Hi Josh,
I have the Meade 10" LX200GPS with a wedge and 95% use it for astrophotography. These scopes take a little to get right, but once setup well, are awesome and a lot of fun to use. You tend to learn heaps along the way as well.
I am fairly new to all of this but I have started to take a few pictures with the things I have learnt over the past couple of years. From what I have started to take, with what my friend with the same rig takes and what his friend with the classic version lx200 takes, range from ordinary, (mine), to spectacular, (my friends...).
You can check out my pics at
www.redbeardpix.wordpress.com and my mates with the same rig but different cameras at
www.scopepics.wordpress.com. The other guy who I don't' have a link for has even better again. A web search will also show the beautiful pix these scopes can take. Like I said, my pics are ordinary but every time I take a pic, they gets better.
PEC training and guiding is a must but the other night, I had PEC turned off, no guiding and was getting 2 min subs with round stars. Yes, bit of a fluke, but I had great polar aligning that night and didn't breath whilst next to the scope.
I use a Canon 450D unmodified and started with the 350D before that. I have no filters at this stage but use a 6.3 focal reducer most of the time and without for deeper objects.
I use a Milburn wedge and have an Orion ST80 Guide scope with a QHY5 as a guide camera. I also use a toucam for planets but want a better camera. Software wise I use Alignmaster to get polar alignment, (works fantastic for me), PHD Guide and Backyard EOS.
The rig is not too heavy for me to lift and I use the standard Meade tripod. I have bucks gears and all the Peterson addons which helps.
As for photo of south areas, I am either very very very careful at attempting fate by getting close without hitting the mount with camera whilst other finger is on the power switch in case, or, I simply use a diagonal and everything is out the way without a worry at all! Only need the diagonal for very south objects, well for me I'm in Adelaide anyway.
Once aligned by Alignmaster, I simply choose 3 stars to synch on and all good for tracking. Another must do feature is to turn on precision mode in the Meade menu. This helps by slewing to the closest star to the object you want and centering that star and synching to it. The scope then slews to the object you want and if all has been setup well, it will be in the view somewhere, just a long exposure away.
Please note, it will take many years to photograph all the possibles with this scope so in no way will one get bored or have nothing new to image.
I find this a great scope and if you look after it well, it will look after you.
Although not the best for wide fields, it is very versatile and can also be used in ALZ-AZ without the wedge if need be.
Once using a wedge, there's no looking back lol.
I have never used a refractor, but from what I've seen with a good mount etc, some pretty stunning images from these rigs and if I have some spare cash, will get one as well as the Meade.
I've been lucky with spare parts being available so far, and a new hand controller goes a long way as well as repair graphite goo. However I havd made some hardware controllers as well as use the PC so less wear on the paddle.
All that being said, if you have one fine, if you don't, then get a good second hand one at a good price and there will usually be lots of extras and have lots of fun. On the other hand, if you are loaded, then go for something really cool and bypass this step, I know I would!
Let me know if there is something more specific you would like to know.
Happy snapping.
Cheers,
Damien.
a dark sky is always a help
