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Bit quiet here today, programmer. OK, I'll have a shot:-
If you can afford the bit extra for the 10" and you can carry it around - in and out of home and transport it in your car - go for the 10" scope. You won't be sorry.
10:1 Crayford? Great if you get one standard. That adds to the argument to go for the 10". But any special reason why you would have a 10:1 on a 10" scope over an 8" scope - No, there is no reason - it adds the same benefit to each. I haven't used a 10:1 - I went for the electric motor control of a standard Crayford focusser instead.
Eyepieces - let's see - there are 3,270 members of IIS, so there are probably about 2,000 different opinions on eyepieces!!
Now Bintel bundle the following:- 26mm (2") Fully Multi Coated Eyepiece (Kellner design I believe), 15mm and 9mm Plossl Eyepieces. I started with these and, for a beginner, they will certainly get you well under way and seeing plenty. Find your way around the sky with these for a few months - until you can get to a star party or together with someone else and learn about other eyepieces and look through some in your own scope. This will include looking at a few different barlow lenses to see what benefit they bring.
You do need a collimating tool. From Bintel, look at the Orion Cheshire tool or the laser tool. I have both and have great success with the laser, after I'd done bit of tweaking - checking the laser alignment itself, adding a wrapping of "contact" to make the laser sit very snuggly in the focusser adapter. A barlow comes in handy, combined with the laser tool, to get even more accurate collimation of your scope.
Has anyone told you about all the accessories you will need! Planisphere, maps, red light torch, some form of seat, magazine subscriptions.... Don't give up your $-earning day job just yet!
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