Quick question..buying refractor.

"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
25.205...
"Tom" wrote in
:

I am in the market for a small refractor. I think I have reduced it
to the TV Pronto package with Telepod mount deal for 1500.00, or the
Tak FS60C with the "Teegle Sky Patrol" mount. On the description
for this deal...
http://www.telescopes.com/products/T...em_Complete_10
007.html

...it mentions an included "Takahashi 1-1/4 Inch Compression Ring
Diagonal" I don't see a diagonal in the picture. Are they refering to
some other component
I have yet to learn about? I gotta have a diagonal. I can't imagine
being comfortable without one.

I want this scope for casual observing, and maybe some quick CCD
imaging. Nothing too fancy given these mounts. Any obvious choices
here? Thx-Tom

Just curious as to why you eliminated the Orion ED-80 from consideration?
At $500 for the OTA it's got a considerably lower price point and leaves
you gobs to spend on the mount.

I just drove down to Tucson to check out some scopes, and they had the
80ED. You really have to see it to appreciate it. Your suggestion is
sounding
better all the time. They had a Vixen GM mount for 800, minus the 400
dollar drive to make it tick. It might make sense to put the 80ED on a
mount that can have photographic possibilities. I could also plop down
an OTA 8" Scmitt-Cass on that mount in the future. I haven't researched
that mount yet, so I don't know the capabilities. I do know that I don't
want
the supplied Sky-View mount. I'm sure it is great for observing though.
Thanks for the tip. -Tom