Maksutov 180mm

[alan potts]

I have not touched this one since I bought it about a year ago. I have a Hutech laser though I do not believe it is needed.

Is the collimation the same way as for my SC, using a star and then doing the defocus allen key tango?

Alan.

[dweller25]

Yes

[knobby]

Just don't poke your Allen key in the front corrector ;-)

[Mr Spock]

My former 140 Mak had allen keys on the back. It was much easier than the SCT which has screws on the front - tweak and view, tweak and view... At least with the Mak everything was close together.

[nightfisher]

I think the 180 has 3 lock screws and 3 collimation screws, but like mr Spock posted, tweak and view till it looks right

[Macavity]

I always wonder re. collimation of MAKs or SCTs - Does the concept of "sweet spot" not still apply?

An F10 Newt has a sweet spot of size 22mm. http://web.telia.com/~u41105032/kolli/kolli.html (scroll down a bit)

I suppose the fiddly part is that the lever arm is large and simple push pull adjusters sensitive.

Certainly I was unimpressed by suggestions a standard laser collimator would work.

For an SCT, the Hotech Advanced CT laser collimator looks fun, but expensive...

I read a MAK user doing (essentially) that technique visually! Mad Carew?

[John]

I always wonder re. collimation of MAKs or SCTs - Does the concept of "sweet spot" not still apply?

An F10 Newt has a sweet spot of size 22mm. http://web.telia.com/~u41105032/kolli/kolli.html (scroll down a bit)

I suppose the fiddly part is that the lever arm is large and simple push pull adjusters sensitive.

Certainly I was unimpressed by suggestions a standard laser collimator would work.

For an SCT, the Hotech Advanced CT laser collimator looks fun, but expensive...

I read a MAK user doing (essentially) that technique visually! Mad Carew?

Maybe for maks but the primary with SCT's is around F/2 I believe so I'm not sure the newtonian "sweet spot" principle applies.

[Macavity]

Maybe for maks but the primary with SCT's is around F/2 I believe so I'm not sure the newtonian "sweet spot" principle applies.

Ah yes - Must be something like that! (for both, I suspect) 

Was musing (as one does) re. "cashing in" ALL my scopes and moving to an SCT / Hyperstar combo.

Until I read some cautionary tales (here) re. collimating a photo / video SCT (essentially F2) setup...

[alan potts]

Nightfisher,

Yes you are correct it has locking keys which I didn't see in the dark even with a full Moon, just saw three holes that didn't tick any boxes.

Anyway it seems very simple and I will have a play next time out as I couldn't move things very easily as they were locked I guess. As said much less messing than the SC with with all the screws at the back.

There can't be much wrong with it but I just feel it is not spot on and that will always be better than so so.

Alan

[Mike73]

I've never touched the collimation on mine either Alan, I've read too many stories of people really messing it up so I figure that along as I am getting good views its best not to touch.