Dan,
The guide ring question first - I use these
guide rings and attach the guide setup to the RC8 using this
adapter.
As for visual, I use 1x50mm ring and diagonal with a 40mm eyepiece. I really only use it get everything lined up - I then go to CCD configuration which is 1x50mm & 2x25mm rings.
I'm also trying to see if there's a way to get the finderscope away from below the scope. Last time I had the scope set up I put the finderscope on the ST80. Boy was that a bugger to get everything lined up!! I'm going back to the old configuration although I've got a thread here about swapping the dovetail bars around...
Cheers,
Mario