[ZeroID (Brent)]

My 80mm is just an Achromatic, not recommended for astrophotography due to the colour abberration inherent in the opticals. Thats where those expensive Apochromatic scopes fit in with their correcting glass and multiple lense assemblies.
The other alternative which I had contemplated earlier was to use my cheap 4.5" Newt as an astrograph on the mount (or my earlier EQ2 tripod). Would mean slightly longer exposures needed but no chromatic abberations in the newt design.
I still use the Newt if I am testing alignments and ideas. Much easier to get around in the confines of the Ob and the optics are surprisingly good.
Start with widefield camera + ordinary camera lens stuff. It's easier and quite fun and will teach you about the problems you will run into as you move up the ladder. Fixed tripod ( no tracking) will do for short 10 sec exposures at normal wide angle lens settings. Multiple shots stacked in DSS to get the detail and exposure required.
Welcome to the dark expensive depths of astrophotography ..

Hey, but don't forget the visual side either. I'd suggest you get out there with binocs, scope of any sort, naked eye and charts, Stellarium ( free) to learn the skies a bit. Astrophotography builds on previous knowledge, just leaping straight into it is the fastest way to become discouraged. I always enjoy sweeping te sky with the bins or the small scope while I attempt to do imaging runs or tests.