FWIW, I can second these sentiments. Being a great fan of my LX200, I was
all set to buy a 416. However, a little listening and a little asking of
questions showed that the Meade software, at least, is difficult to work
with, and the SBIG machines just flat out work. I ultimately bought a SBIG
ST-7E, used, and am very happy happy with it. Anyone looking at buying a
CCD imager, on a budget, should look at all options, including SBIG.

--Mark de Regt

-----Original Message-----
Paul Luckas
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 5:28 PM
Subject: [M]: Re: 416XT as Guider?



----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 6:24 AM
Subject: [M]: 416XT as Guider?


Hi Darrell,

I went through exactly what you're going through two weeks ago - with almost
the same criteria. I was all ready to buy the 416, but ended up settling on
SBIG's ST-237A. There are some excellent features - including the e-finder -
which together with a much more reputable suite of sofware makes the Meade
gear look a bit ordinary. Have a closer look at the SBIG web site, and don't
be too hasty to buy the Meade CCD gear. The general consensus is that Meade
make excellent telescopes, but have a little way to go with CCD equipment.
SBIG on the other hand just make excellent CCD equipment.

My 2 cents.

> Hello all,
>
> New lister here. Have had an 8" LX-50 for about a year, but now I am
> thinking about a 10 or 12" LX-200. I have been doing manually guided film
> astrophoto work with my LX-50, and a little bit with a modified QuickCam
and
> a PC23 video cam. But now I am thinking that when I get the LX-200 I
should
> just go ahead and get a CCD Astrocam at the same time. To that end I have
> been burning brain cells trying to sift through the mounds of info on the
> web. I have seen the SBig vs Meade Vs Starlight vs whatever fights. I
have
> heard of some problems with the 416XT and the SCSI bus. But I am still
> considering an 416XT.
>
> I have one question that I have not been able to find an answer to. Can
the
> 416XT be used as a guider when I do film work?
>
> I know that Meade intends the user of the 416 to use the 201 as a guider
> when imaging with the 416, but I am thinking that during film work the
more
> sensitive 416 would be more desirable than the 201. Since the 201/208/218
> are intended to be self contained guiders, how would the 416 be used to
> guide?
>
> TIA
> Darrell
> _________________________________________________________________
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>
>
>

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