weight issues

[pmrid (Peter)]

I use a MultiPurpose Coma Corrector (MPCC). The quick shot I attached to the previous post was taken with it in place so, yes, it can be brought to focus without having to start hacking away at the OTA.
Peter

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by AlexN

The VC200L is nearly twice the cost of an 8" newtonian... And although they are purpose built imaging scopes, for planetary imaging/viewing, the larger central obstruction is really going to be a killer in terms of planetary contrast.. The larger secondary is great for fully illuminating a 35mm format CCD, however it is also the deal breaker when it comes to visual observation and planetary work... The same can be said for the GSO RC's.. As for the Newts, at 8.75kgs, the 8" shouldn't be too much to handle...

I have to comment here Alex. Some weeks ago I spent a night out doing some visual observation with my little VC200L. I cannot comment on the planetary skills of this scope as there was no planets observed on the night but as for general observations it is the best scope I have owned and looked through. Galaxies could be easily distinguished, Nebulas were big and bright and at the time the comet up there was brilliant. A few there on the night were quite taken by how well this little scope performed. I have had a few 8" scopes and find this is by far the best I have owned. (8" Newtonian, 8" Celestron SCT, 8" Dob) Both the dob and the Newtonian had to be modified to come to focus with DSLR attached.
As I have said I can't comment on planetary work (not my bag) but for general viewing and photography it is a real winner. A little tricky to collimate should it need it but all in all a great scope.

There seems to be a lot of people on this forum very keen to give roving reviews of scopes they have not used. It is a shame that this is the case as it does make it hard to decifer the truth from the rubish when you are after some real advice. Come on people, stick to what you know, what you have direct experience with and not the ramblings of forum users who have nothing better to do than pass ill founded comments. I would have thought the RC thread would have proved this.

[AlexN]

Fair call Doug.. I was assuming based my experience with reflectors and central obstructions... my 8" newt provided higher contrast views than my 8" RC, im going to put it down to the slower F ratio and the large obstruction, hence why I figured with the VC200L being a slower ratio than the RC and having a similarly large central obstruction, would provide a lower contrast view. The C11 wasn't too bad (I think aperture bridged the gap) but its central obstruction I believe was 39%.. not closer to 49% like the RC, or 45% ish that the VC200L has...

I was in no way saying the VC200L is a bad scope, I think I mentioned that.. Just saying that, from my experience with different reflectors, a large central obstruction usually hinders a scopes visual performance..

I was actually seconds away from buying one when I bought my RC... I like the VC200L a lot..