Cody
mate , my thoughts on newbies wanting to get into AP is , forget it ! .
If I was you I would grab a C9.25 on the VX mount , enjoy it for what it is that's a great visual scope , it will give awesome views of a lifetimes worth of pleasure .
If in the future you want to make yourself poor ( its not called 'the slippery slope to empty pockets' for nothing ) doing AP grab an ED80 and 2nd hand Canon DSLR from here as they come up all the time for great prices and mount these on the VX and shoot away
.
But for now enjoy the night sky , save your sanity and money .
Brian.