Hi Jase. How about an
HEQ5 and
ED80.
The HEQ5 will carry the ED80 no problems. An EQ6 is a "bigger brother" so is better suited if you want "bigger scopes" in the future, but ATM a HEQ5 is ample.
The ED80 is a fine (Legend) starter imaging scope. Actually saying it's a starter scope is underrating it a lot! Its a damn fine scope.
Also a refractor will give you ease of operation compared to a newt. A larger newt on an HEQ5 will be pushing it a bit, so ED80!
The you need a guide scope. Look around these forums for people using finder scopes as guide scopes.
Then you need a guide camera. You can use a WEB cam as one but a
Q Guider (or such like) will simplify it all. Then you need a lappy to control the mount guider...then dew heaters...then power supplies....then...learning curve....then...
Not trying to put you off. I can see $2.5k blow out to $3k very easily! Research research research!
Suffice to say a HEQ5 and ED80 is a great starter set-up.
Brendan