ZWO ASI 4400MC Pro – Cooled Full-Frame Color Astro Camera for Deep-Sky Astrophotography
The ZWO ASI4400MC Pro is a powerful full-frame deep-sky astro camera featuring a back-illuminated Sony IMX366 CMOS sensor. The 36 × 24 mm full-frame sensor offers an impressive 44 megapixels with 4.4 µm pixels. This makes the camera ideal for detailed deep-sky, lunar and planetary imaging, as well as wide-field astrophotography.
Highlights of the ZWO ASI4400MC Pro
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44 MP full-frame sensor: 36 × 24 mm sensor area for a large field of view without unwanted cropping
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Highly sensitive Sony IMX366: Back-illuminated CMOS sensor with a quantum efficiency of up to 80%
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4.4 µm pixel size: High resolution and detailed rendering of fine structures
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74,600-electron Full Well Capacity: High dynamic range for natural colors in bright stars while retaining faint nebula details
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14-bit ADC: More than 13 stops of dynamic range for balanced reproduction of bright and dark image areas
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2-stage TEC cooling: Cools the sensor up to 35 °C below ambient temperature and reduces thermal noise
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Glow suppression technology: Effectively suppresses sensor glow for clean astrophotographs
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512 MB DDR3 buffer memory: Reduces the load on data transfer and supports fast image sequences, especially for lunar and planetary imaging
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Sensor tilt adapter: Precise adjustment of sensor alignment for consistent sharpness across the entire image field
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Anti-dew heater: Integrated front-window heating prevents condensation and enables reliable imaging in high humidity
Full-Frame Sensor for Large-Scale Deep-Sky Imaging
The large full-frame sensor of the ASI4400MC Pro captures an especially wide field of view, making it ideal for large nebulae, galaxies and wide-field subjects. With 44 megapixels and a resolution of 8192 × 5460 pixels, the camera delivers excellent detail while providing plenty of flexibility for cropping and post-processing.
High Dynamic Range for Balanced Astrophotography
The combination of a 74,600-electron Full Well Capacity, 14-bit ADC and low read noise provides a wide dynamic range. This allows both bright stars and faint nebula structures to be captured with excellent detail. The quantum efficiency of up to 80% further contributes to efficient light capture.
Active Cooling for Low-Noise Deep-Sky Imaging
The powerful 2-stage TEC cooling system can cool the sensor to up to 35 °C below ambient temperature. This significantly reduces dark current and thermal noise during longer exposures. An external 12 V power supply is required for the cooling system.
Note: The achievable temperature difference depends on the ambient temperature. The specified 35 °C is based on tests at an ambient temperature of 30 °C. Operation of the camera below -20 °C is not recommended.
Precise Sensor Alignment and Anti-Dew Function
The integrated sensor tilt adjustment screws allow precise alignment of the sensor. This helps correct slight tilts and supports uniform star rendering across the entire full-frame image field.
The integrated anti-dew heater gently warms the front window and prevents condensation. The heating film requires approximately 5 watts and can be switched off when necessary.
512 MB DDR3 Buffer Memory for Reliable Data Transfer
The generous 512 MB DDR3 image buffer reduces the load on USB data transfer and supports reliable processing of large amounts of data. The large buffer is particularly useful for fast image sequences in lunar and planetary photography.
Power Supply
For operation of the active cooling system, a separate 12 V DC power supply with 3–5 A and a 5.5 × 2.1 mm DC plug with positive center polarity is required. Alternatively, a lithium battery with 11 to 14 V can be used. Using a power supply outside this voltage range may cause irreparable damage to the camera.
Technical Specifications
| Feature |
Value |
| Performance |
| Sensor type |
CMOS chip (Sony IMX366) |
| Sensor size |
36 × 24 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor diagonal |
43.2 mm |
| Megapixels |
44 MP |
| Pixel size |
4.4 µm |
| Photo resolution |
8192 × 5460 pixels |
| Bit depth |
14 bit |
| Active cooling |
Yes |
| Max. cooling below ambient temperature |
35 °C |
| Interfaces |
USB 3.0 & USB 2.0 |
| Telescope-side connection |
M54 |
| Color camera |
Yes |
| Frames per second |
8.3 fps (at full resolution) |
| Read noise (RMS) |
1.1 e |
| Full Well Capacity |
74,600 electrons |
| Power supply |
12 V |
| Buffer memory |
512 MB |
| Internal memory |
DDR3 RAM |
| Quantum efficiency |
80% |
| Features |
| Filter wheel |
No |
| General |
| Weight |
700 g |
| Series |
ASI 4400 |
| Diameter |
90 mm |
| Length |
97 mm |
| Outer material |
Metal |
| Applications |
| AllSky, Meteors |
No |
| Autoguider |
No |
| Moon & Planets |
Yes |
| Nebulae & Galaxies |
Yes |
In the Box
- 1x ZWO ASI4400MC Pro Color – 2" dust cover
- 1x M48 extension (16.5 mm)
- 1x M54-M48 adapter (21 mm)
- 1x Allen key
- 1x M48i-T2a adapter (0 mm)
- 2x USB 2.0 cables (0.5 m)
- 1x USB 3.0 cable (2 m)
- 1x ASI Quick Guide
- 1x Camera bag
