When using the telescope to take pictures of discovered but not fully researched bodies, the progress is added properly, but it also seems to take funds. Is this intended?

Is there a particular reason why? I thought that photographing bodies was supposed to be an alternative method of progressing.

Yes.

It is an alternative method.. but it still uses funds. Only it's instantaneous. No waiting for research....

Hmm, alright. In that case could it be made more obvious with a warning or something? I didn't realize it took funds until I noticed them disappearing after returning to the space center.