Hope I can ask this here...

I'm getting ready to jump from my Starshoot DSO camera to something more significant. I've narrowed it down to:

SBIG ST-2000XCM

or

Atik 16HRC

I like the idea of the SBIG for it's autoguider. Any thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc.... I don't want to spend more than $3000 at this point (retired/on fixed income). I'll be using the camera with a Mewlon 250.

You can repond in private if that helps.

Thanks!
Paul Maxson

Hi Paul,

all I can tell you is that I have a 2000 XCM and I'm very happy with it. I'm not very good at using it yet, but I'm getting there

It is very easy to use and the double chip and self guiding is a blessing, trust me. I could not think of setting up another camera to do the guiding too and, believe, one day you'll want to guide your esposures.

That's all I can contribute Paul: I hope it'll be useful.

Ciao
Luca

Paul, of course you can ask these questions here... 8)
Good luck on your next purchase, I'm sure you'll love it!

Paul,
I have been very happy with my SBIG ST2000XM. I can't speak to the XCM directly. but I would guess it to be very similar. The autoguiding is wonderful. I have taken many nice images with it (see Allred-Astro dot com) and have been completely satisfied with its performance.... especially considering the price.

I wish I could comment on the Atik, but I know nothing about that particular camera.

Good luck on the purchase!

Cheers,
Tyler

Hello Paul,

The self-guiding of the SBIG is its biggest selling point for sure. Once you get guiding going, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

As for the one-shot, I don't have any experience with one-shot cameras yet. A couple of items to consider:

1. Not having to guide through filters is going to be wonderful!
2. If you ever decide that you want to do some other form of imaging (e.g., narrow-band, etc.), a one-shot color camera will show its limitations. Of course, with a mono camera and filters, see #1.... on the other hand (do I hear Tevye's voice in my head?), the flexibility of mono cameras and filters is going to be very nice!

HTH,
Eric

Hi,

I have a Mewlon 250 mounted on a MI 250 goto. I use the ST10xme at present. I tried guiding with a guide scope and a STV. AT the FL of the 250 differential flexure became a huge problem and IMHO could not be solved short of custom mounting plates and rings.

Using the internal guiding of the ST10 I can get perfectly round stars at 3000 or 2400 mm FL.

clear skies,

Larry Citro