The optics are very good, Brendan. I purchased my NG102mm through Gilman Zhang at North Group-I ordered a 9x50 finderscope with it and it was branded Explore Scientific. That led me to ask Gilman who actually made the 80mm, 102mm and 127mm triplets, and he answered Kunming Optical Company. I saw on one of North Group's internet sites that Hioptic is one of their brands.
I guess since these companies market a range of telescopes, economy of scale would dictate one company manufacture a particular range for all to sell, while other companies manufacture a dfferent range for all to sell.
Not sure of the company structure over there, but it seems North (Nanjing) Group may be the umbrella company under which the others operate.
