Very Disappointed

[hillhuggr]

I just purchased "BackyardNikon" software today only to find that neither my Nikon 3400 nor my D50 DSLRs are conpatible.  Is it possible to get a refund?

[astroman133]

That is why the authors have a Supported Cameras table AND a free fully-functional 30-day Trial license...So that you can be sure that the program is compatible with your camera and your imaging needs.

There is no way for the authors to cancel your license so in the past they have never offered a refund.

[admin]

We have a no refund policy on software keys once they have been issued.  It is for this reason we have a fully featured 30-trial for people to try before they buy.

Full refund policy here and in the page footer.

[astroman133]

For the benefit of others who may read this thread... The reason that your cameras are not supported is because Nikon does not or never has supported tethering the D50 or D3400 cameras via their SDK. It is NOT due to some arbitrary decision by the authors of BYN to exclude those models.

There is no substitute for doing your homework before making a purchasing decision.

[hillhuggr]

52 minutes ago, astroman133 said:

For the benefit of others who may read this thread... The reason that your cameras are not supported is because Nikon does not or never has supported tethering the D50 or D3400 cameras via their SDK. It is NOT due to some arbitrary decision by the authors of BYN to exclude those models.

There is no substitute for doing your homework before making a purchasing decision.

Then I would suggest o'telescope put a message (warning) next to the purchase links stating something ;like "Goto table XYZ to see if you Nikon DSLR is compatible".  Would that be too much to ask?  How many other users new to the hobby have been taken in?

[s3igell]

3 hours ago, hillhuggr said:

How many other users new to the hobby have been taken in?

Feel free to search through the Forum Posts (which go back for several years).

This is the 1st instance that I can recall in all that time.  It may be a dubious distinction, but...

[admin]

4 hours ago, hillhuggr said:

Then I would suggest o'telescope put a message (warning) next to the purchase links stating something ;like "Goto table XYZ to see if you Nikon DSLR is compatible".  Would that be too much to ask?  How many other users new to the hobby have been taken in?

It's not a trap, 99.9% of users take full advantage of the free 30-day trial before purchasing, very few actually go ahead and purchase out right. 

[ssa2294]

On 9/2/2020 at 11:09 AM, hillhuggr said:

Then I would suggest o'telescope put a message (warning) next to the purchase links stating something ;like "Goto table XYZ to see if you Nikon DSLR is compatible".  Would that be too much to ask?  How many other users new to the hobby have been taken in?

I would emphasize that this hobby, more than anything else I know, requires a LOT of research into every aspect. Impulse buying gets you software you can not use, or even telescopes you can not use (my first telescope was Celestron 127eq, horrible horrible purchase). I even bought smart phone adapter thinking I could connect my phone and take pictures. Others have bought Alt-Azimuth mounts only to find they needed German Equatorial. Most common mistake are beginners starting out buying the super large Celestron SCTs, then compounding problems by buying too small guide scope. Here and at Cloudy Nights are filled with posts asking "will X work with Y" or "Should I buy X or Y or Z". Most places questions like these are often shunned sadly. But in this hobby, these questions are almost always gladly welcomed. I just made 3 in the past week asking questions on mount, scope, and another on guidescope. All I got were very positive responses from community that knows these questions need to be asked BEFORE.

So anyone starting out, I hope this is some helpful advice going forward. 

And for you hillhuggr, don't immediately write off your purchase of BYN as a loss by any means. d3400 and d50 make be capable cameras, but you may want to seriously consider selling them to look for either d5300 or d5600 (d5300 new can be found for cheap!), but if you do look at comparability chart (it is stickied in this forum at the top) you will see the new mirrorless Z6, Z7, and Z50 as now supported. Mirrorless is the future, while DSLRs will stick around for a little while longer, they are a technology that manufactures are going to focus less and less on until eventually they too will go the way of 35mm film. Before you purchase camera, do ask here or CN for advice and suggestions.

[TDPerry]

On 10/4/2020 at 11:58 AM, ssa2294 said:

you will see the new mirrorless Z6, Z7, and Z50 as now supported.

If I was going to spend the money that a Z6, Z7 or Z50 was, I'd be looking at an actual CMOS ZWO ASI533MC-P or ZWO ASI1600MM-P  with filters instead of trying to make a Nikon work.  

The nice thing about the Backyard Nikon is it works for you if you already have a supported Nikon camera, but if going to buy something new I'd personally be targeting a setup specific to astrophotography.  I played with my D7200 and honestly was not that impressed with the quality of the images compared to a buddy that has an actual CMOS astro camera setup for his scope.

 

[s3igell]

9 hours ago, TDPerry said:

If I was going to spend the money that a Z6, Z7 or Z50 was, I'd be looking at an actual CMOS ZWO ASI533MC-P or ZWO ASI1600MM-P  with filters instead of trying to make a Nikon work.  

Many DSLR / MILC Imagers select their Canon or Nikon because of a desire to have a Dual Purpose device - available for both Astrophotography and Daytime/Landscape/Family Photography.  And, in tandem with the advances which ZWO and QHY and other AP CMOS Camera Makers regarding Resolution and Efficiency and Cooling and Buffering and Integration to Filterwheel Kits and even Micro-PCs, the major Consumer Camera Companies have also made great strides in Usability and Features and Noise Control and Resolution.  It seems that Nikon and Sony and Canon have also "seen the light" in that they have quietly changed the IR Filter Designs and AA Filters so as to make the Unmodified DSLRs more useful for AP Imaging and Ha Data Capture.

Now, if one were to take your advice, the ASI533MC-P is quite the interesting conjunction of a Sensor originally positioned for Consumer Cameras and now packaged in an AP Imaging Friendly "Pro" (Cooling and Buffering) format (and at a realistic DSLR-competative $899).  The ASI1600MM-P, while rather Popular on AP Imaging Fronts, is essentially the Antithesis of a DSLR/MILC.  Between the 12-bit / short-exposure approach to Image Capture, and the Monochrome Sensor requiring Color Filters and all which goes with that, and the Kit Price of $1500-$2250, that is quite the LEAP for anyone whose original goal was a DSLR and BYE/BYN.

[TDPerry]

13 hours ago, s3igell said:

Between the 12-bit / short-exposure approach to Image Capture, and the Monochrome Sensor requiring Color Filters and all which goes with that, and the Kit Price of $1500-$2250, that is quite the LEAP for anyone whose original goal was a DSLR and BYE/BYN.

Agreed, but the assumption is that they already have a DSLR, and if one was going to go purchase a new DSLR primarily for use as an astrophotography device, then a dedicated astrophotography one would be my preference - since I would already have a decent DSLR for use for normal camera functions.  

If I was starting out with no device, then the Z6/Z7/Z50 would be a viable path that would grant both the ability to utilize for astrophotography AND normal photography.  As in my case, I already have a D7200 (in addition to an older Nikon D50) that does everything I need it to do as a normal camera and could not justify going to buy another DSLR as easily as a dedicated device for astrophotography.

[TDPerry]

On 10/23/2020 at 10:53 AM, s3igell said:

Now, if one were to take your advice, the ASI533MC-P is quite the interesting conjunction of a Sensor originally positioned for Consumer Cameras and now packaged in an AP Imaging Friendly "Pro" (Cooling and Buffering) format (and at a realistic DSLR-competative $899). 

Late coming back to this again... but other than processing issues, the ASI533MM pro does some decent captures.  Now, my processing leaves a LOT to be desired.  🤣

I have pretty much gone over to an RPi solution using StellarMate OS, which also works well with the DSLR for wide field captures.