Hi Jim,
Not an expert on refractors, but I do own several.
First off, a 10" Dob or Newt would require perhaps an 8" refractor to equal the view. The difference between them being the central obstruction of the reflector and how it takes away from the image.
Aperture is aperture, whether a refractor or reflector and the resolution is aperture dependent.
The refractor would have a somewhat sharper image of stars normally due to no central obstruction, but because of the lesser aperture it would have a dimmer image of the fainter objects such as DSO like galaxies.
So, a 5" or 6" refractor will not give as bright of an image or has a fine of resolution as a 10" reflector, but would have a better contrast and sharper star images normally. A 9" refractor would probably perform as well as or better than a 10" reflector and maybe an 8" would also rival it.
The refractor is quicker to stabilize at night with temperature changes and it is usually easier to transport, depending on it's size and the size of the mount.
Hope this helps.
Not an expert on refractors, but I do own several.
First off, a 10" Dob or Newt would require perhaps an 8" refractor to equal the view. The difference between them being the central obstruction of the reflector and how it takes away from the image.
Aperture is aperture, whether a refractor or reflector and the resolution is aperture dependent.
The refractor would have a somewhat sharper image of stars normally due to no central obstruction, but because of the lesser aperture it would have a dimmer image of the fainter objects such as DSO like galaxies.
So, a 5" or 6" refractor will not give as bright of an image or has a fine of resolution as a 10" reflector, but would have a better contrast and sharper star images normally. A 9" refractor would probably perform as well as or better than a 10" reflector and maybe an 8" would also rival it.
The refractor is quicker to stabilize at night with temperature changes and it is usually easier to transport, depending on it's size and the size of the mount.
Hope this helps.
[SIZE="Large"][/SIZE][COLOR="Blue"][/COLOR] Floyd Blue
Amateur Imager
