[jase (Jason)]

For those considering the SBIG STX series, specifically with KAF-16803E chip, please be aware that you need new 65mm square filters in order to use the internal guide chip simultaneously. SBIG can provide a swap out 50mm square filter wheel for those using the remote guide head instead of the internal guide chip. Anyone who has researched the 50mm square filters will quickly realise these aren't cheap, but are progressively coming down.

Filter manufacturers have begin producing 65mm square filters. At the conference Astrodon has made the announcement of the new 65mm filters GenII HaLRGB at an introductory price US$2800.

SBIG have also advised that they are coming out with a ST-8300M and ST-8300C. They will start at US$1995. This is almost $2k cheaper than current competitors. Note these are based on the ST series, not STX. It will use new filter wheels CFW5-8300 US$600 and CFW9-8300 US$1100. The new filter wheel will use new filters which are 36mm, not 50mm. This requires new filters to be produced by the manufacturers. You will not find any info on SBIG's site as this was only announced a few hours ago.

Attached is a pic of the STX-16803 next to the STL series. Above is the new 65mm 5 position filter wheel.

UPDATE: I had a closer look at the 5 position 65mm filter wheel. The thing is massive, so much so that I would suggest it would come close to hitting mount/pier when imaging close to the zenith. SBIG have plans to produce an 8 position filter wheel, however it is suspected to be a different design such as a sliding window as a circular filter wheel will be too large.