Hey Barx, thanks for the warm welcome.
I work in video production, so there's no shortage of camera tripods in my office that I can borrow for some sturdy bino viewing (I assume it's a simple bino attachment?). From what I've gathered, 10x50 should be a good start.
As for the next move after that, I don't want to rush - but I will confess that as a video producer with a strong background in both photography and digital imaging (I was a professional photo re-toucher before moving into video), it would be disingenuous for me to say I don't harbour ambitions of one day venturing into the expanding universe of astro-photography/imaging.
On the one hand, I can see how an 8 inch dob would be a fun, low investment, low risk entry into amateur astronomy. On the other, I've been planning on buying a decent DSLR for years now. I've worked with the 5D MKII for photography and video and it (or something similar) has been the next big purchase on my list for a while (astronomy interest aside). Now I am realising, this could be an alternate entry into my new hobby. I love wide-field night sky / milky way images and would love to learn how to make them, time-lapse scenes as well. It's a bigger deal and greater investment than buying an entry level telescope, but with my photo & imaging background - probably not as a big a learning curve.
The concept of multipe long exposures and post processing in Photoshop is not at all alien to me. I understand that it can get incredibly complex with astro-imaging, but night sky shots feel like an attainable short-term goal.
That said, the idea of just having fun with a dob in the back yard, sharing my discoveries with friends and family and joining the local astro group does sound pretty cool to me also.
So yeh, lots to think about - which is why i'm here - talking to good folk such as yourself
