cameracomparison · 2-way
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro vs ZWO ASI294MC Air
ZWO
ASI1600MM Pro
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with a broad range of focal lengths.
ZWO
ASI294MC Air
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with a broad range of focal lengths.
Key differences
Finer pixels (3.8µm vs 4.63µm)
40% more resolution
Mono vs color
Specifications
| Specification | ZWO ASI1600MM Pro | ZWO ASI294MC Air |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | ||
| Type | Dedicated Cooled | dedicated |
| Sensor | Panasonic MN34230 | Sony IMX294 |
| Sensor tech | CMOS | CMOS |
| Format | 4/3" | 4/3" |
| Sensor size | 17.7×13.4mm | 19.1×13.0mm |
| Diagonal | 22.2mm | 23.2mm |
| Pixel size | 3.80µm | 4.63µm |
| Resolution | 4656×3520 | 4144×2822 |
| Megapixels | 16.4MP | 11.7MP |
| Color | No | Yes |
| Cooling | ||
| Cooled | Yes | Yes |
| Performance | ||
| Full well | 20000e⁻ | 66000e⁻ |
| Peak QE | 60% | 75% |
Advantages of ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
- Finer sampling at 3.8µm pixels
- Higher resolution (16.4MP vs 11.7MP)
- Mono sensor — ideal for narrowband and LRGB
Advantages of ZWO ASI294MC Air
- Larger pixels — better low-light per-pixel sensitivity
- One-shot color — simpler workflow
Best for — ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
- Balanced field for most refractors
- Well-sampled deep-sky at medium focal lengths
- Long-exposure deep-sky under any sky
- Narrowband and LRGB workflows
Best for — ZWO ASI294MC Air
- Balanced field for most refractors
- Fast, low-noise deep-sky at short focal lengths
- Long-exposure deep-sky under any sky
- One-shot color — quick results, less processing
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro — typical FOV & scale
- On 250mm refractor (wide)FOV: 4.06° × 3.07°Scale: 3.14"/px
- On 800mm SCT reducerFOV: 1.27° × 0.96°Scale: 0.98"/px
- On 2000mm SCT nativeFOV: 0.51° × 0.38°Scale: 0.39"/px
ZWO ASI294MC Air — typical FOV & scale
- On 250mm refractor (wide)FOV: 4.38° × 2.98°Scale: 3.82"/px
- On 800mm SCT reducerFOV: 1.37° × 0.93°Scale: 1.19"/px
- On 2000mm SCT nativeFOV: 0.55° × 0.37°Scale: 0.48"/px
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro — recommended user
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with a broad range of focal lengths.
ZWO ASI294MC Air — recommended user
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with a broad range of focal lengths.