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I think the Hi Optic scopes are the same as the Explore scientific 6" f/6.5 achro; the 6" f/5.9 is made by a different company.
I've got a Synta 6" f/5 and it's very good for low power and several pounds lighter than the competition. The objective and focuser is probably a step up on the Hi-Optic scope and the f/5.9 scope sold by 'Hands On Optics' is probably another step up again, but chromatic aberration limits the useful magnification on all of these unless filters are used.
Another factor to consider is that Istar may be selling a device to correct CA (raycorr) in which case it would be an advantage to have a higher quality objective, perhaps even one of the Istar achro's. If low power wide field is all you're interested in the Synta scope is good enough and only about 18 pounds.
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