Astrophotography: software capture tools for Nikon users

digicamcontrol is another one

digicamcontrol is another one

Good find.  That looks to be a good equivalent to Canon EOS utilities software that I use for all of my normal and deep space photography (and timelapses).  But it doesnt have the Liveview recording feature if Nikon users want to do planetary imaging.   There is a free software I use for my Canon, called EOS Camera Video Recorder.  The only software I see that do this on Nikon, is the very new BackyardNikon ($50) that I mentioned last post and Image Plus ($245).

Interesting... looks like I'll have to re-write my astrophotography presentation... it's no longer cheaper to buy a second-hand Canon!

I moved over to Canon when I returned to astrophotography about 6 or 7 years ago... as Nikon's just weren't up to the task. Part of the reason for this was that, for RAW files, Nikons applied a mathematical median blurring filter to their images as part of a noise reduction procedure, even before the RAW image was written to file.

The upshot of this was that Nikons treated stars as "noise"... which is obviously not much use to astrophotographers!

This can now be turned off... but it couldn't be turned off previously.

As a result, Canon stole a march on Nikon for astrophotography, which is why so much software was developed for Canon in the astrophotography arena. I don't think there is much to choose between the two formats nowadays... but the software issue remains.

However, it does look like this is now being addressed. I won't be swapping back though!

I agree ... there isn't much real difference nowadays between the two. Like Tej & your good self mentioned last night, keep hold of that DSLR, master that and make it a challenge. Cloudy nights like last night will give you plenty of data to play around with

Nikons treated stars as “noise”… which is obviously not much use to astrophotographers!

Ha! That's brilliant! Reminds me of the (apocryphal) tale about the censors in a Far East country who decided that The Sound of Music was far too long a film - so they cut out all the songs.

so they cut out all the songs

I think that's something we can all support 😉

No way, Mike, the songs were just a few of my favourite things!

Yellow card, Mike! Yellow card!

Oops... I've clearly crossed a line here.

Should have known better than to upset Sound of Music fans. Vicious bunch they are 😉

Doh.

(a deer).

My apologies 🙂

Tej! Get a red card for Mike, please! Crumbs, he's already had about 16 of these, going on 17!

Now can we please get back to proper astronomy? In particular, the vexed question of the less-cratered parts of the lunar surface? So - How do we solve a problem like maria?

And how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

Now can we please get back to proper astronomy? In particular, the vexed question of the less-cratered parts of the lunar surface? So – How do we solve a problem like maria?

Quite right. Fully support that. The Mare are there so you don't have to climb every Montes.

😉

Tej! Get a red card for Mike, please! Crumbs, he’s already had about 16 of these, going on 17!

I cant find any, Mike's got them all!

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</span>Now can we please get back to proper astronomy? In particular, the vexed question of the less-cratered parts of the lunar surface? So – How do we solve a problem like maria?

Where were we?  Nikon software?...I have no idea how to make a smooth transition back on that topic! I dont even have a Nikon.  Trust us Canon users to destroy this thread, I think we all deserve a red card!

On you go to your naughty corners...  I've heard about you canon vultures but seen you lot for the first time  blasting us Nikon owners to smithereens 😛