SGP Control / Pixinsight processing software help needed...

[acropolite (Phil)]

I've been looking at control and processing software options after Astrofest and seeing how many there had remote focus and control software options.

I noticed by searching the forum that a quite a few users are using SGP and Pixinsight.

Is that the best option or are there others that are preferable e.g. images plus

Your experiences and thoughts please....

[Bart]

I use SGP and love it. Have given Maxim the flick. Pixinsight is very good as well. At the end of the day, it still comes down to personal taste. Images captured and processed with one set of software packages can be as good as others done with other packages.

Most have trial versions, give a go and see what you like.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I'm using SGP and I'm happy with how it performs. At the time Maxim was too expensive.

Pixinsight has a great batch pre-processing script for calibration and stacking.

[allan gould]

I use sequence generator pro and am trying to get my small brain around pixinsight ATM.
I cant do without SGP, tried Maxim and ACP but found SGP was far easier and did what I wanted.
Pixinsight has it all but its a steep learning curve away from PS.
Allan

[acropolite (Phil)]

Thanks for the feedback, I've downloaded SGP in anticipation if the arrival of my new focuser (thanks Allan for the heads up on that), I've also got Pixinsight installing with a trial licence, hopefully that will give me enough time to be comfortable with the package. The learning curve shouldn't be much of a bother as I barely know my way around PS.

[ozstronomer (Geoff)]

PHIL

I'm sure you will enjoy SGP once you get all the hardware connected and communicating. I personally like the auto focus and plate solving functions.

Also, have a look at Harrys Astro Shed Pixinsight tutorials, they are a great place to start. http://www.harrysastroshed.com/pixinsighthome.html

Geoff

[White Rabbit]

I've started to look at SGP myself as I'm getting a bit disillusioned with TSX and the camera add on. There is very little automation built in other than the fact that plate solving is really easy. SGP looks quite good I'll need to dig into this week.

Ditto on the batch preprocessing script in Pixinsight, its awesome. I've only just got my head around it. I paid for the ip4ap tutorials and to be honest whilst the description on the how to go about calibrating and aligning pretty good but it's not in spelled out in a linear fashion and it really frustrated me.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

Havent used SGP, but am a great fan of PixInsight. I acquire in Maxim then do the rest of the processing in PI. No photoshop here. As one of the previous posters suggested, go to Harry's astroshed. It's really good and enough to give you a great start. I don't have Warren Kellers DVDs, but I wasn't too impressed with the free samples on his website. Stick with the PI--you won't regret it.
Geoff