Intes MN-61

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Telescope Reviews:Intes MN-61

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Brand and Model:Intes MN-61
Price ($USD):1249
Type:Maksutov-Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:152mm (6")
f Ratio:f/6
Focal Length:900mm
Finder:7x50
Electric Power:n/a
Mount:n/a
Tripod:n/a
Weight (lbs):21 lbs lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):44 "x7 "
Description:Available with crayford or helical 2 " focuser. Small 30mm (19.7%)central obstruction.

Vote Highlights Vote
Intes MN-61
Excellent scope. Very robustly built and the optics are first rate. The best bang for the buck going. Outperformed my two 4" APO's and cost less than half as much.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=579826

Intes MN-61
I got mine with a mount from a guy who would not separate the two. Since he was only willing to knock off $400 from the price without the scope, I said 'Yes'. I am very glad I did.

Cool down is slower than a 6" Newt, but 40 minutes usually does the trick. When used immeadiately (on Mars as it happened, with 13mm Nagler) there are noticeable defects in the image on a 0 C night. Most of them are gone after just 15 minutes or so, the rest linger for up to an hour at high power. No tube currents disfigure the view at all.

On the Trapezium (central star group in Orions Nebula) it clearly shows fours stars with a 26mm Nagler, even under the severe light pollution at Southam Observatory, and clearly shows the dark 'tunnel' of dust leading to them. Under dark skies 30 miles away, the detail is tremendous.

The moon is also amazing. No trace of sperious color is visible, and you can clearlt see the dark sides 'Earthshine' at 70% or less of full illumination, you can also easily see feild stars dissapear behind it.

The corrector gets dewed up easily though, but only on damp, cold nights. The main mirror has never dewed up at all inside the tube.

Cleaning it is very simple. Six screws hold the front corrector and its cell on, just remember to put a pencil mark on both to remember where it was. The same holds true for the rear mirror support.

Another weak point is the focuser, a crawford type, which does get to focus with all my EPs but not with my Contax 159MM. The finder is a 50mm type and gets misaligned is left on the scope when not in use.

It holds collimination very well, which is good as the rear cell has 3 small and 3 large allen bolts to adjust it, and I don't have an instruction manual.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:10 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=575017

Intes MN-61
Das Intes MN-61 ist eine feine und super scharf abbildente Optik*!* Der größere Bruder, das MN-71, steht hier nicht nach........ich besitze beide. Der MN-71 bleibt, den 61er verkaufe ich.
VG
Volker

Overall Rating: No Vote
Optics:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=562300

Intes MN-61
Best scope on the market for all around use and quality. Yes, it takes time to cool down, but I can't think of another scope out there for this price that offers razor sharp planetary detail, and will still sweep the skies at almost 3 degrees with the right EP.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=400307

Intes MN-61
I bought this scoped used and was only mildly enthusiastic under my light polluted skies. However, under dark skies this scope is as sharp as anything I've seen, and gets as much detail as my 10" meade. I still use it more than the Meade because it's so much easier to move around.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=66086

Intes MN-61
Russian MCT's are close to equal, but the I-M MNT's have the edge here. Better baffling, glass, and optics. You get something for the extra money. Russian Maks may very well be one of the best optics values on the market today.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=54855

Intes MN-61
This is my first telescope; however, I spent many hours listing my requirements (portability, high contrast, sharp images, bang for the buck, re-sale value) and reading reviews. After deciding that a mount was the most important acquisition (I acquired a Losmandy GM-8), I finally decided that the Intes MN-61 was the scope for me. I acquired it second hand thru Astromart for $1,000.

I have finally attended enough star parties and have engaged in enough conversations with my brother (previously a C8 owner), that I feel comfortable in posting a review.

I got exactly what I expected - very sharp, contrasty images that although not as bright as those available from an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain, are nevertheless very satisfying. I like both focusers (crayford and low-profile helical); however, with some eyepieces (Antares SW58, for example), I have to use the low profile focuser. The OTA was slightly out of collimation when I acquired it and after weeks of reading, my brother and I finally got up the nerve to collimate it. We were successful and are still pleased with the results.

The OTA looks like a bazooka and is built like a tank - I like it. I have not had any major problems with cool down - I usually put the scope outside an hour before I bring the mount and rest of my gear out. Star images are pinpoint and views of the planets and moon are very sharp. Public viewing at star parties backs up my comments - first time viewers are always impressed with the quality of the images (even if they are a bit dimmer than the larger scopes). It would be nice if the OTA were a bit lighter and brighter and if the finder had been usable (it had dirt inside it which obstructed the view). Still, these are not show stoppers.

I use a Televue Panoptic 22mm, a Vixen Lanthanum 12mm, 3 UO orthos (9mm,6mm,4mm) and a Televue Radian 3mm. The OTA handles a magnification of 300X with ease.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38896

Intes MN-61
This is an awesome performer for visual work on the moon and planets. It seems to have been made for eyepieces that provide sharp clear views, like orthoscopics or Tak LE's, but views with the late type 4 and 5 Naglers are very impressive also.

Like a few others I've seen, mine is on a Losmandy GM-8 and this combo works extemely well. I have the Intes white tube model which has a single threaded opening behind the mirror cell for a muffin fan and while cooling has not been as much a problem as I anticipated because of storing the OTA in an unheated garage, it's a pity that Intes couldn't have designed a tube allowing a quicker heat exchange.

The only real complaint I have with the unit is the finder which has recticles which are quite thick and presents an image that is a little too dark for my taste. I quickly added a Telrad.

This scope has impressed a number of seasoned observers, one with an extensive optical background. Considering price (and availability) it has to rank at or near the very top.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38894

Intes MN-61
The MN-61 is a simply incredible telescope. With good Orthoscopic eyepieces it excels on the planets, showing bands on Jupiter from pole to pole, even at 300x. On deep space objects, you can really push the power and see true detail.

Just a fun scope that really performs at only 6" aperture, beating out almost every scope I have tested it against. This includes a 6" refractor, 8" SCT, 12.5" and 15" dobsonians (from high quality manufacturers).

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38893

Intes MN-61
I got mine used from a guy raising money to buy a TeleVue 101. Mine has great optics and compares with my TeleVue 101 for sharpness and color correction. Mine is plenty bright and carries magnification well. No pincushion at all. Low power views are bright and tack sharp to the edges. Built like a tank. Stays well collimated. Fine piece of equipment for the price. Would recommend to anyone. Mine is on a Losmandy GM-8 (and it needs that kind of rock solid stability). This scope is a sleeper, a workhorse. It will not impress your friends (until they look through it). jeffz@voyager.net

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38892

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