ASI2600MC PRO DUO AIR - ZWO

The ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR camera is a 3-in-1 camera, which combines 2 sensors in the same camera, one for imaging and the other for autoguidance and remote control.

The main imaging sensor is a color CMOS in APS-C format with 26 million pixels (6248 x 4176 px). At full resolution, the maximum acquisition speed reaches 15 images/second with 16-bit dynamic range. Equipped with the latest STARVIS sensor architecture technologies offered by Sony, the camera offers latest generation features: a complete absence of electroluminescence, high capacity pixels, a wide dynamic range and very low read noise.

The autoguiding sensor is located in parallel with the imaging sensor. This is the same SmartSens SC2210 monochrome sensor found in the ASI220MM Mini guidance camera.

Main Features of the ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR Imaging Camera

Important Note: All ZWO ASI cameras equipped with thermoelectric cooling must be electrically powered by a dedicated DC power supply; 5V power supply from USB port is not enough. We recommend that you use either a 220V/12V power supply delivering at least 3A, or a lithium battery power supply delivering a voltage between 11V and 15V.

The power connector is 5.5x2.1mm type, with the positive pole in the center. Using devices offering voltages outside the 11V-15V voltage range may cause serious and permanent damage to cameras. Power supply can also be done via the AM3 and AM5 mounts.

A 3-in-1 camera

The ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR model contains 2 sensors. The main sensor is the imaging sensor. The secondary sensor is the autoguiding sensor. It is placed next to the main sensor and collects a small part of the peripheral field of the instrument. Although off-center, and sometimes distorted by the optical aberrations of the instrument, the image obtained is sufficient to detect a guide star; Current CMOS sensors are very sensitive and can capture stars of large magnitude in 1 or 2 seconds of exposure.

The integration of the two functions in the same camera reduces connectivity and increases speed. Optical splitter and guiding camera become useless. The addition of ASIAIR avoids using a cable to transfer images. Only the power cable is required. Thanks to an antenna which transmits information via Wifi or Bluetooth, you can control your camera directly from a smartphone, laptop or tablet. Using the free ZWO ASIAIR software, control exposure time, number of exposures and all camera features. You can live stack images on the fly to obtain results very quickly. Control your mount or electronic focus motor at the same time with the ASIAIR software. Gain efficiency and ease of use!

Sensor performance

Designed by Sony for leisure applications, the IMX571 sensor is built on the STARVIS technical architecture. The latter integrates powerful features allowing you to obtain bright and contrasty images, with significant dynamics, even in low lighting conditions. The most important is the use of an opto-electronic structure called “back-illuminated” (or BSI, Back Side Illuminated). All sensor electronics are placed under the photosites; the distance that light must travel in the sensor is reduced, as well as the blocking of photons by non-photosensitive electronic elements. The sensitivity is greatly increased, even in very low light conditions. This stepped structure allows more electronics to be placed within the sensor itself, such as ADCs, thereby minimizing artifacts and noise.

The Sony IMX571 sensor has 26 million pixels of 3.76µm side. Its dimensions are approximately equal to those of the APS-C sensor of a Canon R10 or 850D camera body. Mounted on short focal length astrographs, it will cover a field of several degrees on the sky. The guiding sensor used in the ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR camera is that of the ASI220MM Mini. This is a 1920 x 1080px SC2210 monochrome CMOS offered by the Chinese manufacturer SmartSens. The sensitivity is very high and the quantum efficiency reaches 92% at 500nm wavelength, with a reading noise of 0.84e-. The guidance sensor does not benefit from camera cooling.

Quantum efficiency and readout noise are the two most important parameters for measuring camera performance. High quantum efficiency and low readout noise are necessary conditions for significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio.

The reading noise is the sum of several components: the thermal noise of the photosites, the noise linked to the electronics of the sensor and the quantization noise coming from the analog/digital conversion stages. The lower this reading noise, the better the results; technological work is therefore carried out at each level in order to reduce it as much as possible. At the output, the camera incorporates an HCG (High Conversion Gain) device that can reduce playback noise at high gain while retaining the great dynamic range you would get at low gain. This HCG mode is automatically activated as soon as the gain reaches 100.

Traditional, older generation CMOS sensors show a very weak specific signal in the near infrared: electroluminescence. It is characterized by non-homogeneous illumination at the edge of the field on long exposures which can pose a problem during preprocessing. Due to its different electronic architecture, the ASI2600MC-AIR camera does not cause any electroluminescence. So you won't have to worry about it when working at high gain and long exposures.

Electronics and cooling

An internal eMMC data storage card has 256GB of memory allowing you to record numerous exposures before transferring them to your PC for processing. Its reading speed is 138MB/sec and writing speed is 112MB/sec. Data transfer is stable and secure, eliminating any risk of saturation/drop in throughput or accidental disconnection with the computer during long exposures.

The ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR camera is equipped with 2-stage Peltier thermoelectric cooling, with fan-forced convection. It lowers the temperature of the imaging sensor to -35°C relative to the ambient air, so as to greatly reduce dark current and electronic noise during long exposures. The temperature differential of -35°C was tested in ambient air of 30°C. It may decrease when the cooling system operates for a long time or if the ambient temperature drops.

A polyimide heating resistor is installed on the front of the camera, at the level of the protective glass. It prevents mist or frost from depositing on the window during installation.

The assembly mechanics

The ASI2600MC-AIR has an M54x0.75 female inlet thread; the backfocus is 17.5mm. Two M54 bushings are supplied. They compensate for the thickness of a filter wheel (21mm) and an optical divider (16.5mm) to achieve the 55mm backfocus necessary behind the photo adapters of the optical tubes. An M54 to M48 conversion ring is supplied, so that the camera can be screwed onto a photo adapter with an M48 thread.

Optional adapters are available for mounting Nikon and Canon photo lenses to the front of the ZWO ASI2600MC-AIR camera

Features

•     Sensor: Sony IMX571 CMOS
•     Sensor type: Colors
•     APS-C sensor format
•     Sensor resolution: 6248 x 4176px (26 million pixels)
•     Pixel size: 3.76 x 3.76µm
•     Sensor dimensions: 23.5 x 15.7mm (diagonal: 28.3mm)
•     Pixel capacity: 50,000 (73,000) e-
•     Max quantum yield: 80%
•     Autoguiding sensor: CMOS SC2210_BW
•     Sensor type: Monochrome
•     Sensor format: 1/1.8"
•     Sensor resolution: 1920 x 1080px (2 million pixels)
•     Pixel size: 4 x 4µm
•     Sensor dimensions: 7.68 x 4.32mm (diagonal: 8.81mm)
•     Pixel capacity: 8,780 e-
•     Max quantum yield: 92%
•     A/D converter: 16 bits
•     Gain: 1.1 e-/ADU
•     Reading noise: 0.84 to 4.2e-
•     Electronic Shutter: “Rolling shutter” type
•     Maximum transfer speed: 10.8 img/sec (1920 x 1080px)
•     Exposure time range: 32µs to 2000s
•     Binning: 2x2/3x3/4x4
•     Protective glass: IR-Cut from 400 to 700nm
•     Cooling Type: 2-stage thermoelectric
•     Regulation: Yes, up to -35°C below ambient
•     Wireless connection: Wifi 2.4 / 5G (max distance: 20m) - Bluetooth
•     Wired connection: USB Type-C
•     Software: Compatible with ZWO ASIAIR / ASI Studio / Via ASCOM application (Nina / MaximDL / Prism...)
•     Autoguidance interface: No
•     Additional interfaces: Hub with 4x USB2.0
•     Power supply: 12V-3A (5.5x2.1mm power plug, center positive)