Re: Re: [APML] Vixen VC200L for film Astrophotos

["John C. Mirtle" <spampit@shaw.ca>]

Good choice Allan,
    I hope that you are as happy with yours as I am with mine! I just did a
search on Orion's site, I didn't find any VC200L's!  (not that I need
another one) Just a quick couple of notes for you and anyone else who might
be getting one: The Orion version is a version older than mine, and 2
versions older than the current "green" tube model. First thing to buy is
the 2" eyepiece adapter. Good for 2" eyepieces and things like Newtonian
AOG's. The older versions also left the 3 primary mirror clips exposed which
adds diffraction to bright stars, same as the R200SS. Mine has a ring that
just covers the clips - no diffraction on bright stars other than from the
spider. You might want to make a ring from cardboard for the mirror.
    The VC200L is 1800mm long and is supposed to give 15 micron star images
at the focal plane. I don't know if they are 15 microns, but they are tiny.
This means that your guiding must be perfect! Unless you want to cuss at
every wind gust, get the G-11. If you can't figure out how to mount it, drop
me a line.
    You will find the ST4 very easy to use and focus, due to the sharp
off-axis performance of the Vixen. Good thing too, as 90+ minute shots are
tough to do by hand! To get the best from this scope, consider hypered tech
pan. It's not hard to process yourself, and it records well at f9. It's good
thing that this isn't your first scope! Shooting with a scope this long is
challenging, but also very rewarding when everything finally "clicks". Now
you just need to figure out what to do with yourself when the shutter is
open for 90+ minutes.... :-)
    Good luck Allen, we are looking forward to your results!

John Mirtle
Calgary, Ab. Canada

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <whetzel@cox.net>
To: "Discussion of Film Astrophotography" <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: Re: [APML] Vixen VC200L for film Astrophotos


Thanks to everyone for feedback on this scope. I took the plunge and just
purchased the OTA from Orion (they apparently have a few new ones left from
their days selling Vixen - just do a search under VC200L). I'm picking up a
G11 or GM8 on Astromart to complete the system. Since I have an NEG from
Lumicon and have seen awesome successfully guided photos with this scope
using an OAG and ST-4 that was a big part of my decision to go with the
VC200L. I have spent MANY hours trying to get the ST4 to work with another
scope and didn't want the challenge of making a guide scope work on the
R200SS with an ST4 at the moment. The discussion that has been going on
helped illuminate the  situation & challenges I'd be facing. Knowing that
I'll have a system that others have succeeded with is encouraging for my
future development in Astrophotography. I'll be posting pictures in the
future!

Thanks for the assist everyone,

Allan

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