Why not use an OAG rather than a guidescope with the VMC200.
A Lumicon 1.25" Newtonian Esyguider would do the trick and will :
- eliminate guiding errors due to guidescope mount flexure
- cut down on the load on the GEM
- eliminate the need for a separate guidescope and the extra expenses needed to mount the guidescope piggyback or sidebyside style (expensive).
From what I've read, a GP with dual axis drives , or even better a Starbook (has facility to plug in an autoguider) is a capable astroimaging platform , so is a Sphinx (SX) and a Sphinx Delux (SXD) is even better (has a very good loading capacity) , A GPDX (now called a GPD2) is even better and can bought with a Starbook upgrade.
Check out
http://www.vixenoptics.com/PDF/tele%20catalog2.pdf for more info and to see Vixen Partology.
Check out
http://www.lumicon.com/telescope-acc...r+Easy+Guiders for info on Lumicon's 1.25" esyguider system.
The very low profile of these is a huge plus.
You'll need to guide (at manually least using an illuminated recticle eyepiece) to get good images with your telescope at prime focus.
If you are using wide angle lenses or telephotos , the subs you can do unguided will depend on the focal length of the camera lens used , your mounts PE and how well you've nailed your polar alignment and how good tripod or pier leveling is.
IMO if it's a choice between VMC200 or ED80 , I'd opt for the VMC200 , it's a much more capable telescope.
