Connecting your DSLR Camera to your Laptop - Astrophotography for Beginners

In this video, we'll be showing you how to take amazing astrophotography with your DSLR camera using just a laptop!
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced astrophotographer, this video is for you! We'll be connecting your DSLR camera to your laptop, and then guiding you through the process of taking amazing astrophotography. By the end of this video, you'll have the skills you need to start capturing stunning astrophotography on your own!
N.I.N.A Download Link: nighttime-imaging.eu/download/
This video will cover:
✅ Learning how to connect your camera to the laptop
✅ How to use N.I.N.A to control your camera
✅ Using your laptop to control your telescope mount
…and so much more!
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GEAR:
Celestron NexStar 8se Telescope: t.ly/aU4IP
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[@tobydz]

Mike your ongoing rivalry with those planes just kills me.... Hilarious.

[@Borjapaneles]

Hi mikee thanks for yours videos . Very helpful . Great man

[@LoeAnders]

I am so new at this I don't know what questions to ask. You explain each process in a way that I can follow and understand. Thanks so much.

[@jonrobinson1026]

Very helpful.. thanks

[@TheHotelBravo]

I have the 8SE and a T3i ... I am so glad to have found someone showing everything required TODAY instead of 3 to 4 year old videos. I am waiting for any info you share!

[@AstroExplorers]

Great to hear!

[@69Atho]

Hi Mike. I just want to say a big thank you, as you have helped me get underway with astrophotography. I love the sky align feature you showed a few videos back, and it works a treat, and so easy. Cheers from Western Australia.

[@AstroExplorers]

Hey thanks! Glad I could help!

[@colinbacon1738]

Great collection of information you have shared, I use Celestrons built in wi fi and control my telescope via Sky Safari Pro using my I pad , connects every time. In the past I have used sky portal that also connects every time . I have now downloaded N I N A to control my Cannon Camera thanks to your video. I do not own the 8 se, I wish I did. I have the Celestron Astro fi 150 mm . It works absolutely fine, tho the mount isn’t very good but with some easy fixes it is now stable .Doing deep sky is virtually In possible with it, I now have the Dwarf 11 telescope to run along side my Celestron. Best of both worlds. The Dwarf 11 is for price and captures decent images, the Astro for planets and clusters.

[@browndog171063]

I just bought myself a Nexstar 8SE to get learn astonomy and now I've found this channel. Thank you very much, it's awesome! keep the vids coming they are fantastic.

[@AstroExplorers]

Hey thanks! I appreciate it, and there's more coming :)

[@gerdenclark8270]

Hi Mike, just found your channel and love the information you're covering. I'm very new to astronomy/astrophotography and your videos have addressed many of the questions I've had concerning connecting my Celestron 8" Evolution to my computer. One question I have about NINA. I downloaded it and have it running but it doesn't see my Canon EOS RP. I have it connected to the computer the way I transfer photographs but NINA doesn't see it or even list Canon cameras at all. Is there more software I need in order for NINA to work? Keep making these videos, because they're a BIG help!

[@stevenbeaucaire1161]

Finally, someone that has the same setup. Great video!!! Question - for taking taking pictures using the DLSR, using N.I.N.A are you required to take flat and bias frames ?

[@AstroExplorers]

Required, no. Will it be useful when stacking, yes for sure. I would say darks are less important because of the temperature swings with an uncooled camera. And your lights and darks will no have the same temperature noise necessarily.

[@Borjapaneles]

Just one cuestion: you used any eyepice or barlow to capture orion ?? Or is directly with the DSLR ? Thanks for your help , i have the nextar130SLT and i dont want to modify the mirror youknow… its possible get great pictures just with camera as a eyepice ?? Thanksss mike

[@gustube2000]

Same question as guisaldanha 4 months ago, but not answered. |Please can you explain: A)How did you get Canon to appear on the NINA list? What software have you installed from Canon? Can you pass the link? & What cables to connect the Canon to the laptop. B) How to do this for Sony Alpha cameras? Thank you for reply

[@VixilMC]

What would you reccomend for Mac since NINA does not work

[@ultrasonic6284]

Great video Mike. What are the areas around DFW can we go for fairly dark skies? Just got myself a 6se and was wondering what are the different locations I can go to to get decent views of the night skies. Thanks

[@AstroExplorers]

I wish I knew lol. I do all mine from home.

[@ultrasonic6284]

@@AstroExplorers lol.. thanks for the videos.. amazing detail for setting up the telescope.

[@wilkorfilms8478]

I connected my Eos M six, mark 2 DSLR to my celestron nexstar 0:10 9.25. And the shutter would not work either manually or remotely. I have the exact same accessories with the t ring and adapter. Any idea why the shutter will not work?

[@guisaldanha]

How did you get Canon to appear on the NINA list? What software have you installed from Canon? Can you pass the link? I installed Canon EOS Utility and it works fine. But I never got it to appear on NINA. I've clicked update several times with the EOS Utility open, connected, and also closed, but it doesn't appear. My Canon T3i appears in several parts of Windows, but never in NINA. I needed to install an ascom driver to communicate with the Canon, but it doesn't work so well.

[@nathanfortin8192]

Total noob here, but my question is how to tell the mount to track your object, or does it just automatically do so after programming in number of shots, and expose time?

[@scottmurphy650]

What to do if CPWI will not connect to the camera? I am using the right USB cable and I checked the connection to my tethering software with no problems but I cannot get CPEI to connect to the camera

[@michaelfrazier9537]

I don't get a "Live View" icon with my QHY5III462. Is there a reason for this?

[@astrotherapist]

What about ZWO ASI cameras? Why don't you do a video showing that?

[@user-vc2zt5ze2v]

Hi Mike, I'm just getting started with astrophotography. I've noticed in your videos you don't mention anything about whether an equatorial polar alignment is necessary, for long exposure photography, using a wedge? Is it necessary or just use mount that came with the 8SE to get accurate tracking? I've read elsewhere the mount that comes stock with the 8SE tracking is not sufficient. Bottom line - Is using a wedge, doing polar tracking the best way to align for astrophotography? Hope you have a definitive answer before I spend 400.00 on a wedge.

[@billvinson7859]

Without a wedge you have to worry about field rotation. So even though it tracts the object the object will rotate as it is tracked.

[@Idaho4ever]

Whats the cost of the software?

[@tbodrero]

Can you do the same things in this video, using N.I.N.A with a ZWO ASI camera? I'm new and don't want to spend a lot of money on a camera until I know what I'm doing, what is the cheapest camera that I can do these things with?

[@AstroExplorers]

Yes, I'll be using an ASI camera in future videos, so keep an eye out for it.

[@Ms98Marta]

Is it possible to see on the computer what I see from the telescope without having a camera?

[@AlarmTechHelper]

No its not. There is a wifi adapter and starsense which makes it easier to align because it does it automatically. You then use the app by connecting to the wifi adapter to be able to control your telescope to specific stars. You will have to the look thru the lens to see the star itself unless you have a camera setup, which then you can just use a laptop to view and control like he was but much easier.

[@mosesrodriguez1494]

Here is an odd question for you: Can I use a MIRROR camera on NexStar 8SE?

[@RetiredMillennial]

Why is support for D3300 so poor with these apps ? Nikonbackyard doesn’t even support it.

[@AstroExplorers]

Wish I could tell you.

[@TimRWhite]

N.I.N.A. Is not finding my Nikon Z5 or Z6II😢

[@ricardoabh3242]

RAW? I saw in a post that you need go to advanced settings to DCRAW… or did you find your issue?

[@jimsamolczyk3774]

Mike, i have been out of the game for some years. I’m now back into astronomy. I now have a celestron Schmidt Cassagrain 9.25 XLT. I haven’t been able to observe yet as the WX here in Michigan is not great. I have SKY PORTAL and the dongel. My question is: do i have to orient my tripod to north or can i just do the 3 star align with sky portal. Most of what i want to observe is in the south. Some in the north. Can you advise me?

[@AstroExplorers]

It helps if you do an initial (point to the north) with your telescope. It's doesn't have to be perfect. When you start the alignment, the telescope will head towards the star you pick. But it's going to assume it's pointing north and is level. If you don't do that, you'll just have to move the telescope further for the first star alignment.