Anyone familiar with TPO optics?

[Kirscovitch]

I have been looking to upgrade the OTA that I have been currently using for imaging to something a bit bigger. This would bring my 150mm to 200 and is actually a faster scope at F/4. Might have to pick up another counterweight but I like what this scope could offer. Is anyone out there familiar with the TPO brand? 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Haven't heard of them. Do you have a link?

[DirkSteele]

There was a similar thread on Cloudy Nights last year and it was speculated that it was a house brand of OPT Corp.  That would make some sense as the TPO logo is the mirror image of the OPT logo.

http://www.optcorp.com/manufacturer/tpo

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

That seems plausible. So are they sourced from GSO or Synta (most likely suspects)?

[rwilkey]

TPO is OPT spelled backwards, or am I missing something?

[Kirscovitch]

There was a similar thread on Cloudy Nights last year and it was speculated that it was a house brand of OPT Corp.  That would make some sense as the TPO logo is the mirror image of the OPT logo.

http://www.optcorp.com/manufacturer/tpo

That's them. This is the scope in question.

http://www.optcorp.com/tpo-10-f4-imaging-newtonian-ota.html

[DirkSteele]

That looks a lot like the Astro Tech 10" imaging Newtonian that Ed Ting recently reviewed (http://www.scopereviews.com/page1aj.html).

[SkyGibbon]

I have the 6" f/4. Standard GSO optics. Not a bad scope for the price. I use mine for alot of video astronomy. Definately need a coma corrector too.

[SkyGibbon]

Woops, maybe they are Synta. I was told GSO when I got mine, but now I am not sure. Nevertheless, they are a bargain really.

[Kirscovitch]

That looks a lot like the Astro Tech 10" imaging Newtonian that Ed Ting recently reviewed (http://www.scopereviews.com/page1aj.html).

Looks like the same OTA and the review looked good. I like imaging with a newt. Love the diffraction spikes. And this scope has a 2" adapter so I could add a coma corrector. Like the idea of larger aperture as well. Should be able to suck in a bunch of photons.

[SkyGibbon]

Might be a liitle heavy on the vx for ap. Visual would be fine. I have a 8" f/5 newt that is about the same weight rating, on a vx, and it was a struggle. I did get a few decent 5 min. subs though.