TBH, its a false economy getting stuff to get you by, when you will only need to upgrade it later, and for $1500 your gonna be hard pushed to get anything.
it really all depends on what you wanna take pics off ...
An EQ5 with something like an ED80 on there will suffice for taking 60-90 seconds shots of the brightest DSO's but unless you never ever tire of looking at Eta Carinae, then your gonna get bored very quickly.
As a bare minimum :-
Used HEQ5 Pro (actually anything like this will do, as long as it has an autoguider port for ST4 signals to get sent to the mount, you could use a Meade LXD75, and it might cost you a wee bit less, but they are not easy things to find used. Something like an Orion ED80 or SW ED80, and a small guidescope. a 70mm scope would do for guiding, although i would keep the focal length quite short if poss, and somethiing like an older Meade CCD for guiding.
Realistically, a well maintained HEQ5 Pro, or even better, EQ6. something between either an ED80 (HEQ5) or 8" Reflector (EQ6), the same small guidescope, and Meade CCD for guiding, although i prefer what i use, the Orion Star Shoot autoguider, but there are other things that you will need to, T-Ring, Guidescope rings, dovetail bar, LPR filter etc. etc. etc.
realistically, your gonna need around $3Kish, to get something happening, not saything that you cant do it for $1.5K, but that $1.5K would be better put towards something that you will use for longer, and not just tide you over.
A laptop is also another handy thing, and you will need something for guiding out in the field, i am starting to find out photography is a money pit ...
