A Schmidt-Newtonian telescope is a combination scope which takes elements from the Schmidt camera and the Newtonian telescope. The result is a scope designed to counter aberrations.
At this point in time, Meade is the only manufacturer to produce the Schmidt-Newtonian (SN) scope. Apertures are available in 6", 8" and 10", and the devices themselves have been made with the amateur astronomer in mind, with price points within a range that would accommodate beginners. As a result, one can speculate that this may have impacted the quality of available scopes. Consumer reviews are a good way to better assess whether or not a Schmidt-Newtonian is for you.
Design-wise, the Schmidt-Newtonian is similar to a Maksutov-Newtonian or Mak-Newt, with the exception of the corrector plate. The SN scope takes the basic construction of Newton’s telescope and replaces the normal parabolic mirror with a spherical mirror. Consequently, this change introduces spherical aberration, which is then countered by the addition of the Schmidt camera's corrector plate. (The Schmidt plate is also used in Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes.)
The original idea was to create a telescope with a wide field of view unhindered by significant aberration. While the Schmidt-Newtonian still experiences some coma (or comatic aberration), it's less so than that of a traditional Newtonian device. Given the same focal ratio (diameter of the scope's virtual aperture), the Schmidt-Newtonian should have a sharper focus. This is especially true for shorter focal ratios. As noted, Meade manufactures apertures of 6" to 10".
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