Entry level camera for deep space photography
ASI533MM Pro
The ASI533MM PRO adopts a Sony back illuminated IMX533 sensor, which is a 1-inch square frame sensor made suitable for deep sky astrophotography needs. The ASI533MM Pro can be regarded as an upgrade of the ASI183 series. Not only does it retain the high-quality features of the ASI183, such as high QE and frame rate, it also features: no amp glow, readout noise as low as 1.0e, pixel size of 3.76 μm, and a 2-stage TEC cooling. It is highly recommended for beginners of deep sky astrophotography.
1-inch Square Frame
The IMX533 is a 1-inch square frame CMOS image sensor with approximately 9M effective pixels at a pixel size of 3.76 μm. The 14-bit digital output of IMX533 makes it possible to read out signals of 9m effective pixels at a high speed of 20 frames per second with read noise as low as 1.0e, the performance of which is on par with those of SCMOS or EMCCD sensors. This sensor is suitable for image needs that require high definition and low noise.
Full Upgrade
The ASI533MM Pro is considered a full upgrade version of the ASI183 series.
| Model | ASI533MM Pro | ASI183MM/MC Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mono | Mono / Color |
| Cooling | Mono | Mono / Color |
| Zero Amp Glow | Yes | No |
| Format | 1” | 1” |
| Resolution | 3008 x 3008 | 5496 x 3673 |
| Pixel Size | 3.76 μm | 2.4 μm |
| Pixel Size | 3.76 μm | 2.4 μm |
| Read Noise | 1.0-3.8e | 1.5-3.0e |
| QE | 91% | 84% |
| Full Well | 50,000e | 15,000e |
| ADC | 14-bit | 12-bit |
| Back Focus | 6.5mm / 17.5mm | 6.5mm / 17.5mm |
| MAX FPS | 20 fps | 19 fps |
| Diagonal | 16mm | 15.86mm |
Camera Curve
Low read noise, high dynamic range.
Quantum Efficiency
Based on ZWO’s calculation, the peak quantum efficiency of ASI533MM Pro is greater than 91%.
Zero Amp Glow
Traditional CMOS sensors can generate weak infrared light, which is equivalent to a light source during exposures. The ASI533MM Pro uses a no-glow circuitry to ensure best quality images regardless of gain or exposure length.
2 Stage TEC Cooling
The 2-stage thermoelectric can cool the CMOS sensor to 35 degrees below the ambient temperature (based on a 30 degree ambient temperature test results). Greatly reducing dark current and thereby improving the signal to noise ratio, even with a long expose of hundreds of seconds. Note: the lower the ambient temperature is, the smaller the Delta T is.
Dark Current
USB 3.0 & 256M DDR3 Memory
ASI533MM Pro is equipped with a USB 3.0 transmission interface. In 14-bit ADC mode, the output frame rate can reach 20 frames per second. Additionally, the 256M DDR3 memory ensures a more stable data transmission during long exposure without frame loss, and can also relax the hardware requirements of the computer used for data capture.
Appreciation Work
Connection Method
Connection to External Device
Structural Dimension Diagram
- Features include: no amp glow, readout noise as low as 1.0e, pixel size of 3.76 μm, and a 2-stage TEC cooling
- Highly recommended for deep sky astrophotography beginners
