Maksutov or Schmidt ??

Hi,

Having had my interest in astronomy re-kindled due to the long dark and
surprisingly clear nights I've started looking at buying a scope again.
I bought a Celestron 8 GPS a couple of years ago but didn't use it much
and eventually sold it (about 5-6 months later).

Although I enjoyed the images I saw of things like Saturn, Jupiter,
Orion and the moon I'm basically a lazy person and the thought of
dragging it downstairs and outside frequently and set up and align (or
let it align should I say) only for the skies to cloud over within 30
mins used to get me down - you know what I mean??

I digress... I was thinking of getting something a bit smaller, a bit
more point and shoot which didn't cut any corners in the quality stakes
and perhaps, even raise them slightly. In light of this my targeted
weapon of choice is an Orion Optics OMC140 GP - partly because it's 3
figures as opposed to 4 (£995) but mostly because it's more compact,
lighter and if I really want GOTO, heavier, sturdier mount,
motor-driven - I can upgrade as and when.

Now to the point... Am I making a wise decision (in your opinions) to
go for a Maksutov design instead of a Schmidt or is a case of 6 of 1,
half a dozen of the other? I've read somewhere that the Maksutov is not
quite as good optically as the Schmidt and that it's easier to make and
therefore should be cheaper. I'm pretty sure that whenever I've seen
quality Maksutov's that theyve carried a price premium over their
Schmidt brothers (Mead LX series for example).

Can anyone help me come to a decision or even steer me down a better path..?

Thanks in advance, Gary.

	#1
Gary Sanderson	Maksutov or Schmidt ?? Hi, Having had my interest in astronomy re-kindled due to the long dark and surprisingly clear nights I've started looking at buying a scope again. I bought a Celestron 8 GPS a couple of years ago but didn't use it much and eventually sold it (about 5-6 months later). Although I enjoyed the images I saw of things like Saturn, Jupiter, Orion and the moon I'm basically a lazy person and the thought of dragging it downstairs and outside frequently and set up and align (or let it align should I say) only for the skies to cloud over within 30 mins used to get me down - you know what I mean?? I digress... I was thinking of getting something a bit smaller, a bit more point and shoot which didn't cut any corners in the quality stakes and perhaps, even raise them slightly. In light of this my targeted weapon of choice is an Orion Optics OMC140 GP - partly because it's 3 figures as opposed to 4 (£995) but mostly because it's more compact, lighter and if I really want GOTO, heavier, sturdier mount, motor-driven - I can upgrade as and when. Now to the point... Am I making a wise decision (in your opinions) to go for a Maksutov design instead of a Schmidt or is a case of 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other? I've read somewhere that the Maksutov is not quite as good optically as the Schmidt and that it's easier to make and therefore should be cheaper. I'm pretty sure that whenever I've seen quality Maksutov's that theyve carried a price premium over their Schmidt brothers (Mead LX series for example). Can anyone help me come to a decision or even steer me down a better path..? Thanks in advance, Gary.