I have a C8 and Starlight Xpress M5 CCD. The reducer is a must (F6.3). Although most of us have more, 2 eyepieces should be adequate for starters at least. (say a 50mm & 9.7mm, plus a good x2 barlow ?) In the UK $900 wouldn't buy much of a CCD, certainly not one with an autoguide output, and any way does the LX10 deluxe have a tracking input? I've had my fairly basic system for around a year and I'm no where near ready for anything better yet. Start simple, master it and work up to an upgrade in a few years if all goes well.