8" skywatcher reflector not coming to focus

[niko]

I've got an 8" skywatcher reflector that won't come to focus. Is it possible that being a long way out of collimation could cause that?

Cheers

Niko

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Niko,
Probably not.
Unfortunately many of the SW Newtonians can't reach focus when you use a DSLR body....
You can move the main mirror up the tube, or try a low profile focuser.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by niko

I've got an 8" skywatcher reflector that won't come to focus. Is it possible that being a long way out of collimation could cause that?

Cheers

Niko

If it is as you say "a long way out of collimation" I'd be inclined to collimate it first.

[niko]

Thanks guys.

Just trying with eyepiece - all very strange

Will stick at it

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

I heard from someone else the other day that there are a couple of adapters that come with the scopes now, such as a 2" eyepiece adapter and another for the 1.25", and that people are naively combining the two together when you only need one. That would certainly put the eyepiece too far out for it to come to focus. I took note of this as I'd already heard of a couple of similar stories, so you aren't the first person who's had this complaint about the Skywatchers recently.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by niko

Thanks guys.

Just trying with eyepiece - all very strange

Will stick at it

If it is out of collimation and looking in the eyepiece reveals out of focus objects, then that is not strange at all.
Have you collimated it yet?