Liam --

Go for the ST-7e. It's a hell of a great camera. The integrated
guiding chip is brilliant, the control software is good, the parallel
interface is reliable, the quantum efficiency (sensitivity) is
excellent, the blue-end response is superior... for any sort of
science (in addition to taking "pretty pictures") it's perfect.

Caveat: I don't own one, but had a chance to play with one recently.

> I am thinking of the ST7-E which is the new enhanced version of
> the ST-7. This will be the Non Antiblooming variety. Will the
> Non-ABG version cause me greater difficulty than the ABG variety?

I doubt it, and the increased sensitivity and linearity (essential for
photometry) is worth it. I think ABG was not a "good idea" in
retrospect.

> I will also be getting the F6.3 focal reducer - and also the
> 3.3 reducer. I believe with those attachments that I will be
> able to attain the type of pixel resolution that is appropriate
> for my telescope / the ST7.

Right. The 6.3 will give you 1.25 arcsec/pix (unbinned), optimum for
2.5 arcsec seeing. Use the 3.3 when the seeing is worse and you'll get
more field. A good image processing prog (e.g., MaxIm DL) will restore
an image if it is sampled at 2 pixels across the seeing disk (so
called full-width half-max).

> I don't have any electronic focusing control on my LX200 although
> I was planning on getting the Meade electric focuser (...)

Go for it. I have the Meade focuser, and it's just fine. My image
shift is minimal. I have an 8" f/10 and use the 6.3 reducer. The
target star for focusing stays within an arc minute or so going back
and forth in focus direction. Totally usable.

-- Bob

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