Newtonian Reflector Telescopes

Newtonians (also known as catoptrics) usually use a concave parabolic primary mirror to collect and focus incoming light onto a flat secondary (digital) mirror that in turn reflects the image out of an opening at the side of the main tube and into the eyepiece.

Advantages

• Lowest cost per inch of aperture compared to refractors and catadioptrics since mirrors can be produced at less cost than lenses in medium to large apertures.
• Reasonably compact and portable up to focal lengths of 1000mm.
• Excellent for faint deep sky objects such as remote galaxies, nebulae and star clusters due to the generally fast focal ratios (f/4 to f/8).
• Reasonably good for lunar and planetary work.
• Good for deep sky astrophotography (but not as convenient and more difficult to use than catadioptrics).
• Low in optical aberrations and delivers very bright images.

Disadvantages

• Open optical tube design allows image-upgrading air currents and air contaminants which over a period of time will degrade the mirror coatings and telescope performance.
• More fragile than refractors or catadioptrics and this require more maintenance (such as collimation).
• Suffer from off-axis coma.
• Large apertures (over 8") are bulky, heavy and tend to be more expensive.
• Generally not suited for terrestrial applications.
• Slight light loss due to secondary (diagonal) obstruction when cmpared with refractors.

Dobsonian Telescopes

Most Newtonian Telescopes have been supplied on equatorial mounts. The last few years has seen a new commercial telescope available on the market - the Dobsonian. A Dobsonian is a simple altazimuth mounted Newtonian telescope which is excellent for beginners and in large sizes is an economical "Light Bucket"

In summary a small reflector is the best general purpose telescope for beginners as they are good on all types of objects and for starting astrophotography.
See CELESTRON FIRSTSCOPE 114 EQ.
If you wish for the ultimate planetary telescope, and also a scope which is virtually maintenance free then look no further than a refractor. See FIRSTSCOPE 70 EQ.

If you’re looking for an advanced first telescope with a traditional German Equatorial mount or want to upgrade to a larger aperture telescope, consider the C8-S telescope. Mounted on the CG-5 EQ mount, both axes have precision worm gears for extremely smooth motion. Equipped with 2" steel legs, this heavy duty mount delivers jitter-free images. With adjustable height, the very rigid tripod has excellent damping characteristics and a convenient accessory tray/leg brace for added strength. See CELESTRON C8S