I have the camera now what?

Ok, I bought a Starlight express MX7 and now I am so confused. With all the choices of mounts & software. I have a 8" Celestron deluxe but it doesn't track well enough. What is a good choice for someone who wants to start imaging. Some software will operate the camera and mount true? I just don't know what to spend my money on or what not to spend money on.
I also have a Orion SVP 120EQ w/dual axis drives.
Limited budget of course.
Clear Skies
Sonya

Get "The new CCD Astronomy" by Ron Wadaski. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask is in that book, including the answers to the questions you have now. Before you spend another dime on any thing else, get the book.

The latest issue of Sky & Telescope find the Celestron's advanced series mount to be inadequate for autoguiding use. The Orion EQ mount will be in the same league or worse.

If you have some money left over after your Starlight purchase, a used Tak EM10 or EM200 mount would take away a great deal of frustration from having to keep taming a poor mount. The DEC backlash is usually really bad in cheaper mounts. Some also use a Losmandy G-11, and luckier chaps enjoy AP's super mounts.

For me personally switching over to a good Tak mount from a Vixen was an incredible change. Overnight all the frustrations and wasted frames went away, every autoguided shot was pin point and completely effortless.

If you do not want to employ the Star 2000 autoguiding function, an SBIG STV is truly awesome.

Finally, cutting your teeth on a medium to fast 4" system is much easier than a 8" SCT. More forgiving and you can learn as you go.

Good luck! Ivan