Adam Cox:
IMO the SW200P provides better resolution and contrast, which it should at F5 Vs F7 and 1000mm Vs 840mm focal length. However for the ease of use and consistent performance, I'd choose the Askar 120.
Thanks Adam! Those photos are very helpful!
Indeed there is the difference in resolution but I do agree that the ease of use will play a big role for me, as still a newbie in the field. I probably won't get the same quality out of a reflector (I already had trouble getting my 8SE SCT perfectly collimated...) as a refractor.
Only just read this post, but I think its certainly worth me mentioning that if you're a newbie, the Askar 120 APO is not really a 'newbie friendly' scope...
Whilst yes, a refractor has less points of failure than a 6 or 8 inch newtonian.. I really can't stress enough the number of complications that arise from having a 1.2m long moment arm... The 120APO is NOT a small scope. It is very long, and although balancing is not critical on harmonic mounts, trust me you will want to get this thing close to perfectly balanced, even on a harmonic mount. I balanced mine by putting a pencil on my kitchen bench top, and balancing the OTA across the pencil, then making a mark on the dovetail in the location where the OTA would balance on the pencil.... Then you need to consider, not only the moment arm and the amount of torque that is applying to the mount, but the length of the OTA and whether or not it's going to clear your tripod legs.
I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone from enjoying the hobby in any way they would like to, but a 5" or larger APO will bring heartache to an unsuspecting user who's making the step up from a 60mm refractor or a camera lens, thinking 'well its just a bigger lens, how much harder can it be?' - because the answer to that is 'Much'.
