[aphelion]

I know! I think I should get it while it lasts...there's also a 70mm x 700mm on an az2... not sure of the difference, apart from better zoom on the latter.

the news back from andrews is $230 for the 90mm mak OTA... decisions decisions..

the 70mm x 500mm comes with an erecting eyepiece and tripod, the mak would be $230 + $30 for the erecting eyepiece + $xx for the tripod, maybe a solid vintage camera tripod for $50 = $310... just doable, more than I would like, but quite taken with the 1200mm focal length, 90mm aperture, so wider field of view, and ability to connect my Canon 20D maybe later on..

edit: the difference is the focal ratio? the f/stop.. the mak-cass is 13.7, while the 500mm refractor is f7... I only know about camera lenses, but the f7 would be a lot better at night/in low light? what about during the day, would an f7 be too bright? do you get sunglasses for your telescope?