Refractor likes versus your reflectors

Hi Floyd,
Now that you have had some time with your new refractor(s)are you happier with them over your reflectors? Can you give us a summation of how you feel they compare regarding contrast, definition, resolution, and useability? I notice your new posts always picture the refractor. I believe you are just doing evaluation, but then it seems maybe you are letting the reflectors collect some dust too. Does the little amount of chromatic aberration in the 5" refractor bother you? I have noticed that when looking in a wide field (with both an achromat (especially f/8) and then a reflector)it becomes instantly obvious the secondary color tints all the field stars. IE. it appears that most brighter stars (7th and 8th magnitude) have a slight bluish tint that would go unnoticed until you look at the same field in a reflector and see more whitish or even slightly yellow stars...I'm talking general background stars such as in denser portions of the Milky Way. Of course, this is not news, but it has caught my attention more than once. What do you think?
I an not trying to start the age old war here, I just wonder if you are coming to a preference here either way for the refractor or the reflector?
I like them both, but in my older age I am becoming to prefer the light gathering power of the bigger reflectors...just as long as I can get a permanent observatory so I don't have to set the things up!

Hi Charles,
Well, I have devoted a few observing nights to the refractors, but mainly to get everything working properly and to familiarize myself with the new systems. I have also be evaluating the APO vs Achro and then refractor vs reflector.
I will say that there is no way the refractors can keep up with the reflectors as far as DSO is concerned. In general, the reflectors when at most everything. I appreciate both types for what they can excel at and what objects and types of objects that they do best.
I would have to say that the refractor does a fine job on wide field, star fields, double and multiple stars, open clusters and anything that has very fine points of light.
The reflectors do not quite have as tight of a star point. Bt they show more detail with their aperture advantage in most any object.
Refractors are also great for photography as are their mounts and may have an advantage for this.
My 10" reflector has so much more light grasp than the 5" refractor though, that it is a no contest.
The 127ED shows so little color that it is very close to the APO. It only really shows on the brightest of stars. Not really a big distraction and in some ways it makes for a beautiful star!
I agree that the brightest stars due tend to have a blue tint to them in the ED, but not on field stars, only the mag 2 and brighter seem to be effected greatly.
When comparing views in the APO to the ED of the same object at the same time, most stars have the same color in both stars though the 127ED has deeper color than the 80mm APO. I have found no color on the limb of the Moon in a good EP, but Vega, Sirius, Deneb and Altair due tend to have a blue haze around them to some degree.
I like the look of open clusters in the refractors and double stars are excellent.
I like DSO in the reflectors. Any thing like a globular cluster, galaxy or even planetary nebula are best in the reflectors, but I feel this is just a product of aperture not type of scope. I would bet that a 12" APO refractor would give my 14.5" Starmaster reflector a run for its money on about anything.
I will say that both types of scopes have a place in a collection. If you have the money for them both, then by all means get them and enjoy them.