Most popular backyard telescope of last 20 years. Easily combined with either German equatorial mount or a Fork and Wedge equatorial mount. Often sold with clock drives . Maintenance free, closed tube. 33 percent central obstruction decreases effective aperture.
Images seem dim and dull to experienced users of refractors and reflectors.
Oftentimes these scopes are cheaply made. Compare the optics of these scopes with Dobsonians and refractors before you buy, and buy locally where you can test the optics of the scope before you take it out of the store. The Maksutov design is similar to the Schmidt Cassegrain. The OBU Planetarium has a Questar Maksutov telescope which we regularly use to view the planets after Friday night shows . As an example, here' s how Paul Baughman prepared his backyard to receive a 5-inch refractor.