Orion Mak vs. Stellarvue refractor

Okay, this is gonna' be my first scope, but I've been going back and forth between the new Orion SkyView Pro 127 (Mak) and the Stellarvue 4 in. achromat. I would like to get something before Mars is at it's greatest magnitude and also something that's airline portable (that's why I'm choosing these two scopes). After Mars, the scope will be used pretty much for general viewing and perhaps I'll be taking it up to Mauna Kea with me seeing as how I'm gonna' go back to school at UH Hilo in August. Anywho, everyone's two cents (or ten or fifty or seventy-five or whatever you may have) would be very much appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

I can give you a half cent opinion. I have the 127 and a Celestron f10 C102HD. I really felt that the Celestron showed a little better color on Jupiter, but I hated the purple. I believe the 127 may have shown the Orion neb and open/globs slightly brighter, but it may have been wishful thinking. I am going to sell the 102 anyway because the 127 is so much easier to move around. I just put it out before dinner so it will be cooled down when I go out to look. I understand the 4in Stellarvue is a better scope than the C102, but I have never seen one. My point is that if the C102 is close, then the Stellarvue may be better than the 127.

I have no idea how to compare these scopes (127/C102)critically however, so I am only reporting what MY eyes can see.

Michael

Don't know about the Mak or the 4-inch Stellarvue. But a couple weeks ago I found a bargain-priced Stellarvue 80/9D on Astromart and bought it, thinking of making a gift of it to a favorite nephew--which I will do when I get a better mount.

Short story: I patched it onto an old photo tripod, and found out this thing is terrific!

My regular scope is a TV-102. In good seeing, but with Mars up only about 15 degrees, both scopes showed the polar cap easily, and numerous surface markings. Of course the Televue showed a little more, but I could be very happy with the Stellarvue. The aperture difference made the Televue notably better on M13, and it showed more stars around M57, but there was relatively little difference in the appearance of the ring itself. Stellarvue is a nicely made scope and gives great views.

I'd like to hear from someone who has tried both the 80/9D and the 4-inch, to see if false color is more of a problem in the latter. It's very controlled in the longer-focal ratio, smaller aperture 80/9D.

Unfortunately, the 80/9D is not airline portable, otherwise you could probably make do with it.

Steve

I've looked through and played with a SV 102D on an alt-az mount, and it's a superb wide-field instrument, especially if you spring for some widefield 2 inch eyepieces; the view with a University Optics 40mm MK-70 was mesmerizing. If you have dark skies to observe from (Mauna Kea would count, I think ), I'd recommend it. For high power, plan on getting a good barlow (or springing the $$ for some long eye relief, ultra short focal length eyepieces).

At higher powers the chromatic aberration on the SV 102 becomes an issue (for me it did, I'm not used to it since I use a reflector, primarily), and the Orion Mak would probably be better on Mars, but with the Mak you'll be limited to nothing wider than a 1.1 degree field. This is OK, and the Mak is cheaper, but I think the SV would ultimately be more versatile.

Josh,

having experience with Apex 127, SV 102EDT and MK-67, I would say think SV4" EDT or Vixen102ED vs MK-67. Both MK-67 and EDT are airline portable, I am not sure about 102D and Vixen is too long.
It really depends on your viewing preferences - the narrow field Maks more for planetary, doubles, the 4" semi-apos more universal.

David

I recently purchaced the Orion SkyView Pro 127. This being the 8th telescope I've owned I can say that the SkyView Pro mount has the best tracking I've ever seen in a drive. The optics are very good also.

Thanks everybody. Sounds like the SV 102 is getting the most votes here. So I'll probably go with this from what everybody is saying. Although, I do have just one more question. Have any of you who have had or used this scope experienced any of those so called "awkward positions" when viewing through this scope close to the zenith?
P.S. the 5 in. Intes Mak I think is now another consideration. Hmmm! Thank you to all who responded.

Josh, you have been getting a ton of good advice, but I don't think it's necessarily an either/or situation. The two scopes you are considering have different strengths and weaknesses, and it is difficult to know in advance which will suit you best. As you mentioned, if it is your first scope, you probably don't know yet which objects and what kind of observing you will prefer. I started off with a small refractor and later got a larger SCT, and enjoy using them both, although I now use the refractor more often.

Whichever one you get, you will probably eventually own one of the other type too. I think everyone here will agree, because I think most of the people who have responded to your question own several scopes themselves.

I also think that the scopes you are considering are each of quite good quality and either will give you great satisfaction. Maybe you should just fire up the old credit card and buy one of each. Mount them in tandem and use the refractor as a finder for the MCT: best of all possible worlds ;-)