ZWO ASI585MM Air Mono Smart Camera with Built-in ASIAIR and Guider

A mono smart camera with the ASIAIR and guider built in

The ZWO ASI585MM Air is a wireless smart deep-sky camera that combines three devices: a cooled monochrome imaging camera built on Sony's 8.3MP STARVIS 2 IMX585 sensor, an SC2210 guide sensor, and an ASIAIR controller with 256GB of storage. You run the camera, mount, guiding, focuser, filter wheel and plate solving from the ASIAIR app on a phone or tablet. It's for imagers who want to shoot LRGB and narrowband with the simplest possible setup. The body is 78mm across and 108mm tall, and weighs 620g (1.4lb).

Key specs: Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2 mono sensor, 1/1.2" (11.2 × 6.3mm) · 8.3MP (3840 × 2160) · 2.9µm pixels · read noise 0.7–6.4e⁻ · 91% peak QE · zero amp glow · two-stage cooling 30–35°C below ambient · built-in guide sensor (SC2210, 0.6e⁻) · built-in ASIAIR, 256GB · dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth · 620g

What you can image

• Narrowband nebulae: the Pacman, Bubble, Crescent and Eagle Nebulae, the Pillars of Creation and the Horsehead in Ha, OIII and SII, even from a Denver backyard.
• Galaxies in LRGB: the Whirlpool, Pinwheel, Sunflower and Black Eye Galaxies, M81 and M82, and the Leo Triplet. On the 490mm ZWO FF70 the field is about 1.3° × 0.7° at 1.2″ per pixel.
• Planetary nebulae: the Ring, Dumbbell, Owl and Cat's Eye Nebulae suit the small sensor and 2.9µm pixels.
• Wider targets: on a 250mm RedCat 51 the field is about 2.6° × 1.4°, enough for the Rosette, the Heart Nebula's core or the Orion Nebula.

How it works

Mount the camera on your telescope, plug the mount, filter wheel and focuser into its four USB 2.0 ports, and connect 12V power to either DC port (they also pass power on to other gear). The ASIAIR app connects over 2.4 or 5GHz Wi-Fi and walks you through polar alignment, focusing, plate solving, guiding and an imaging plan. Live stacking and simple editing in the app let you see the result as it builds, and you can also run the camera from a computer with ASIStudio or ASCOM Alpaca software (ASCOM Platform 6.6 or later).

The sensor sits 17.5mm behind the camera face, and the included 21mm and 16.5mm extenders bring it to the standard 55mm. A filter wheel takes the place of some of those spacers. The guide sensor needs a 36mm image circle, so ZWO recommends a telescope that covers APS-C or larger; a full-frame image circle gives the most accurate guide stars.

Using it in Colorado

• City or dark site: shoot narrowband nebulae from home on moonlit nights, and save LRGB galaxies for darker sites like Jackson Lake State Park or the Westcliffe area.
• Cold nights: the camera is rated to −20°C, runs from one 12V battery, and its cooler holds a set temperature as the night cools. Keep your phone warm, since it's your control screen.
• Wi-Fi range: ZWO rates it at 20m on 2.4GHz in open areas, so it works best from a backyard or right next to the car.

What to add for the best results

• 12V power (required): the ZWO 12V 5A adapter at home, or a PowerTank Lithium Pro in the field. It powers the camera and the gear plugged into it.
• A filter wheel (required for color): the ZWO EFW 5x2" holds LRGB plus one narrowband filter, and the ZWO EFW 7x2" holds LRGB plus Ha, OIII and SII. Both plug into the camera's USB ports.
• Narrowband filters: the ZWO 7nm SHO set or Optolong SHO 7nm set, in the 2" size.
• LRGB filters: the Optolong LRGB set in 2" for galaxies and star clusters in natural color.
• ZWO EAFN electronic focuser: refocuses automatically between filters and as the temperature drops.
• A mount: the ZWO AM5N or the lighter ZWO AM3N with TC40 tripod, both controlled directly by the built-in ASIAIR.

ASI585MM Air vs. ASI585MC Air vs. ASI2600MC Air

See all ZWO ASIAIR products and ZWO cooled deep-sky cameras.

What's in the box

• ASI585MM Air camera and camera bag
• External Wi-Fi antenna
• DC cable (1m) and DC male-female extension cable (1.5m)
• Two USB 2.0 cables
• T2 extender (21mm), T2-M48 extender (16.5mm) and M42-M48 tilter
• 1m hook-and-loop strap and 2mm (M2.5) hex wrench
• Quick guide and packing list

The 12V power supply, filter wheel and filters are sold separately.

ZWO ASI585MM Air FAQ

Is the ASI585MM Air good for beginners?

It's one of the simplest mono setups, since the controller and guider are built in and the app walks you through each step. Mono imaging still means filters, a filter wheel and processing separate channels, so if you're brand new, the color ASI585MC Air is an easier start.

Mono (MM) or color (MC) Air?

Choose the MM for narrowband from light-polluted skies and the most detail per pixel. Choose the MC Air for color in one shot with no filter wheel, at a lower price.

Do I still need a guide scope or computer?

No. The guide sensor guides through your telescope, and the built-in ASIAIR runs everything from the free app on your phone or tablet.

What size filters do I need?

2" filters. The filter sits in front of both the main and guide sensors, and ZWO specifies a 36mm image circle to cover both, which 1.25" filters are too small for.

Can it guide through narrowband filters?

Yes, but narrowband filters dim the guide stars too. A full-frame image circle, a fast telescope and slightly longer guide exposures all help.

Can I image planets with it?

It isn't built for planets; full-resolution frame rates are low. For the Moon, Sun and planets, the ASI585MM or ASI585MC planetary cameras use the same sensor at high speed.

Specifications