Grab & Go for Planets under 1K?

Looking to get a grab & go primarily for planets. Use for quick backyard peeks and as a vacation scope. Thinking MakCas. How do Orion and ETX of similar aperture compare? Are the 5 inchers portable? How long does cool down really take?

Also thinking short tube refractor, with a minus violet of some type.

Any opinions and recommendations appreciated. Thanks!

This is probably more weight then you want but less than you may think. The Celestron G8 is light enough at 43lbs (tube and tripod) but big enough to grasp much light at 8". I owned this after an ETX-90ec and the optics were great. It costs only $799 new on astronomics. It sounds big but I could carry it outside with one hand. I only weigh 130lbs and I'm not exactly built. Optics were far better in it than a Meade LX90 and it is much lighter. Tripod definitely required regreasing but worth the 20 minute fix. I just don't see how the 127mm's of any manufacturer will beat it. However, I'm not as experienced as others and I'm sure there will be many more opinions. It's a good question. Cheers.

5" ETX. No collimation, and its own tracking mount, although the mechanics suffer a little, it does track. The tubes are very nice. I believe they make a 4" also which would be even more portable. No tripod needed really, a table would do just fine. Under 1k, and believe me, if you go the refractor route youll need a tracking mount and no eq mount is really portable when theres tripod legs involved. Just an opinion though I guess.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
Tony.

Until recently, I owned a 6" Intes Mak-Cass. While it was "grab-and-go" enough for me, the cool down problem led me to move to something else. When properly cooled down, it was a great performer on planets and bright DSO's; but when temps are rapidly falling as in winter, the scope took 2-3 hrs. to get really good views. However, in moderate temps, the scope worked fine within 30-45 minutes.

So, I went from a 6" Mak-Cass on a CG5 mount to a Televue TV102 on a Telepod/Bogen tripod combo (which I know is more than the $1K limit). I have previously owned 4.7" f/8.6 and 4" f/5 refractors, both of which had too much color on bright objects for my eyes. Both of these were ok for bright DSO's.

Eddie

I had an ETX-125 for the exact same reason. I sold it because I didn't like its flimsy plastic fork. I could never provide steady high-power views. I purchased an Orion Starmax 127. It seems to have better high power views with more contrast than the ETX and its mout provide rock-steady views. Its equatorial mount is not as portable though, especially packing for airline flights.