Intes Micro MN-76


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Brand and Model:Intes Micro MN-76
Price ($USD):$2190
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:180mm (7.1")
f Ratio:f/6.2
Focal Length:1120mm
Finder:8x50
Electric Power:built-in fan
Mount:
Tripod:G-11 dovetail
Weight (lbs):27.7 comp lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):219mm x 1045mm
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Intes Micro MN-76
I have never been more pleased with a scope. First the negatives. Find yourself a nice R/A finderscope. The small crosshairs are worthless and the illuminator just washes out the entire field with light. A R/A finder is much easier to use as well. The focuser is good but not great. Exceesive play when the drawtubes are extended hurts CCD use and makes proper collimation difficult to impossible. I put on a Feathertouch and I'm tickled to death. Ever get compliments on a focuser? Just be wary of the correct drawtube length required when ordering. You'll need a long one. I'm glad I measured first using all my EP's and accessories. It's heavy! The mount you'll need will be heavy! Not necessarily a negative but more of a warning. Will need at least half an hour to thermally stabilize decently and improves from there. The fan helps a bunch. I wired a rheostat into the original housing on mine. Works great! That's it. From there it's all good.

I read a comment on the MN-66 where someone said these MN's aren't worth the price compared to like size apos. Aren't like sized apos the things second mortgages were made for? Price a 6-7" Tak, A-P, or TMB lately? Okay, for the benefit of the doubt let's stick with 6" apos. Avg. price: $7000. I performed the upgrades to mine for a total of about $2750! Even with 1/10 wave Quartz mirror it still costs half as much compared to a 6" apo. The performance is closer to the 7" apos. Thats where the prices go from "Oh my" to "WHAT?" The apos DO look better. The problem with that is that I prefer to look in a scope, not at it.

I've read reviews and posts knocking the Mak-Newts for internal reflections at the EP compared to apos and Mak-Cass scopes. I'm still waiting to see one. This scope has superb baffling. Many Russian MCT owners swear by their scopes. So do I. I also have an Intes-Micro Alter M603. The MC's just can't compete with the high mag performance of the MN's. This isn't just my opinion, it's a fact. The only competition would be MC's specialized for high mag applications with small central obstructions. It's physics, pure and simple. In that light, an apo would have the edge because of their lack of a CO. They do. But at the 20% CO range it's visual effects are negligible. The financial effects are not.

High mag AND deep-sky performance of like sized apos(small CO and fast focal ratio). Superior high mag performance compared to most MCT's and SCT's due to their large CO's. Better deep-sky results than most catadioptrics of like or slighly larger aperature due to faster f/ratio and no hole in the primary. What's not to love? Throw in a binoviewer and it's unadulterated lust!

I'd give it a 9.5 rating but just can't do that here. Have to knock off a point for the finder and the focuser.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41415


Intes Micro MN-76
I picked up a 5 year old MN-76 Deluxe for about $1000. Came with original focuser. The primary is 1/8 wave (hence the Deluxe - I think they don't have a Deluxe version anymore, but the MN-76 still comes with 1/8 wave, not the 1/6 wave primary). I have a 4" triplet APO and the MN-76 is comparable in terms of clarity and snap.

After I replaced the focuser with a Moonlite (1.5" drawtube, with MN-76 compatible plate for mounting), the focus comes together like a refractor. The scope collimation was way off, so used a sight tube to align everthing roughly, and a laser collimator (from Hotech) to finalize. Front meniscus was a little loose - used some paper wedges to tighten a bit. Scope came with a fan on the back so cool down okay if you run the fan at least 30 min.

After these changes, the scope performs great. Illuminates my APS sized CCD just fine. It is right now my favorite scope out of a Meade 12" LX200ACF and WO 110 FLT triplet APO.

Of course, buying it used made it a fantastic bargain, even after the upgrade costs factored in.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Ease of Use:7 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=582594


Intes Micro MN-76
I have a MN-76cf. With these fine Mak Newt optics in a carbon fiber tube you have a bomber of a scope that works well on a G-8 mount. Optics are verified at 1/8th and with the Astrosital secondary it is a complete package for deep sky as well as planetary viewing. Had an observing session of the moon at 700+ and it was all usable power. looked at the Swan Nebula with a Nagler 12mm T4 and an OIII filter and it astounded everyone who looked through it. The scope came with a JMI DX-1 two speed focusser. Delux........The finder scope was a joke though and was the ONLY complaint. Put on a RA finder and VOILA! Set this scope up next to any AP 6" refractor and you can hold your head high. Giving this one a 9 because its not a "perfect" scope.....but its close. :^)

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:8 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=132627

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