, because they are only rated for 900 mA (0.9 A).

Stable operation of the camera is therefore only possible with an external 12 V power supply.

Optimal support before and after the purchase through Teleskop-Service:
We work with the cameras ourselves and can offer you optimal advice. Which camera fits to your telescope, how do you achieve the optimal adaptation? Teleskop-Service is one of the largest ZWO dealers. Through our contacts we also offer the best possible service after the purchase.

Practical tip from TS: Integration of 2" filters, 360° rotation and quick coupling
The camera is often used on correctors that do not have a filter thread. In addition, the filters should always be used as close as possible to the camera. Here we offer you a solution that can do much more.

• 2" filter holder directly in front of the camera
• ♦ 360° rotation for the right choice of the image section
• Quick release - you can remove the camera from the remote ear at any time, without screws and thus entangling the cables

The adaptation is very simple, the 21 mm T2 extension is replaced by:

• 1x TSROTT2-T2 and 2x T2AbstimmA1

One tuning ring comes to the camera side, one tuning ring comes to the telescope side of the rotator. Then screw on the M42-M48 adapter with 16.5 mm length and you are in the right distance with the camera.

Downloads, drivers:
ZW Optical provides software and drivers online for free download.


Frequently asked questions about ZWO cameras:
The FAQ area is constantly updated by ZWO, here you will find answers to many questions.

ZWO Users Forum

Manuals for ZWO products:
The manuals page is constantly updated by ZWO, here you can find user guides for ZWO products.

Link to the manuals

How to clean my ZWO camera:
The manufacturer provides a manual that covers how to clean an ASI camera and regenerate the desiccant tablets: see below