ZWO ASI2600MC Air Smart Camera with Built-in ASIAIR and Guider

A cooled APS-C camera, ASIAIR controller and guide camera in one body

The ZWO ASI2600MC Air is a cooled one-shot-color astronomy camera with an ASIAIR imaging computer and a guide camera built in. You control the camera, mount, guiding, focuser and plate solving from the ASIAIR app on your phone or tablet, and images save to 256GB of built-in storage. Sky at Night Magazine gave it 4.5 out of 5 and called it less daunting to newcomers than a traditional setup, and that matches what we see from customers moving up from a smart telescope.

Key specs: Sony IMX571 APS-C color sensor, 26MP · 3.76µm pixels · built-in guide sensor (SC2210, 0.6e⁻ read noise) · built-in ASIAIR with 256GB storage · cooling to 35°C below ambient · dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth · 4 × USB, 3 × 12V outputs, USB-C · 760g (1.7lb)

What you can image

• Wide nebula fields: the North America, Heart and Soul, Rosette, Veil and California Nebulae with a 250–400mm refractor.
• Galaxies: the Andromeda, Triangulum, Whirlpool and Pinwheel Galaxies and M81/M82 with a 500–1000mm telescope.
• Nebulae from the city: add a dual-band filter such as the Optolong L-eXtreme and emission nebulae come through from a light-polluted backyard.
• Star clusters and comets in natural color, in one shot.

How it works

Mount the camera on your telescope, plug the mount, focuser and dew heater into the camera's own ports, and connect one 12V power cable. The ASIAIR app connects over Wi-Fi (2.4 or 5GHz) and walks you through polar alignment, focusing, plate solving, guiding and an imaging plan. You can also connect a mount over Bluetooth, store images on an external drive of up to 1TB, or run the camera from a computer with ASIStudio or ASCOM Alpaca.

Like other ZWO APS-C cameras, it's designed for 55mm back focus, and the needed spacers are included. Your telescope needs a flat field covering about a 44mm image circle.

Using it in Colorado

• Dark-sky trips: with no laptop, guide scope or separate controller, the kit packs small for a drive to Jackson Lake State Park, the Westcliffe area or the mountains.
• Cold nights: run everything from one 12V battery, and keep your phone warm since it's your control screen. The camera's cooler holds its set temperature as the night cools.
• Wi-Fi range: the range is rated at 20m, but in practice plan on staying within about 10m, so it works best from a backyard or right next to the car.

What to add for the best results

• 12V power: the ZWO 12V 5A adapter at home, or a 12V power tank in the field. It powers the camera and everything plugged into it.
• A mount: the ZWO AM5N pairs well and is controlled directly by the built-in ASIAIR.
• ZWO EAFN electronic focuser: plugs into the camera and refocuses automatically as the temperature drops.
• A dual-band filter: the Optolong L-eXtreme or L-Ultimate for nebulae under light pollution.

ASI2600MC Air vs. ASI2600MC Pro setup

See all ZWO cooled deep-sky cameras.

What's in the box

The camera comes with the cables, M54 spacers and M48 adapter ring shown above. Filters and the mount are sold separately.

ZWO ASI2600MC Air FAQ

Do I still need a guide scope?

No. The built-in guide sensor sits next to the main sensor and guides through your telescope, like an off-axis guider without the extra hardware.

Do I need a computer?

No. The built-in ASIAIR runs everything from the free ASIAIR app on a phone or tablet. You can still use ASIStudio or ASCOM Alpaca software on a computer if you prefer.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. It's one of the simplest ways into dedicated astrophotography, because there are fewer parts to connect and the app guides each step. It's a good next step after a Seestar or other smart telescope.

Air or MC Pro?

Choose the Air for the simplest, lightest setup. Choose the ASI2600MC Pro if you want to use other software, already own an ASIAIR or guide camera, or prefer to upgrade parts one at a time.

Does the guide sensor work with narrowband filters?

Yes. Reviewers have guided well with it through dual-narrowband filters at f/5.6.

Where are images saved?

On 256GB of built-in storage, or on an external USB drive of up to 1TB. You can download them to your phone or computer over Wi-Fi.

Specifications