I'm new as well, and here's my path :)

Camera: Canon T3i, for no other reason than I already had one:

Mount: $30 Tripod

Lens: 800mm F8

Android Tablet (App: DSLRController)

Got me this: http://imgur.com/3Hqc64E

Added a 50mm lens F1.8. While the lens doesn't get us anywhere near the magnification we'd like, it sucks in light like a vacuum cleaner! I was able to get 3 galaxies in one shot (M31, M32, M110): http://imgur.com/tgsAuVs

And this: http://imgur.com/Mw4fktf

Now I'm waiting for my AVX to arrive as well, but for an extra $60 you can get it with a nice 6" F5 scope! http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Advanced-Newtonian-Telescope-32054/dp/B00HX4SYTA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418237585&sr=8-3&keywords=celestron+advanced+vx+6 I just ordered