ZWO ASI2600MC-DUO Astronomy Camera with Imaging & Guiding Sensors
Your All-in-One Imaging Solution!
The innovative technology from ZWO brings you the ASI2600MC Duo astronomy camera! Combining imaging and guiding sensors into one camera, there is no need for an additional guide camera or guide scope. This ingenious two-in-one design delivers exceptional astrophotography performance, making the ASI2600MC Duo one of the most sought after dedicated astrophotography cameras around!
Take photos brimming with clarity thanks to the 26-megapixel Sony IMX571 imaging sensor, offering impressive aspects such as an ultra-high dynamic range of 14 stops, an incredible peak quantum efficiency, and a remarkably low readout noise. The highly sensitive SC2210 guide sensor allows for incredible resolution of the night sky, letting you choose the perfect stars to guide upon! Noting the improved craftsmanship of the camera body, the ASI2600MC Duo has an extended 73Ke full well mode, 1.46x larger than that of the ASI2600MC Pro's 50Ke full well capacity! The ASI2600MC Duo also has a max 15FPS in RAW 8 mode at full resolution, as opposed to the ASI2600MC Pro’s maximum 12.8 FPS. Increasing the speed of set up, reducing the payload weight on your telescope mount, and simplifying your astrophotography rig, these dual sensors and improved design provide incredible ease of use when using this camera for your astrophotography needs.
Please Note: ZWO has done an excellent job grouping the main and guide camera together, fitting both inside the same image circle that a full-frame sensor occupies. As with full-frame sensors, you do need to ensure the rest of your imaging train can support a 44 mm image circle, however given the nature of this camera this doubly important; as severe vignetting will impact your guiding performance/ ability to guide. Celestron 8" and smaller SCTs are notably impacted by this, and are not recommended.
A High Performance, Professional Camera for Astrophotography
Let's Dig into the Data!
What sets one astrophotography camera apart from another? How is performance measured? Camera and sensor manufacturers provide certain interconnected specifications that give insight into the performance of a camera. These measurements include quantum efficiency, read noise, full well depth, gain, and dynamic range. While the graphs provided by the manufacturer may be confusing or intimidating, don't fret! Our team has put together a breakdown of these complicated topics to help you make sense of them. Take a look at the article here: Understanding ZWO Camera Charts and Graphs, and feel more confident making the right choice for your astrophotography needs!
APS-C Sony IMX571 Sensor
The onboard APS-C sized Sony IMX571 sensor offers an incredible resolution of 6248 x 4176, making this camera a 26-megapixel powerhouse! Contributing to the remarkable ultra-high 14 stops of dynamic range is its 16-bit ADC and large extended 73Ke full well capacity when the gain value is set to -25, providing rich color gradients and an exceptional range of signal within the frames captured. The incredible sensitivity of this color camera is thanks to the back illuminated design of this Sony sensor, greatly improving upon the signal to noise ratio and allowing for a peak QE of 80%. This high sensitivity paired with the ultra-low readout noise of 0.9e-4.2e and small 3.76 x 3.76 micron pixels result in images packed with detail and clarity!
SC2210 Guide Sensor
This included guide sensor utilizes the same monochrome SC2210 sensor within the popular ASI220MM Mini camera, offering impressive NIR sensitivity through its high peak QE of 91% and remarkably low readout noise of 0.6e. This 1920x1080 resolution sensor has a full well capacity of 8.78Ke, 12bit ADC, and small 4um x 4um pixels, allowing for incredible resolution of guide stars available. When looking at the guide images, the stars on the corner that are affected by the reducer's back focus distance might not be very round, but this is not due to the sensor tilt and will not affect guiding accuracy.
Electronic Highlights
One key feature within the ASI2600MC Duo is the absence of amp glow! As opposed to other CMOS sensors that allow weak infrared light to be seen within the captured frames, ZWO has crafted the ASI2600MC Duo with careful circuitry, eliminating amp glow all together. The ASI2600MC Duo reduces sensor noise and dark current through the integrated two stage TEC cooling, lowering the temperature of your sensor to 35 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature, allowing for long exposures produced with incredibly low noise. This ZWO camera also comes equipped with a polyimide heater, helping you avoid any dew issues that may arise throughout your night of imaging by heating the protective window over the sensor. This anti-dew heater requires approximately 5W of power, which can be toggled off to conserve power if needed. Rest assured knowing every frame captured is secured with the onboard 512MB DDR3 memory cache, preserving your data until it is safely relayed to your computer.
Power and Ports
A DC 12V power adapter is needed to ensure your camera is fully powered for a night of astrophotography. We recommend the Apertura Universal 5 Amp AC Adapter to get the job done! The integrated USB3.0 has a large bandwidth of 5Gb, resulting in quick and reliable data transmission to your computer. The USB2.0 hub makes it easy to connect additional accessories to your set up, such as an electronic focuser! To get you out and imaging in no time, the ASI2600MC Duo comes with one USB3.0 cable and two USB2.0 cables.
Everything Needed for Proper Backfocus Spacing
No need to fret about the daunting task of finding the perfect backfocus, ZWO has you covered! The included adapters make it easy to achieve the industry standard of 55mm of backfocus right from the get go. Wanting to add additional accessories to your optical assembly? Seamlessly add other ZWO items such as a Filter Drawer through the ample amount of spacers and adapters provided. Take a look at the images provided for more insight into connecting your camera to your telescope!
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
| Choosing the Best Deep Sky Camera |
| Undersampling and Oversampling in Astrophotography |
| Why Exposure Time Matters |
| ZWO ASIAir Ultimate Guide |
