ZWO Color Astro Camera ASI 533MC-PRO cooled, Sensor D= 16 mm, 3.76 µm Pixel Size

ZWO ASI533MC Pro - powerful color astro camera of the latest generation

ZWO has taken another step forward with this new camera. The colour sensor with a diagonal of approx. 16 mm can be used on almost every telescope. Due to the square shape, the corrected image field of the telescope is optimally used. This even allows the use of many telescopes without a corrector.

A special feature of the ASI533MC Pro is the zero-amp glow circuit, which eliminates the amplifier glow that occurs with longer exposure times. This would brighten areas of the image at longer exposure times. Especially with this camera, the electronics also reduce the effect of external stray light, so you can take longer exposures under light-polluted skies.

One of the outstanding features of the ASI 533MC Pro is its sensational light sensitivity. The QE of 80% by the BACK ILLUMINATION technology and the very low amplifier glow make the camera very suitable for all astronomical applications, but especially for deep-sky astrophotography.

The "single shot" colour camera offers more comfort than monochrome cameras. Not everyone wants to go through the laborious L-RGB process for beautiful coloured nebula or planet images. The color cameras offer you the possibility to get beautiful pictures without changing filters. In direct comparison to the DSLR camera, the ASI camera convinces with a much higher light sensitivity, a smoother image and significantly more depth. Stars don´t burn out that easy.

Further advantages and product features of the ASI 533MC Pro color camera:

USB 3.0 for fast download - can also be used with USB 2.0

DDR3 memory buffer for stable data transfer with USB2.0 - minimizes amplifier glow

Powerful Peltier cooling up to 35 °C under ambient conditions

One of Sony´s most light-sensitive CMOS sensors

High resolution by 3.76 µm pixels - ideal for fast and sharp telescopes like apos, Hyperstar, Celestron Faststar, Newtonian telescopes, ...

Supplied with AR clear glass filter - full transmission also in infrared. If the IR is to be blocked, an IR cut filter is required.

Distance T2 connection thread (female thread) to camera sensor: 17.5 mm

Distance front surface to sensor (using male thread): only 6.5 mm

High sensitivity - QE over 80% - very good astronomy camera for dim objects

14-bit ADC ... you reach a depth like with CCD cameras, but with a much higher sensitivity.

Application areas of the camera:

Deep-sky images (nebulae and galaxies): due to the high sensitivity, nebulae and galaxies are imaged after only a few seconds. The camera can be cooled up to 35 °C below ambient temperature. This further reduces the already low noise. By raising the GAIN (comparable to the ISO setting for digital SLR cameras), you can reduce exposure times to less than 30 seconds. Effects caused by air turbulence or inaccuracies in the tracking are thus eliminated.

Lunar and planetary images: extremely short exposure times due to high sensitivity freeze the air turbulence. Due to the high resolution of the sensor, many details can be imaged even with a shorter telescope focal length. Video astronomy is also possible.

Back illumination technology

Sony´s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor improves sensitivity and noise reduction ? the key factors to enhancing image quality, while radically realigning their fundamental pixel structure from front-illumination to back-illumination. It has retained the advantages of CMOS image sensors such as low power consumption and high-speed operation.

The backside exposure improves the light absorption and increases the amount of light at the same time. This allows significantly shorter exposure times and leads to an improved quantum efficiency of 80%.

Sony has newly developed a unique photo-diode structure and on-chip lens optimized for back-illuminated structures, that achieves a higher sensitivity and a lower random noise without light by reducing noise, dark current and defect pixels compared to the conventional front-illuminated structure.

Zero amp glow

Traditional CMOS sensors produce a weak infrared light source during operation quite often seen in the corner of uncalibrated images as the tell tale signs of ?amp glow?. As the ASI533MC Pro uses zero amp glow circuitry, you won?t have to worry about amp glow even when using high gain, long exposure imaging.

Important: external power supply required!

Please notice that all ZWO cameras with cooler need to be connected to an external 11-15 V power supply to work.

Even when the cooler is not being used the power supply must be used for the camera to be reliably recognized.

Optimal support before and after the purchase through Teleskop-Service:

We work with the cameras ourselves and can offer you optimal advice. Which camera fits to your telescope, how do you achieve the optimal adaptation? Teleskop-Service is one of the largest ZWO dealers. Through our contacts we also offer the best possible service after the purchase.

Practical tip 1 from TS: Integration of 2" filters, 360° rotation and quick coupling

The camera is often used on correctors that do not have a filter thread. In addition, the filters should always be used as close as possible to the camera. Here we offer you a solution that can do much more.

2" filter holder directly in front of the camera

360° rotation for the right choice of the image section (less important here because of the square format)

Quick release - you can remove the camera from the remote ear at any time, without screws and thus entangling the cables

The adaptation is very simple, the 21 mm T2 extension is replaced by:

1x TSROTT2-T2 and 2x T2AbstimmA1

One tuning ring comes to the camera side, one tuning ring comes to the telescope side of the rotator. Then screw on the M42-M48 adapter with 16.5 mm length and you are in the right distance with the camera.

Practical tip 2 from TS: Storage of cameras and accessories

Especially in our latitudes, the nights are often very humid. This humidity condenses on your camera, eyepiece or filter when they come into the warm interior of the apartment. Especially cooled cameras are affected by this. Quickly a photo session is over because the sensor ices up.

Good storage is an important prevention against dew and also extends the life span.

After use, put the camera immediately into the TS Protect Case and add some silica gel. During storage, the silica gel will suck the moisture out of the camera. At the same time, the penetration of humid room air is prevented. Dry storage even allows the small dry tablets in cooled cameras to partially regenerate. Your camera or accessories are always ready for you in optimal condition. You can find the silica gel and the case in our product recommendations.

The cameras are not airtight, so if the camera remains on the telescope, it is exposed to moisture. The small amount of desiccant in the camera can protect the sensor and the inside of the protective glass from moisture for the duration of the exposure, but not for days on end. Moisture problems can be the result. A simple trick is to stretch a plastic bag around the focuser to which the camera is attached so that no air can get in. Silica gel is placed in a small cloth bag inside the plastic bag. This will also create a "dry climate zone" for the camera on the telescope. This allows you to leave the camera on the telescope for a few days for an imaging session lasting several days.

In the medium and long term, however, this is no substitute for proper storage in an airtight case with silica gel.

Downloads, drivers:

ZWO provides software and drivers online for free download.

Software and drivers for all ZWO cameras

Frequently asked questions about ZWO cameras:

The FAQ area is constantly updated by ZWO, here you will find answers to many questions.

FAQ about ZWO cameras

ZWO Users Forum

Manuals for ZWO products:

The manuals page is constantly updated by ZWO, here you can find user guides for ZWO products.

Link to the manuals

How to clean my ZWO camera:

The manufacturer provides a manual that covers how to clean an ASI camera and regenerate the desiccant tablets: Please click here.

Mit dieser Kamera erzielte astrofotografische Ergebnisse auf Astrobin

Hier finden Sie einige Astrofotografien, die mit diesem Kameramodell gemacht wurden: Link zu Astrobin

Mit dieser Kamera erzielte astrofotografische Ergebnisse auf Astrobin

Hier finden Sie einige Astrofotografien, die mit diesem Kameramodell gemacht wurden: Link zu Astrobin

Image from our customer Bert Moyaers

Our customer Bert Moyaers from Kampenhout (Belgium) took a picture of NGC 6888 with this camera:

Object: Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888)

Photographer: Bert Moyaers
Date: 28.10.2021
Telescope: TS Photon 150 f/5 (TPM6F5)
Motor fokuser: ZWO 5V EAF Advanced
Coma corrector: TS-Optics TSGPU
Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme2
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Guiding scope: TS-Optics 50 mm Guiding Scope (TSL501)
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI120MC-S
Mount: Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT with PMC-Eight
Frames: 56x300" (4h 40´)


A few days later NGC 869/884 were photographed with almost the same equipment (only different filter):

Object: Double cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 and NGC884)

Photographer: Bert Moyaers
Date: 11.11.2021
Telescope: TS Photon 150 f/5 (TPM6F5)
Motor fokuser: ZWO 5V EAF Advanced
Coma corrector: TS-Optics TSGPU
Filter: Optolong L-PRO 2" (OPL-LPRO2)
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Guiding scope: TS-Optics 50 mm Guiding Scope (TSL501)
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI120MC-S
Mount: Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT with PMC-Eight
Frames: 41x180" (2h 3´)

We congratulate Bert Moyaers for the beautiful astrophotos!

Question:
Will my Pro camera work without extra power supply if I don´t turn on the cooling?

Answer from Teleskop-Service:
No, the current Pro cameras always require extra power supply, even without cooling.

Safety informations: PDF Download