Reflecting Telescopes

Often called Newtonian telescopes as they were invented by Isaac Newton. They use a large concave mirror to create an image which an eyepiece lens then magnifies.

There are a number of possible designs, e.g. instead of a secondary lens one could use a photographic plate.

Advantages over refracting telescopes

It is much easier and therefore cheaper to make a large parabolic mirror than it is to make a large lens. Reflectors are therefore a lot cheaper for the same magnifying power.

Chromatic aberration is not a problem.

They have large apertures which we will see makes a big difference to the quality of the final image.

Disadvantages

They tend to be quite bulky. They are certainly less portable than refractors.

They require periodic maintenance to keep the optics properly aligned.

The secondary mirror and its supports can effect the image.

Find a website that sells both and compare the prices for the same magnifying power.