If you are interested in Astrophotography, why not buy a 5 or 6" refractor? Sharper images. Something to think about. Remember the 6" Sovietski will not have the light gathering power of the 8". Both the Meade and Celestron scopes will do well. I have from experience noticed that Celestron Cassagrains out perform Meade in the 8" department. While some of the meade 10" or 14" are better in performance than Celestron. CCD is a large undertaking. The Cassagrains are better suited for CCD imaging that SLR Astrophotogrphy. If I were making the choice, I wouldn't pick the 6". Both 8" are good for what you are intending. Also astrophotography is not as easy as it looks. A lot of trial and error. Good luck.