John, Sometime back you recommended for my case using Maxim for camera control and CCDSoft/TheSky for plate solving. Is there any reason that I couldn't use CCDSoft for camera control along with CCDSoft/TheSky for plate solving? I am just trying to understand my options. I do not have Pinpoint for plate solving. Would I reduce my headaches if I get Pinpoint?

Larry

Hi Larry,

You certainly can use CCDSoft/TheSky for plate solving and CCDSoft for camera control. Any combination of camera control programs and plate solving options are usable. As to PinPoint, I find it a bit faster and more reliable than CCDSoft/TheSky, especially on wide field imaging systems. For my personal work, I use CCDSoft for camera control and PinPoint for plate solving.

When choosing camera controll to CCDsoft ja plate solving to pinpoint, then there will be error message states that pinpoint is usable only with Maxim. Does it mean, that I must purchase pinpoint licence to run it with ccdsoft?

Hi spiid,

I think the answer to your question would be, in order to use PinPoint, you must have a license regardless of which software you use it with. As John has pointed out, with CCDAP4, you can use Maxim as your camera control software and CCDSoft/TheSky6 for plate solving. Or, you can license PinPoint and use either MAxim or CCDSoft for camera control. HTH ....