Thx Darrel - I already have a couple of bookings on it. A mate just bought an AP1200 mount so what the hell he may as well give it a go.
Alex visually for me is one step above asking Helen Keller to visually test it (or Beethoven what he thinks a new song sounds like). To my severely impaired eyes it looks great. Easy definaition on Mars with an ED 2x barlow (when i was looking around the blind spots in my eyes).
The only real drama I have had is with the focuser - with the Optec filter wheel and the ST8300 I found a little focus shift as it approached the zenith. Then it clouded out - but I think I can fix it by tightening the 4 allen screws on the base of the focuser -I had the top tighening screw pretty well tight. I intend putting a motor focus on it however for ease of photography focusing. Autofocus with focus max is far more consistent thatn my eyes.
Anyway - why would I want to use it - I just want to look at it for a while
M