ZWO ASI585MC Color Planetary, Lunar & Solar Camera (IMX585)

A big-sensor color camera for the Moon, Sun and planets

The ZWO ASI585MC is a color (one-shot-color) astronomy camera built on Sony's 8.3-megapixel IMX585 sensor. It records high-speed video that software stacks into sharp images of the Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, and its large sensor makes it a favorite for lunar and solar work. It replaces the ASI485MC with the same 2.9µm pixels, about three times the full well and no amp glow. It slides into any 1.25-inch focuser or threads onto M42 adapters, and weighs just 126g (4.4oz).

Key specs: Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2 color sensor, 1/1.2" (11.1 × 6.3mm) · 8.3MP (3840 × 2160) · 2.9µm pixels · read noise 0.8e⁻ at high gain · 40ke⁻ full well · 91% peak QE · 46.9 fps at full resolution (12-bit) · zero amp glow · USB 3.0 with 256MB buffer · 126g

What you can capture

• The Moon: craters, rilles and mountain ranges. On an 80mm f/6 refractor the field is about 1.3° × 0.75°, enough for the whole Moon in one frame.
• The Sun: sunspots and granulation with a white-light solar filter, or prominences and surface detail through a hydrogen-alpha solar telescope.
• Planets: Jupiter's cloud belts and Great Red Spot, Saturn's rings and Cassini Division, and Mars near opposition. On an 8-inch SCT the field is about 19′ × 11′, so planets are easy to keep in frame.
• Bright deep-sky objects: live-stacked views of the Orion Nebula, the Ring Nebula and globular clusters like M13.
• The whole sky: with a wide-angle lens it works as an all-sky camera for meteors and cloud monitoring.

How it works

Plug the camera into a laptop's USB 3.0 port, put it in your focuser with the included 1.25" nosepiece, and record short video clips with free software such as FireCapture or SharpCap (or ZWO's ASIStudio). Stacking software like AutoStakkert! keeps the sharpest frames and combines them. No separate power supply is needed.

For planets, aim for a focal ratio of about f/12 to f/15 with these 2.9µm pixels. That's an 8-inch SCT at its native f/10 with a 1.5x Barlow, or an f/6 refractor with a 2.5x Tele Vue Powermate. The ST4 port also lets it double as a guide camera.

What to add for the best results

• ZWO IR cut filter: the camera has a clear window, so add an IR cut filter for natural color and sharper focus on refractors.
• A Barlow or Powermate: the Tele Vue 2.5x Powermate or Celestron 2x X-Cel LX Barlow to reach the right image scale for planets.
• ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector: removes the color fringing on planets low in the sky, which helps a lot from Colorado's latitude when Jupiter and Saturn sit low.
• A solar filter: a full-aperture white-light filter such as an EclipSmart filter for 8" SCTs before you point at the Sun.
• A tracking mount: a ZWO mount or any GoTo mount that keeps the planet centered while you record.

ASI585MC vs. ASI715MC vs. ASI662MC

See all ZWO planetary and all-sky cameras.

What's in the box

• ASI585MC camera
• 1.25" nosepiece
• 1.25" and 2" dust covers
• USB 3.0 cable (2m)
• ST4 guide cable
• Quick guide

Filters, Barlows and the telescope are sold separately.

ZWO ASI585MC FAQ

Is the ASI585MC good for beginners?

Yes. It's powered by USB, fits any 1.25" focuser and is color, so there's no filter wheel. Start with the Moon, which is bright and forgiving, then move to Jupiter and Saturn.

Which camera is best for Jupiter and Saturn?

On an 8-inch or larger SCT, the ASI585MC is an excellent choice and its large sensor makes framing easy. On a small refractor with no Barlow, the ASI715MC's 1.45µm pixels give a larger planet image.

ASI585MC or ASI585MC Pro?

Both use the same sensor. The Pro adds cooling and an anti-dew heater for long deep-sky exposures. For the Moon, Sun and planets, where frames are a fraction of a second, the uncooled ASI585MC is all you need.

Can I use it for deep-sky imaging?

For live stacking and bright targets, yes. Without cooling, noise rises on long exposures, so for serious deep-sky work choose a cooled camera.

Can I image the Sun with it?

Yes, but only with proper solar filtering on the telescope: a full-aperture white-light filter or a dedicated hydrogen-alpha solar telescope. Never point a telescope at the Sun without one.

Does it work as a guide camera?

Yes. It has an ST4 port and is sensitive enough to guide, though most people use a dedicated guide camera so the ASI585MC stays free for imaging.

Specifications