If you’re an S&T subscriber (not AS&T), then it would be worth downloading the telescope test report documents:
Premium refractors: Part I - Borg 100ED, Orion/Vixen VX114-ED, and Tele Vue-NP 101 -
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/skyandte...ele+Vue-NP+101
Premium refractors: Part II - Takahashi Sky 90, TMB 105-mm f/6.2 -
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/skyandte...105-mm+f%2F6.2
An Apochromat for the masses - Orion 80ED -
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/skyandte...for+the+Masses
I've read all three articles. You're selection is purely based on what you want to do i.e. visual or photography (as is just about every telescope you buy). There are a few good all round telescopes. Not all are good for photography as they lack a flat field. The Petzal design is a nice to work with in this regard.
Everyone agrees, you pay for what you get. Personally, I'd skip the 80mm's and settle for the 100mm (4") market. This market is still relatively cheap for aperture/quality. As soon has you move up beyond the 4" to say 5" or 6" you start having to dig deep into your pockets. Manufacturing of larger lenses with minimal defects isn't easy, hence you pay a premium.
Subsequently the Tak Sky 90 will set you back A$3,350. Note that this is only a doublet, not triplet APO and field flatners are required for photography (as with most APOs if you are using large format imaging systems).
I did some further research of the WO FLT 110. Apparently the original FLT lenses were made by TEC (Russian opticians) who made the
TEC 140 (a very impressive instrument). Not sure what happened, but the FLT's now come with TMB (Thomas Back) lenses. This has somewhat put me off the FLT. I would certainly enjoy one with the TEC lenses.
If you can afford a Tak, or one of the other premium APOs that meets you astronomy requirements go for it. Taks have always had a great resale value if what you get doesn’t work for you. Consider all investment options.
WO Megrez 80 Pics
http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/WOMegrez.html
WO FLT110 Pics
http://www.poigetdigitalpics.com/WOFLT110.html
Off the WO site - buy yourself a FLT110 and you get a free ZenithStar 66 SD APO included in the price!
http://www.william-optics.com/wowebs.../features0.htm
Bargains all round.
Cheers