What would you recommend/buy?

[Jon Sales]

I've narrowed down my choices of scope to either:

A) Celestron Nexstar 4SE or 5SE (depending on funds)

Skywatcher 127 Synscan alt/az GoTo mak

C) Skywatcher 102 Synscan alt/az GoTo refractor

Which one would you buy and why?

I need a portable scope as I'll be doing a lot of airline travel and also moving to Cyprus so I'll be taking it with me as luggage. The OTA will be hand luggage and the mount/tripod will be in my main case.

[Tribal-Wolf]

5se or 127 mak

[Ags]

I have the 4SE - it is very nice but the tripod has to be fully disassembled for transport as it does not fold. I think the 5SE costs a lot in comparison to the Skymax 127.

[Russe]

5SE or 127 mak.

Get a good mount though

[Russe]

Check out the thread 'imaging with a mak' - u see what u can see

[JamesM]

The 127 Maksutov for me too and although I think the Starbright XLT coatings on the 5 SE Nextstar are excellent (other half has this very scope) and was a group test winner in a recent survey by Sky@Night magazine, I agree with Ags that you are paying a premium (almost twice as much) for the benefit which you could use on some nice eyepieces.

James

[sgazer]

I would go for the 127 Mak, good price, low maintainance, excellent optics, good aperture, compact.

[rowan46]

either the 5se or the skymax 127. If I had the funds I would choose the 5se but it is an awful lot more

[tjr]

I would probably go Skymax 127. The 5SE is 'better' but a LOT more expensive. If you get the Skymax you can spend that money on improving your scope's accessories.

[Russe]

Alt/az mount is very whimsical!!!

[sticks]

I went for the MAK - see my picture on this this thread for portability:

http://stargazerslounge.com/beginners-help-advice/185971-telescope-eyepiece-storage-advice.html

[rowan46]

To put "better" into context the c5 on a nexstar mount is a bit more stable than the 127 on it's synscan mount not a lot in it as both are at the top of their mounts capacity.

The nexstar has better software although tracking is about the same on both.

The c5 tube takes a little less time to cool down and the optics are in my opinion a little better (however the 127 mak is no slouch)

the big but is the price. the 5se is nearly twice the price of the skymax on the synscan it's not nearly twice as good a scope.

[Russe]

Should you go for astrophotography - please post your pics under the thread "imaging with a mak 127"

Have fun!!!!

[Jon Sales]

Thanks for the input

Going to go for the mak

Pics will be posted add I take them

[todd8137]

Vote for the 127mak great scope and not bad for grab in images