Telescope Reviews: CGEM plunge.

I'm currently debating to defect to the Celestron CGEM team from the Meade LX200GPS w/wedge. Here is my predicament: I own a 12" Meade SCT w/UHTC, which is a magnificent scope might I add. Downfall is me and the wife would like to travel to more distant star parties (darker skies) and spend less time setting up (story of our lives isn't it?). On a normal imaging night, leveling the mount, getting my bolts and allen wrenches ready, hoisting the OTA alone, getting optics established, conduct drift alignment (good, imaging alignment), and swap out optics with imaging equipment I spend close to 1 1/2hrs,perhaps 2. I don't use a guide scope, so all my images are unguided, hence spending extra time on drift alignment. I can get 60 to 90sec min exposures while keep a crisp image. Because of my long focal length even with a focal reducer star trails are easy to come by. Meanwhile the EQ/GEM enthusiast took a total of 20-30min setting up and are already taking darks and can produce great images at 2-3 minutes exposures. I imagine guided exposures have be something to write home about on these.

This whole "all-sar polar alignment" sounds like a gift from celestial gods themselves. Now that I have the knowledge that aperture isn't critical for CCD imaging, I don't mind downsizing considerably. Keep in mind when I first bought this scope in 2002, CCD imagers were an arm and leg, and all I knew was visual astronomy. Imagers are still expensive in some cases, but perhaps that because our expectations have gone up. The CGEM seems to be appropriate for someone who tends on going to the field often (late or on time), yet will be able to pull off decent some images without cussing at your telescope. I'm not saying GEM's are perfect, but I think most of you know what I mean who have gone from the wedge to GEM.

So what's the plan you say? (Sigh) Well the CGEM looks like a good mount, even though I have read about the HC problems. I would like to get an 8inch SCT, perhaps the HD optics (not so sure on this one yet) or the Meade 8in OTA ACF mounted on that magnificent machinery. I would sell my current scope and mount setup and use those founds to by an SBIG with built-in auto guider, avoiding the guidescope route for awhile. I have a fetish for galaxies, so wide field is not critical for my with exception of M31 of course.

Anyways, I digressed a little, but after seeing how easy the CGEMs setup I had to ask myself. So I was wondering what you guys thought about going from the monster 12" with wedge setup to a friendlier CGEM with 8inch (undecided about Celestron HD or Meade 8in ACF). I have to do something, my current scope is just too big to haul on trips along with my necessary gear with the main purpose of imaging. My wife is afraid I'm going to make her ride on the roof rack of the car to star parties before too long. I'd say I'm about 80/20 in reference astronomy time dedicated to imaging/visual. Keep in mind, Dob scopes and Meade SCT is all I have ever known, hence my posting looking for guidance on converting to CGEM. I even thought about going to refractors, but due my lack of desire for wide field I naturally steer clear. Although it's not a reason to ignore them.

Thanks for input. Bart, let me know how that mount works for you.