I'll catch heck for this from the LX200 die-hards, but, IMHO, you can't beat a refractor for high contrast images of the planets. Both visually and photo/CCD. However for tracking and taking images of deep sky "fuzzies", aperture rules.

Don't think I am saying that an SCT cannot take great planetary pictures - they can. Just not quite as sharp - depending on seeing conditions - as a refractor. But if you plan to hunt the faint fuzzies and planets and can only have one telescope, the larger SCT will handle both tasks quite well. I have both a 12" LX200 GPS and a Meade LXD55 AR5 refractor. The local solar system is the domain of my AR5, while Big Blue is my scope of choice for playing Star Trek with.

Have Fun,

Dave