ASI2600MC-P25 Pro Color Cooled Camera

ASI2600MC-P25 Pro Color Cooled Camera

The ZWO ASI2600MC P25 is a high-performance cooled color camera for astrophotography. It features the Sony IMX571 APS-C sensor (23.5 × 15.7 mm, 28.3 mm diagonal) with 26 MP (6248 × 4176) resolution, 3.76 µm pixels, and a 73 ke⁻ full-well capacity, delivering exceptional dynamic range and fine detail.

Its 16-bit ADC provides a true 14-stop dynamic range, ensuring smooth tonal gradients and accurate capture of both faint and bright details. The camera design eliminates amp glow, even with long exposures and high gain.

The dual-stage TEC cooling lowers sensor temperature by 30–35 °C below ambient, dramatically reducing dark current. At 0 °C the dark current is only 0.0022 e⁻/s/pixel, dropping to 0.00012 e⁻/s/pixel at –20 °C.

A built-in polyimide heater prevents dew on the protective window. The USB 3.0 interface with 512 MB DDR3 buffer ensures fast, stable data transfer. A tilt-adjustable sensor plate allows precise alignment with the optical axis for flat-field imaging across the frame.

The camera achieves a QE peak of 80 %, offering excellent sensitivity. The HCG mode activates automatically at gain 100 to reduce read noise while maintaining dynamic range—ideal for deep-sky imaging.

Technical specifications

• Sensor: Sony IMX571 CMOS color APS-C

• Sensor size: 23.5 × 15.7 mm – 28.3 mm diagonal

• Resolution: 26 MP, 6248 × 4176 pixels

• Pixel size: 3.76 µm

• Full well capacity: 73 ke⁻

• ADC: 16 bit, 14-stop dynamic range

• QE (peak): 80 %

• Cooling: Dual-stage TEC, ΔT 30–35 °C below ambient

• Dark current: 0.0022 e⁻/s/pixel at 0 °C; 0.00012 e⁻/s/pixel at –20 °C

• Anti-dew: Integrated heater

• Interface: USB 3.0 + 512 MB DDR3 buffer

• Weight: 0.7 kg (1.54 lb)

• Mount: Adjustable tilt plate, 55 mm backfocus

• HCG mode: Automatic at gain ≥100

Refined Design

The body weighs just 0.7 kg（1.54 lbs）, yet delivers outstanding image performance.

APS-C Sony IMX571 Sensor

The ASI2600MM/MC Pro is equipped with the APS-C format Sony IMX571 sensor, measuring 23.5mm × 15.7mm with a 28.3mm diagonal. It delivers an outstanding resolution of 6248 × 4176 pixels, making it a true 26-megapixel powerhouse. Each 3.76 μm pixel offers an impressive full-well capacity of 73ke⁻, ensuring exceptional dynamic range and image quality.

Native 16bit ADC

The advanced CMOS architecture of the ASI2600 enables a true 14-stop dynamic range. This ensures exceptionally smooth tonal transitions, richer color gradients, and the ability to capture both the faintest details and the brightest highlights within a single frame.

Zero Amp Glow

As the ASI2600MM/MC Pro uses zero amp glow circuitry, you won’t have to worry about amp glow even when using high gain, long exposure imaging.

Anti-dew

The ASI2600MM/MC uses a built-in polyimide heater bonded to the protective window, preventing dew and frost for clear, reliable imaging all night long.

USB 3.0 & 512MB DDR3 Memory

The ASI2600MM/MC Pro incorporates a high-speed USB 3.0 interface paired with a dedicated 512MB DDR3 memory buffer. This architecture minimizes data loss and latency, delivering fast, stable, and secure transmission even during long exposures and continuous high-resolution capture.

Sensor Tilt Adjustment

The camera incorporates a tilt plate with three sets of adjustment screws. In combination with the three mounting screws, they enable precise fine-tuning of the sensor plane for accurate alignment with the telescope’s optical axis, ensuring a flat imaging field and consistent star shapes across the entire frame.

Two-stage TEC cooling

Thanks to its two-stage TEC cooling system, the ASI2600MM/MC Pro can reduce the CMOS sensor temperature by 30°C–35°C below ambient, significantly lowering dark current and sensor noise even during long exposures.

The ΔT of 35°C is measured at 30℃ ambient temperature.

Camera Performance

The ASI2600MM/MC Pro achieves a dynamic range of up to 14 stops. When the gain setting reaches 100, the HCG (High Conversion Gain) mode is automatically enabled, which substantially reduces readout noise while preserving dynamic range. For optimal deep-sky imaging performance, a gain setting of 0 or 100 is recommended.

QE value

The QE peak value of the ASI2600MM Pro camera is 91%.

The QE peak value of the ASI2600MC Pro camera is 80%.

Ultra-low dark current

The ASI2600MM/MC Pro adopts advanced dark current suppression technology. At a cooling temperature of 0 °C, the dark current is only 0.0022e⁻/s/pix, which means that even with a 5-minute (300s) exposure, the total dark current noise is just 0.7e⁻—lower than the readout noise. At –20 °C, the dark current drops further to 0.00012e⁻/s/pix, making it virtually negligible.

Appreciation Work

Product Detail

Solution of 55mm back focus distance

Interface for External Devices

Mechanical Diagram

What is in the box?