ZWO Cameras & Accessories

About ZWO Cameras, Mounts, Telescopes & Accessories

ZWO was founded in 2011 and specializes in manufacturing high-quality astrophotography cameras, tracking mounts, filter wheels, and other accessories.

They offer a wide range of products suitable for deep sky imaging, planetary imaging, and guiding. 

Whether you're an enthusiast or a beginner, ZWO has a telescope, camera, mount, or accessory to meet your imaging needs! 

ZWO is renowned in the astrophotography community for its premium quality equipment and affordability.  

ZWO has designed its cooled camera series, which includes the popular ASI6200 and ASI2600 models, with the user in mind. They’re lightweight, easy to handle, and built with a focus on quality and durability.

ZWO-cooled cameras use two-stage cooling technology which can effectively cool the sensor temperature by 30-35 degrees Celsius below ambient. This is crucial to reduce noise in long-exposure astrophotography.

Noise obscures fainter details and degrades the quality of your images. Maintaining cooler than ambient sensor temperatures ensures your images have stunning clarity and detail.

ZWO’s astrophotography cameras come in both monochrome and color varieties. Each has pros and cons depending on what your imaging goals and budget are.

Color cameras, also known as One Shot Color (OSC) cameras, capture color images in a single exposure. This is because they have a built-in Bayer filter that captures red, green, and blue light at the same time. This is a real time saver!

OSC cameras are user-friendly, making them ideal for beginners. They remove the need for filter wheels and specialized filters like hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen filters.

In line with ZWO naming conventions, all color cameras include the letters MC, for example, ASI2600 MC Pro. Each cooled deep-sky camera boasts a range of features designed to take your astrophotography to the next level.

With high-resolution sensors and fast data transfer, every aspect is engineered to help you capture amazing images of space!

Their line-up of versatile cameras has something to offer astrophotographers of all skill levels.

Monochrome cameras are more sensitive to light and are higher resolution than color cameras, making them a favorite amongst astrophotography enthusiasts. However, you will need filters and a filter wheel to produce a final color image, which comes at an added cost. 

Monochrome cameras in the ZWO range are easily identified due to ZWO’s consistent naming conventions. All monochrome cameras include the letters MM, for example, ASI533MM Pro. Pro means the camera is cooled.

When paired with narrowband filters, monochrome cameras can capture specific wavelengths beyond visible light. This is how the Hubble Palette, made famous by NASA’s image of the Pillars of Creation, is achieved. 

Monochrome cameras have a significant learning curve compared to OSC cameras. In addition to the required extra accessories, you will also need to stack and post-process each filter channel separately and then combine them to make a final colored image. While there are some free stacking and post-processing products on the market, some popular ones are paid or subscriptions only.  

Monochrome cameras are better suited to users with some knowledge of astrophotography.

ZWO planetary cameras are exceptional tools for capturing intricate details of planets and other objects in our solar system. They are renowned for their superior image quality and high frame rates. These cameras have become the go-to choice for astrophotographers seeking to dive into the world of planetary imaging.

ZWO’s planetary range includes the entry-level ASI224MC, which can also be used as an all-sky camera. As well as the ASI678MC, which features Sony’s latest generation sensor, the IMX678. The ASI678MC offers an exceptional near-infrared response. This is perfect for capturing the subtle details of planetary surfaces.

ZWO ASI planetary cameras have highly sensitive sensors and boast high frame rates. High frame rates are important for combating turbulence and poor seeing caused by Earth's atmosphere. Capturing as many frames as possible increases the chance of having frames of a planet, or lunar or solar surface, that are detailed, clear, and sharp. You can take these frames and stack them together to create a crystal-clear image. This is often referred to as lucky imaging.

When paired with a telescope, their remarkable clarity will give you great details of Jupiter, Saturn, and the surface of the Moon. Many ZWO planetary cameras have dual functionality thanks to the inclusion of a guide port. This allows them to double as auto-guiding cameras for deep sky astrophotography, though it’s worth noting that monochrome cameras are best suited for this.

ZWO offers a range of telescopes that cater to the needs of both amateur and professional astrophotographers. The popular ZWO Seestar S50 is an all-in-one smart telescope designed for ease of use and portability. ZWO’s Seestar is perfect for beginners and anyone wanting to explore space without the complexity of traditional setups.

If you're interested in more traditional telescopes, the FF series is a great choice. The series includes four high-quality APO refractors, the ZWO FF65, FF80, FF107, and FF130. They offer excellent optical performance, delivering sharp, high-contrast images.

ZWO telescopes are known for their quality, ease of use, and compatibility with ZWO’s range of cameras and accessories. 

Smooth tracking of the night sky is vital for successful astrophotography, and ZWO’s AM5 and AM3 tracking mounts do just that!

These strain wave mounts are lightweight with impressive payloads between 17lbs and 44lbs (8kg and 20kg), depending on the model. They are engineered to be stable and sturdy enough to be used with focal lengths of up to 900mm with or without a counterweight.

Guide cameras improve deep-sky astrophotography by keeping tracking mounts aligned during long exposures.

ZWO’s guide cameras have highly sensitive sensors that can detect faint stars, which is essential for accurate tracking. The ASI174MM Mini is a favorite among astrophotographers. This is thanks to its large sensor and high dynamic range. It is ideal for use with off-axis guiders.

ZWO guide cameras are compatible with a range of telescopes, mounts, and guiding software, including third-party options. They’re compact and lightweight, meaning they won’t add significant weight to your setup. With standard port configurations and cables, ZWO guide cameras can be easily integrated into your existing astrophotography setup. 

ZWO guide cameras are built to perform night after night. Their durability makes them a trusted tool in the astrophotography community.

ZWO has a range of accessories designed to help astrophotographers get the best images possible, this includes the ASIAIR, and kit essentials like the ZWO EAF, filter wheels, and off-axis guiders.

ZWO builds its accessories with a focus on quality and performance. They work seamlessly with ZWO’s other products to create a cohesive and efficient imaging setup. They are integral components that will enhance every aspect of your astrophotography.

The ZWO ASIAIR is a minicomputer that replaces the need for a laptop and multiple software.

It provides wireless management of your astrophotography setup through a dedicated app on your smartphone or tablet. The app is compatible with iOS and Android.

It can handle a variety of tasks including:

• plate solving
• polar alignment
• auto-guiding
• imaging sequences.

The ASIAIR boasts dual-band Wi-Fi with a range of 62ft (20 metres), faster input/output speeds, and real-time power monitoring within the app. It is designed to work seamlessly with ZWO cameras and other equipment.

The ZWO EAF provides precise and automated focusing for your telescope. Its compact and integrated design makes it easy to attach to a variety of telescopes.

The ZWO EAF enables precise focus control, which is essential for planetary and deep-sky imaging to ensure your images are sharp. An optional temperature sensor ensures your telescope remains in focus as the temperature changes throughout the night.

The EAF supports the ASCOM platform and other compatible third-party software, making it a versatile addition to many astrophotography setups.

Off-axis guiders allow you to guide your telescope and mount without the need for a separate guide scope. It does this by using the same optical path as your main imaging camera.

The ZWO OAG-L (Off-Axis Guider) is a standout for those using APS-C and full-frame cameras, and 7 x 36mm and 2-inch electronic filter wheels. Its large prism provides a broad field of view.

ZWO’s filter wheels seamlessly integrate with their camera line-up. They provide quick and precise filter changes. The convenience and efficiency of ZWO EFWs make them a favorite among astrophotographers.

ZWO offers a range of filter sets tailored for different astrophotography needs. From light pollution filters for OSC cameras to enhance contrast in urban settings to narrowband filters for mono cameras to help reveal the hidden details of nebulae.

Their filters come in a range of sizes from 31mm to 2-inch to suit most cameras and filterwheel set-ups. They are an affordable option for anyone wanting to maximize the performance of their ZWO camera.

Atmospheric dispersion can blur planetary details. ZWO’s atmospheric dispersion corrector counteracts this effect.

By realigning light paths, this corrector will sharpen your image, bringing out the fine details of planetary surfaces.

All ZWO products come with a two-year warranty (exceptions: telescopes and Seestar batteries have a one-year warranty). That means you can buy with complete peace of mind. It's one of the many reasons why so many people trust ZWO for their astrophotography needs.

Whether you’re capturing distant galaxies or the Moon, ZWO has everything you need to take your astrophotography to the next level!

If you need help deciding which specific ZWO camera is right for you, check out Agena’s Buyer's Guide to ZWO Astronomy Cameras.