clkonch

I realize that I am coming into this conversation late, but have to add my two cents. I bought a Crescendo with the upgrade in August. I really like the wider throat space. I like the ability to use the foot pedal to lower the presser foot and start sewing (that was part of the upgrade). I also own an Ellisimo Gold II so I was already very happy with the self threader as well as the needle down function. I am doing a lot of quilting now and was interested in using the laser guide light for quilting. I do both regular piecing and foundation paper piecing.

I've had the machine back to the dealer's twice already because the laser light shines to the left of my intended sewing line for paper piecing. I called BabyLock directly because I really wanted to use the laser light. To my chagrin, I was informed that the laser light is only accurate (that is, straight) for about 1 to 1 1/2 Inches from the needle!! So they are unable to make the light more accurate. If I sew along with the laser light as my guide, I am sewing about 1/8th of an inch to the right of the sewing line!

I can't tell you how disappointed I was to have paid so much for this machine only to find that the laser light really isn't of much benefit! Even using it to join binding for a quilt is worthless because I use a 2 inch binding strip. And using it to sew half square triangles is also worthless unless you want really tiny HST's!

So, bottom line, the increased throat space is nice. I really like the upgrade feature of being able to lower the presser foot and start to sew just by pressing on the foot pedal. BUT if you are thinking that the laser light is going to be a worthwhile feature, you're doing to be disappointed if you need more than 1 1/2 inch of accuracy from the needle!