Which software to use?

I'm just getting into CCD photography, have a Canon 20Da. The software I do have now is Registax, and photoshop 7. Do I need software like Maxim Dl or CCDsoft? or is the photoshop all I need? Thanks in advance, Dan

I thimk Maxim may have a plugin that can control your cannon from a PC. It also would make aligning and stacking images easier and has other useful features like DDP. Plus it handles color images.

The makers of Maxim DL have a new software package dedicated solely for DSLR use. It is for full camera control and processing DSLR images.

Tom

I too am an imaging newbie and use a Canon Digital Rebel 350. I had this very same question and elected to use Images Plus. The tutorials that accompany IP are excellent. They walk you through the various aspects of image processing in a clear, understandable manner and greatly facilitate your acquiring essential processing skills. You won't go wrong with IP and there is a very active Yahoo group of IP users.
Rob Mackie

Let's go through a few of the things that you need software to do for you.

First, is pointing the telescope. I don't know what type of telescope you have; however, most any telescopes that will be used for imaging can be controlled by software such as TheSky or Starry Night.

Second, you need software to control the camera(s). There are two parts to this. One is controlling the main camera, the second is guiding.

Third, focusing software, while maybe not required, is certainly close to a needed luxury.

Fourth, and finally, is image processing. This starts with specific astro-image processing programs and ends with photoshop.

Here are some software choices.
1)DSLRFocus (about 45 bucks) will control the camera and control an ASCOM focuser.
2)GuideDog (Free!) will autoguide via the ASCOM interface. It is sometimes difficult to connect the autoguider and pointing software (e.g. Starry Night) though. The problem is that guiding and pointing are going through the same connection. I've had a few problem getting it all to work though.
3)Images plus (189) is an oft liked program for image processing. It also provides controls for operating a digital SLR.
4)Maxim DL/CCD with DSLR or MaxDSLR (449 and 249) is more expensive than any of the above programs. However, it combines everything into one package. Maxim is the top of the line standard. However, you will likely find that MaxDSLR will do everything that you need. It can combine all of the above programs into one interface. It can control you DSLR camera, Focus via an ASCOM focuser, autoguide with a number of different cameras and provide image processing.

There are a few other programs that I have not tried. AstroArt is one.

Here is what I am currently using.
Nexstar 11GPS (a recent upgrade from a celestron 8 ultima)with a Canon 350d for imaging and Meade LPI for guiding. Starry night pro 5 is used for pointing. MaxDSLR is used for controlling the camera, focusing and autoguiding. MaxDSLR saves the Canon raw images as FITS images. This is the standard format for astro-images. Multiple images can be stacked/aligned in MaxDSLR; however, I prefer to use Registar.

I have used guidedog and DSLRFocus a bit. Both are quality programs; however, I much prefer the all-in-one integrated approach with MaxDSLR. Furthermore, I have been really impressed by the quick response from customer support at Diffreaction Limited. Furthermore, I know that as I grow that I can upgrade to the more powerful Maxim DL/CCD if I ever replace the DSLR with a real CCD without having to learn any new software.