Kunming united

[nightfisher]

Are the range of refractor telescopes from this company different or indeed any better than the syntra refractors, i see they make the 4" f11 that becomes the lyra optics scope, and a few people on here are very happy with this model

[Deneb]

They manufacture are number scopes for different vendors to spec, Ikharous being one brand name... At least they come with better focusers then stock Skywatchers.

[nightfisher]

They manufacture are number scopes for different vendors to spec, Ikharous being one brand name... At least they come with better focusers then stock Skywatchers.

very true about the focuser, they look well made, but i have yet to try one

[ronin]

There are several Chinese suppliers:

Longperng,

Kunming.

Intane,

Barride,

Hioptic.

Have a search and you will find quite a few of the common scopes.

Some actually read as if you could buy direct.

[andrew63]

I think they market themselves as a level up from the synta stock. I have an orion 4" , same spec as the ikh and astro tech same telescope made for different vendors - and they are not as cheaply put together as synta stock! They I believe also make the wide angle eyepieces for several vendors such as meade.

andrew

[nightfisher]

Andrew, is your 4" frac the f11 same as the lyra, and how do you rate it? oops just noticed yours is the ED

[andrew63]

Hi Jules

No it is an F7 ED and very well put together.

Glen at Lyra is a very nice bloke, bought a telescope from him in the past, it may be worth dropping him a line - he will give an honest opinion on how he rates the scope.

[johninderby]

At least Glen at Lyra Optics actually adjusts and star tests every scope before shipping. According to Glen a couple of his customers who had Megrez 90s got rid of them after getting the 102mm f/11.

John

[John]

At least Glen at Lyra Optics actually adjusts and star tests every scope before shipping....

I've communicated with Glen a few times and he seems a good guy

The implication of the above is slightly worrying though if your source of one of these scopes is not such a credible and knowledgeable dealer, ie; just a box shifter

[andrew63]

When i bought a celestron 100ed from him - before he shipped it he re-greased the focuser from the stuff that synta put on it! Not sure you get that level of service from any other supplier!

[nightfisher]

I've communicated with Glen a few times and he seems a good guy

The implication of the above is slightly worrying though if your source of one of these scopes is not such a credible and knowledgeable dealer, ie; just a box shifter

No such implication, i have heard nothing but Stirling words where glen and lyra are concerned, and it seems that in the uk lyra is about the only source that im aware of, a company in the US market this OTA under the "Astro" brand, it was this name that lead me to finding out about the Kunming brand, i have bought a little "Astro" vintage and i was researching the name. Incidentally the little d60 f700 astro turned out to be the same scope as the prinz astral 400, under a different name

[great_bear]

They I believe also make the wide angle eyepieces for several vendors such as meade.

Not Meade, no. Meade eyepieces are made by JOC - with Explore Scientific being part of that particular group.

Kunming supply the SWAs for William Optics, the EDs sold as XCel by Celestron (or as Epic by Orion), and the UWANs as sold by William Optics (and sold as Nirvanas by Sky-Watcher). Also they do the Flat Fields (for Sky-Watcher) and the Sky-Watcher Aeros.

[andrew63]

Yes, stand corrected! I remember reading a report from a person on this forum who visited the factory and commented on the fact that the william optics and various 'clones' was rolling off the same production line!

andrew

[E621Keith]

I think the Altair Astro 115 F7 EDT is made by Kumming United Optics. You can read Olly's review of that scope on Altair astro's website.

Altair Astro 115mm f805 EDT APO with 3" Field Flattener :: Refractor telescopes :: Telescopes :: Altair Astro

[philj]

I had the Orion USA ED Doublet 102mm F7 for 5 years which was Kunming / United Optics and it was a super piece of kit. As has already been said they are badged under altair,WO etc. The Megrez 102 was optically the same scope but just had the WO focuser I think also the lyra 4" achro looks to have exactly the same mechanics as well.

They are well built and IMHO are better made than SW.

I particularly liked the pearlescent white finish on mine.

It was a great visual scope and a respectable imaging scope although the doublet did have a little colour. I parted with it with regret only because I had an FLT98 to replace it

Philj

[John]

No such implication, i have heard nothing but Stirling words where glen and lyra are concerned, and it seems that in the uk lyra is about the only source that im aware of, a company in the US market this OTA under the "Astro" brand, it was this name that lead me to finding out about the Kunming brand, i have bought a little "Astro" vintage and i was researching the name. Incidentally the little d60 f700 astro turned out to be the same scope as the prinz astral 400, under a different name

I think you might have misunderstood my post

I was praising Glen and his approach but wondering what the quality control direct from the manufacturer was like which is what the buyer might get if the purchase was though a source that did not perform the pre-sales checks / adjustments that Glen does.

[andrew63]

I have that orion 102 and it is well made compact and fine optical instrument. My grab and go of choice - in fact i see no need to get a larger telescope at present as it perfectly meets my observing needs. With the dew shield closed it is more compact than a SW80ED!

[nightfisher]

I think you might have misunderstood my post

I was praising Glen and his approach but wondering what the quality control direct from the manufacturer was like which is what the buyer might get if the purchase was though a source that did not perform the pre-sales checks / adjustments that Glen does.

Not so much a case of misunderstanding, more of "high lighting just what a good job glen does with marketing this attractive telescope

[johninderby]

I think I should have put "adjust if needed when he checks the scope". You never know if the scope could have been knocked out of alignment or suffered some other damage on it's way from the far east.

John

[John]

I think I should have put "adjust if needed when he checks the scope". You never know if the scope could have been knocked out of alignment or suffered some other damage on it's way from the far east.

John

That makes sense John. The quality of Chinese made equipment seems to be pretty consistent these days. Personally I would get some comfort from knowing that someone with some expertise had given the scope a "once over" before sending in on it's way to me.