Comments on Meade and Orion 8" Reflectors Wanted

I've had a home made 6" Newtonian reflector for the past 25 plus years.
I want to move up to an 8" scope and am considering the Orion Skyview
Pro 8 EQ Reflector and the Meade LXD55 8" Schmidt-Newtonian. Does
anyone have either of these and can provide comments about these
telescopes? Recommendations? Is the UHTC worth the extra $125 on the
Meade telescope?

Thanks.

--Greg

Greg Elder wrote:
I've had a home made 6" Newtonian reflector for the past 25 plus years.
I want to move up to an 8" scope and am considering the Orion Skyview
Pro 8 EQ Reflector and the Meade LXD55 8" Schmidt-Newtonian.

I've seen a number of negative comments here and elsewhere regarding the
latter. I *assume* it the the mount -- which is often the discriminator.

Phil