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I would agree with Iceman in the Dob is going to give you the best bang for your buck as far as visual observing goes.
later on if you fell like dabbling in photography adding an EQ mount to that size scope won't send you into bankruptcy.
For $400 you will only get a 60-70mm refractor maybe on an EQ mount , but you may soon out grow that size or grow tired of the lack of performance and objects within its reach.
It all comes down to aperature and light grasp and 8" will win compared to sub 4".
Although small fast refractors make great wide field photo lenses , but that comes later on.
Go for the Dob.
The only thing you will need to be aware of , is a Dob is going to need continual attention to collimation and keeping the optical surfaces clean. So you will have to get phisical with them from time to time.
The refractor is fairly maintanence free.
Mark
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