The best laser collimator available

Kevnool (Kev) · #1 07-12-2008, 01:43 PM

Hi all, I,m looking for the best laser collimator available for a Newtonian,not the cheap nasty ones getting around, i,m looking to and will buy decent gear.
Any opinons and all opinions will be taken into account....cheers Kev.

erick (Eric) · #2 07-12-2008, 02:05 PM

Hi Kev

I used to have a GSO deluxe that I had to collimate and disliked having to live with the sausage-shaped spot. I now have the HoTech laser collimator and like it. I'll report shortly on testing its internal collimation properly and showing that, as supplied from the US, mine is within the manufacturer's spec.

http://www.hotechusa.com/catalog.php...=110&cat_id=13

Bought it from a US ebay retailer before the Oz Dollar fell! Look for some videos on Youtube showing it in use.

I believe that Matthew Lovell (Telescopes and Astronomy http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/ ) is the Oz dealer.

I've seen good reviews of the Astro Systems barlowed collimator:-

http://www.astrosystems.biz/laser.htm

Peter Read at SDM telescopes is a local supplier:-

http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/shop...roducts_id=105

Kevnool (Kev) · #3 07-12-2008, 05:03 PM

Thx Eric for the links Peter may get a call about the 2" barlowed colimator.
But I,ll see if theres more posts.
Thx Eric.......cheers Kev.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #4 07-12-2008, 05:47 PM

Although the "best" is a relative term...

I reckon you need to put Jim Fly and his Catseye Gear near the top. When you look at the people who collimate reflectors for high quality photography, I think you will see that many have gone with Jim's gear.

Howie Glatter is another who gets high marks for his collimation gear. Howie is known for his "Blug" Barlow collimation plug...

There are many threads on the web debating the best between these two.

I have a Blug from Howie and also got the Catseye (although I have not installed the triangle yet) kit from Jim. Both guys were good to deal with via the web.

Neither are particularly cheap but I believe that you get what you pay for.

Good Luck!

Dave47tuc (David) · #5 07-12-2008, 06:17 PM

I just purchased the astrosystem laser collimator.
I hope it's what I'm looking for.

If you want a long read if you can make heads or tales of the thread read on. 11 long pages

at the moment.
I did get some usefull stuff our of it.

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea.../o/all/fpart/1

JethroB76 (Jeff) · #6 07-12-2008, 07:37 PM

I got the astrosystems laser through SDM; works a treat IMO. It sure has increased in price thanks to the dropping $ though.
Its my one and only laser collimator, so I cannot compared it to any others unfortunately

ColHut (Colin) · #7 08-12-2008, 12:48 AM

Well a cheap laser is fine if you are willing to use the barlowed laser method. I certainly provides outstanding results.

Kevnool (Kev) · #8 08-12-2008, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColHut

Well a cheap laser is fine if you are willing to use the barlowed laser method. I certainly provides outstanding results.

You might not believe this Col but the cheap one i brought has gone into the rubbish bin , The next decent one will be ordered next week in time for the last quarter viewing......cheers Kev.

PhilW · #9 08-12-2008, 08:48 AM

Personally I have the Astrosystems one, also bought through SDM. It is a very snug fit in the 2" focuser, and the magnetic barlow attachment is a great convenience.

Having said that, I think that all the premium products will do a good job (Glatter, Catsye etc). Cheap ones are an exercise in frustration, as you suggest.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #10 08-12-2008, 10:33 AM

I made my own.? does that count?

multiweb (Marc) · #11 08-12-2008, 11:09 AM

I've bought a GSO that I got collimated on a lathe by a mate of mine. It works fine for initital alignment of the secondary. But for further tweaking I purchased the CatEye Infiniti kit. Not cheap but money well spent. I use it all the time.

robgreaves · #12 08-12-2008, 11:17 AM

The 'industry standard' seems to be the Kendrick 2", that has a barlowing attachment too. Deadly accurate and easy to use. I use one on my 18" Dob. It takes me under a minute to get it bang on and be observing.

If you're setting up a telescope from scratch having, say, removed the primary, a green Holographic laser with a grid pattern is extremely useful.

Regards,
Rob

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #13 08-12-2008, 11:49 AM

I have the Astrosystems 2" Barlowed Laser system and it works very well. Likewise I have used the Catseye System and the Howie Glatter system. They are all as good as each other IMO . Whilst I haven't seen the Kendrick system, I am sure it also works ok. IMO, the big part of the decision has already been made, in taking the step from cheap stuff to good quality.

In terms of the Astrosystems unit, I can offer the following. The tolerances on the Astrosystems unit are very close. The laser unit is a nice snug fit into the focuser and the magnetic barlow disk is a very close fit onto the face of the laser. It is very quick and easy to use and came perfectly collimated. I have had it over 3 years and it hasn't moved in collimation, but if it does it has very precise collimation adjustment. These things are all important things to me.

Cheers,
John B

ColHut (Colin) · #14 08-12-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevnool

You might not believe this Col but the cheap one i brought has gone into the rubbish bin , The next decent one will be ordered next week in time for the last quarter viewing......cheers Kev.

Sorry to hear that Kev. Did you try the barlowed method before you tossed it? I use a cheshire collimator and a GSO laser collimator with x2 Barlow and a paper disc and a CD to see the reflection in my 10" newt and it is easy when you get the hang of it. It tooke me some time to get the hang of it.

regards

Ian Robinson · #15 09-12-2008, 12:08 AM

I like my 1997 vintage AstroSystems Lasercollimator - is basic but does the job and is built like a tank.

Kevnool (Kev) · #16 09-12-2008, 09:58 PM

No Col i didnt try that method, I just gave up with the banana laser cheap tiawan crap that Eric described to a tea.....thx Eric for the advice does Peter Mead visit here on IIS , It dont matter cause it looks like hes the winner on this occasion.....cheers and thanks all for the coments..Kev.

rastis95 (Scott) · #17 09-12-2008, 10:31 PM

In the market for a laser myself, found this one, the Orion LaserMate Deluxe Collimator from bintel. Looks alright, what do you all think ?
Cheers
Scott

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #18 09-12-2008, 11:29 PM

Hi Scott,

They sell a lot of 'em but I wouldn't be buying one. Let me repeat my earlier comment:-

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

IMO, the big part of the decision has already been made, in taking the step from cheap stuff to good quality.

Cheers,
John B

The unit you are discussing costs $99. The Astrosystems unit we are recommending costs $230; and IMO is without question worth the extra $130.

If you are on a budget the EZ Collimator is one of the best of the 1.25" versions. I have also had one of these for about 7 or 8 years and it is going strong. It is a quantum leap quality wise over the cheaper units.

A year or 2 ago they used to cost about $130 but I am not sure if you can still buy them. Someone here may know where to source the EZ collimator.

Cheers,
John B

Kevnool (Kev) · #19 10-12-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastis95

In the market for a laser myself, found this one, the Orion LaserMate Deluxe Collimator from bintel. Looks alright, what do you all think ?
Cheers
Scott

Hey Rastis Read Erics 1st post about the sausage beam , mine is gone yey .......they are cheap......cheers Kev.

erick (Eric) · #20 10-12-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastis95

In the market for a laser myself, found this one, the Orion LaserMate Deluxe Collimator from bintel. Looks alright, what do you all think ?
Cheers
Scott

I'm not saying these cannot be used. If you want to use a laser, $s are tight, then these should be better than no laser (and no collimation) at all! Check Andrews Communications - I think they usually have the lowest price (maybe not if you have to factor in shipping).

Yes, the laser spot can be other than a nice round spot - oval, sausage, banana? But you can still work using the approximate centre of whatever spot it gives, that's OK. Additionally, the bigger spot can make barlowing the laser a bit easier, I found - the diffuse spot at the primary is more likely to encompass the centre ring.

As long as you have checked the internal collimation, adjusted it if necessary (be warned - can be a soul-destroying task - mine didn't behave logically!), and everything is nice and tight in the laser, you will get a result. Also try to get the barrel to a nice snug fit in the focusser - a layer of "contact" (yes the school book or kitchen drawer type contact) will often do the trick. I was happy using mine for the first two years. Good enough for a beginner.