"s" wrote in message
...
After many years of lying back in the grass gazing up, I think I have
finally outgrown my 7X50 binoculars. But what next? I have about NZ$1000
budget for a 'scope. I have read and understand the differences in the
types
of telescopes, refractor, reflector, and those funny "fold the light in
half" scopes (I figure the latter are out of the question due to price),
but
what do I choose? for NZ$895 I can get an 8" Dob
(http://www.astronomy.co.nz/pub/GS680.asp) or for NZ$995 an 8" Newtonian
(http://www.astronomy.co.nz/pub/GS600.asp), I could possible stretch my
budget to a 10" Dob, NZ$1195.

But what to choose? Should I even be looking at reflectors? should I
seriously consider a refractor? I fully intend to spend many hours
oooo-ing
and ahhhhh-ing over the rings of Saturn, are reflectors the right scope
for
this?

Help?!?
I think, both are capable of giving you some really good views of the sky.
However, you really need to 'handle' the 10", before making a decision (is
there any chance you can get somewhere and 'see' the scopes in the flesh?),
since though 'aperture rules', there is a second adage, that runs 'better a
smaller scope that is used, than a large scope that stays indoors'. Are you
competent at woodwork?. Generally, the GEM mount shown, is one of a family,
that works reasonably well, but tends to suffer from the aluminium tripod
being pretty wobbly. A solution to this, is to make your own wooden legs,
which work far better. Also consider that your budget, is possibly going to
have to cover a lot of other things (a couple of eyepieces, possibly a
Barlow lens, a planisphere, etc. etc..), so it may be 'better' to keep some
money in reserve. Note that at F/4, a 'coma corrector', may well become a
'required' accessory, if you want to look at wider field views. As has
allready been said, if your _primary_ desire is to look at planets, the
longer focal length models will 'suit' slightly better.

Best Wishes