Bigger or better? To Apo or not?

Guest · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:43 pm Post subject: Bigger or better? To Apo or not?

A smaller Televue/Stellarvue refractor in the 85mm-102mm range costs about 3 times more than a larger Meade LXD75 AR-5AT 5" when total costs are figured (tripods/mounts/diagonals/rings/etc). I understand the theoretical APO doublet/triplet color correction and lens/mechanical quality advantages of the smaller refractors. My primary usage would be planetary observing. For the average observer, is the viewing through a quality smaller refractor dramatically different enough to warrant the price differential? I haven't found any local astronomy groups to compare telescopes myself. I am torn between buying the Meade sooner versus saving up for a Televue/Stellarview sometime next year. If I knew the smaller scopes would give me exceedingly better views, I would save up...

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5384

Hi

For planets, yes, there is a noticeable gain in image quality with a good APO, not to mention a dramatic decrease in size and weight, not only because of their smaller aperture, but also because of their reduced focal length. I would much rather wrestle with a small APO each night than a standard 5" or 6" achromat - very large and very heavy scopes. Also, premium APOs bring out the best in a high grade eyepieces, like Televue Radians and so on - these eyepieces are made with short focal length APOs in mind.
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