advice on collimation tools

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

was looking at Cats eye website and the plethora of gadgets- for me as a noob with an f4 newt- what would folks recommend as a basic kit to get?
Seems an awful lot of choices!
Cheers
Graham

[erick (Eric)]

At f4, yes important to tackle collimation seriously.

I work at f5 and use:-

The ususal visual "collimation cap" (read 35mm film canister with a small hole drilled in the bottom) to check for secondary mirror rotation or gross misalignment.

Laser (Hotech SCA, but any will do if you have checked that its own collimation is fairly good) to get collimation pretty close

Catseye Cheshire and Catseye autocollimator (with the off-axis view hole as well as the on-axis view) used as per the Catseye instructions to bring collimation to as best as I can.

I you have a 2" focusser, I'd recommend 2" tools.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Catseye set definitely. Draw tube, Cheshire + Infiniti.

[MrB (Simon)]

Have you seen Mike Sidonio's short but sweet step-by-step guide? Might help you decide what you need. http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...th_the_catseye
CATSEYE liked it so much they directly link to Mikes guide from the homepage of their site

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

yes have used that to direct my ordering from Cats eyes now-
sight tube plus cheshire plus XLK trio pack I think
Cheers
Graham

[cventer]

The sight tube Telecat XLS has a built in cheshire so I dont think you need separate cheshire
2.00" COMBOSET PRO XLS/XLSKTM Kits is all you need.

[kustard (Simon)]

I tried a Hotech collimator but I found the collimator needed to be collimated...

So now I just use the hole in the cap as provided with the telescope and it does a very nice job I've been told.

Cheers,
Simon

[astronut (John)]

Catseye Triple 2".....a short steep learning curve. But the BEST collimation tools out there, bar none!

[ColHut (Colin)]

I find a combination Cheshire and a Glatter tublug & laser very easy to use.

regards

[Varangian (John)]

1/ laser to correct inconsitencies in secondary to primary
2/ collimation cap check to ensure I can see all clips on the primary
3/ Cheshire correction of primary
4/ collimation cap check to ensure I can still see all clips on the primary

[big-blue]

I would agree with John (Varangian) but also add a step
5 : autocollimator : for the final very fine adjustment.
For me step 5 has made the difference in seeing swirls in Jupiter, & Cassini Division going right around the planet, (or not).

cheers