There's a huge thread on these at the Stargazers lounge:
http://stargazerslounge.com/sponsor-...elescopes.html
I haven't seen or used one, but have done a lot of imaging with an older F5 SW600 8" Newt. My first thoughts after reading the above thread:
Pros:
- they're F4 (faster and better FOV)
- CF is lighter and should be less flex
- Focuser a bit better
- Baffles
- Bigger secondary (vignetting should be lot easier to control/correct)
Cons: (speculative...)
- Rings much the same as ever
- F4 will be a lot tougher to get right and keep collimated
- Focuser - is it really up to holding precisely and reliably for a decent size and weight imaging train?
- conflicting info that MPCC may not be up to task of coma correction and RCC 90mm backfocus unit may or may not be better (image train will stick out further on that budget focuser though)
- lack of info on how an OAG might be used
I can't shake the feeling serious imagers will still need to tweak or modify these somewhat? (rings, flocking paint possibly, focuser, coma corrector/OAG rig)
On the other hand, you can do a lot of imaging damage sticking a CCD on a carefully set-up fast Newt - at an unbeatable performance/price ratio for those that can't afford an FSQ or CDK setup.