ZWO ASI533MM Pro Cooled Monochrome Astronomy Camera
The ZWO ASI533MM Pro Monochrome CMOS Astrophotography Camera
The ASI533MM Pro camera from ZWO was crafted with astrophotographers in mind! The thoughtful design of the camera body makes for a camera with useful additions and careful circuitry, allowing for an increase in signal collection while simultaneously decreasing noise. This, when paired with its high quality Sony sensor, offers a monochrome camera with incredibly high sensitivity and exceptionally low noise, resulting in stunning images packed with detail.
This remarkable mono camera has endless features that are sure to take your astrophotography to the next level. The impressive 9-megapixel square IMX533 sensor allows for incredible resolution within the images captured, and the peak quantum efficiency of 91% and low readout noise of 1.0e result in a superb signal to noise ratio. The back illumination of this sensor greatly increases the sensitivity to photons collected, resulting in photos with incredible detail and low noise. Cool your camera to as low as -35 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature and reduce noise even more! Also featured is zero amp glow, no matter how high of gain you use or how long the exposure is. These incredible aspects within the ZWO ASI533MM Pro were designed to deliver the ultimate astrophotography performance.
A High Performance, Professional Camera for Astrophotography
Let's Dig into the Data!
What sets one astrophotography camera apart from another? How is performance measured? Camera and sensor manufacturers provide certain interconnected specifications that give insight into the performance of a camera. These measurements include quantum efficiency, read noise, full well depth, gain, and dynamic range. While the graphs provided by the manufacturer may be confusing or intimidating, don't fret! Our team has put together a breakdown of these complicated topics to help you make sense of them. Take a look at the article here: Understanding ZWO Camera Charts and Graphs, and feel more confident making the right choice for your astrophotography needs!
Sony IMX533 Square Sensor
The incredible sensor the ZWO ASI533MM Pro utilizes is the 9.05-megapixel Sony IMX533. This unique 1” square sensor has a resolution of 3008 x 3008 and a pixel size of 3.76um, delivering exceptional performance in its resolution of detail. When it comes to choosing an astrophotography camera, mono is the way to go! The absence of a Bayer Pattern allows for every pixel on the sensor to be utilized, maximizing every bit of signal collected for images with richer detail and color information. As opposed to its color counterpart, the ASI533MC Pro, the ASI533MM Pro has an outstanding peak quantum efficiency of 91% thanks to its monochrome design. Increasing the details captured, the back illumination of this Sony CMOS sensor makes the ASI533MM Pro incredibly sensitive to the photons collected, greatly improving the signal to noise ratio. This large sensor offers an incredible full well of 50,000e- and a 14bit dynamic range, allowing for remarkably crisp and clear images.
Electronics Highlights
By integrating two-stage TEC cooling on the ASI533MM Pro, the sensor is able to reach as low as -35 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature, resulting in a huge reduction in sensor noise along with reduced dark current. Long exposures are able to be produced with incredibly low noise, allowing for sharper, cleaner images. Another key feature of the ASI533MM Pro is its zero amp glow circuitry, allowing for the use of high gain imaging and long exposures in the absence of amp glow! Guaranteeing reliability of data transmission, the onboard 256MB DDR3 memory buffer ensures the data you capture is preserved and safely relayed.
Power and Ports
All ZWO cooled cameras require an external 11-14v power supply to work. When it comes to powering your ZWO ASI533MM Pro camera, we suggest the Apertura Universal 5 Amp AC Adapter. Multiple ports are included on the body of the ASI533MM Pro camera. A USB3.0 port allows for incredibly fast data transmission to your computer, as its 5Gb bandwidth gives the ASI533MM the ability to run at 20FPS in, transferring each 14-bit, 9-megapixel resolution frame effectively and proficiently. Aiding in cable management, two additional USB2.0 ports offer the ability to connect extra devices, such as a filter wheel or electronic focuser! Included with the ASI533MM Pro is one 6.5ft USB3.0 cable and two 1.6ft USB2.0 cables, readying you for a night of imaging!
Everything Needed for Proper Backfocus Spacing
Understanding the daunting task of finding the correct backfocus for your camera, ZWO has included everything you need to find the proper backfocus to get you out and imaging in no time! The included spacers allow you to reach the standard 55mm of backfocus right from the get go, ensuring your camera is the proper distance away from your imaging system. The spacers and adapters provided make it easy to seamlessly adjust and swap out other ZWO accessories such as the OAG or EFW. Take a look at the images provided for more insight into how to connect your camera to your telescope!
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
| Choosing the Best Deep Sky Camera |
| Undersampling and Oversampling in Astrophotography |
| Why Exposure Time Matters |
| ZWO ASIAir Ultimate Guide |
