Looking at your budget and goals, I would recommend the same scope that I use: a Celestron CGEM 925. It is a 9.25" Schmitt Cassegrain telescope on a german equatorial mount. Comes in around $3700 now (I got in before the price rise!) - which leaves the rest for a CCD camera.
It is portable by one person. It offers good views. It can be used to take astrophotos.
http://www.celestron.com/c3/product....=73&ProdID=538
