MarsFirst

24 minutes ago, John said:

I've owned a few of the 150mm F/8's and they show enough CA and SA for my tastes. I would not personally opt for the 150mm F/5, even for just deep sky observing. I can't imaging that it would be good for imaging either - the CA bloat around stars would be substantial.

Actually the F/8 is a pretty good deep sky observation instrument.

 

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

2 hours ago, MarsFirst said:

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

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 !!!

28 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

I have a 150 F5 Startravel and 150 F8 Evostar.  Either is at the limit of an EQ5 equatorial for visual use, an EQ6 would be more suitable for imaging.  The two telescopes are both a compromise when it comes to visual and imaging, the best choice boils down to which aspect the interest is biased.  There are a lot more DSO's than planets!     🙂 

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)

11 hours ago, John said:

For observing the planets the F/8 will be much more effective than the F/5 because of the amount of false colour that the F/5 focal ratio in this aperture generates. 

As has already been said, these are big scopes which require substantial mounts.

10 hours ago, messier 111 said:

to take into consideration, the weight, the length.
the f8 is by far the best for planets.
the focus being longer, the light is therefore focused farther away, therefore less aberrations.

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).

12 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

An F8 150mm refractor is a big beast of a scope, and quite a handful.

What are you mounting it on....??

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.