Re: Orion Skyview Pro 127, Meade 7" Mak, or ETX 125?

what gets me about this comparison  is not the scopes as such, but the
massive price difference, the etx125 is nearly twice the price of the
orion (and I've got one myself, I love it, the goto is very nice to have)
but the meade 7" mak is nearly 3 times the size of the etx. it's not a
cheap scope by any means.

if your budget can stretch to a meade 7" mak, then why not consider
something like the celestron nexstar gps's. bigger, lighter (CF tubes) got
your goto and the extra size should give you more brightness which will
support higher magnifications which you want for planetary work.

does it *have* to be a mak?

dave