Hi Rob,
In answer to your question- if all you want to do is look and not get into photography you may be better off looking at a much larger aperture dobsonian style scope. Much cheaper and you will see a hell of a lot more. The downside is they don't track and are a push pull scope. I own a 12" Bintel dob and am very happy with it. But to put into perspective, Planets are great as are some nebulars, Galaxies are still feint to the eye (relative to planets (Major planets). Globular clusters are brilliant and so on---.
So you need to decide on what you want to do with the scope and how portable you want it as well.
I like 'em BIG!!!!! (just can't afford bigger
)LOL
Hope this rant helps you.
Cheers,
Duncan
Ps Welcome to the Hobby?!!!!?