[APML]: Beginner Needing Advise

[James T Waters <James_T_Waters@ccm.ch.intel.com>]

     I own a Meade LX200HP 10" f/10 scope. I use the Lumicon Giant Easy 
     Guider to reduce the scope to f/6.  I want to get into astro 
     photography and need some advise.  I need an auto guider.  As I see it 
     my options are the Meade Pictor 201XT auto guider, Meade 208XT auto 
     guider / imager or SBIG ST4 auto guider.  I have herd that the ST4 has 
     problems tracking on the LX200 due to DEC retrograde movement and that 
     Meade has designed the Pictor to take this into account.  I live in AZ 
     where the temperature gets up to 100+ degrees during the night in the 
     summer.  Can the Pictor 201XT acquire and track on guide stars (10 Mag 
     and higher) without being cooled for 60 minutes or more?  Please 
     remember that I will be tracking through the Lumicon off-axis guider. 
     Would I be better off to get the Pictor 208XT which is cooled? Also, I 
     would like to see some prime focus pictures taken with a LX200 scope. 
     
     I would appreciate hearing from LX200 scope owners that use Pictor and 
     ST4 auto guiders.
     
     Thanks;
     
     Jim Waters
     Phoenix, Az.
     james_waters@ccm.ch.intel.com