Celestron CPC 800

[aliwil]

Hi all -wishing clear skies to all,
I am asking for feedback on this 'scope. (Celestron CPC 800 -with dual fork mount).
A list of pros and cons from ppl whom have used it would be great.
It is definately at the top of my budget for 10 years, and I will hope to use it for astrophotography (definately including deep space- in the future).
I have read all the reviews i can find from www, and as I am a learner I am unfamiliar with the equipment needed for this -particularly the fact that I have read that it needs 'a wedge', can anyone tell me what this means in photography terms and will there be any other 'essential equipment'.
I am based near Margaret River in south-west WA, will a dew cover/heater be a vital part of nightly viewing?
Again any advice will be great.
My current tube is a 8" Newtonian on a EQ mount (cheapo), and as some mounts are; it is, 'about as stable as a blancmange' quote from "Stars of the Southern Skies," by Sir Patrick Moore.
Clear skies, Ali

[gb_astro]

Hi aliwil.

The CPC800 has a good reputation and is certainly a very
stable and easy scope to use with it's alt/az design and tracking/GOTO.
If you were just into visual I would recommend it.

You would definitely need the dew shield/heaters.

However it is still an 8" so you are not going to see any more than through your newtonian.
At 2000mm focal length the CPC is I guess about twice that of your newtonian so the magnification
of your current eyepieces is going to double. You will loose out at the wide field end but gain at high mag..

If you are really going to get into imaging it is probably not the best choice.
Using a wedge with a CPC is not much fun unless you have a permanent setup.
Also the one example I saw of this was not very stable.

Why not consider putting your scope on a good tracking/GOTO
EQ mount like the HEQ5/6. Great for imaging and locating objects and a bit cheaper too.

gb.