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Hi Craig
I wouldn't be suspicious of Guan Sheng telescopes just because they are cheap (well, reasonable!). They have an excellent reputation. I've had a ten inch for five and a half years and it's great, not only for deep sky but also as a visual planetary instrument. I find a University Optics Orthoscopic 5mm eyepiece giving 250x is very good for Jupiter and Saturn, although somtimes I can go higher on Saturn (Jupiter being less receptive to magnification above that). For widefield views I love the GSO 30mm widefield and I have just bought a 15mm too (and so it's been cloudy since it arrived).
I am mentioning my ten inch because it is somewhat shorter than the 12 inch and I have to say I find it eminently portable, both in terms of taking out of the shed and setting up for a quick look, and in terms of putting in a car. It's significantly shorter than the 12 inch, but no shorter than the six inch f/8 or the eight inch f/6 - because, at f/5 its the same focal length, roughly, as the two smaller ones.
Don't let me put you off a 12 inch, but a ten might be the right compromise in terms of power and portability. As I say it's fantastic for deepsky objects, even in the suburbs here in Christchurch.
best,
Jim
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