Image processing software choice

[ChrisM]

What to use? As a newcomer to AP, I’m looking to acquire some software to stack and process subs from my DSLR.

I’ve looked at what seem to be the popular ones: ImagesPlus, Nebulosity, Registax, CCDStack, DSS & Maxim DL.

With the prices ranging from zip (for DSS) to $499 USD for Maxim DL (Pro), I am interested to know if there is really that much difference in the essential elements that each package has. I know that some offer camera (and even observatory) control too, so does it just boil down to you get what you pay for, or are there other important differences?

Apologies if this topic has been thrashed around previously – but I couldn’t find such a thread.



Cheers,
Chris

[TrevorW]

Free stacking DSS

Free Iris

[JD2439975]

The hardware side of things strips me of any cash I get my hands on so it's the freebie stuff for me at the moment & damn fine pieces of software they are too.

As a newcomer I'd say stick with the free stuff till you start finding limitations then spend your dough on something that ticks the right boxes, not much point having all the bells & whistles if you never use them.

But if you've got cash to burn...BUY IT ALL!! :lol:

[h0ughy]

Chris I have Images Plus - and its very good for camera control and stacking and processing, but now I use DSS for stacking and process the result in Pixinsight - and of course you need Photoshop (though i only use that to resize for the web LOL - but if Fred V reads this then I am learning it - honest !!!) its horses for courses, but ultimately it comes down to "I don’t need to control the 40D via the PC" - I focus with the live view and a bahtnov mask and use a timer to control the exposures and store everything on CF card the put that in the PC. But each to their own - and it is pretty cool to have the last image taken to be on screen to see how things are going - so it is worth it to capture by PC so there is your argument for camera control... now for processing I am now hooked on Pixinsight but i stack with DSS. They all have a suite of tools - it comes down to the fact you learn how to develop the image - which can be fun and frustrating depending on your skill level. Constant practice is necessary so that you don’t loose or forget how to do something - sprinkled with a lot of experimenting;).

[ChrisM]

Thanks all for the tips. Seems that DSS will be worth a trial for starters. Have not heard of Pixinsight though. And it may be good idea to document the workflow for future reference. I don't have live view so will consider my options for getting pics on screen.

Chris