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I love the optics of my C9.25 - and being carbon fibre means I almost never have to refocus due to temperature changes each night. Week after week it retains perfect focus.
Where I believe it is weaker is mirror flop - which makes it hard to track stars accurately unless you have a self guiding imaging camera (S-Big) or do off axis guiding (which seems to work a treat from my first experience). Putting in a focal reducer (within the Lumicon Off Axis Guider) made imaging alot faster and easier to - but now my software post processing now has to be a bit smarter to account for effects of the imager.
I wish the C9.25 had a mirror lock like Meade SCTs do - but I query Meade owners - does this actually work well? Since adding a feather touch micro focuser mirror flop is 2x - 3x better - but I spent maybe 8 months trying to perfect tracking using two different guide scopes until I sussed out if was likely mirror flop - not differential flexure - giving me tracking problems.
I think both SCT tubes are probably very good - and would be interested in what people say about Meade's mirror lock before making a final decision. Also the C9.25 has a lovely flat field - but I ponder is Meade's now just as good or even better?
My mount cost me double my OTA, Losmandy bars to replace the flimsy Celestron ones was another $1,000, motor focus and feathertouch and OAG probably cost another $1,000 as well - so it all adds up!
PS
Attached is a reduced quality - 4 minute shot of Eta Carina through the C9.25 -> normal Canon 400D , level curves and red-balance in Photoshop CS2, - no flats or darks applied, and where I spent maybe one minute checking focus (and it shows) and haven't yet expertly colliminated my SCT.
Still I am pleased and if I can do it with only a bit of practice - in a year or two and alot more smarts around flats, darks etc I think I will be delighted and maybe ready to move up to a S-BIG or FLI camera.
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