I was looking into DOBs for the longest time, in particular the Skywatcher.
And YES, it's 100% recommended, I did a lot of research.
If you buy a vanilla DOBs without the motor controlled base, you basically get the best optics available for your money - while with other scopes,
like those GoTo scopes you really pay the biggest chunk for the goto/computer controlled mount..which you WOULD not even need.
(Some astronomers actually enjoy "searching" for the objects instead of using a motorized GOTO mount where you simply enter the cords in a PC. There
are also some alternatives for finding objects, beyond the Goto mounts which are also far cheaper. In my "research", most people had the simple
skywatcher dobsons, NO motorized mounts, and i haven't really seen anyone voicing they would need one. You cannot do astrophotography with them
anyway, they are pure visual scopes...this is another thing why a motorized mount would not really be necessary).
It is much better (in my opinion) to invest some money in good extra eye pieces (eg. wide-angle pieces and one or two planetary eye pieces) instead of
thinking you need to connect the scope to a PC or need to have a motorized mount. This was the general impression i had reading around on many
forums.
ALSO...there are no real differences in brands, there are a few brands which make Dobsonians, but the differences are neglectible. Although i remember
there was some advantage using the simple, closed tube form and not that open one as seen on your picture...don't remember what it was tho.
Short: As a first, GOOD visual telescope for the best possible optics at a budget, it's perfect.
But if you want to buy this with the goal using it for astrophotography, it wouldn't be the ideal thing to get. A decent scope with a suitable mount
for astrophotgraphy would cost A LOT more than a DOBs.
edit on 27-9-2012 by flexy123 because: (no reason given)