[luka]

I am stuck trying to decide what to do. Recently I saw a 2nd hand 127mm Mak advertised for about $250 (no accessories) which got me thinking about getting a new scope.

I currently have ED80 on soon-to-be-improved EQ5 (I am replacing the dual motor hand controller drive with a custom built belt-driven drive controlled by OnStep). Also I am building a guiding system. My main interest is deep sky astrophotograpy but recently I have started playing with planetary imaging (with ED80). I have also started doing some visual observing. Clearly that is an excuse enough to get another scope :-) My budget is quite limited due to other expenses, say few hundred $.

Considering the budget I was thinking of an 8" or preferably 10" dob/Newtonian or the 127mm Orion Mak. I also know that whatever I buy will likely end up on the EQ5 until I can upgrade the mount (yes I know it would suffer under the 8" or 10" tube and yes, I hate myself for not getting a bigger mount in the first place).

Anyway, how would a 127mm Mak perform compared to 8" or to 10" reflector for planetary imaging? I know that I can forget about deep sky stuff with the Mak but it's smaller size is attractive. How would either of them compare to ED80 for planetary or deep sky, visual and photography? Would it even be much of a step up? What would be a reasonable step up from ED80 for planetary and/or visual? All observing is done from my light-polluted backyard. Should I rather buy a light-pollution filter for my ED80?

Is $250 for 2nd hand 127mm Orion Mak OTA only a good price? Should I get it now and ask questions later ;-)

I have been thinking about this for days and I am completely lost what to do next. Does it mean I don't need another scope until I figure which direction I want to go?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/recommendations.