Which would you prefer?

[Andyfx]

If you had to have a sub £200 planetary scope what would you prefer?

A. Long focal length frac

B. Small mak

C. Other

[beamer3.6m]

Newtonian.

I like them and the planetary views through a 200p always blew me away.

[xtreemchaos]

+1 for the newt,you would have to spend alot more on a frac to get the same performance .charl.

[stadaik]

+1 for newtonian.

[ollypenrice]

Surely if the budget is really tight then the others have got it right already. Nothing can beat a Newt on bang for buck and, unusually, that applies both for imaging and visual.

Olly

[John]

Another vote for the 200P here but I'd go for a used 200P dobsonian. The F/6 optics produce great planetary performance

[Andyfx]

Cheers guys I've owned all three types of scope at one point or a other and agree, however I actually went for the mak. Space is limited and the mak will act as a good grab and go, until I have more time an can start building an imaging rig

Is a newt really what you'd all 'prefer' though? Sure it's a cheap light bucket, but is it your favourite, is it as easy to use / maintain...

[Moonshane]

this scope

(6"f11 dob) gives great views but so do my 12" f4 and 16" f4 and my 120mm and 80mm EDs.

if just planetary then my best ever views are through my 16" f4 masked to 170mm f11

as with anything, we rarely buy things just for a sole use so other factors come into play

[Andyfx]

Very nice, love the stand

[John]

Is a newt really what you'd all 'prefer' though? Sure it's a cheap light bucket, but is it your favourite, is it as easy to use / maintain...

For < £200, yes.

My 12" dob is as easy to set up, use and maintain as my 4" and 4.7" ED refractors.

I like the aesthetics of the images that the refractors put up and they do really well for their aperture though.

[brantuk]

Newtonian for sure at the stated budget limit.

[ollypenrice]

this scope

(6"f11 dob) gives great views but so do my 12" f4 and 16" f4 and my 120mm and 80mm EDs.

if just planetary then my best ever views are through my 16" f4 masked to 170mm f11

as with anything, we rarely buy things just for a sole use so other factors come into play

It's tall, it's thin. It's elegant.  I hate it!!!

Nothing personal, of course...

lly

[MarsG76]

for the price, +1 Newt from me also...

[CHASLX200]

A Newt. I have used powers over 1000x with my 14.5" and bigger Starmaster and Obsession dobs. I live in a area with some super steady seeing.  This is where great optics can really shine.

[Andyfx]

Awesome, thanks guys. Oh and lol @ Olly

[xtreemchaos]

my 200p is def my fav,it would have to be pulled from my cold dead hands,ive got fracs and there good but for a certain jobs ,the 200p is the nearest thing you will get to a allrounder and thats why to me there no1. clear skys. charl.