MaximDL

bazaud (Barry) · #1 20-09-2012, 07:15 PM

Do I take the plunge and spend $500 and buy MaximDL?

Is it worth the money?

Is it better than the freebies?

How do I tell my wife???

Love to hear your comments.
Thanks

Barry

Moon (James) · #2 20-09-2012, 07:44 PM

If you're using a mono CCD camera, then the answer is yes. For a DSLR you can probably stick with deepskystacker.
As for the wife, it's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission, right?
James

bazaud (Barry) · #3 20-09-2012, 09:04 PM

Thanks James,

Good advice.

Barry

RickS (Rick) · #4 20-09-2012, 09:22 PM

I'm not a big fan of Maxim for processing but it's my preferred tool for image capture. It takes a bit of effort to figure it out but it is very powerful and configurable.

Cheers,
Rick.

Tandum (Robin) · #5 20-09-2012, 09:37 PM

That new version 5.22 is still a bit buggy I think. Seems to lock up on me around the guiding chart. I dropped back to 5.18 till I have time to look closer at it. Could be the real problem is this rebuilt PC I'm now using.

bazaud (Barry) · #6 21-09-2012, 10:22 PM

Thanks Robin and Rick,

I need a good capture program, been playing around with Nebulousity trial. Trying to decide should I, bite the bullet and put the $80 into buying MaximDL instead?

Barry

peter_4059 (Peter) · #7 22-09-2012, 07:49 AM

Give sequence generator pro a try. $100 and has very good functionality. The guys developing it are adding new features weekly and it has come a long way since they started.

bazaud (Barry) · #8 22-09-2012, 04:17 PM

Thanks Peter..I'll have a look at it.

Still waiting for someone to praise Maxim so much I'll have to buy it.

Barry

Bassnut (Fred) · #9 22-09-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazaud

Thanks Peter..I'll have a look at it.

Still waiting for someone to praise Maxim so much I'll have to buy it.

Barry

It's not cost of DL, it's how you value yr time. DL does everything, so sure, try the freebies, with all the painfull learning curves and limitations, and end up geting DL anyway after a year of endless stuffing around "saving money", and then yet another learning curve. Short cut all that and just get DL now. It's a tool to get pics. What's more important, stuffing around with cheap tools, or pics ?

peter_4059 (Peter) · #10 22-09-2012, 07:17 PM

Pretty hard to dismiss an option when you haven't tried it in my opinion.

Bassnut (Fred) · #11 22-09-2012, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Pretty hard to dismiss an option when you haven't tried it in my opinion.

Actually, it's very easy. How many options do you bother with to bang a nail in to a piece of wood?. There are many ways to try for free or you buy a hammer.
DL is a standard hammer.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #12 22-09-2012, 07:35 PM

Yep Fred you are right.

Everyone should buy a PME, and RCOS, an ST10XME and have an obs too.

As you say - what's more important, stuffing around with cheap tools or pics?

allan gould · #13 22-09-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Actually, it's very easy. How many options do you bother with to bang a nail in to a piece of wood?. There are many ways to try for free or you buy a hammer.
DL is a standard hammer.

Fred,
To be honest I've tried your hammer in the form of Maxim and although all the tools were there in the bag I really found it to be a pain in the butt. I went for simpler programs that just do what it says with the minimum of fuss and then eventually I came across the program that Peter_4059 mentioned.
What a breath of fresh air with a clean interface, logically set out without the Maxim attitude.
So unlike some I've tried both and I prefer a clean simple pallette rather than a greasy high calorie meal. Sequence generator enables me to get on target, plate solve then do all my lights and calibration frames with any of my cameras or scopes or mounts and does it all beautifully rather than spending all night Wondering why my guider won't work with Maxim.
Just my 2 cents

Allan

Bassnut (Fred) · #14 22-09-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Yep Fred you are right.

Everyone should buy a PME, and RCOS, an ST10XME and have an obs too.

As you say - what's more important, stuffing around with cheap tools or pics?

Haha, good one , point taken

. Yes, there is satisfaction in doing more with less, the craft is often as important as the pics I'll give you l that. Let's say whatever you decide on, learn the tool well, don't chop and change .

peter_4059 (Peter) · #15 22-09-2012, 07:57 PM

Hopefully one day I'll be allowed to build an obs. I'm sick of packing it all up when the clouds roll in only to find it is all clear 30 minutes later

Bassnut (Fred) · #16 22-09-2012, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan gould

Fred,
To be honest I've tried your hammer in the form of Maxim and although all the tools were there in the bag I really found it to be a pain in the butt. I went for simpler programs that just do what it says with the minimum of fuss and then eventually I came across the program that Peter_4059 mentioned.
What a breath of fresh air with a clean interface, logically set out without the Maxim attitude.
So unlike some I've tried both and I prefer a clean simple pallette rather than a greasy high calorie meal. Sequence generator enables me to get on target, plate solve then do all my lights and calibration frames with any of my cameras or scopes or mounts and does it all beautifully rather than spending all night Wondering why my guider won't work with Maxim.
Just my 2 cents

Allan

Ok, go with the easy to use plastic hammer then, but you'll have to bang a lot harder when the nails get bigger.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #17 22-09-2012, 08:15 PM

Check this out...

http://www.bunnings.com.au/learn-how...spx?videoId=42

allan gould · #18 22-09-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Ok, go with the easy to use plastic hammer then, but you'll have to bang a lot harder when the nails get bigger.

It's just me Fred as I like to play in my own sandpit with easy to use programs to get my images which is what I'm doing now. Just pulled up my planetarium, went to my object, plate solved and synced then centered on my reference image from a prior run to within 5 -10 pixels and all my lights, flats darks and bias frames are all preset from the last time I imaged and will be finished and in the right directories ready for pixinsight to munch on without any assistance from me. And the scope safely parked and tucked away for the night.
A simple sand box with a little plastic hammer - just my cup of tea with little noise! Just glad you like maxim, Fred.
Allan

allan gould · #19 22-09-2012, 08:26 PM

Or this one which is a real gem!
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=2308779

troypiggo (Troy) · #20 22-09-2012, 09:55 PM

Or something like this:
http://mindhacks.com/2007/12/17/man-...-for-11-weeks/