First Astrocamera - ToupTek ATR585M mono kit or ToupTek ATR2600C color camera?

Renato Jean Piero Tradardi · Mar 9, 2026, 11:22 AM

I would also take into consideration that the extra weight of the mono imaging train is going to affect both the mount tracking and the focuser, if the focuser it’s not strong enough to hold the weight it’s going to possibily cause tilt and slippage.

With the limited payload i would probably go for the color camera, as for the quality, both are great sensors, you can’t go wrong with either.

Clear skies!

Thank you!
I think the 2600C is a bit more futureproof as well with the APS-C sensor. The FOV with the 585 is a lot more narrow and the resolution also differs compared to my current DSLR kit. And if the weight itself could cause guiding problems, I don’t think the 585 is the right choice since the guiding requirements will also rise. However I will wait for a few more opinions before deciding ultimately :)
Clear skies!

I have the 585MCAir and the 2600MC Pro and I would go with the 2600MC Pro.

Now there’s a choice. I think it comes down to two things, sensor size and how badly you want to shoot mono. I have the ATR585 mono and it’s great rig. One of the great bargains out there and IMO a better choice than the minicam 8. I’ve always imaged 585’s so the fov doesn’t bother me. Toupteks HDR mode really gets the most out of the sensor. The thing is, you’re really doing an apples to oranges comparison here. Different pixel sizes and sampling, FOV and a much different pixel count. the 585 is 8 MP verses 26 for the 2600. It’s like comparing 110 film images to 35mm. You’ll have to enlarge the 2600 image a lot less to fill a typical screen and that will give the sense of much greater perceived quality, contrast and sharpness.

I think you’ll learn a lot more by going mono but APS-C will give you the wow factor that a lot of people like.

You did not mention the scope , so that we could get the image scale calculated. You perhaps do not want serious oversampling with that mount. I do have both cameras and both are excellent , but each for the purpose. 571 almost always wins. It is larger, it is 16bit,…

Eren · Mar 9, 2026, 04:29 PM

Brian Puhl · Mar 9, 2026, 12:56 PM

For me this is a bit of a tough one. I am a big proponent of going mono. The 585 is a powerful sensor, but it’s still 12 bit. The 2600 is a better sensor in almost every aspect.

From experience i’ve spent quite a bit of time playing with 585s, and honestly I just could never get over the tiny sensor size. Framing targets became difficult with my 100mm refractor. Linearity mode is a big jump for these sensors however. (QHY calls it Linearity, I forget what Touptek calls it). Starvis 2 is some great stuff, but i’m holding out till we get some bigger, better sensors.

I also have had quite a few IMX571s (2600 equivalent) and 16 bit ADC is just far superior. APS-C is just a sweet spot for anything astro as well. You can frame just about anything you want. Again, as a proponent for mono, I would recommend it for use over a color camera.

But I understand your concern for weight, and I think it’s a very valid one. I would weigh your current camera and compare. If you would like the weight of a fully kitted IMX571 mono, I can do that for you when I get home this evening. You should be able to find the full specs for the Minicam 8M online, it’s extremely light, likely lighter than your DSLR. If it was me in your situation, I'd go ahead and upgrade that mount either at the same time, or ahead of time. The used market isn’t all that bad, with patience. It sounds like you’re still getting your feet wet in this hobby, so I understand the hesitation.

If I really had to make the choice, i’d take the 2600MC over a 585 mono, but giving up mono is just as important to me, especially if you have any light pollution.

First of all, thank you for your detailed help!

That’s the thing for me, I would love to work with mono but I’m also amazed with the image quality of IMX571 sensors. I checked the framing with both cameras on my current rig and it really is just a huge difference. The APS-C sensor, the one I’m familiar with fits in almost every target I can think of with my 360mm of focal length, compared to the 585.

My current rig weighs about 3 kg right now, with everything attached. It might work with the TT 585 and would definitely work with the Minicam since it’s even lighter than my DSLR.

I don’t think light pollution is too much of a problem since I live in a bortle 4 zone and the city is generous enough to turn off all the street lights after midnight.

Thank you once again.

Wow, where you you live that they do that?

Tony Gondola · Mar 9, 2026, 03:35 PM

Now there’s a choice. I think it comes down to two things, sensor size and how badly you want to shoot mono. I have the ATR585 mono and it’s great rig. One of the great bargains out there and IMO a better choice than the minicam 8. I’ve always imaged 585’s so the fov doesn’t bother me. Toupteks HDR mode really gets the most out of the sensor. The thing is, you’re really doing an apples to oranges comparison here. Different pixel sizes and sampling, FOV and a much different pixel count. the 585 is 8 MP verses 26 for the 2600. It’s like comparing 110 film images to 35mm. You’ll have to enlarge the 2600 image a lot less to fill a typical screen and that will give the sense of much greater perceived quality, contrast and sharpness.

I think you’ll learn a lot more by going mono but APS-C will give you the wow factor that a lot of people like.

Thank you!

Thats what I thought as well, the advantages and the novelty of mono are enticing but the sensor quality is just top notch with the 571.

Stjepan Prugovečki · Mar 9, 2026, 04:19 PM

You did not mention the scope , so that we could get the image scale calculated. You perhaps do not want serious oversampling with that mount. I do have both cameras and both are excellent , but each for the purpose. 571 almost always wins. It is larger, it is 16bit,…

I use the Zenithstar 61II with a focal length of 360mm.

Eren · Mar 9, 2026, 04:47 PM

Tony Gondola · Mar 9, 2026, 04:32 PM

Eren · Mar 9, 2026, 04:29 PM

Brian Puhl · Mar 9, 2026, 12:56 PM

For me this is a bit of a tough one. I am a big proponent of going mono. The 585 is a powerful sensor, but it’s still 12 bit. The 2600 is a better sensor in almost every aspect.

From experience i’ve spent quite a bit of time playing with 585s, and honestly I just could never get over the tiny sensor size. Framing targets became difficult with my 100mm refractor. Linearity mode is a big jump for these sensors however. (QHY calls it Linearity, I forget what Touptek calls it). Starvis 2 is some great stuff, but i’m holding out till we get some bigger, better sensors.

I also have had quite a few IMX571s (2600 equivalent) and 16 bit ADC is just far superior. APS-C is just a sweet spot for anything astro as well. You can frame just about anything you want. Again, as a proponent for mono, I would recommend it for use over a color camera.

But I understand your concern for weight, and I think it’s a very valid one. I would weigh your current camera and compare. If you would like the weight of a fully kitted IMX571 mono, I can do that for you when I get home this evening. You should be able to find the full specs for the Minicam 8M online, it’s extremely light, likely lighter than your DSLR. If it was me in your situation, I'd go ahead and upgrade that mount either at the same time, or ahead of time. The used market isn’t all that bad, with patience. It sounds like you’re still getting your feet wet in this hobby, so I understand the hesitation.

If I really had to make the choice, i’d take the 2600MC over a 585 mono, but giving up mono is just as important to me, especially if you have any light pollution.

First of all, thank you for your detailed help!

That’s the thing for me, I would love to work with mono but I’m also amazed with the image quality of IMX571 sensors. I checked the framing with both cameras on my current rig and it really is just a huge difference. The APS-C sensor, the one I’m familiar with fits in almost every target I can think of with my 360mm of focal length, compared to the 585.

My current rig weighs about 3 kg right now, with everything attached. It might work with the TT 585 and would definitely work with the Minicam since it’s even lighter than my DSLR.

I don’t think light pollution is too much of a problem since I live in a bortle 4 zone and the city is generous enough to turn off all the street lights after midnight.

Thank you once again.

Wow, where you you live that they do that?

In a pretty small town in Germany, but it’s primarily to save energy when nobody is outside (and because they are broke..).

Certainly nothing wrong with saving energy and money with the added benefit of dark skies for a least part of the night.

Tony Gondola · Mar 9, 2026, 04:55 PM

Eren · Mar 9, 2026, 04:41 PM

Tony Gondola · Mar 9, 2026, 03:35 PM

Now there’s a choice. I think it comes down to two things, sensor size and how badly you want to shoot mono. I have the ATR585 mono and it’s great rig. One of the great bargains out there and IMO a better choice than the minicam 8. I’ve always imaged 585’s so the fov doesn’t bother me. Toupteks HDR mode really gets the most out of the sensor. The thing is, you’re really doing an apples to oranges comparison here. Different pixel sizes and sampling, FOV and a much different pixel count. the 585 is 8 MP verses 26 for the 2600. It’s like comparing 110 film images to 35mm. You’ll have to enlarge the 2600 image a lot less to fill a typical screen and that will give the sense of much greater perceived quality, contrast and sharpness.

I think you’ll learn a lot more by going mono but APS-C will give you the wow factor that a lot of people like.

Thank you!

Thats what I thought as well, the advantages and the novelty of mono are enticing but the sensor quality is just top notch with the 571.

It’s not “sensor quality” that you’re looking at when you compare images from the 585 verses the 2600. It’s the degree of enlargement and effects of under or over sampling. I think it’s important that you understand that difference.

Yes definitely. I was also referring to the 12 bit - 16 bit difference between the two sensors and the difference in resolution. It seems like I will be undersampled slightly with both cameras, wheras the 585 is a bit more balanced.

Eren · Mar 9, 2026, 06:01 PM

Tony Gondola · Mar 9, 2026, 04:55 PM

Eren · Mar 9, 2026, 04:41 PM

Tony Gondola · Mar 9, 2026, 03:35 PM

Now there’s a choice. I think it comes down to two things, sensor size and how badly you want to shoot mono. I have the ATR585 mono and it’s great rig. One of the great bargains out there and IMO a better choice than the minicam 8. I’ve always imaged 585’s so the fov doesn’t bother me. Toupteks HDR mode really gets the most out of the sensor. The thing is, you’re really doing an apples to oranges comparison here. Different pixel sizes and sampling, FOV and a much different pixel count. the 585 is 8 MP verses 26 for the 2600. It’s like comparing 110 film images to 35mm. You’ll have to enlarge the 2600 image a lot less to fill a typical screen and that will give the sense of much greater perceived quality, contrast and sharpness.

I think you’ll learn a lot more by going mono but APS-C will give you the wow factor that a lot of people like.

Thank you!

Thats what I thought as well, the advantages and the novelty of mono are enticing but the sensor quality is just top notch with the 571.

It’s not “sensor quality” that you’re looking at when you compare images from the 585 verses the 2600. It’s the degree of enlargement and effects of under or over sampling. I think it’s important that you understand that difference.

Yes definitely. I was also referring to the 12 bit - 16 bit difference between the two sensors and the difference in resolution. It seems like I will be undersampled slightly with both cameras, wheras the 585 is a bit more balanced.

The only “practical” difference in terms of what you’ll see between 16 bit and 12 bit is when super bright objects in the frame, such as stars, begin to clip (go completely white). You’ll see this in the data charts expressed as well depth/dynamic range in stops. When in HDR mode with the 585 (the only mode to use) dynamic range is the same for both cameras, a bit over 14 stops. I have never found clipping to be a problem even in 12 bit mode and it’s easily controlled by exposure time.

TiffsAndAstro · Mar 9, 2026, 08:29 PM

Eren:

TiffsAndAstro · Mar 9, 2026, 05:03 PM

What scope are you going to put it on?

If it's a low focal length, that suggests wide field targets so an aps-c sensor may be more suitable, as long as the scope supports the needed imaging circle.

If it's a C5 or C4 and you're attempting galaxies, the 585 will likely be over sampled. Maybe a 533 sensor would be more suited?

If it's anything bigger it probably shouldn't be on a sw GTi

I'd highly recommend putting the equipment in telescopius.com and check king the fov of targets you're interested in.

On my Zenithstar 61II with a focal length of 360mm. Since I’ve only used APS-C sensors so far with my DSLRs, there is a really big difference in FOV between both cameras. That’s my biggest reason for leaning towards the 2600C because I would really love to work with mono.

So the main reason for upgrading is to try mono? 

(It would be my reason too, but I couldn't ignore the much bigger sensor if I could use it. )

I wouldn’t call it my main reason for upgrading, but definitely something I see as very appealing. The main reason is just trying out a cooled astrocamera and seeing the difference to a DSLR, that’s why I was originally intending to buy the 585C and changed my mind when I saw the full mono kit for just 300 euros more. And then I saw that a 2600C camera only cost 1300€ which is just so much cheaper than the ZWO camera.

I wouldn’t contemplate at all if the 585M fov wasn’t that narrow but now I just have to decide..