ZWO ASI585MC-AIR Wireless Smart Color Camera

A 3-in-1 Design with 256 GB Onboard Storage

By combining the main camera, guide camera, and a full ASIAIR computer into one unit, the ASI585MC-Air radically simplifies your imaging setup. This integration removes the need for an external guide scope, off-axis guider, and separate computer, reducing cable clutter and potential failure points. With 256 GB of built-in storage, you can save an entire night's worth of data directly to the camera, transferring files later via its high-speed connection.

• Unified Control: Connect your mount and other ZWO accessories directly to the camera's powered USB hub, and control everything wirelessly from a single app on your tablet or phone.
• Simplified Power: The entire system—imager, guider, cooler, and computer—runs off a single 12V power input, making field setup faster and more reliable.
• Integrated Guiding: The on-axis guide sensor eliminates differential flexure between the imaging and guiding optical paths, a common source of tracking errors in setups with separate guide scopes.

8.29 MP Sony IMX585 Sensor with 91% QE

At the core of the ASI585MC-Air is Sony's back-illuminated IMX585 sensor, a chip known for its high sensitivity and low noise. Its 8.29 MP resolution across a 1/1.2" format provides a large enough field for many nebulae and galaxies while maintaining the pixel density needed for planetary work. The combination of 91% peak QE and read noise as low as 0.8e- means that faint signal is captured cleanly, even in short exposures.

Two-stage TEC cooling drops the sensor temperature significantly below ambient, drastically reducing thermal noise during long exposures of deep-sky objects. ZWO's integrated anti-amp glow circuitry further cleans the raw data, producing smooth, artifact-free frames that are easier to process.

Integrated SC2210 Guider with 4µm Pixels

The ASI585MC-Air removes the complexity of autoguiding by building a sensitive SC2210 CMOS sensor directly into the camera body, just off-axis from the main imager. This 1920x1080 resolution sensor with 4µm pixels is highly effective at detecting faint guide stars. Once your main camera is in focus, a simple adjustment knob on the camera body allows you to independently focus the guide sensor.

The primary trade-off for this convenience is the requirement for a well-corrected optical system. To ensure both the main and guide sensors are fully illuminated with sharp stars, your telescope or corrector must produce a flat image circle of at least 36mm.

ZWO ASI585MC-AIR vs. ASI585MC Pro

While both cameras are built around the same excellent Sony IMX585 sensor, they serve entirely different system-building philosophies. The ASI585MC Pro is a dedicated, high-performance camera that requires a separate computer and guiding solution. The ASI585MC-AIR is a complete, self-contained imaging system.

• Advantage ASI585MC-AIR: Full integration is the key benefit. You get the camera, guider, and ASIAIR computer in one device, controlled wirelessly. This dramatically simplifies setup, cable management, and operation in the field.
• Advantage ASI585MC Pro: Modularity. If you already own an ASIAIR, a guide camera, and an OAG, the Pro model is a more cost-effective way to get the IMX585 sensor. It also allows you to use an off-axis guider, which places the guide prism closer to the main optical axis for potentially tighter guiding on long focal length instruments.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your existing gear. For a new, streamlined, grab-and-go setup, the ASI585MC-AIR is the clear choice. For those integrating a new camera into a mature, component-based rig, the ASI585MC Pro offers more flexibility.