ZWO has quietly launched a powerful new tool for serious astrophotographers: the ASI585MM Pro, a mono version of their popular ASI585 series with professional-grade cooling and imaging performance. While it’s packaged alongside the older ASI585MC Pro (the color version), make no mistake, the MM Pro is the real news here.
This marks the first time ZWO has introduced a monochrome variant of the IMX585 sensor, unlocking the full potential of this highly sensitive chip for advanced imaging. From its increased flexibility with filters to its vastly improved sensitivity for deep-sky objects, the ASI585MM Pro is a compelling addition to ZWO’s Pro series, especially for those looking to shoot narrowband or maximize image quality. Let’s dive into what makes the ASI585MM Pro a standout upgrade, how it compares to its color counterpart, and why the mono format is a game-changer for astrophotography.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what sets the ASI585MM Pro apart from the ASI585MC Pro model:
These improvements make the MM Pro especially powerful for those looking to capture high-contrast lunar detail, Jovian storms, or faint nebulae in narrowband with precision.
In the ZWO naming convention, “MC” refers to color cameras (Multi-Color), while “MM” means monochrome. The difference may seem small, but for astrophotographers, it’s a game-changer.
A color camera uses a Bayer matrix (a grid of red, green, and blue filters) to capture color images. This makes it simple for beginners, just shoot and go. However, the downside is that each pixel only captures part of the light spectrum.
A monochrome camera like the ASI585MM Pro, on the other hand, records the full intensity of light at every pixel, with no color filter in the way. This translates into:
With a mono camera, you use individual filters (Luminance, Red, Green, Blue, and Narrowband like Ha, OIII, SII) to build your image. This offers more control and better results, especially in deep-sky imaging.
Let’s take a look at the detailed specs of the ASI585MM Pro, which shares its core design with the MC Pro but brings significant advantages thanks to its mono sensor:
This compact powerhouse checks all the boxes for advanced planetary and deep-sky imaging, especially when paired with a filter wheel and quality filters.
To better understand the MM Pro’s benefits, here’s a direct comparison with the ASI585MC Pro:
The Sony IMX585 sensor at the heart of the ASI585 Pro cameras is a big deal. It’s the successor to the IMX485 and improves on it in several ways:
With its 2.9µm pixels and large dynamic range, the IMX585 is optimized for both high-speed planetary imaging and long-exposure deep-sky work, especially when paired with TEC cooling.
While both cameras share the same sensor and core features, the ASI585MM Pro offers several key advantages thanks to its monochrome design:
Planetary Imaging: Thanks to its small pixel size, low read noise, and fast frame rates (via USB 3.0), the MM Pro is perfect for capturing high-speed video of planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. The monochrome sensor captures finer details, especially when used with IR-pass or methane filters.
Lunar Imaging: The large sensor area and 8.29MP resolution provide wide fields of the Moon with razor-sharp detail. Use short exposures and stack them for incredibly detailed mosaics.
Solar Imaging: With proper solar filters (Ha, CaK, etc.), the ASI585MM Pro delivers stunning surface and prominence detail, helped by its high contrast and fast frame rates.
Deep-Sky Imaging: Perhaps the most exciting use of the MM Pro is for deep-sky imaging with narrowband filters. With cooling enabled, the camera is capable of hours-long imaging sessions with minimal thermal noise. It excels at capturing nebulae, galaxies, and faint structures using filters like H-alpha, OIII, and SII.
The Pro designation means more than just marketing, the two-stage thermoelectric cooler is one of the most important upgrades. Cooling the sensor reduces thermal noise, which becomes a serious problem during long exposures, especially in warmer climates.
Combined with the mono sensor, this makes the ASI585MM Pro one of the best value cooled monochrome cameras available for under $700.
ZWO’s strength lies in its ecosystem. The ASI585MM Pro works flawlessly with:
This flexibility ensures it fits smoothly into nearly any imaging workflow.
If you’re serious about astrophotography, the ASI585MM Pro offers professional-grade features in a compact, affordable package. It’s best suited for:
Priced at $699, it sits at a sweet spot in ZWO’s lineup, offering many of the features of more expensive mono cameras without the cost or bulk.
For those who prefer a simpler, all-in-one color solution, the ASI585MC Pro ($599) still holds value. But for those who want to take full control of their imaging, especially with narrowband, the ASI585MM Pro is clearly the standout.
ZWO has officially released the ASI585MM, a budget-friendly monochrome camera priced at $349, aimed at astrophotographers who want the flexibility and performance of a mono sensor without the added cost or complexity of a cooled Pro model.
Built around the same Sony IMX585 sensor found in the ASI585MC and ASI585MM Pro, this non-Pro version brings the benefits of mono imaging, higher sensitivity, improved detail, and narrowband compatibility, at half the cost of the Pro version.
While it skips TEC cooling and internal memory buffering, the ASI585MM is still a powerful camera for lunar, solar, and planetary work, and with proper technique, even capable of impressive deep-sky images using narrowband filters.
Here’s a quick look at what makes the ASI585MM a new and noteworthy option in ZWO’s camera lineup:
The ASI585MM (non-Pro) is best suited for:
It’s also an excellent choice for anyone wanting to build a compact mono imaging rig, particularly for travel, outreach, or wide-field solar system work.
While both models use the exact same sensor, the ASI585MM is a stripped-down version built for portability and affordability. Here are the main differences:
If you mostly shoot bright targets with short exposures, the non-Pro version is a great value. But if you want to shoot faint galaxies, nebulae, or long exposures, the Pro version’s cooling will make a noticeable difference.
If you’re deciding between the ASI585MM (mono) and the ASI585MC (color), both priced around $349, here’s how they compare:
Choose the MC if you want simplicity and quick results. Choose the MM if you want more control, better detail, and room to grow with your imaging skills. Even without cooling, the ASI585MM can perform extremely well on:
Paired with a filter wheel and some basic processing skills, this camera can produce professional-grade results at a hobbyist price.
At $349, the ASI585MM is one of the most exciting mono camera releases in recent memory. It gives more users access to the mono workflow, something previously locked behind higher-end models with cooling and hefty price tags.
For planetary and lunar imagers, this is a stellar upgrade from typical one-shot color cameras. And for deep-sky shooters on a budget, it’s a great entry point to narrowband imaging with proper technique and stacking. Pair it with an EFW filter wheel, a set of RGB or narrowband filters, and a good telescope, and you’ve got a serious imaging setup without breaking the bank.
In his latest video on the Outten Astrophotography YouTube channel, Hunter shares his personal reactions and commentary about ZWO’s newly released ASI585MM and ASI585MM Pro cameras. This wasn’t just another product drop for him, he's been eagerly waiting for a monochrome version of the 585 sensor for nearly a year, and now that it’s here, he’s fully committed to switching over to mono imaging.
Hunter opens the video by expressing genuine excitement. The ASI585MM Pro is something he’s wanted for a long time, and the moment it became available, he didn’t hesitate, he immediately ordered one for himself. He plans to make it his main camera going forward, not just for testing, but as a permanent part of his rig.
The reason? It hits a rare sweet spot of performance, versatility, and price. In his words, this camera is an “affordable powerhouse” that can handle deep-sky, lunar, planetary, and solar imaging, all from a single package.
One of the standout points in the video is Hunter announcing that he’s finally making the full transition to monochrome imaging. For the past three to four years, he’s worked exclusively with color cameras. But the release of the ASI585MM Pro was the push he needed to take the next step. He’s more than ready to deal with filter wheels and added complexity in exchange for better quality.
Hunter calls it like it is: “We all know monochrome cameras are just better for astrophotography.” From the improved sensitivity to the sharper detail and full-pixel light capture, he’s convinced that mono imaging is the way to go if you’re serious about taking your shots to the next level.
While ZWO released both a standard ASI585MM and a cooled Pro version, Hunter didn’t hesitate to go with the $699 Pro model. Even though the uncooled mono version comes in at $499, he believes that extra $200 is well worth it for what the Pro adds, primarily the cooling system.
He strongly recommends that anyone planning to spend around $500 on a mono camera should just stretch their budget slightly and get the cooled version. The cooling not only reduces noise during long exposures, but also gives you more imaging flexibility year-round. For him, it’s a long-term investment in image quality, and he believes the value is unmatched at this price point.
Hunter’s especially impressed with how much this camera can do. He says it’s perfect for people who want one device that can handle everything, from shooting faint nebulae to capturing high-speed planetary footage. The 585 sensor’s ability to pull off both types of imaging well is a major win in his eyes.
He talks about how the sensor performs well in the infrared range, which is a big plus for planetary shooters. For example, it should work beautifully for imaging Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus using IR-pass filters. He’s looking forward to seeing how it does under real-world conditions, especially with narrowband filters.
He also loves the fact that there’s no amplifier glow with this sensor, a common problem in older ZWO models. To him, that makes calibration easier and dark frames more reusable over time. That’s not just a spec sheet detail, it’s something that directly improves day-to-day imaging sessions.
Hunter doesn’t just stop at general praise, he also offers insight into the real-life adjustments he’ll need to make when using this camera. For example, he notes that the unity gain setting is much higher than what he’s used to. On his ASI2600, unity gain is around 100. On the ASI585MM Pro, it’s 252. That’s a big difference, and he knows he’ll have to mentally adjust his workflow to match.
Still, he’s up for the challenge. It’s not something that bothers him, in fact, he seems genuinely excited to explore what the camera can do once he gets familiar with it.
Hunter doesn’t dismiss the standard ASI585MM. In fact, he points out that at $499, it’s probably the most affordable monochrome camera with this level of sensitivity on the market. He sees it as a great choice for beginners or anyone on a budget who still wants the benefits of mono imaging.
He explains that even without cooling, the uncooled version can deliver solid results for planetary, lunar, and even bright deep-sky targets. If you're not ready to dive into full deep-sky workflows with long exposure times, it could be a perfect starting point. He’s just personally past that point, which is why he’s going all-in on the Pro.
While the ASI585MM Pro is clearly the highlight for him, Hunter also teases that there are more ZWO releases on the way, including Air versions of the 585 and 2600 series cameras. He expects the ASI2600MM Air to launch at around $2,250 or $2,500, offering an all-in-one monochrome solution with integrated ASIAIR functionality. He also suspects a more budget-friendly ASI585MC Air may come first, followed later by a mono version.
Still, the 585MM Pro is where his focus is right now. He’s already planning a full review as soon as the camera arrives, and he says he’s keeping this one for good, no return, no flip, no test-and-sell. It’s his new main camera.
By the end of the video, it’s clear that the ASI585MM Pro isn’t just another camera to Hunter. It represents a shift, both for his own work and for ZWO’s product direction. He sees it as the camera that finally makes mono imaging accessible to a wider audience without sacrificing serious performance.
If you’re on the fence about trying monochrome imaging, his advice is clear: this is the moment. These new cameras open the door for more people to experience the detail, clarity, and creative control that mono makes possible.
For Hunter, the ASI585MM Pro isn’t just a camera, it’s a milestone in his astrophotography journey. And judging by his excitement, it’s going to be one that many others follow as well.
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