As an alternative to the panoptic, check out the explore scientific range of eyepieces if you can get a look through one. I got to use a panoptic and an ES side by side, and I'd go for the ES eyepiece. There was so little difference between them visually that I'd definitely get a pair of ES eyepieces rather than a single Panoptic.
http://www.scopecity.com/detail.cfm?...824-00&sc=&tc=
But get a look through some eyepieces and work out what magnification you want first.
http://www.scopecity.com/detail.cfm?...288-00&sc=&tc=