ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR Wireless Smart Color

All-in-One Integration: Imaging, Guiding, and Control in a 775g Body

The ASI2600MC-AIR simplifies a deep-sky imaging rig. You don't need a separate OAG, guide camera and ASIAIR: all three are built into one 775g body, which reduces potential cabling issues and improves setup speed.

Power and data for the main 26 MP imaging sensor, the 1920x1080 guide sensor, and the ASIAIR processing unit are managed internally. A single 12V DC input (3A to 10A) runs the entire imaging and guiding system, freeing you from managing multiple power supplies and data cables at the telescope.

The 26 MP Sony IMX571 Sensor: APS-C Format and 3.76µm Pixels

At the heart of the camera is a Sony IMX571 back-illuminated color sensor with a 23.5 mm x 15.7 mm active area and a 28.3 mm diagonal. This APS-C format suits large targets like the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) or the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) with short focal length refractors.

The 6248 x 4176 pixel array, built on 3.76µm pixels, leaves room for cropping. The 3.76µm pixel size gives detailed sampling on short focal length instruments.

16-Bit ADC & 14-Stop Dynamic Range

The ASI2600MC-AIR uses a native 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with 65,536 brightness levels. It achieves a 14-stop dynamic range output, with smoother and more natural color transitions. This helps with targets with large brightness differences, such as the Orion Nebula (M42), whose bright core sits inside faint outer gas.

Combined with the sensor's deep full well capacity of 50,000e- (expandable to 73,000e- in extended mode), the camera achieves a 14-stop dynamic range. This helps bright stars hold their color in dense star fields like the Hercules Cluster (M13).

Low-Noise Architecture: 80% QE and Zero Amp Glow

The back-illuminated structure of the Sony IMX571 sensor places the wiring layer behind the photodiodes, improving sensitivity, with a peak Quantum Efficiency (QE) of 80% for this color version.

Read noise ranges from 0.9e- to 4.2e- depending on gain. Amp glow, a weak infrared glow often seen in the corner of uncalibrated CMOS images, is handled by zero amp glow circuitry: you won't have to worry about amp glow even with high gain, long exposure imaging. Dark frames are still recommended for thermal noise and hot pixels.

Two-Stage TEC Cooling: 30-35°C Delta T and Anti-Dew System

To combat thermal noise during long exposures, the ASI2600MC-AIR features a regulated, two-stage thermoelectric cooling (TEC) system. It lowers the sensor temperature by 30°C to 35°C below ambient (ZWO tests this at 30°C ambient; as the ambient temperature falls, the delta T decreases), which greatly reduces dark current and sensor noise.

To prevent condensation on the sensor's protective window during humid nights, an integrated polyimide dew heater is built-in. It fits the protective window to avoid dew problems, and you can turn it off in software to save power.

Integrated SC2210 Guide Sensor with 4µm Pixels

The ASI2600MC-AIR replaces a separate off-axis guider and guide camera with a secondary SC2210 monochrome sensor in the camera body, taken from ZWO's ASI220MM Mini. This 1920x1080 sensor has 4µm pixels, a QE peak of 92% at 500nm and read noise as low as 0.6e, and it guides on stars from the main telescope's own image circle beside the main sensor.

Because guiding uses the main telescope's light, there is no separate guide scope to shift relative to the main telescope. With an APS-C image circle guide stars may look slightly distorted, so a full-frame or larger image circle is recommended for more accurate and stable guiding. A focusing knob on the body sets the guide sensor's focus; bring it to infinity focus before the night, for example on a very distant landscape object during the day.

The ASIAIR Brain: 256 GB Storage and Dual-Band WiFi

The ASI2600MC-AIR has a built-in ASIAIR computer. Polar alignment, plate solving, focusing, plans and multi-target imaging, live stacking and guiding are run wirelessly from the ASIAIR app on a smartphone or tablet, with no laptop required at the telescope.

• 256 GB Onboard Storage: The eMMC storage holds about 5,000 full-resolution 16-bit frames (about 52 MB each), and the USB 2.0 ports support up to 1TB of external storage.
• Dual-Band WiFi: ZWO's enhanced external dual-band antenna supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi, with an effective distance of 20 meters (ZWO's average of tests); Bluetooth connection is also supported.
• PC-Free Operation: Manage your entire imaging session, from initial setup to multi-target sequences, directly from your mobile device.

Power and Connectivity Hub: 4x USB 2.0 and 12V DC I/O

Designed to be the central hub of your imaging rig, the ASI2600MC-AIR includes multiple ports to power and control your accessories.

The camera body has four USB 2.0 ports, intended for your focuser, filter wheel and mount, and a USB Type-C port for fast file transfers. Its three 12V DC ports can each be the input: use any one as the power input and the other two as outputs for devices such as a dew heater strap or the mount.

Optical Path: 17.5mm Back Focus and M54x0.75 Interface

The camera presents a female M54x0.75 thread to the telescope and has a native back focus distance of 17.5 mm with the included tilt plate installed. Air cameras are compatible with telescopes that support APS-C or larger image formats, and a full-frame or larger image circle gives the most accurate and stable guiding.

The package includes a set of adapters and extenders to help you achieve the correct spacing for various optical setups, including a 21mm M54 extender, a 16.5mm M54 adapter and an M54-to-M48 ring: 17.5 + 21 + 16.5 = 55mm, the optimal back focus. The front tilt plate is also user-adjustable, allowing you to correct for any sensor tilt in your optical train for even star shapes across the frame.

The One-Shot Color Advantage with the ASI2600MC-AIR

As a One-Shot Color (OSC) camera, the ASI2600MC-AIR uses a Bayer matrix filter over its sensor to capture full-color images in a single exposure. This workflow is significantly faster and simpler than monochrome imaging, which requires shooting through separate L, R, G, and B filters and combining them later in post-processing.

This suits imagers who want color images with less complexity. A monochrome camera offers full resolution in every channel and more narrowband flexibility; the ASI2600MC-AIR gives a more direct path to color, and dual-band or multi-band nebula filters can be used with it for emission targets.

ASI2600MC-AIR vs. ASI2600MC Pro: Integration or Flexibility?

Choosing between the ASI2600MC-AIR and the standalone ASI2600MC Pro depends entirely on your preferred workflow and existing equipment. Both cameras are built around the 26 MP Sony IMX571 sensor, with different full well and read noise figures.

• ZWO ASI2600MC Pro: A USB 3.0 camera controlled from a computer with ASIStudio or third-party software through ZWO's drivers, or from a separate ASIAIR. If you already have a guiding setup and a PC-based workflow, the Pro model fits it directly.
• ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR: Combines imaging, guiding and computer control in a single device managed by a phone or tablet, which suits a new portable rig with fewer cables.