Well, I guess I will add my thoughts to the discussion. For the most part I am pretty much limited to planetary viewing as I live quite close to Los Angeles. Over the years I have had a chance to use and compare several scopes for this use. A 10" DOB, properly collimated and with excellent optics is a killer planetary scope-I own a Portaball 10" with a Zambuto mirror. Last season I had a chance to compare it on Saturn to a 7" APO triplet at a remote, dark location. The majority of those present voted that the 10" put up a better image-resolution and contrast considered.
At home the best images of the planets have come through a 6" F/15 D&G refractor. I have a 4" flourite and a 5" Meade APO both of which do an excellent job but the light grasp of the 6" wins out in providing finer detail. I also have an old 8" F/8 reflector and it too is a killer planetary scope. The more time I spend, the more I find myself gravitating to scopes of 6" or larger diameter. Having more light to work with is just easier. Having said that, I admit that the images through the 4" flourite are stunningly sharp and quite satisfying!
At home the best images of the planets have come through a 6" F/15 D&G refractor. I have a 4" flourite and a 5" Meade APO both of which do an excellent job but the light grasp of the 6" wins out in providing finer detail. I also have an old 8" F/8 reflector and it too is a killer planetary scope. The more time I spend, the more I find myself gravitating to scopes of 6" or larger diameter. Having more light to work with is just easier. Having said that, I admit that the images through the 4" flourite are stunningly sharp and quite satisfying!
