Which Collimator?

[Earl]

I need a Collimator for my Dob.

There are a plethora of types shapes sizes and ofc Price!

This is not a serious scope for me so im really only intertested in a good job not a spot on job so which would be best to get?

[RichM63]

Started with a drilled EP cap....FREE

Graduated to a very simple Cheshire and bits of coloured card. Cost £25 +-.

OK so an all singing and dancing laser might be easier to get spot on results quicker, but hey, the old masters didn't have lasers and so I make do with what I have.

And am happy with the visual results (imaging might be a different ball game).

[ollypenrice]

If you go for a laser it needs to be collimatable. I use an Astro Engineering one, which is. Very easy to adjust it. I like it because I can collimate the big Dob single handed, the secondary being miles out of reach of an observer at the EP. It gets 'good enough for jazz' and can be perfected with a star test if you have a helper. I don't bother, but perfectionists might.

Olly

[ScottS]

I use a Barlowed laser for collimating my Dob. It gives consistently good results. Good enough for me anyway

[faulksy]

i use the cateye colimation set, very good results

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/catseye-collimation-tools/catseye-triplepack-xlk-xlsk-15-kits.html

[Digger1895]

I use a Cheshire/built in sight hole for my tube but mine already has big knobs on the primary and with a focal length of 650mm i can adjust them without talking my eye away from the EP. Then I use a star test at the beginning of each sesh to check it. It gets a beginner like me very close to spot on which is good enough for visual.

[Lowjiber]

I carry a Cheshire in my eyepiece case, but have a Hotech at my scope workbench.  I find the laser a bit handier, and confess to relying on it more when a scope gets way out of collimation.

Clear Skies

[jetstream]

i use the cateye colimation set, very good results

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/catseye-collimation-tools/catseye-triplepack-xlk-xlsk-15-kits.html

Great set of tools Mike!The separate sight tube makes things easier I find.The VX spider was removed to flock the other day and collimation after re- assembly was remarkably easy,just minutes.

[perfrej]

Catseye... Simply the best

/per

[orly_andico]

yes catseye is the best. the autocollimator to be precise.  but for visual a good barlowed laser is fine.

i find that once collimated with my astrosystems laser, it's good enough for visual. and it's pretty close already as seen by the catseye XLKP.

make sure your laser is collimated though.. best to get a glatter.

[Singlin]

Catseye for me too.

With my 8 inch F5 newt it was not necessary but with the f3.8 10" Quattro it's accurate fast and easy.

[Skyline]

I use a FLO premium Cheshire & one of these:

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p5506_TS-Concenter-2--colimation-eyepiece-for-Newtonian-Telescopes.html

[Martin Meredith]

I use a Catseye autocollimator for my f4.5 and f4 Newtonians. As Singlin says, fast (30s) and easy, so much so that checking/adjusting several times a night is entirely practical and actually quite fun once you get the hang of it   . The other collimation tools are useful for getting gross collimation right, but in my experience once you're close, the autocollimator is all that is needed on the night. 

Martin