Key Features
- Sony IMX585 1/1.2" black-and-white CMOS sensor with 8.3 million pixels (2.9µ)
- Up to 46 fps at full resolution
- 12-bit analog-to-digital converter
- For images of the Sun and Moon, weather tracking or meteors
The camera ZWO ASI585MC is equipped with an 8.29 million pixel (3840 x 2160px), 12.84 mm diagonal color CMOS sensor. At full resolution, the maximum frame rate is 46 fps, with a dynamic range of 12 bits. Three outstanding features are its total absence of electroluminescence, very high near-infrared sensitivity and very low read noise.
Main features of the camera ZWO ASI585MM
With its 1/1.2" format sensor, the ZWO ASI585MM camera is suitable for lunar and solar imaging. It can also be used as an "All-Sky" camera (observatory cloudiness monitoring), to capture meteors or to monitor weather phenomena.
Sensor performance
Designed by Sony for surveillance and security applications, the IMX585 sensor is based on the STARVIS 2 architecture. It incorporates powerful functions that produce bright, high-contrast images with high dynamic range, even in extremely limited lighting conditions. It incorporates powerful functions to produce bright, high-contrast images with high dynamic range, even in extremely limited lighting conditions. The main technology consists of illuminating the photosites from behind; the sensor is called "backside illuminated" (or BSI, Backside Illumination sensor). This technique reduces the distance light has to travel through the sensor and reduces photon blocking by non-photosensitive electronics. Sensitivity increases considerably, even in very low light conditions. The sensor is also extremely efficient in the near infrared (NIR), a spectral band preferred by planetary astrophotographers because it is less sensitive to atmospheric turbulence.
Equivalent quantum efficiency of the ASI585MM color camera sensor as a function of wavelength
The camera incorporates a HCG (high conversion gain) function that can reduce reproduction noise at high gain while retaining the high dynamic range that would be obtained at low gain. This HCG mode is automatically activated as soon as the gain reaches 252.
Pixel capacity, gain, dynamic range and read noise of the camera ZWO ASI585MC
Comparison between ASI585MM/MC and ASI485MM/MC
The ZWO ASI585 cameras are considered an evolution of the ASI485 model. There are many improvements: there is no electroluminescence, the dark current is lower and the pixel capacity is 3 times higher. They are also more sensitive in the green, red and near infrared than the ASI485; they are even 1.5 times more sensitive at wavelengths above 850 nm.
The following table shows the main features of the ZWO ASI585MM/MC and ASI485MM/MC cameras.
Mounting Mechanics
The ASI585MM has an M42 female input thread, which provides a 17.5 mm back focus. If you remove the female adapter, you will have access to an M42x0.75 male thread. In this case, the back focus is 6.5 mm. In this case, the back focus is 6.5 mm. The female adapter is preferable if you want to integrate other accessories ZWO (filter wheel or optical splitter) into the instrument's focuser. A mechanical M42 to 31.75 mm male converter is supplied, together with a 2 m USB cable and an ST4 autoguider cable.
Software
As with all cameras ZWO, the primary and most comprehensive camera control software is ASIStudio, downloadable free from the manufacturer's website ZWO. The brand also offers a free SDK (Software Development Kit) for many free or paid software packages to natively support ZWO cameras: Prism, NINA, FireCapture, MaximDL, SharpCap, PHD2, AllSkEye, etc. We invite you to consult the specific documentation of these softwares for their compatibility level or visit the ZWO website for an exhaustive list.
ZWO also offers a unified ASCOM driver to control all your accessories through the ASCOM/Alpaca platform. This driver can be downloaded free of charge from the ZWO website.
For Linux and Mac users, the Indi or Indigo drivers are free and available on the websites of these platforms. Control is via KStars/Ekos (for Linux) and AstroImager/AstroTelescope software from CloudMakers (for Mac).
Finally, the cameras ZWO can be accessed through video drivers such as DirectShow or TWAIN. For more details, visit the ZWO website.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
