Guide scope advice please

[Rols]

I'm looking into guide scopes and keep comming across this in threads

Skywatcher ED80

this one comes with the rings and mount by the looks of it but i need alittle more info on what will suit the lx200 focal range (confused a little)

i like the idea that this unit is actaully quite good in its own right (led to believe)

but is there something better i should be considering or do i just have this completely wrong?

thanks

[steppenwolf]

An ED 80 is a great 'scope but probably overkill for a guide 'scope as you would not be making use of it's semi-APO capabilities. A more popular choice is the ST 80 (Short Tube 80mm). However, an advantage of the ED80 over the ST 80 *could* be the greater focal length (600mm v 400mm). There is an argument that says that a longer focal length guide 'scope would be a better match for your LX200 (I am assuming that it is an SCT?) but with the sub-pixel sampling of a modern guiding system, I am not convinced that this matters too much.

If you wanted a dual purpose 'scope then the ED 80 is a cracker!

[Stardust]

I'm just looking into guiding with my LX200, mine is the older classic. I know very little about guiding, just looking at the manual as there is a ccd/guider port. Can this be used used or is it obsolete these days?

I can get an 8 min exposure through the mounted 66mm scope unguided so I think this will be ok for a while to play with.