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Old 27-08-2015, 06:00 PM
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LewisM
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LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
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Not saying the GPD2 is perfect, but it does impress still for a 30 something year old design - might be even older! The older GP and GPDX were the standard at one point in time, and still hold their own. Vixen's decision to drop manufacture of the GP series after SO many years I feel was a bad decision. I do know several well respected imagers who use it as their travel mount with up to an FSQ-106 as I do. I wouldn't push it past an FSQ...

The Sphinx range adds more weight capability (and Vixen's quoted weight limit is a PHOTOGRAPHIC limit, not visual - I had this confirmed by a Vixen rep in Japan) and the Starbook is VERY intuitive to use - a stellarium-like system as the hand held controller. The Starbook TEN adds versatility and corrects the motor drive firmware of the old Starbook that frustrated imagers with the OCCASIONAL Dec spike (easily work-aroundable, but Vixen fixed it with the old Starbook's latest 2014 firmware anyway).

I have always wanted an SXP, almost bought one twice. Jut never can let go of the GPD2 still when it performs so flawlessly. My record is 37 minutes unguided for VISUAL - I am sure there would have been enough movement to ruin an imaging sub, but the target stayed on the reticle crosshair for 37 minutes without me touching it, and NOT guided.
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