ZWO ASI533MC/MM PRO Cooled 1" CMOS USB3.0 Deep Sky Imager Camera

ZWO ASI533 PRO Cooled 1" CMOS USB3.0 Deep Sky Imager Camera

Have you heard? Zero amp glow! What a convenience!

We know that there are ways to deal with amp glow, but would it not be easier if there was no such a thing to even think about...

This camera offers exactly that. Plus really high quantum efficiency, extremely low read noise, comparatively high frame rate (in case you need that) and many more useful features.

So, similarly to the former ZWO ASI1600MC or the current ASI294MC cameras, the ASI533MC-PRO would be an excellent choice for imaging deep sky objects, however it can do much more than that. With a max framerate of 20 FPS at 14 bit ADC this camera can also be used as an extremely high resolution planetary imager. If you cannot decide if your thing is deep sky or planetary imaging, go for this camera. It is also a much more affordable alternative to converting a dSLR.

It is only available with a colour chip and it comes with two-stage TEC cooling. (A non-cooled version is not available.)

Further down you would see that it's specifications are very similar to the ASI183MC-PRO, however this camera comes with larger pixel size and thus smaller overall resolution. So if you would use it with a really compact, widefield achromat or apochromat, we would still recommend to go for the ASI183MC-PRO, but for slightly larger APOs this camera would be a really good choice.

It will find it's place somewhere in between the ASI294MC-PRO and ASI183MC-PRO if you are into colour imaging...

Features of the NEW ZWO ASI533MC-PRO

Camera Sensor

The IMX533 comes with a 1-inch, 9MP CMOS image sensor in a square format with a 3.76 um pixel size, capable of producing frames at 20 frames/sec in 14bit mode.

Read out noise is as low as 1.0e which makes it comparable to SCMOS or EMCCD sensors and highly suitable for high definition, low noise imaging.

IMX533 backlit sensor

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.

With a conventional front-illumination structure, the metal wiring and transistors on the surface of the silicon substrate that form the sensor’s light-sensitive area (photo-diode) impede photon gathering carried out by the on-chip lens. A back-illuminated structure minimizes the degradation of sensitivity to optical angle response, while also increasing the amount of light that enters each pixel due to the lack of obstacles such as metal wiring and transistors that have been moved to the reverse of the silicon substrate.

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.

DDR Memory Buffer

The ASI533MC PRO is equipped with a USB 3.0 interface, and even in 14bit mode, can reach 20 frames per second. The 256MB DDR3 memory ensures stable downloading of frames with increased USB speeds.

ASI533MC Pro – ASI183MC Pro Comparison:

The ASI533MC PRO features SONY’s latest back illuminated IMX533 sensor, with a 1-inch square, 9.07MP sensor that is ideal for astronomical photography needs and can be considered as the latest iteration of the venerable ASI183MC Pro.

As you would expect this latest generation camera not only retains key features of the ASI183 series such as an attractive QE figure, high frame rate and along with other excellent characteristics of the ASI183 cameras, but also now includes new and improved features such as zero amp glow, extreme low read out noise (as low as 1.0e), 3.76 microns pixel size and an improved 2 stage TEC cooler giving enhanced cooling capabilities.

What is in the box?