8""sct vs 120mm refractor

[lee g]

Hi i already own an 8"sct and was thinking of buying a Sky-Watcher Startravel 120 (AZ3) as a quick setup grab and go.

I mainly only do visual astronomy my question is would i benefit anything visually ? Is it worth the purchase or not.

Thanks for any feedback

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

It will give you a much wider field of view, but quite a bit of chromatic aberration if used at higher magnification. I also have a refractor as a wide-field, grab and go scope next to my C8, but it is an 80mm F/6 triplet. More expensive, but gives an even wider field, and is also good on sun, moon, and planets

 

[Cosmic Geoff]

I have a 102mm Startravel as an alternative to my C8.  It functions as a grab'n go (I can carry it in one hand) and as a widefield viewing scope, and (with a solar filter in front) as a solar imaging scope - all tasks for which the C8 is unsuited.  But I mostly use it for EEVA live-stacked imaging - another task that does not work well with the C8.   I use it on a AZ-4, or a SLT GoTo mount.

The AZ3 is not a great mount, and will limit what you can do with your proposed purchase.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I use a mini-giro mount on a photo tripod for lightweight travel, and a wooden tripod in the garden. Works very well, even with two scopes

[KP82]

It will complement your C8. The refractor will produce wide crispy views that are very pleasing to look at. Just don't bother with high magnification on these fast achro.