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Given the money I'd choose an SBIG or similar (perhaps there's a Starlight Xpress that would work well too) for guilding, not a ToUCam or similar.
I use my ST7 for autoguiding and like other have said about other SBIG's, the sensitivity is amazing, you always have stars, not always in the little guide chip of the ST7 but always in the main chip. And you have low noise.
The problem I've had with the ToUCam mod'd for long exposure is noise is I've always had lots of noise from in the image, lots. In theory it wouldn't interfear with guilding if you get a good enough contrast on the guide star, but it just makes everything a little harder in my opinnion.
Problem of course is cost of the SBIG type cameras, I don't think I would have ever managed to save the money needed for one to use primarily for guiding.
But, having said all that, I've read this thread with interest as I've considerred options for a guide camera for my portable setup, where I don't have my ST7. I've been wondering about a Meade DSI (cheap simple non-pro version) - would that interface with something like CCDSoft for autoguiding? anyone know? Or the Orion one? I'm never quite sure how compatible the DSI's are with other software.
Roger.
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