4. Recommended Software

In order to use your dedicated astro camera with a laptop, you'll need to download some software. I recommend getting SharpCap as your first application, it's got an easy user interface that will help you learn the basics.
I would also recommend getting an ASIAir Pro to control your new dedicated astro camera. The ASIAir Pro will replace your laptop, which means you can now control the camera settings, polar alignment, auto-guiding, filter wheel, and more all from your smartphone! This is my preferred workflow, and what I'll be focusing on in the rest of the course.
Here's a link to the ZWO software page:
astronomy-imaging-camera.com/...

[@leomenchaca6860]

This is perfect. Thank you for some great info.

[@arielatomhc]

Thanks you just made setting up my camera a bit easier.

[@BRP42]

Helpful content Peter--thanks!

[@BRP42]

I've tried using the ASiStudio and I agree with you, it's not great.

[@Tracks777]

lovely content

[@kayedsss]

Thanks a lot

[@v.4.vanquishl177]

First of all, thanks Peter for all the vids you made them to help us, you were and still are the person who i did and still learning from him alot. I know i am pointing to a different subject right now but you may help me or maybe us if you will do a vid about the best techniques in how to fit the camera especially with telephoto lens after doing a polar alignment on skyguider pro. This always drive me crazy. After doing the polar alignment everything get bad once i attached the camera with telephoto lens and counterweight, the polar alignment get bad. So if there is an easy way or techniques please share it with us. Thanks.

[@PeterZelinka]

Yeah, that's normal. When you attach all your gear you need to double check your polar alignment. It usually gets thrown off. If you want to learn more, I cover all that in my courses on my website.

[@v.4.vanquishl177]

@@PeterZelinka Ok good to know that you did cover that part. I will check it. Thanks.

[@HogarthsAstrophotography]

You can still use ASCOM drivers for the camera, when your other gear doesn’t have ASCOM support. A lot of popular apps do support Zwo native drivers, however SGP have just dropped support and only support Zwo via ASCOM.

[@stuparker776]

Yes I see this why have they done this

[@HogarthsAstrophotography]

Stu Parker not sure, some are citing native driver bugs and stability in recent releases.

[@stuparker776]

thanks@@HogarthsAstrophotography this seems strange.I opened SGP the other day and connected the ASI1600 to it and got that alert.It seems to still work fine.How do you use it through ASCOM.It still works fine for me in SGP at the moment anyway

[@caroleparker1599]

I have the ASI 290 mm mini. I downloaded the software from the ZWO website, but I cannot get the software to recognize the camera. All the cables and the camera are brand new, just got them. I have the camera on a Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm guide scope, again, brand new. So any ideas what I did wrong? ZWO is not very helpful, still trying with them.

[@RashadUjaimi]

Thank you for the tips. I just used my ASI 178 MC last night with ASICAP to capture the moon again and Jupiter. Any recommended software for processing moon and planets for beginners ?

[@PeterZelinka]

I don't do any planetary photography, but you should be able to find some good tutorials by other KZbinrs on that subject

[@enriqueromeromotta6916]

I will add the software N.I.N.A (Nighttime Imaging) which is free for controlling everything(guiding, camera, etc) and it is free also.

[@lalitkapoor6526]

Hello peter I just buy a new zwo asi224 camera and i have a MacBook air so I would like to please guide me how to run zwo on mac

[@zhuoyanghan5323]

Peter I want to know will you keep doing videos with DSLR cameras in the future or just focus on the dedicated gears?

[@PeterZelinka]

I've already done a ton with DSLRs, about as much as I can honestly. If you want to learn more, I'd recommend checking out my courses on my website. They focus exclusively on using a DSLR and telephoto lens for astrophotography. (Or a wide angle lens for Milky Way) I'm going to focus on these dedicated astro cameras for a while, until I complete my course here on KZbin.

[@zhuoyanghan5323]

@@PeterZelinka Thanks for informing.

[@rockanthems]

I’m pretty upset I bought a MAC . What Windows computer do you recommend? Maybe a laptop?

[@mpk2707]

You are only pointing to Planetary software within ASI 3rd Party Capture and Processing Software. You should mention the DSO Imaging link in stead, as Planetary imaging is not very good with your setup. There is a big difference in the requirement of your equipment.

[@rockanthems]

It say MAC is not supported ? At every turn I cannot use my MAC ?

[@ACEOFSPACE2000]

Sequence generator pro is the best for Deep sky Astrophotography and Fire capture for Planetary. But you will need better equipment mount and scope.

[@EmberSkyMedia]

Fix your thumbnail 😉