Intane 80 APO Triplet

[mldee]

Peter Tan is advertising the above f7 80mm apo triplet for <AUD800. It looks nice, but there is very little info out there on it.

CN has a really bad review of an earlier 2007? product, but can't find any others with Google. The mfr website is http://www.intane-optics.com/

I was thinking of upgrading my guidescope to a better quality scope that could also do decent wide field work, and this would fit the bill nicely (if it works;)). It's significantly cheaper than a locally-bought SW BD ED80, and it's a triplet apo.

Has anybody any actual experience of this scope, or have any reliable info on it?

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Nanjing or Northern Optical Group provides lenses and full scopes to other companies. The most "famous" being the Meade / Astroprofessional / North Group etc. apo triplets in 80, 102 & 127 configurations.
There's a definate antin Chinese-optic bias on many forums, though I think its more to do with the way they are cranked out like biscuits, than any endemic racism. The lenses aren't intrinsically sub-par, indeed a good copy can be as good as a scope costing 2-3 times as much. The problem is getting a good copy!
You are more likely to get a keeper from a supplier like Explore Scientific or APro that do a bit more product QC before sending them out.

Sorry, I didn'y answer the question!
The scope in question is pretty new and I can't find anything either.
But look for reviews and comments from owners of new APro, North Group etc. scopes in the same apeture / fl combo. Its likely the lenses are from N.O.G unless otherwise indicated.
Its a handsome instrument, no question, so it would be nice if its looks matched it performance.

'Scope!
Peter

[adman]

I recently emailed Gilman of North Group who make the 127mm triplet that several IISers have bought, to ask him about the 80mm triplet that is mentioned on some chinese websites as being available to buy - but his reply was:



So I am not sure if this would be the North Group one....

Adam

[mldee]

Since you saw I now have a WO 80mm triplet, the Intane one is purely of academic interest to me now :)