[blueskies123_89 (George)]

Im looking for a refractor to replace my meade SN8 as an imaging scope, going on the EQ6 with an ED80, with price cap of ~$2500

The ones I'm looking at are:

North Group 127ED APO (waiting for quote, but I imagine on the $1000 area)
Astrotech AT111EDT 111mm f/7 ED triplet ($USD1895 astronomics)
Astrotech AT106 106mm f/6.5 FPL-53 ED triplet ($USD1885 astronomics)
William Optics FLT110 ($USD2899 OPT) - stretching the budget...
William Optics FLT132 (second hand, if I can find one).
Any other suggestions? (I've read a lot about the RC8", but I've got my mind set on a wider field refractor, unless someone can convince me otherwise.)

I am so very tempted by the NG 127ED, but a bit scared by it's low price. I know a few people own it on this forum, and I've seen the photos they produce. My questions are:

1) Does it have baffles inside
2) Does the "promoted focuser" work well with a DSLR (or QHY8/9 eventually), or does it need an upgraded one.
3) Ive seen the photos, but I don't know if they are cropped, so does it have a flat frame / any flattners needed?

I originally had my eye on the FLT110 before I saw the 127ED, is the extra $$$ really worth it?

Thanks guys
George