Hi Stefan. I have an ED100 which is a lovely scope. Although f9, I don't have trouble with longer exposure times on a guided mount (HEQ5Pro). A refractor is IMO easier to maintain than a reflector - no collimation needed, no dirty mirrors to access. Where the refractor misses out is in aperture for buck. The larger apertures of a reflector will give better resolution. But..... for a beginner I'd still be looking at the refractor. You can pick them up 2nd hand and virtually always they're in good condition prob. because they're so easy to look after. (eg.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=139796). I took this shot lat May from my back yard when I last managed a clear night when I was home.
http://astrob.in/182680/B/
Robert