Vixen Optics R200SS 7.9"/200mm Reflector Telescope Kit with GPD2 Mount

The Vixen R200SS with GPD2 Mount is a perfect answer for anyone seeking a high quality combination of a telescope and mount which excels at both observing and imaging use.  Manufactured in Japan to the strictest of standards, it is a dream come true for amateur astronomers & astrophotographers.

On the observation front, the R200SS boasts a large 8" aperture, with Vixen's proprietary coatings technology applied to this Newtonian telescope's mirrors.  This telescope is entirely free of any distracting chromatic aberration (false color), and can be made to be free of coma (distortion inherent to Newtonian reflectors) with the optional #3746 Coma Corrector (or Tele Vue's Paracorr).

Combined with an 800mm focal length that's shorter than typical 8" catadioptric units, you have an incredibly-bright f/4 telescope that by merely changing eyepieces delivers wide star fields like 500mm refractors or dark deep sky phenomenas such as nebulae that are out of the reach of common 3-4" apochromatic refractors.  Apochromatic refractors are great at photographing deep sky, but unless you've got beyond 100mm of aperture you won't be observing much in the eyepiece.  This combination of skills arrives in a package which is (at 27.6" & <12 lbs for the optical tube assembly) considerably easier to transport and set up than conventional 7-8" catadioptric telescopes.

For astrophotography, the R200SS starts off with an enviable f/4 aperture that makes every exposure as short as can be expected.  No matter how you wish to photograph-with a DSLR attached to the focuser, with a digital point and shoot gathering collimated light through the eyepiece, or perhaps with a dedicated C-mount lens CCD system camera-the R200SS with GPD2 mount is entirely suited to the task.  The R200SS has a 60mm inner diameter focuser drawtube, allowing vignetting-free use of larger-class professional system cameras and a broad 2.6° x 1.7° field of view when used with a full-frame DSLR camera attached to the focuser.  You can even use optional #3796 Weight Shift Camera Bracket to have a camera ride along the mount like a counterweight.  Given its exceptional mirror, precision manufacturing, and wide unobstructed field of view, the R200SS is commonly regarded as the finest medium-size reflector telescope for astrophotography.

This combination is delivered with everything you will need to begin observing immediately, including two quality Vixen LV eyepieces that yield 40x and 160x effective magnification with the R200SS.  Take advantage of the Vixen's 60mm focuser and fast aperture by using the optional #3725 60mm to 2" Adapter and a monster 30-40mm 2" eyepiece-you'll be astounded with bright, wide field viewing of galaxies and star clusters that would leave even professional astronomers impressed.