This is all valuable information for me (and maybe others). I think it's time I made a trip down to Bintel here in Sydney and had a good look at the kind of weight and dimensions of the various scopes we're talking about first hand. Then come back and ask a few more questions to members on the forum.
Your opinions are really helpful to people like myself who have little practical experience using the different types and sizes of telescopes available.
Thanks again for taking the time to give me the benefit of your advice, always welcome
!
Tony