William Optics RedCat 51 + ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Color Imaging Kit

A complete guided color imaging rig, matched and ready for your first clear night

The RedCat 51 Color Astrophotography Kit pairs the William Optics RedCat 51 III WIFD astrograph with the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro cooled color camera and your choice of ZWO harmonic mount, the compact AM3N or the larger AM5N, each on a TC40 carbon fiber tripod with a pier extension. A UniGuide 32 guide scope with an ASI220MM Mini handles guiding, an EAFN focuser handles focus, an Optolong L-eNhance filter cuts light pollution, and the ASIAIR Plus runs everything from your phone or tablet. The camera and telescope frame 5.4° × 3.6° of sky, wide enough for the biggest nebulae and the whole Andromeda Galaxy.

Key specs: RedCat 51 III: 51mm aperture, 250mm focal length, f/4.9, 4-element Petzval, 48mm image circle · ASI2600MC Pro: 26MP APS-C IMX571 color, 3.76µm pixels, 16-bit, cooled 30–35°C below ambient · 5.4° × 3.6° field at 3.1″/pixel · AM3N: 8kg (17.6lb) payload without counterweight; AM5N: 15kg (33lb) · ASIAIR Plus control, UniGuide 32 guiding, EAFN autofocus, 2" L-eNhance filter in an M54 drawer

What you can image

• Large emission nebulae: the North America and Pelican Nebulae together, the Heart and Soul, the Rosette, the California Nebula and the eastern and western Veil in one frame.
• Through suburban light pollution: with the L-eNhance filter in place, hydrogen and oxygen nebulae such as the Lagoon, the Eagle and the Crescent show up from a Front Range backyard.
• Big galaxies and clusters from darker skies: the Andromeda Galaxy with M32 and M110, the Triangulum Galaxy, the Pleiades with their dust, and the Double Cluster. Slide the filter out for these.
• Winter favorites: the Orion Nebula with the Running Man, and the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae beside Alnitak.

At 3.1 arcseconds per pixel, the image scale is easy to guide and forgiving of average seeing.

How it works

Mount and tripod: set the pier extension on the TC40 tripod and the mount on top. Neither mount needs a counterweight for this kit, so there's nothing to balance. The pier extension lifts the mount so the camera clears the tripod legs when the telescope points high.

Telescope, camera and filter: the RedCat's dual Vixen and Arca-Swiss plate fits the mount's saddle. The ASI2600MC Pro attaches behind the RedCat with the M54 filter drawer in between, and the camera's spacers set the 55mm back focus the RedCat needs (±3mm). The drawer takes the place of part of the spacer stack, and we're happy to help you set it up. The UniGuide 32 slides onto the base on the RedCat's handle with the ASI220MM Mini in it, and the EAFN attaches to the WIFD focuser in place of its removable knob.

Control and power: the camera, guide camera and focuser plug into the ASIAIR Plus, which connects to the mount and runs polar alignment, plate solving, GoTo, autofocus, guiding and imaging sequences from the ASIAIR app on your phone or tablet. The ZWO 12V 10A adapter powers the setup from an outlet.

Using it in Colorado: both mounts are rated down to -20°C (-4°F). Dark sites a couple of hours from Denver rarely have an outlet, so plan on a 12V battery there, and the cooled camera keeps noise low even on warm summer nights.

What to add for the best results

• Field power: a 12V battery such as the Celestron PowerTank Lithium Pro for dark sites without an outlet.
• Hubble-palette color: the Optolong L2 Dual-Combo (L-eXtreme and L-Synergy) lets this color camera build sulfur, hydrogen and oxygen images, or the L-eXtreme alone for narrower hydrogen and oxygen bands than the L-eNhance. Both slide into the kit's filter drawer.
• A phone or tablet with the free ASIAIR app (iOS or Android), and a computer with processing software such as Siril (free) or PixInsight.
• A dew heater strap for humid or frosty nights.

Which RedCat 51 kit is right for you?

Read more about each piece on the RedCat 51 III, ASI2600MC Pro, AM3N, AM5N and ASIAIR Plus pages, or see all astro imaging kits.

What's in the box

• William Optics RedCat 51 III WIFD with rotator and tilt adjuster, Bahtinov mask cap, M48 camera adapter, mounting ring and handle, dual Vixen/Arca-Swiss plate, soft case and Allen keys
• ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (2025) cooled color camera with its spacers and cables
• Your choice of mount, each with a ZWO TC40 carbon fiber tripod: the ZWO AM3N with the PE160 pier extension, or the ZWO AM5N with the PE200 pier extension
• Tripod case for the TC40 with pier extension
• ZWO ASIAIR Plus 256GB
• William Optics UniGuide 32 guide scope and ZWO ASI220MM Mini guide camera
• ZWO EAFN electronic focuser
• Optolong L-eNhance 2" filter in a ZWO M54 2" filter drawer
• ZWO 12V 10A AC adapter (US plug)
• One 30-minute tech support session with the Mile High Astronomy team

A 12V field battery, dew heater, extra filters and processing software are sold separately.

RedCat 51 Color Kit FAQ

Is this a good first astrophotography setup?

Yes, if you want to learn a real imaging setup. The RedCat is one of the easiest telescopes to image with, a color camera means no filter sequences to manage, and the ASIAIR app walks you through polar alignment, focusing and guiding. The included support session helps with your first nights. If you want push-button results with no setup, a smart telescope is the better choice.

AM3N or AM5N?

Both carry this kit easily without a counterweight. The AM3N (8kg / 17.6lb payload, 4.1kg head) is lighter to carry and costs less. The AM5N (15kg / 33lb payload, 5.5kg head) leaves room to move up to an 80–100mm refractor later without changing mounts.

Do I need a computer?

Not to capture images. The ASIAIR Plus runs the camera, mount, guiding and focuser from your phone or tablet. You'll want a computer later to stack and process your images.

Can I use it from a light-polluted backyard?

Yes, for emission nebulae. The L-eNhance passes the hydrogen-alpha, hydrogen-beta and OIII light those nebulae give off and blocks most streetlight glow. Galaxies and star clusters are broadband targets, so take the filter out and image them from a darker site.

Why does it include a guide scope?

Harmonic mounts carry a lot without counterweights, but they have small periodic tracking errors that show up in long exposures. The UniGuide 32 and ASI220MM Mini let the ASIAIR correct them automatically.

Color kit or mono kit?

The color kit gives a full-color image from every exposure and takes less processing. The RedCat 51 Mono Kit adds a filter wheel with LRGB and narrowband filters for more detail and stronger narrowband from the city, but each image takes more exposure time and processing.

Can I use the RedCat 51 for visual observing?

No. The RedCat 51 is an astrograph made for cameras, and standard diagonals and eyepieces won't reach focus.

Specifications