I've been using a Zenithstar for a few years as a travel scope - it's not lightweight at 2.7kg but it is 30cm long so easily fits in an average sized backpack, and can be used with a decent photo tripod. I've also used it here for kicks with a 2" diagonal and my 40mm Pentax eyepiece for gulping in Magellanic Clouds
however, a 60 or 70mm refractor is never going to give you resolving power of a larger scope.
Photographically...I've been experimenting with the humble kit I've got this year and have taken a number of shots with the Zenithstar and Canon 1100D and not seen anything colour wise that I would describe as "horrible"
actually I've been rather pleased with what I've been able to achieve with it, not least with bags of help from friendly IISers
...but I only took my first image 6 months ago.