Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

N.I.N.A. VS SharpCap

Compare N.I.N.A. VS SharpCap and see what are their differences

N.I.N.A. logo N.I.N.A.

NINA is a night time imaging and astronomy software.

SharpCap logo SharpCap

SharpCap is an easy-to-use and powerful astronomy camera capture tool. It can be used with dedicated astronomy cameras, webcams and USB frame grabbers.
  • N.I.N.A. Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-12
  • SharpCap Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-11

N.I.N.A. features and specs

  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    N.I.N.A. offers a wide range of features for astrophotography, including sequencer, framing assistant, and autofocus capabilities, which cater to both beginners and advanced users.
  • Free and Open Source
    N.I.N.A. is available free of charge and is open source, allowing users to modify and improve the software, as well as contribute to its development.
  • Active Community and Support
    The software has an active community and extensive online resources, such as forums and tutorials, which can be extremely helpful for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Regular Updates
    N.I.N.A. is regularly updated with new features and improvements based on user feedback, keeping it competitive with other astrophotography software.

Possible disadvantages of N.I.N.A.

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to the comprehensive features and advanced capabilities, new users may find N.I.N.A. complex to learn and may need to spend significant time understanding how to use it effectively.
  • Platform Dependency
    N.I.N.A. is primarily designed for Windows, which can be a limitation for those using other operating systems and may require using workarounds such as virtual machines.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    While N.I.N.A. supports a wide range of hardware, compatibility issues may arise with less common or newer equipment, requiring additional troubleshooting or updates.
  • Limited Direct Customer Support
    As open-source software, N.I.N.A. does not offer direct customer support, relying instead on community assistance, which might not be sufficient for all user needs.

SharpCap features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SharpCap offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it accessible for beginners while still providing advanced features for experienced users.
  • Real-Time Stacking
    The software allows for real-time stacking of images, which helps improve the signal-to-noise ratio for astrophotography, enhancing image quality significantly.
  • Polar Alignment Tool
    SharpCap includes a polar alignment tool that assists in aligning the telescope polar axis accurately, which is crucial for long-exposure astrophotography.
  • Compatibility
    It supports a wide range of cameras, including major brands and models, making it versatile for users with different equipment setups.
  • Live View and Recording
    The software provides live view and recording capabilities, enabling users to capture detailed astronomical events in real time.

Possible disadvantages of SharpCap

  • Windows Only
    SharpCap is only compatible with the Windows operating system, limiting users who prefer or use macOS or Linux systems.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, mastering all the advanced features and settings can take some time and experimentation for beginners.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of SharpCap has limited features compared to the Pro version, which requires a paid upgrade to access its full capabilities.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be resource-intensive during processing, requiring a relatively powerful computer to run smoothly, especially when handling large datasets.
  • Need for Additional Equipment
    For optimal use, SharpCap often requires additional equipment, such as guide cameras and mounts, which can add to the overall cost.

N.I.N.A. videos

N.I.N.A. - Setup and In-depth tutorials

SharpCap videos

SharpCap Sensor Analysis - How to!

More videos:

  • Review - Using SharpCap to Capture the Planets
  • Review - Jupiter Captured with ZWO ASI224MC Camera and SharpCap (Tutorial)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to N.I.N.A. and SharpCap)
Time Tracking
62 62%
38% 38
Invoicing
62 62%
38% 38
Accounting
57 57%
43% 43
Photos & Graphics
61 61%
39% 39

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, N.I.N.A. seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 18 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

N.I.N.A. mentions (18)

  • When it comes to software what do you use and can you go a little bit into detail on how to use it
    NINA - controls my entire rig and run my capture sequence (also interfaces with PHD2 for autoguiding). In theory I just have to push one button and my scope should run all night taking pics of various objects. It's got a very active discord for troubleshooting, etc. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Help with long exposure - unable to set exposure to longer than 30s
    As u/Madrugada_Eterna already replied, Canon EOS utility&productid=tcm:13-1990612), NINA and several other tools. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Switched from ASIAIR to mini pc setup
    Yeah its a remote desktop software. I use NINA to control everything. https://nighttime-imaging.eu/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
    Sorry. N.I.N.A. Is the PC software that controls the mount and camera (and can control more) when taking astrophotos. I tell it what I want to image in the sky and it points the telescope in the right direction and takes the number of pictures I tell it to. Https://nighttime-imaging.eu. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF): Ion tail animation
    This video of the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was taken on the morning of 2023-01-15 between 3:00am and 6:30am. The comet was 28 degrees above the horizon at the start of the sequence, and rose to an altitude of 66 degrees at the end of astro-dark. The sequence consists of 53x90s exposures taken with an 8in f5 Newtonian reflector sequenced using Nighttime Imaging in Astronomy (https://nighttime-imaging.eu/). Each... Source: over 2 years ago
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SharpCap mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SharpCap yet. Tracking of SharpCap recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing N.I.N.A. and SharpCap, you can also consider the following products

PixInsight - A powerful deep sky stacking application for astrophotography.

Voyager Astrophotography - Voyager is a multi core optimized software, resilient, with advanced built-in algorithms and advanced A.I. driven automatation for astro photography.

APT (Astro Photography Tool) - APT stands for "AstroPhotography Tool" and it is like Swiss army knife for your astro imaging sessions.

Nebulosity - Nebulosity is designed to be a powerful, but simple to use capture and processing application for Windows and Mac.

Siril - Siril is an astronomical image processing tool, able to convert, pre-process images, help aligning...

DeepSkyStacker - DeepSkyStacker is a freeware for astrophotographers that simplifies all the pre-processing steps of...