Image capture software

[groberts]

I have been using Canon software up until now for DSLR photography and Firecature for webcam but as I'm now setting up the mount for computer control and subsequent autoguiding (hopefully), I'd like to move to a more versatile image capture programme. Reading around I'm inclined to go for Astro Photography Tool (APT) which looks like it does the job well and comes at a very reasonable price - also considered Backyard EOS but I think it doesn't do webcam too?

Based on personal experience, any comments on APT or alternative software would be welcome before I take the plunge. Thanks. 

[michael-wayne-john13]

Go with BYEOS I use it with my 350D and love it

It's great imaging software

Mike

[Psychobilly]

Also take a a look at APT  - try them both and see which suits you best....

http://www.ideiki.com/astro/Default.aspx

I started out with APT , but I have bought and used both...   They have different approaches especially in the UI...  BYE with it's larger icons scaled better on smaller screened devices so I tended to use that on a small netbook however I have drifted back to APT now I'm using laptops again...

[Thalestris24]

I have APT and think it's great. I find it intuitive. It can be used with CCDs as well as Canon Eos DSLRs. So on one setup I use it with a qhy8l osc ccd, On another, I use it with an 1100d. It's a matter of personal choice/taste so you can try several.  APT is always under development and the author Yoddha/Ivo is a member here

[Steve Ward]

Both very similar software , both very good .

As Peter said , give both a try as they have slightly different 'feel' , personally I prefer APT but it's all down to individual choice.

[AstroGZ]

Strongly recommend APT, have used it for a long time with no problems at all.

Have never used BYEos so can't comment.

[groberts]

For the moment I've gone with APT and, from what I can see so far, it looks good.  

One of the basic inputs required is the focal length of the telescope you are using.  It may be a stupid thought but I was just wondering if, as in my case, you use a Field Flattener or extension tube, does this change the effective focal length that needs to be entered into APT for the calculations or it is irrelevant and you just (as it asks for) stick to the telescope's FL?  

[Carina Lass]

I love my APT.

[groberts]

Just been looking through APT and messing around indoors.  When setting a Plan - in this case I used a 5 second Pause between each shot - the actual pause is much longer, about 20 seconds.  What am I doing wrong?  I watched a YouTube video on  setting up plans and the same issue seemed to occur.

Also, is there somewhere you can see the image being written to disk, it just helps assess if all is well 

I have been using the Canon EOS utility before and it was possible to visually see the data begin written + the intervals occurred as set. - so I know the write speed to disk and intervals do work OK in that software and it's not my camera, computer or connection.    

[Yoddha]

Two possible reasons are that "Noise Reduction" is enabled and that you are using RAW only images which take longer time to be decoded.

I can suggest to check the Noise Reduction (and disable it) and to use RAW+L which will result much faster preview

Could you post the link to the click?

[Thalestris24]

Just been looking through APT and messing around indoors.  When setting a Plan - in this case I used a 5 second Pause between each shot - the actual pause is much longer, about 20 seconds.  What am I doing wrong?  I watched a YouTube video on  setting up plans and the same issue seemed to occur.

Also, is there somewhere you can see the image being written to disk, it just helps assess if all is well 

I have been using the Canon EOS utility before and it was possible to visually see the data begin written + the intervals occurred as set. - so I know the write speed to disk and intervals do work OK in that software and it's not my camera, computer or connection.    

Hi

Maybe you set a 'pause' value >0? There is image preview - should be set to 'on'. You can choose where to save images to. As with any software application there is a learning curve - it's worth spending time reading through all the documentation several times

Louise

[lensman57]

,

Just been looking through APT and messing around indoors.  When setting a Plan - in this case I used a 5 second Pause between each shot - the actual pause is much longer, about 20 seconds.  What am I doing wrong?  I watched a YouTube video on  setting up plans and the same issue seemed to occur.

Also, is there somewhere you can see the image being written to disk, it just helps assess if all is well 

I have been using the Canon EOS utility before and it was possible to visually see the data begin written + the intervals occurred as set. - so I know the write speed to disk and intervals do work OK in that software and it's not my camera, computer or connection.    

The total pause is the sum of the set pause time and frame download time, the frame download is not instantaneous . As the DSLR pixel count is getting larger so are the download times.

I don't think that APT has a facility for data download progress mointor, something that IVO may implement in the next upgrade if it is not already there.

A.G

[Thalestris24]

Hi

Maybe you set a 'pause' value >0? There is image preview - should be set to 'on'. You can choose where to save images to. As with any software application there is a learning curve - it's worth spending time reading through all the documentation several times

Louise

sorry, just noticed you set a pause of 5s... With my  12 megapixel 1100d I think it takes about 6s to save a raw image - I guess your 18 mpixel files will take 50% longer

[lensman57]

sorry, just noticed you set a pause of 5s... With my  12 megapixel 1100d I think it takes about 6s to save a raw image - I guess your 18 mpixel files will take 50% longer

18 mega pixel file download? I am impatient with the 2.8 mega pixel down load time of my Atik osc camera.

A.G

[PhotoGav]

+1 for APT.

[groberts]

Two possible reasons are that "Noise Reduction" is enabled and that you are using RAW only images which take longer time to be decoded.

I can suggest to check the Noise Reduction (and disable it) and to use RAW+L which will result much faster preview

Could you post the link to the click?

Thanks. The Noise Reduction was already switched off.

Shooting with R+L however has done the trick, not sure I understand the logic of why RAW + JPG is faster?  Notwithstanding, it seems messy to have to shoot both formats when I only want RAW, is there a neater way round this? As previously indicated, I did not have this problem with EOS Utility, shooting RAW at 18 Megapixels .

[Thalestris24]

I suspect that APT uses jpeg for preview purposes but can get jpegs direct from the camera whereas if only raw are downloaded then it has to do a conversion. I'm sure Yoddha can confirm? I always download R+L - it's quick and easy to scan through jpegs and not much effort to delete them if desired

Louise

[Phillyo]

I used APT for months and loved it. I'm not sure if you need to set a pause time between images? Or maybe I'm thinking of SGP. One of them doesn't start taking a new picture until the other one is downloaded so no pause time is required.

APT is a great tool, especially with the free trial option!! Ivo has done an amazing job there and for the money I don't think you'll find much better out there.

Phil

[Yoddha]

Thank you all for your kind words!

I put in my To-Do list to implement progress notification for image download

Louise is right! When RAW+L is selected APT uses the JPG file for preview which is much faster operation. When only RAW is shot APT uses the Canon's library to decode the raw file which is slow operation.

I always use RAW+L BTW using the Img tab is possible to preview the files fast and to delete the bad frames. The operation deletes both the RAW and JPG files

[groberts]

OK got it now thanks.

It has been my understanding that a pause between shots is good practice and aids cooling and stability etc but if I set 5 seconds it needs to be 5 seconds or the total elapsed time for a plan becomes too unreliable and unmanageable. The R+L seems to achieve this clearly, unfortunately  RAW does not, which is a pity.  Is there some way the respective R & L  files could be saved in different folders making them easier to deal with afterwards?  

[Yoddha]

Definitely it is good to have a pause between the shots. I do use ~30s

But the time for the RAW decoding is something that can't be put in the count. For my PC it can be X for yours X/2... Also it depends on the PC loading. In one moment it can be faster that in others...

The total elapsed time is relatively well estimated after the first 2-3 images. APT takes in account the averaged transfer and decoding time.

At this stage it is not possible to use separate folders for R and L I use TotalCommander as file manager and there is it easy to sort by extension and to delete only the JPGs (something that I don't do because never know when will need them back)

[groberts]

Thanks Yoddha.  So if you use R+L, the JPG quickly previews and the RAW file is saving in the background whilst the plan moves on to the next shot as scheduled, thus achieving the chosen pause period set e.g. 5 seconds? That seems to be what's  happening when I tried it with R+L.

[Yoddha]

The transfer is sequential - APT downloads both files RAW and JPG then displays the JPG. So the pause will be 5s+ downloading time + preview time.

[PhotoGav]

This thread is exactly why APT (& SGL) rocks... Not many software applications that you can have a direct conversation with the author so easily!

[Yoddha]

Thank you Gav!