I'm the author of this program and am happy to inform you that there is new version on the site. There are fixes and new features included (take a look on history page for details).
I really like the way it operates the mirror lock up on the 500D (Same as the 350D system )with your nominated pause and without the use of live view.
But I can't work out how to direct the image transfer it will not send my images anywhere and gives me no options of where to send them. It also won't run my 350D at all. It says it is conected but will not fire the mirror or shutter.
I really like the way it operates the mirror lock up on the 500D (Same as the 350D system )with your nominated pause and without the use of live view.
But I can't work out how to direct the image transfer it will not send my images anywhere and gives me no options of where to send them. It also won't run my 350D at all. It says it is conected but will not fire the mirror or shutter.
Daniel have a look at the help guide. Images are saved to C:\windows\program files\astrophotographytool\Camera.. .then in a date file it creates.
The paid version has ability to change the location of saved files otherwise they are saved as above location.
Once you "connect" you then bring up your file list of images & ISOs you want with the exposures tab. The press start.
Thanks Wasy,
I had a look in the defalt destination and when I get intoC:\ program files\astrophotography tool but nothing further (Just drivers and stuff) so still not sure where they are going. I dont see\ camera ..It also will not let me make any manual adjustments to the camera until I disconect shut it down and restart.
Never mind, It may be because it is only the trial version.
Attached is a screen grab of my install file locations for APT.
As you can see from the attached it creates a fiolder "Camera_1". Inside this folder it creates another date format folder to hold images you take.
Are you sure another program like the canon EOS utility is not running or auto starting when you switch on your camera. I have found this interferes with the APT software.
Did anyone try to use the alignment mode? I did not find much on the website on that. Did he have crosshairs that can be placed over a star to assist doing drift alignment or is that some other alignment mode?
I think I am going to try it but it would be a big plus if he also had some assist to track star drift built into the program. The ideal thing would be have large crosshair that sits on liveview screen and a mouse click sets the center (like on the star at some start time). Then after the star has moved with the mount drive off be able to rotate the grid with a second mouse click on the new position of the drifted star.
Did anyone try to use the alignment mode? I did not find much on the website on that. Did he have crosshairs that can be placed over a star to assist doing drift alignment or is that some other alignment mode?
Hi Mark. I do not think the alignment cross hairs are moveable. You have to rotate the camera to align with the star drift for drift alignment routine.
But a software inbuilt rotatable cross-hair would be handy.
Of course you could overlay this utility with a 3rd party cross-hair that can be rotated aka JAC virtual cross-hair.
I also know of a rotating grid app and thought about that later but I think I'll take a look at the one you mention as well, thanks.
Im going to check out this software and the price is nice so I Ill buy it as well but was a little confused on Canon 40D specifics in terms of USB drive and mirror lockup delay. For those things, the free download will answer all that even in my living room on a full moon I think. I like the live-view preview for mask-focus and framing so I don't have to kink my neck to see focus on the tiny screen. Nice.
I really don't want anything but usb between the camera and my field laptop and if that really happens, including mirror lockup delay, I'll be sending in my moo-lah cause it looks like it is simple yet does so much of the workflow. Easy to remember how to use in the dark is a HUGE Plus.
If you want to Drift Align in these programs, get yourself a copy of StarTarg, open it up and you can drag it all over the screen and set it at various orientations.
Excuse me, I had forgotten to make a subscription to this thread and didn't receive notification that there are new post here
danielsun, to use APT with 350D a serial cable is needed to control the shutter and mirror. Only the models after 2006 can be controlled only with USB.
As for the cross, the original idea for it was to help me with "High precision" feature of my LXD-75 mount. It works quite well in combination with LiveView . But I suppose that the cross will be handy for drift alignment too. If there is something that can be handy for doing it, let me know and I'll try to add it in the next version.
I await a field test or two to see if anything comes up then.
Paid for the version today.
Intuitive, easy to understand, well laid out with a pro look, does what it says it will do.
As with any program there will be little things but this is one nice tool at a fair price. This seems to have full USB control with my Canon 40D with 1.0.8 firmware.
I will upgrade firmware at some time because I think there is a 1.1.1 that people like and a 1.1.2 that may have issues around some focus feature. But that has nothing to do with this APT and may be on some other thread here in Ice.
it will not send my images anywhere and gives me no options of where to send them.
. But I suppose that the cross will be handy for drift alignment too. If there is something that can be handy for doing it, let me know and I'll try to add it in the next version.
