Re: [APML]: Beginner Needing Advise

[RLECKER@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-09-23 18:27:38 EDT, you write:

<<  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.
 >>
Jim,

    According to John Hoot who is the guy that redesigned the Pictor 201 XT,
 the cooling won,t get you much in the way for guiding as the cooling does
for imaging.  He explained it to me, something about the dark current and
dark frame and mag. that make the SBIG and the Pictor very similar in what
they can guide on.   John is also an expert on the SBIG line of cameras,
having writen some of the software for them.  In our group we have 2 that are
using the SBIG and 6 that are using the Pictor 201 xt,  we are all have
similar success we either camera.  The only difference IMHO is that the
Pictor 201 xt is a lot cheaper and has a larger chip ($295) and much easier
to use.  The SBIG ST-4 can image and is cooled...........ric