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Great thread, as DP said.
I have just been down this road.
I owned a Tak refractor, a 4" f8, so about 800mm focal length. Drop dead gorgeous, and about US$2500 or so. Took great images, with both my 20D and also the ST2000XCM.
In a fit of lunacy I sold it, and bought a set of GSO 8" f4 optics (see the similarity here folks). Same focal length, so same image scale, and 4 times faster, if I am not mistaken. Biggest gain though was that it cost a fraction of the Tak price.
OK, I bought the optics, built the tube, and all, and then fitted a very expensive focuser and focus motor to it, but it is still about 250% of the price of the refractor. Images as good? I think so, and so does my wallet.
If you are not up to building one, then buy the likes of the GSO8" f4, and the Baader MPCC. AND a decent focuser.
That way Mike, you can have a lighter purpose built DSO imaging scope, plus the ED80 on the side for guiding. Later when you get to a dedicated CCD, with an in-built guide chip, you can dispense with the ED80.
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