ZWO ASI1600MM Pro CMOS Camera Kit
Best monochrome camera kit for advanced deep-sky astrophotographers.
This professional monochrome CMOS camera kit is engineered for advanced astrophotography, enabling the capture of highly detailed celestial images. It features a high-resolution 16MP sensor paired with small pixels, ideal for discerning fine details in nebulae and galaxies. Deep TEC cooling significantly minimizes thermal noise, ensuring cleaner, sharper results. The included 7-position filter wheel and a comprehensive set of 36mm LRGB and narrowband filters offer exceptional versatility for various imaging targets and conditions. Its DDR buffer enhances performance for smooth data acquisition.
$1999.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
1569
/ 2593
#1569 in Telescope Accessories
Price vs Category Average
+201%
Above average
ADC
12
/ bit
Who it's for
- Astrophotographers capturing faint, distant deep-sky objects
- Imagers working in warm climates or long-exposure sessions
- Advanced users requiring precise control over filter sets
Who should skip it
- Beginners wanting to avoid complex post-processing calibration
- Professionals seeking maximum dynamic range for high-contrast scenes
- Photographers focusing on fields with very bright stars
Performance breakdown
Thermal Noise Control
Deep TEC cooling keeps long exposures remarkably clean and artifact-free.
Imaging Versatility
The included filter wheel and kit cover every major astrophotography requirement.
Detail Resolution
Small pixels excel at pulling fine structure from distant nebulae.
Data Transfer Speed
USB 3.0 and DDR buffer ensure smooth, rapid image acquisition.
Sensor Sensitivity
Solid quantum efficiency for monochrome imaging, though newer sensors exist.
Build Quality
Rugged aluminum construction stands up to demanding field conditions.
Key Specs
ADC
12 bit
Back Focus
6.5 mm
Camera Connection
M42 x 0.75 mm
Color or Mono
Monochrome
Cooled
Cooled
Delta T
40C below ambient
Full Rez Frame Rate
23fps
Full Well
20ke
Know before you buy
Monochrome sensors offer significantly higher sensitivity and resolution because they lack a Bayer filter, allowing every pixel to capture light across the full spectrum. This is essential for narrowband imaging, which isolates specific wavelengths of light to reveal intricate details in nebulae that color cameras often miss.
The deep thermoelectric cooling (TEC) lowers the sensor temperature to 40°C below ambient, which drastically reduces thermal noise. This results in much cleaner, smoother images with fewer hot pixels, especially during the long exposures required for deep-sky objects.
The filter wheel allows you to switch between LRGB and narrowband filters remotely without manually changing them on your telescope. This is critical for automated imaging sequences, ensuring you can capture multiple channels of data throughout the night without disturbing your setup.
The 3.8-micron pixels are relatively small, making this camera ideal for short to medium focal length telescopes where you want to maximize resolution. If you are using a very long focal length telescope, you may want to check your image scale to ensure you aren't oversampling.
Yes, the 256MB DDR3 buffer helps stabilize data transfer and prevents dropped frames during high-speed image acquisition. It acts as a cache, ensuring that the image data is safely moved from the camera to your computer, even if the USB connection experiences minor fluctuations.
While the camera communicates via USB, the TEC cooling system requires an external 12V power supply to function effectively. You will need to ensure you have a stable power source, such as a dedicated field battery or an AC adapter, to reach the maximum cooling capacity.
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$1999