WTS: VMC 200L and Vixen SXD and Accessories

[cloud_cover]

With another kid on the way I now need to clear space! Also since I have no time for Astrophoto anymore...
Up for sale are my Vixen VMC200L and SXD Goto Eq mount

Vixen VMC 200L
The Vixen VMC200L was designed as a flat field Cassegrain and comprises an open tube with Primary and Secondary mirror. Within the secondary baffles there are 3 corrector lenses to achieve its flat field. It is primarily designed with astrophotography in mind and it has the following advantages over a standard 8" SCT
1. Flat field with almost complete illumination of a full-frame camera. When using at its native focal length, my D700 will show vignetting ony in the very corners. Stars are points all the way till almost the very edge of the frame.
Another advantage is should you want to use an off-axis guider, stars are not seagull-shaped smears in the OAG, allowing for easier guide star selection
Visually the flat field and 80mm baffles will allow the widest EPs to be used and its f/10 focal ratio is very forgiving on eyepieces. Stars in my Nagler 31 are pin point right out to the edge and there is no visually evident loss of illumination
2. Fixed mirror = no mirror flop and no focus shift.
3. Open tube with no corrector plate - very, very resistant to dewing. I have never had a dew issue with this scope, even when observing in heavy mist (Don't ask me what I was doing)
4. 58mm clear aperture 0.6x focal reducer: This will fully illuminate a DX/APS-C sized chip and vignette a little more of a full frame chip as compared to native focal length but mostly at the edges. In contrast a typical 2" 0.6x FF/FR for SCT will generally severely vignette a full frame sensor and probably vignette a DX/APS-C sensor as well.
5. Carrying handle makes handling this telescope very easy.

I am offering the VMC200L OTA, Vixen Dovetail, upgraded with a JMI Event Horizon Dual Speed Focuser, 8" CNC rings with Losmandy DUP.
The optics are fine, there is some dust associated with open tubes and a 1 cm light smudge on the mirror which does not show up on my astrophotos. I have not dismantled or cleaned this mirror. The OTA itself is fine with some light scuff marks associated with normal use and storage in a box. It has since lived in my dry box at a constant humidity of 35%
Unupgraded OTAs in excellent to like-new condition with finder typically go for about USD950, used. Shipping is about USD200 with GST, which brings the cost to about SGD1600
I'd like to ask SGD$1500

Also available are the Vixen direct Wide adapter and 0.6x Focal reducer for VMC200L. This is different from most 2" focal reducers because it has a clear aperture of 58mm (most 2" reducers actually have 38-42mm clear aperture), resulting in much less vignetting. New it costs USD$379 plus $70 for the adapter.
Asking SGD$300.
I'd prefer to sell this item together with the telescope although i will part it out after the scope has been sold

Vixen SXD
I believe this mount needs no introduction. This is a good quality computerized, Goto mount that natively supports 0 deg latitude. It is capable of autoguided astrophotography and when properly balanced and aligned, should be able to do short focal length without autoguiding. Its not quite Losmandy/Astro-Physics quality but definitely a step up from most China made mounts.
Although its rated load is 50lbs including counterweights, it is best served at 30lbs or less of instrument weight (i.e. without counterweights) With a heavy DSLR and an 80mm guidescope on the VMC200L, it requires 8lbs of counterweights.
It can be controlled on the laptop via ASCOM (download drivers) and requires just 1 LAN cable if you're into fully PC controlled or nearby-remote imaging (i.e. room computer to balcony)
A word about this mount in particular: The SXD has a very tight altitude adjustment screw that unfortunately has a design flaw: When pushed against heavy loads, the steel set screw holding the handle of the Altitude adjustment bolt will bite into soft brass of the bolt itself, resulting in eventual failure. After changing the bolt with an original replacement part from Vixen, I epoxied the handle to the bolt with the set screw in place - Epoxy has very good resistance to shear force hence it is able to take up all the turning force required, preventing a future failure of the bolt. The downside is you will not be able to remove the bolt except by cutting it. In practice there should be no reason to ever remove this bolt.
I am offering the SXD with 8lbs counterweight, STAR GPS (Never used it myself - never needed to), HAL-130 tripod and spreader. These mounts without external GPS go for about USD $1800 on A-Mart and require about USD$300 for shipping, not including 7% GST. I'm therefore asking SGD$2800

Do let me know if you're interested and thanks for reading a lengthy post!

[Gary]

I have looked through this Vixen VMC 200L under the dark clear skies at Sedili. Quite impressive for visual work even though it is primarily designed for astrophotography.

[juanirias]

Hello! Can I make an offer? Regards, Juan

[roma_my]

Hi Kevin,

The VMC 200L & accessories still available? Thanks.

Cheers
Roland