Hi Jimmy !
Before you blow your dough , have you thought about a Skywatcher Star Adventurer ?
I wish I had have started with something like that .
In my opinion it's a good place to start and there are benefits .
It works very well .
You can achieve longer exposures with wider angle lenses because your polar alignment doesn't have to be as accurate .
Easy to carry .
It's battery operated .
If you have a Dslr then you don't need a telescope and can use various lenses to start with .
Wide field astrophotography can be quite stunning .
https://duckduckgo.com/?va=n&t=hs&q=...ages&ia=images
You can get results immediately but will have to master finding Octans in your polar scope .
You begin to understand the importance of polar alignment and getting familiar with the night sky and what's where .
You can also begin your journey into post processing without outlaying thousands of dollars .
The whole point of what I'm saying is that a Star Adventurer will drop you into astrophotography without too many dramas . Basic gear and a easily portable setup can produce stunning results . If you find that you don't like astrophotography , then at the very least you'll get out without outlaying thousands of dollars . Astrophotography takes time and needs dedication .
Longer focal lengths require more precise alignment and that's where things change .
Longer focal lengths require a laptop or other device with programs that you will have to learn and become familiar with .
You may also need a guide scope and guide camera and if you want to lug all this gear around then you also need a power supply .
There's nothing impossible about astrophotography but it may be a steep learning curve and can be quite frustrating but once you've outlayed your money then that's it . You will either become an astrophotographer or your gear will sit in the corner gathering dust .
Good luck : )
The short focal length Sky-Watcher ED refractors - as you mention the 62ED, 72ED, 82ED, and time honored 80ED - are excellent choices. Mount wise, the EQM-35 is a winner - I would not recommend going lighter than this for astrophotography as a solid set up is needed to avoid even the slightest wind from impacting exposures. The 62ED with its field flattener, on an EQM-35, would be a magnificent entry into deep sky imaging. And I assume you're meaning deep sky imaging...planetary imaging is heading in the other direction on focal length... clear skies, Mark
