Nikon D3500 difficulties with astrophotography

[keefs]

Hi everyone, I am looking for some help with astrophotography. Specifically, I bought a Nokon D3500 after reading several feedback pages as this device being one of the best beginners kit for astrophotography. As time has gone on I have found that the camera will not enable an intervalometer or any sort of shutter release device. it doesn't have a port to allow it. On top of that, the snapbridge app doesn't allow you to time and interval the shots. So the alternative is that when the app does eventually load (which sometimes it doesn't in dark sky areas), I am having to.press the snap button 100s of times and it just isn't working. I am so frustrated because I paid £500 for the camera.. Does anyone know a way around this? Another app perhaps, a device that will work. the camera enables micro usb and micro hdmi cables but no others. Any help would be very much welcomed otherwise I will need to wait longer and save for a different camera. Thank you 

[happy-kat]

Welcome

I don't have any Nikon experience so while waiting for a direct reply to help you, I'll only suggest please ask on here if you get to a point where you do change your camera, Canon second hand there are several older models that can be used to get started with that are cheap second hand and canon is very supported astro wise.

There are members using your Nikon model I think I've seen on here so hopefully you'll get specific help so you can start.

 

[johnfosteruk]

You're going to have difficulty, snapbridge should in principle be the tool for the job but it needs improvements. As well as having no port for a cable, it doesn't have an IR receiver to allow use of a wireless remote either. Backyard Nikon isn't supported either.

You could use the self timer to trigger exposures while avoiding vibration, you'll be limited with exposure length though as that won't allow anything over 30s.

[Cozzy]

Hi Keefs, I use canon, so not much help for you, I did found this Q&A page, see Josh's work around. https://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/nikon-d3500-questions-answers/

Another work around for the lack of a compatable intervolometer is using SnapBridge with Auto Clicker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truedevelopersstudio.automatictap.autoclicker&hl=en_US)

hope that helps a bit.

 

Tim

Edited January 12, 2021 by Cozzy
typo

[bottletopburly]

Are you sure you haven’t mixed D3500 with the D5300 I didn’t think the D3500 was rated for Astro I may be wrong I use D5300 which is highly rated .

[keefs]

2 hours ago, johnfosteruk said:

You're going to have difficulty, snapbridge should in principle be the tool for the job but it needs improvements. As well as having no port for a cable, it doesn't have an IR receiver to allow use of a wireless remote either. Backyard Nikon isn't supported either.

You could use the self timer to trigger exposures while avoiding vibration, you'll be limited with exposure length though as that won't allow anything over 30s.

Thank you for this feedback, what an absolute nightmare, its a good camera but I really feel I have been mis-sold for the use of astrotography. I have tried the timer too. Such a shame

[keefs]

1 hour ago, Cozzy said:

Hi Keefs, I use canon, so not much help for you, I did found this Q&A page, see Josh's work around. https://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/nikon-d3500-questions-answers/

Another work around for the lack of a compatable intervolometer is using SnapBridge with Auto Clicker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truedevelopersstudio.automatictap.autoclicker&hl=en_US)

hope that helps a bit.

 

Tim

Thanks Tim, I will check out these links, anything will be a help right now.

[keefs]

1 hour ago, bottletopburly said:

Are you sure you haven’t mixed D3500 with the D5300 I didn’t think the D3500 was rated for Astro I may be wrong I use D5300 which is highly rated .

No it definitely says D3500. I'm sure it is great for astrophotography if you are willing to stand around pressing buttons

[keefs]

2 hours ago, happy-kat said:

Welcome

I don't have any Nikon experience so while waiting for a direct reply to help you, I'll only suggest please ask on here if you get to a point where you do change your camera, Canon second hand there are several older models that can be used to get started with that are cheap second hand and canon is very supported astro wise.

There are members using your Nikon model I think I've seen on here so hopefully you'll get specific help so you can start.

 

Thanks for this, I am going to get a Canon, second hand so would absolutely appreciate any recommendations on the model to get. Looking at the 80d, 60d and 6d but all quite expensive 

[happy-kat]

It would be great to know what you intend to use the camera with, such as what lenses you might already own and or what telescope and or what mount tripod.

Without knowing details of the above the Canon 600d is a popular model and has an articulated screen, also there is the 550d older but has video crop mode good for planets too and cheaper still and the oldest 450d. The last two do not have an articulated screen. @Alien 13 might offer comments on the 80d. But really would want to know the answers to the questions above first please.

[keefs]

23 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

It would be great to know what you intend to use the camera with, such as what lenses you might already own and or what telescope and or what mount tripod.

Without knowing details of the above the Canon 600d is a popular model and has an articulated screen, also there is the 550d older but has video crop mode good for planets too and cheaper still and the oldest 450d. The last two do not have an articulated screen. @Alien 13 might offer comments on the 80d. But really would want to know the answers to the questions above first please.

Thank you. I really hope to get deep sky images rather than planets. Keep to get nebula / galaxies etc. I only have the standard lense 18-55mm at the moment. Having spent money on the camera, tripod and software as well as a few other bits, the lense went on the backfoot until I just play around with the camera. So I was also looking at the 600d. I then got fatigue and became confused with all the different models. I swayed to the 600d for some time but then there were comments against. 

[Anthony1979]

Ive got this camera although it is a decent camera it doesnt support any software such as apt... I used mine through qdlsrdashboard but still had to sit there clicking away this was the problem. I searched the internet for months but still found nothing.. I ended up buying the nikon D5600

[keefs]

9 minutes ago, Anthony1979 said:

Ive got this camera although it is a decent camera it doesnt support any software such as apt... I used mine through qdlsrdashboard but still had to sit there clicking away this was the problem. I searched the internet for months but still found nothing.. I ended up buying the nikon D5600

Such a shame because it is a lovely camera. It seems they made it to test the ability of software to be used for things that hardware would typically do. It hasn't seemed to have worked unfortunately 

[Anthony1979]

It is a shame because it is a capable camera i managed to image with it with some decent result... Just a pity theres no software for it

[happy-kat]

if you look on astrobin and search by any of the cameras you are interested in then you will see lots (or not many) DSO images plus there is this forum to search around. Canon gives easier connectivity still, I use an android phone or tablet and app DSLR Controller to manage and focus my Canon 1100d.

What tripod/mount did  you get already, if a static mount you will be limited to taking lots of short exposures and stacking them to tease out detail.

[keefs]

1 hour ago, happy-kat said:

if you look on astrobin and search by any of the cameras you are interested in then you will see lots (or not many) DSO images plus there is this forum to search around. Canon gives easier connectivity still, I use an android phone or tablet and app DSLR Controller to manage and focus my Canon 1100d.

What tripod/mount did  you get already, if a static mount you will be limited to taking lots of short exposures and stacking them to tease out detail.

I just have a steady tripod, no equatorial mount yet though I do plan on getting all the relevant kit I just want to start seeing some results first before I invest heavily in this hobby. First hurdle is the camera unfortunately 

[happy-kat]

Next consideration is whether to get a second hand camera that is astro modified though this is not essential.

[Seelive]

I've used a Canon 200D for the past 2 years for astrophotography and I've been very happy with the results that I get.  24MP APC-C format, small and light but has been recently superceeded by the 250D so you should be able to pick one up second hand with a resonably low shutter count.

[keefs]

8 minutes ago, Seelive said:

I've used a Canon 200D for the past 2 years for astrophotography and I've been very happy with the results that I get.  24MP APC-C format, small and light but has been recently superceeded by the 250D so you should be able to pick one up second hand with a resonably low shutter count.

This is great advice, I will have a good look, I have been keeping an eye on shutter counts on second hand cameras so I will consider the 250d in my search 

[Alien 13]

The Canon 60/70/80D range are all good cameras for AP, the older 60D has video crop mode for Lunar/Planetary imaging and Canon even made a dedicated Astro camera based on it with the 60Da.  The 80D has much better noise performance than the others so holds its price well, it also can be fully operated over wifi if one wishes. All three cameras also use the "pro" LP-E6 batteries as per the 5D/6D/7D range which last for ages.

Alan

Edited January 12, 2021 by Alien 13

[keefs]

30 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

The Canon 60/70/80D range are all good cameras for AP, the older 60D has video crop mode for Lunar/Planetary imaging and Canon even made a dedicated Astro camera based on it with the 60Da.  The 80D has much better noise performance than the others so holds its price well, it also can be fully operated over wifi if one wishes. All three cameras also use the "pro" LP-E6 batteries as per the 5D/6D/7D range which last for ages.

Alan

Thanks for this feedback. I will aim for this range (60/70/80d) although I read somewhere to steer away from the 70d. No problem though, thanks again 

[KP82]

The 24MP APS-C sensor found in 80D and the newer model offers better DR and noise performance compared to all previous Canon APS-C models. Therefore they are more costly (both the body and astro mod).

Since you will be using your computer to control the camera, a lot of the ergonomic features offered by the higher end models are irrelevant. So for cost reasons entry level models like 1000D, 550D, 600D, etc are very popular (I picked up an astro modded 600D because of its better QE and well capacity among the pre-80D Canon APS-Cs). If you don't mind paying a bit more, 200D is another good choice as it has the new 24MP sensor.

[Astro_mark_c]

On 12/01/2021 at 10:43, bottletopburly said:

Are you sure you haven’t mixed D3500 with the D5300 I didn’t think the D3500 was rated for Astro I may be wrong I use D5300 which is highly rated .

Yeah the D5300 is what i hear heaps about too. 

[davew]

Hi Keefs,

As a life long user of Nikon cameras I have to say the 3*** series cameras are the only modern Nikon DSLRs I wouldn't recommend for Astro use, on a scope at least. They are fine for static camera use on a tripod as I've been with a couple of people using them with great results. Can you send a link to what you've read as I think it sounds flaky at best.

The D5300 is fine and in use the world over.

If I had to buy a Canon camera under pain of death ( 😇 ) then it would be a secondhand 6D or an R6. However, my needs probably wouldn't line up with yours,

Dave.

Just remembered that someone said they used qDslrDashboard on a D3*** some time ago. There may be a thread on it.

Edited January 14, 2021 by davew

[Mognet]

18 hours ago, davew said:

Just remembered that someone said they used qDslrDashboard on a D3*** some time ago. There may be a thread on it.

I think it may have been this thread. We got DigiCamControl working with the D3400. Looks like it's Windows only. When I tested them a couple of years ago I couldn't get qDslrDashboard working with my D3400 even though the forum says it's possible. It could have changed since then, so I might give it a try later. qDslrDashboard can run on various systems, including the Raspberry Pi

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/329864-d3400-for-ap/

 

Edited January 15, 2021 by Mognet