Collimation questions

[adman]

a couple of questions:

1. I am thinking about buying the FarPoint 2" laser collimator and cheshire eyepiece (http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-050J)and would like to know whether anyone has one of these or can offer a comment on how good / bad it is. What would be best out of this one and the Hotech ones?

2. would it be just as good to use the (cheaper) 1.25" version with the 1.25" eyepiece adapter in my 2" focuser, or is it better to keep it simple and use the 2" collimator in a 2" focuser?

Thanks
Adam

[Dennis79]

I use a 1.25" cheshire in my 2" focusser and it works fine.

I believe laser collimators need to be barlowed to be effective and the laser itself also needs to be collimated. As far as I can tell brand doesn't matter.

If this is one of your first times collimating your scope it would be wise to have an experienced person with you. I recently found that out the hard way, I collimated based on the written guides and instructions but there is always something you misread, misinterpret or is missing from the guide. Oh and it is much easier to collimate with 2 people as well.

[TrevorW]

1.25" Cheshire's are fine I used one to help with my RC then use a star

[erick]

$195! Gulp! Are you visual observing with a 8" GSO (or similar) reflector? Are you doing any collimation at all at the moment?

However, I'll jump ahead and suggest that you grab the cheap 1.25" Cheshire ($35) and use that. (I'd even pull the cross hairs out! But that is me :screwy: Crosshairs in a short tube are a bit too much, I think).) I reckon that Cheshire will get you started, may well do all you need, and there are no batteries to go flat on you! If you use it after dark, you will need to shine your red light onto the 45 deg surface to see.

[adman]

no collimation done since I got it a couple of months ago. Have been concentrating on getting my drift alignment right etc.

I know that $195 is alot - but one thing I cannot stand is buying something cheap, only to wish a month later that I had bought the 'good' one.

But I think that I may take your advice and start with the cheshire.

Thanks
Adam

[telecasterguru]

If the laser isn't collimated properly then it doesn't matter how much it costs. You need to make sure it is accurate and then collimation should be without problem.

Frank