All six of these telescopes are fairly close in price. However, it is somewhat bulkier than the other telescopes, which makes it somewhat less versatile. However, kits require a great deal of time and effort and may not be suitable for the average beginner. An astronomer comfortable with home projects will probably want to consider a kit thoughin that it does offer a substantial value. When it comes to overall aperture, the reflecting telescopes are easily able to outperform similarly priced refracting telescopes.
High magnification is a factor with deep space objects.
It is not as great a factor for planetary observations. The astronomer should keep in mind the intended use of the telescope when making a purchasing decision. Equatorial mounts add a great deal of cost to a telescope. This fact is especially true when dealing with a large, bulky telescope. Unless astrophotography will be a requirement of the user, it is much cheaper to go with a sturdy, dependable alt-azimuth mount.