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Old 21-05-2013, 12:46 PM
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tlgerdes (Trevor)
Love the moonless nights!

tlgerdes is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,285
I have the AL not the CF

Holding collimation - need to upgrade to stronger springs for the mirror, a flip will through it out. Secondary works fine.
Baffling - none, definitely worth flocking. I went from 90sec to 180sec subs in inner Sydney before light pollution became problematic after flocking. Also worth creating a light shroud for the front for the same reason.
Focuser - worth upgrading, electric focuser makes imaging so much better. Standard focuser can lift 500gms easy enough (low end DSLR).
Coma - need a corrector.
Dew - not a problem, never had the main dew up, never used fan or heater.

Mine started at $500, but I have spent another $600 to get it to a good point. I believe all these things will be the same things you will want to upgrade even on the Vixen, so factor that in either way.

You will need a better collimation technique than a simple laser at F4. Catseye tools are a must, for either the R200 or the GSO.

On the plus side
Focal Length - really useful @800mm, with an APS chip you get 1.5deg*1deg FOV, team it with an 80mm F5 guidescope with QHY5/SSAG autoguider and it is really easy to point as the FOV of guider matches.
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