True, I thinks most people are tempted to go for high magnification of expensive heavy telescopes with Hubble-like pictures in mind. They mostly get disappointed with views as well as carrying heavy equipment. (as I did) Go fo small telescopes and even better: binoculairs. A tripod is great and increases the quality of viewing very much, though I am still wondering what the ideal solution is.
Binoculairs offer: 2-eye viewing, large field, colors ...... what more do you want.
O and if you live in heavy light polluted areas you can easily take your binoculairs to darker places.
  