· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Announcements and News >> Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Olivier Biot Amused Reged: 04/25/05 Loc: 51°N (Belgium) CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging       #4323208 - 01/18/11 04:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging By Robert Brewington Post Extras:       Steve Walters newbie Reged: 09/16/10 Re: CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging [Re: Olivier Biot]       #4323705 - 01/18/11 07:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Some of what you show in these comparison images may well be differences in the screen stretching algorithms in the two products. They both automatically stretch the image and they use different criteria for setting the parameters. I don't think you can judge the two products based on looking at the images, you need to actually analyze them numerically. Maybe you did that but it's not apparent in your article. That said, I prefer CCDSoft for other reasons, namely it stops when I stay stop whereas MaxIm can get lost in it's own little world. Also CCDSoft is a "lighter" program and with software, "less is more" as they say. Since I only use it for data collection, I have no interest in the other capabilities such as MaxIm boasts. This is especially true of MaxIm 5.x. Post Extras:       John Miele Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/29/05 Loc: North Alabama Re: CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging [Re: Steve Walters]       #4324959 - 01/19/11 11:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was also going to say watch out for auto screen stretching differences as well. But another cause of difference might be whether the camera has an amplifier and one of the programs is turning the amp off and the other is leaving it on. Just a guess?? Post Extras:       Alex McConahay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/11/08 Loc: Moreno Valley, CA Re: CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging [Re: John Miele]       #4326268 - 01/19/11 09:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Fascinating. I wonder what would happen if somebody went from Maxim DL to CCD Soft? Is there something in Maxim that you haven't learned to do yet that makes a difference? Is your gain in one system the same as the other? I just have never thought that there would be a difference in the data between the two pieces of software. Alex Post Extras:       RWFAPEX member Reged: 12/04/07 Re: CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging [Re: Alex McConahay]       #4338365 - 01/25/11 12:42 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just got an SBIG ST-2000XM with the TC-237 guide chip. I use Maxim DL 5.09 as well and haven't seen this issue. I suspect the screen stretching is a bit different as well as your settings under the Camera Options tab. Also, run your cursor over the images and note the counts (ADU values) and the Bitmap values. If the values are more than a few percent off then the software settings for the Gain and Download Order may differ. If the value are within a few percent then my guess would be screen stretching differences b/w the software packages. Make sure you use a LB or other stable emission source for this test. Post Extras:       frolinmod Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/06/10 Re: CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging [Re: RWFAPEX]       #4345388 - 01/28/11 12:11 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm a CCDsoft user that has never used Maxim DL, but what I see in this review are what appear to be identical images that have been stretched differently. At the very least we need to see some histograms. Robert, I'd be very much interested in seeing an ACP review. I've viewed all of Bob Denny's well crafted videos, but that's still not enough for me. Post Extras:       Stevous super member Reged: 09/01/09 Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Re: CCDSoft versus MaximDL Imaging [Re: frolinmod]       #5179769 - 04/19/12 06:36 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It's always interesting to see these kind of comparisons, but I'm not sure there is an issue. It could be that Maxim is reading it's own FITs differently, displaying the range of the image more aggressively to show the variation in adu across the image. The comparison of features would have been good in the review. I tried CCDSoft, thinking it lacked a lot of features Maxim had. I know that once you combine TheSkyX, CCDSoft catches up somewhat. But features like click on a spot in your image to slew your scope there is great in Maxim. Built in plate solving is very handy, posting of Dec an Ra info into the images Fits header is nice, the making of capture sequences is easy and that you can save them for another object (like one with a high dynamic range), and much more. I'd love to know more about CCDSoft, like that nifty fact you can bin at 9x9 for my SBIG, whilst with Maxim, 4x4 is the max option. What great things are there in CCDSoft that one may not see in a quick look through (only CCDSoft, not including other SB software). Can someone give some pointers? if anyone wants to compare images from each further, please make sure to compare them in CCDStack, or some other processing software, not Maxim, nor CCDSoft. Thank you, Steve Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 2 registered and 6 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  droid, iceblaze  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 3729 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics