Intes Micro MN-56

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Intes Micro MN-56
Optics are simply superb! A great planetary and lunar scope - razor sharp and high contrast. Crisp, clear, color-free views. Image is rock steady even at high powers.

Solidly built with fine finishing, yet feels light for its size. Nice grey color with black trimmings.

Maksutov corrector lens at front means the tube is sealed and keeps out dirt and the elements. However, a metal plate at the rear is easily removed to facilitate cooling down. No spider vanes too, and scope has a small central obstruction for high contrast views.

Supplied finder is awful. However, scope comes with a quick-exchange bracket with twin bracket-rings, and a Celestron 6x30 LER finderscope tube is a good substitute.

Helical focuser works quite well, if a little clumsy, and takes getting used to.

Excellent value (available at Earth & Sky Adventure Products, APM and ITE).
Rating: 9.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40359

Intes Micro MN-56
...much better than my Pronto

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40360

Intes Micro MN-56
Just got the MN-56 used. Once I collimated the scope, views of Jupiter and Saturn were superb. The scope fits nicely on my lighter SkyView Deluxe mount - much better than my MK-66 does! Have not tried to use it at a dark site yet. I feel that the wide fields that this scope delivers will compliment my MK-66 scope quite well.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Intes Micro MN-56
Dollar for dollar these Intes scopes produce fantastic images. I,ve looked through much more expensive 4 and 5 inch high end apo's that just can't beat this Russian scope in resolution and contrast. NOTE: You do have to contend with longer cool down times. I like to spend that time thinking of all the money I saved!

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Intes Micro MN-56
Dollar for dollar these Intes scopes produce fantastic images. I,ve looked through much more expensive 4 and 5 inch high end apo's that just can't beat this Russian scope in resolution and contrast. NOTE: You do have to contend with longer cool down times. I like to spend that time thinking of all the money I saved!

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Intes Micro MN-56
Very happy with the performance on deep sky. Resolves the big globulars, and shows galaxies in high contrast to black sky...trio in leo easily fits in FOV and all easily visible. Stars are tiny pinpoints. Have yet to see Jupiter or Saturn as just got scope in May. Prefer views in this scope to 10" Odyssey.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Intes Micro MN-56
Contrast. contrast contrast! Inky black skies with pinpoint stars. At a recent star party compared to a Tak and an A-P. Very close and I paid about 1/4 of the price.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40355

Intes Micro MN-56
Fantastic telescope! Pinpoint stars, excellent contrast. Cools down quickly with the removable back plate. At about 13 lbs this scope is easy to lug around
and can be used on an inexpensive taiwanese mount (with a weight capacity of under 15 lbs). Plain looks, but sturdy construction, and holds collimation very well. Can't comment on the factory installed finder scope, since I ordered mine with Telrad finder instead.
Helical focuser takes a little getting used to, but with the drawtube reaches focus on all my UO orthoscopic and plossl eyepieces. Useful magnifications range from 24x to over 300x. I get a 2+ degree fov with a 32mm plossl with sharp pinpoint images to the edge.
The bottom line here is when taking into account the all around performance of this scope at under $800.00, I don't think there is another scope available today with more bang for the buck.
Highly Recommended!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40356

Intes Micro MN-56
Fantastic telescope! Pinpoint stars, excellent contrast. Cools down quickly with the removable back plate. At about 13 lbs this scope is easy to lug around
and can be used on an inexpensive taiwanese mount (with a weight capacity of under 15 lbs). Plain looks, but sturdy construction, and holds collimation very well. Can't comment on the factory installed finder scope, since I ordered mine with Telrad finder instead.
Helical focuser takes a little getting used to, but with the drawtube reaches focus on all my UO orthoscopic and plossl eyepieces. Useful magnifications range from 24x to over 300x. I get a 2+ degree fov with a 32mm plossl with sharp pinpoint images to the edge.
The bottom line here is when taking into account the all around performance of this scope at under $800.00, I don't think there is another scope available today with more bang for the buck.
Highly Recommended!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40366

Intes Micro MN-56
Just got mine and I can't believe the quality of the optics! The star images just get smaller and smaller until there are diffraction rings ... Amazing baffling of the tube gives the best lunar views I've ever seen. Field illumination is fine even with a 35 mm Erfle ... Yes, just like everyone says: the supplied finder has really, really bad eye relief and I put a JMI focuser on it, never had the Intes one ... upgrade, its worth it. Mine is "Deluxe." Came with a sital mirror and better than 1/10 wave PTV cert. There's a huge difference between a "1/4 wave" who-knows-what from a mainstream manufacturer and one of these Russian beauties... (Okay, it's not that pretty, but I meant the imaging!)

Well worth the 4 month wait; I've never seen it's equal... So why don't I give it a ten? Mechanics. I think it's heavier than it needs to be and I'd like a little more back focus for color CCD... It focuses my CCD, but not with my color wheel attached. (All my eyepieces reach focus... a CCD with an integrated wheel might too.)

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Intes Micro MN-56
Just finished extensive testing.
Epsilon Lyrae double-double cleanly split at 100X with black between stars.
Several large and small globulars resolved.
The disc of Uranus clearly seen at 400X-but no detail.
M51 spectacular with spiral evident when using averted vision.
My CG5 mount is a perfect match. I use Vixen motors and controllers-the celestron motors and controllers are weak and poorly constructed.
Contrast is very high. Helical focuser is sturdy, precise, but clumsy at first.
My 4 inch APO is now gathering dust in the corner

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40368 

>Just finished extensive testing.
>Epsilon Lyrae double-double cleanly split at 100X with black between stars.
>Several large and small globulars resolved.
>The disc of Uranus clearly seen at 400X-but no detail.
>M51 spectacular with spiral evident when using averted vision.
>My CG5 mount is a perfect match. I use Vixen motors and controllers-the celestron motors and controllers are weak and poorly constructed.
>Contrast is very high. Helical focuser is sturdy, precise, but clumsy at first.
>My 4 inch APO is now gathering dust in the corner

You can make out spiral structure in M51, with averted vision, with a 5" aperture??!!  Where (and how dark a place) in the world are you viewing from?  I still haven't had my 12" somewhere dark enough that I could more than barely discern spiral structure in it...
Intes Micro MN-56
There are no other telescopes at this price, (and very few at any price) that compare to the MN56. Contrast and sharpness is equal to many apochromatic refractors of like aperture. It's solid construction (the scope is built like a truck)and nice gray and black color combination, create a rugged, business-like air to it. This is not a toy, or some fine art work that one is afraid to use. It is a "working" instrument meant to be used night after night. The only negative about it is the cool-down period. It takes at least a half hour for the mirror to stabilize. But once it does, the only thing anyone who looks through the scope says is "WOW". Very rarely do you purchase something that not only meets your expectations, but actually exceeds them.The MN56 is one of those purchases. Reverenddog@aol.com

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Intes Micro MN-56
Just a little update as I believe this scope is listed twice. Don't want to brag so please don't take it that way. Recently set up next to the venerable FC-125 Takahashi($5000?),on the AP 900GTO($5600?),with a Televue EP($540),say that's over $11,000 worth of gear! Why did my MN-56($700),GM-8($1500),and UO EP($56)walk all over it? P.S. I'd die for that beautiful equipment.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Intes Micro MN-56
I can't really add anything substantive to the comments above...
superlative OTA!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40369

Intes Micro MN-56
I was lucky enough to pick one up used for less than $600 including an upgraded JMI crayford focuser. This scope is amazing...especially for it's size. Even from a city location I could see lots of extension and mottling in M42. Jupiter and Saturn have tons of detail and the moon is astonishing. High contrast, defined objects against a black sky is what you get all the time with this amazing telescope. Now all I need to find is a used Losmandy gm8.....anyone got one they want to get rid of?

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40370

Intes Micro MN-56
I have had mine for about 6 months and am always amazed
by this scopes' abilities. The lunar views are incredable,
the views of the planets are ultra sharp with absolutely
ink black skies for backgrounds. This scope is easy to
transport, very sturdy and light enough for a mount such
as the CG-5. This is one telescope that I doubt I will
ever part with.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40371

Intes Micro MN-56
Simply astonishing views -- an incredible value for the price. My first look was at the worst object imaginable, the full moon. I was shocked to see the level of contrast and detail. It looked like a photograph, and beyond the edge was black, no glow or scatter. Stars were pinpoints. The helical focuser takes a bit of getting used to, but provides very fine adjustments to make high power focusing easier than it usually is. It's now available with a Crayford as standard equipment. I sold my MN56 with enormous regret a few months after I got it, and I'll be getting another as soon as I can.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40372

Intes Micro MN-56
I recently purchase a MN 56 scope about a month ago from ITE and I must say I was very pleased the way ITE handled the sale plus having the optical certification done by Mike Palermiti was an added bonus. First off I have
owned a few of the imported refractors fro a C102HD, Orion skywatcher 120, photon 127 and a Skywatcher 150 and the best of those was the 150, clearly the best scope out of the bunch but a big scope. I know have had the MN 56 on a heavilly modified CG5 and it makes a great combo, rock solid and by adding a
Anatres 8X50 right angle finder plus a Rigel Quickfinder it makes a great semi portable rig. The optics on this scope are great, excellent contrast, no false color and the detail on the planets is outstanding. I thought the Sky 150 was good but this 5" scope is better and you get a wide field with this scope with tack sharp images. Transits of jupiters moons over the face of the planet are great and the shadow cast on the planet is not a blurry dot but a tack sharp
pinpoint on the surface, jsut simply amazes me how much detail this scope see's and it seen easily, its just pops out at ya. The stock finder I didn't go for but instead opted for a really nice cary bag and purchased a pair of finder rings with bracket which works real well. I purchased this scope from ITE because they go the extra mile to not only inspect but have the optics checked
by an optical designer who has highly calibrated instrumentation so the bottom line you have a know quality on the optics of your scope and the star tests
I've done have proven this. Have not yet had that much time to check the scope out on deep sky but I did do a side by side comparo with the Sky 150 and on Orions nebula the contrast on the MN 56 made it real easy to bring out more
detail on the cloud formation and there's nothing lost with the smaller scope at all but optically on the planets and the moon it looks more like the Hi end APO's I have had the pleasure to look threw so I am very happy with this scope.
The new models do have a crayford focuser but I feel for hi power viewing a JMI
DX3 would make it just perfect. Construction on this scope is solid and very rugged and once you collminate the scope it seems to stay. The only slighly negative coment is that this scope takes anywere from an hour to an hour an a half to cool down but once it does watch out it just gobbles up sky and blows away allot of larger SCT I'v looked threw allong with some APO's of similar size. I highly recomend this scope and its one scope that I will own for a long time for its portability, optical performance and amazing detailed
views of anything from planets, deep sky and doubles, its just one hell of a good scope!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40373

Intes Micro MN-56
I used the MN56 on Jupiter and Saturn last night. Unbelievable! This mouse roars! Detail on Jupiter was extreme with festoons very visible. Using a
green filter and apodising filter further improved the detail. I obtained
475X with an 8mm Radian and a 5X Powermate. Very Steady. On Saturn Cassini's
Division was a belt. Cloud belts very visible using green filter. The apodising
screen didn't improve detail on Saturn. Ganymede was a distinct disk.
No rating here as I have already given a 10 earlier.

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Intes Micro MN-56
Absolutely superb inky black between stars. A a recent visit to a dark site in Wales it easily outperformed SCT 8 inch on planetary views, and matched 4 inch Vixen ED 102 in images. Dislike the finder which has zero eye relief and goes out of focus as soon as you touch it. But has rectified this problem by usng a red dot finder.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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