Small Sensor - Small Price - BIG Gains | ZWO ASI 585mc Review

The ZWO ASI 585mc is an uncooled dedicated astronomy camera with a small sensor. I've used this camera for a while now, and in this video I'll share with you my thoughts and feelings living with this astrophotography camera.

==== Buy the Camera ====

ZWO ASI 585mc Camera:

ZWO ASI 585mc Pro (Cooled) Camera:

Buying through these links helps support the channel and will not cost you any extra :)

==== Support ====

If you enjoy what I do, consider becoming a Patreon or a Member. It goes a great way to helping run the channel and fund video ideas

==== Resources Used ====

Google Drive Review Images:

Astronomy Tools:

Damian Peach High Resolution Planetary Photography:

Recreating an Iconic Astrophoto:

=== Timestamps ===

0:00 Intro
0:40 Sensor
2:02 Field of View
3:55 Suitability
5:40 Stellarium Examples
6:11 Living With The Camera
9:30 Conclusions

==== Contact ====

===== Music =====

Aerohead - Ataraxia
Alexander - Nakarada Autumn Walk

Sparks by Chaël:

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[AstroFarsography]

Thanks for all the love this video is getting! I appreciate you all.

[simonthorp]

Superb video. I’ve owned this camera for about a year now and use it exactly as portrayed. It is great short cropped! I also bought the Rouz Astro cooler for it and it always stays within 5 degrees of ambient and I don’t use more than a three minute exposure. As I’m in Canada it can be a low temperature and works very well. I have never felt the need for darks.
I’ve been watching your videos for years and am a fan.
Keep on going!
Cheers,
Simon

[raypace]

That's a really good overview Ruz! I have the cooled version but still the same sensor and so your review was still interesting and relevant to me. Thanks for sharing and for providing the zipped folder!

[barnaclewatcher]

Thanks for the good review. I own the un-cooled version as well and paired it up with the Askar FRA400. with what I consider to be great results. Love that little camera!

[Jupisevenfive]

Owning 4-5 cameras, I can say that these smaller sensors have other advantages people may not consider. I own the 533mm pro, which is so much more easy to use than my 071mc pro (apsc) despite being a mono.
- What most people tend to forget = smaller file sizes and faster processing. Just the other day I processed a 900 sub image from the 071 and I had to restart Pixinsight, because I had the error of "ran out of memory". It turns out, it wanted over 600 gigabyte (!!!!) extra space just stack my subs. Meanwhile my 533mm pro mono subs can be. 300 subs each filter (LRGB) and since they are only 9megabytes each, it's done within 30 minutes and only wants like 50 gigabyte space for processing.
People who just start to do this hobby: No, you don't need an APSC or full frame sensor for $2000. Get the 585 or the 533.

[alexandresantana]

Great review, thanks. I am about to get the cooled version and this review was very helpful.

[KevinRudd-ws]

Good description. I bought the cooled version which I use mainly with my Red Cat 51 and occasionally with my GT81. I'm very happy with it. I use mainly an L- Pro or an L - eNhance filter or sometimes just an IR/UV cut filter and can take exposures as long as five minutes. I would definitely recommend someone who wants to get into astro photography consider this camera, it gives good results and doesn't break the bank.

[dumpydalekobservatory]

Nice review Ruzz I've bought the Altair cooled version but sadly I haven't had the chance to use it yet, but I did buy it to do dso & planetary so hopefully I'll get to use it one day.

[cityspaceastro]

Great review. I bought one of these and have had some great DSO images both at 300mm and 1100mm focal lengths and also planetary

[jpastroguy]

That is a good assessment. I have the 585MC and think it is a great value. But your point about the relationship between full-well depth and unity gain was something I never considered. Thanks for sharing that bit of knowledge. The higher full-well depth statistic of the 585MC looks very appealing, but is actually rather deceiving!

[stilianoskalatzis]

Great review, Ruz. I would be very curious to see how it does on lunar imaging. That being said, thanks for the review.

[skye]

Yeah the asi585mc is outstanding. Now they have the ASI585 Air.

[nikaxstrophotography]

FIRST! Glad to see you back doing regular content. Would love this with the cooler version as a second cam for my smaller setup but is it wide enough?

[karlhopwell]

Small sensors do not collect less light just a smaller area of the image circle, same amount of photons hit the small sensor as full frame sensor in the same area the small sensor takes up

[boaty]

I bought this a while ago ruz it’s a great camera and I seriously need to put it on my redcat 51, i bought a 12v peltier cooler which drops it approximately 10 degrees below ambient for about £18

[wesleyjohnson]

That's the one i use, its great. i got it because the price and the specs seemed to be quite respectable.
the only thing I'm disappointed with is the FOV. Its pretty hard to find objects that fit in the frame.

[eMPHAER]

Love your video, very informative, but also frustrating: I use my 585MC on an 80/480 Apo, and looking at your example at 4:44 … I cant wrap my head around these precise needle-alike stars. And 5 minute exposure 🤯 How did you do that? My stars are huge as hayballs, fuzzy, like tennis balls, and you get these crisp lil stars 😢 What gain did you use, what is your trick?

[arielmario]

hello ur videos are so nice
sorry about my bad english
but i need to ask u someting
i dont know ow to say it i will try
if my camara sensor is 11.2x6.3
how can i make the picture more big i mean to see more about the pic, no just small,
i hope u can understend my question thank u

[ArdsleyAstro]

You should check the SVBONY IMX585 based camera. I picked one up for £230 ish including shipping.

[jmm]

2 years late but still ok. This camera is a beast, I do planetary and deepsky with it.
Thanks for the video !