cameracomparison · 2-way
ZWO ASI294MM Pro vs ZWO ASI533MC Air
ZWO
ASI294MM Pro
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with a broad range of focal lengths.
ZWO
ASI533MC Air
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with longer focal lengths where framing is tight.
Key differences
44% larger sensor
Larger pixels (4.63µm vs 3.76µm)
420% more resolution
Mono vs color
Specifications
| Specification | ZWO ASI294MM Pro | ZWO ASI533MC Air |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | ||
| Type | Dedicated Cooled | dedicated |
| Sensor | Sony IMX492 | Sony IMX533 |
| Sensor tech | CMOS | CMOS |
| Format | 4/3" | 1" |
| Sensor size | 19.1×13.0mm | 11.3×11.3mm |
| Diagonal | 23.1mm | 16.0mm |
| Pixel size | 4.63µm | 3.76µm |
| Resolution | 8288×5644 | 3008×3008 |
| Megapixels | 46.8MP | 9.0MP |
| Color | No | Yes |
| Cooling | ||
| Cooled | Yes | Yes |
| Performance | ||
| Full well | 63700e⁻ | 50000e⁻ |
| Peak QE | 75% | 80% |
Advantages of ZWO ASI294MM Pro
- Larger sensor (23.1mm vs 16mm diagonal) — wider field
- Larger pixels — better low-light per-pixel sensitivity
- Higher resolution (46.8MP vs 9MP)
- Mono sensor — ideal for narrowband and LRGB
Advantages of ZWO ASI533MC Air
- Finer sampling at 3.76µm pixels
- One-shot color — simpler workflow
Best for — ZWO ASI294MM Pro
- Balanced field for most refractors
- Fast, low-noise deep-sky at short focal lengths
- Long-exposure deep-sky under any sky
- Narrowband and LRGB workflows
Best for — ZWO ASI533MC Air
- Longer focal lengths — tighter framing on small targets
- Well-sampled deep-sky at medium focal lengths
- Long-exposure deep-sky under any sky
- One-shot color — quick results, less processing
ZWO ASI294MM Pro — 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 ASI533MC Air — typical FOV & scale
- On 250mm refractor (wide)FOV: 2.59° × 2.59°Scale: 3.10"/px
- On 800mm SCT reducerFOV: 0.81° × 0.81°Scale: 0.97"/px
- On 2000mm SCT nativeFOV: 0.32° × 0.32°Scale: 0.39"/px
ZWO ASI294MM Pro — recommended user
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with a broad range of focal lengths.
ZWO ASI533MC Air — recommended user
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with longer focal lengths where framing is tight.