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You can bypass the digital area and go with film. It is still available in pro shops. Use the electronics for guiding and mount control and film with your SLR and you will get nice images that way too.
Biggest purchase you want to make is buying the mount. A mount such as an EQ6 is probably the lowest capacity you want to go with. It is reliable and will give good guiding with a guide scope and camera for at least an hour each time.
As for film you will need something pretty fast but with low grain. Yes film can still be done and relatively cheaply too.
If you want to go the whole digital route though, it as Rally has suggested is an oxymoron that cheap astrophotography exists. 3-5 grand is a good starting point. If you have been into astronomy for a while you already have the passion, you just need to decide what level of imaging you want to get to and when.
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