Hi Jase,
Some absolute ED80 bargains in Icetrade at the moment, a gold one (a corker)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=86988
as well as an Orion ED80, which is even cheaper.
Best thing about these is they can be "downgraded" from an imaging scope to a guidescope later if you upgrade the main OTA. Its been done before.....
Now, I use an Orion Mini guidescope ($119 from Bintel) and a toucam ($100) for guiding using PHD, which is a free program. this whole set up weighs about 500grams and works a treat. You could also use a Prostar planet cam (better resolution) from My Astro Shop for $129...new!
An HEQ5 Pro will set you back (new) from Bintel (as thats where you can buy the mini guidescope from) $1249.
So, if you get the gold ED80 (a cracking scope) for $400 ish, then you should be ready (with the purchase of a DSLR for say $500 ish for a Canon 1000D or 1100D body) to get some photos. Oh yeah, a T ring as well, will cost you $35 from Bintel, and this allows you connect the camera to the scope. You can self mod the cam to remove the UV/IR filter, to give true capture response of Ha wavelengths, something I am tempted to do on mine shortly.
To power the mount, a rechargeable battery pack from super cheap auto for about $60 will go all night and do the trick.
To get perfect focus, use a bahtinov mask for about $35. (cheaper here if you get one made, check the classifieds)
Maybe also a Astronomik CLS filter to cut light pollution (clip in EOS one) for $169 from Bintel (optional) but recommended.
So, in summary - see how it all stacks up!!!!???
New HEQ5 Pro = $1249
ED80 Gold (ICETrade) = $430
Canon 1100D body (Outback photo) = $328
Orion Miniguidescope = $119
Prostar Planet cam = $129
T ring = $35
Battery pack = $60
Bahtinov mask = $35
CLS EOS clip in filter = $169
Subtotal (I say subtotal as there is more, but I will stop here) of $2554....
Close to budget and if you get all that, a corker of a set up which will produce some fine images! obviously you could get under this with the Orion scope but would need rings and a finder, or eliminate the CLS filter and save $169 but you get the idea.
Hope this helps, you could save a bit and buy an 8" reflector OTA like I have which are about $350-400, gives more light but also introduces collimation and weight / coma / sag issues as mentioned before. I have these issues which I am slowly sorting out. An ED80 is much easier and beautiful to photograph through.
Good luck
Cheers
Chris