Top Five Discontinued ZWO Cameras
And What Replaced Them
ZWO has introduced some really incredible astronomy cameras over the years, and some of them have been discontinued due to advancements in technology. In every case they’ve been replaced with a newer model that outperforms the discontinued camera. This is a good thing, but can be a challenge with so many legacy videos, blog posts, and forum threads that reference non-current models. Here are the five most popular discontinued ZWO cameras, and what current cameras you should look at instead:
- ZWO ASI120MM and ASI120MC: These models were among ZWO's earliest offerings, gaining popularity for their performance in planetary imaging. The sensor is still available in the ASI120MINI guide camera. We love this camera for guiding short focal length refractors, you can’t beat the price. If you’re looking for a budget minded planetary camera then the ASI662MC is a fantastic start. It’s a great camera for getting great images of the moon and planets.
- ZWO ASI290MM: Known for its small 2.9 µm pixels, high frame rate, low noise, and high sensitivity, the ASI290MM was favored for planetary imaging. It was discontinued around 2023. The ASI220MINI is the best alternative if you’re looking for a guide camera. If you’re looking for a mid-range planetary camera we think the ASI462MM is worth a look.
- ZWO ASI1600MM: This model offered a good balance between resolution and sensitivity, making it popular for deep-sky imaging. It was discontinued in favor of newer models like the ASI533MM. Most of the time we recommend moving up to a pro series camera for the reduced noise. If you’re looking for a high-frame rate camera for solar imaging, we recommend the ASI174MM
- ZWO ASI224MC: Known for its high frame rate and sensitivity, the ASI224MC was favored for planetary imaging. It has been succeeded by newer models with enhanced capabilities. We highly recommend the ASI662MC. It’s a great planetary camera.
- ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro: An advanced version of the ASI1600MM, the Pro variant offered a tec cooler to reduce digital noise that can creep in when deep-sky imaging. The direct replacement is the ASI2600MM-Pro. It’s a newer generation sensor with the same APS-C sensor size.
No matter what you’re looking for, you can find a great ZWO camera here.