MarsFirst

Yeah John, thanks for concuring - I changed my mind and go for the 150 f/8 after all - see above why.

Or not! I just called the shop, and they told me about the Focal Reducers, so it looks like with one of those, with Skywatcher Evostar 150 f/8 I can have my cake and eat it at the same time !!!

That's what I am inclined to think Peter. I am a Mars fanatic, but am under no delusion on how much more detail I can see (once every 2 years, when the Mars is at its closest, that is) with f/8 compared to f/5 scope So I will go, with heavy heart, for Skywatcher Startravel 150 f/5

A bit later after the event: I was extremely lucky to have managed to capture this magnificent 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 over the notoriously murky Liverpool’s skies on 2 October 2020 00:55 (it was overcast day before and clouds returned just a couple of minutes after this photo was taken!). (Skywatcher Startravel 102 + Canon EOS 450D)

Thanks for confirming that guys, that's what I thought too, but what about the photography? Will f/8 be equally good for imaging too? (Both when using SLR adapter and digital camera in stead of an eyepiece).

It comes with a quite sturdy EQ5 Deluxe Heavy-Duty Equatorial Mount, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I bought recently a Skywatcher Startravel 102 f/4.9, and having liked it, now I want to go a step up to either Skywatcher Startravel 150 f/5 or Skywatcher Evostar 150 f/8. I want to use the scope primarily for observation and photography of Mars, Jupiter and it's moons, Saturn and Titan, but perhaps also for observation and photography of DSO. Can you please advise which one to go for? (both are the same price, so it's only about the suitability). P.S. I was reading this post: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/134287-f5-versus-f8/ but that was only a general question f/5 vs f/8 - my question is about the two specific scopes, so perhaps someone uses them and has a better idea of their suitability for the above.