Good laser collimator

[popeye85]

Can anyone recommend a good value laser? I'm looking at spending about £150.

TIA

[johninderby]

The Hotech is a great laser collimator. Been using one for years. Love the crosshair which is much better than a simple dot.  Comes properly collimated itself which is often a problem with cheaper lasers.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/hotech-collimation-tools/hotech-sca-laser-collimator-with-cross-hair.html

I also use a TS Concenter for setting up the secondary mirror. No other bit of kit does the job as well.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p5506_TS-Optics-Concenter-2--Collimation-Eyepiece-for-Newtonian-Telescopes.html

The two make a great combination.

Edited October 24, 2020 by johninderby

[popeye85]

That looks like just the sort of thing I'm after. Have you had any problems with either? Collimation etc?

[johninderby]

Spot on when received and still spot on. 

BTW the better the focuser the more accurate the laser. The Revelation has a reasonable quality focuser so shouldn’t be a problem.

Edited October 24, 2020 by johninderby

[popeye85]

Great news!

Need to update my signature-have upgraded to A 12"  truss with a moonlite focuser.

[Jiggy 67]

I’m with John....just set up my scope after traveling back from Galloway along bumpy roads etc. Using the HoTech, it took 2 minutes to collimate.....excellent laser collimator.

 I also have the concentric collimator for the secondary but I struggle with it, always appears blurry to me so cannot be sure of accurate collimation 

[johninderby]

Have spotted this new version of the Concenter that should be easier to look through.

https://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/mechanical-accessories/collimationstools/concenter-visus-precise-adjustment-glasses

 

Edited October 25, 2020 by johninderby

[Jiggy 67]

31 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Have spotted this new version of the Concenter thst should be easier to look through.

https://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/mechanical-accessories/collimationstools/concenter-visus-precise-adjustment-glasses

 

That’s interesting, I take it that, as it’s only available in 2” I can just remove the 1.25” adapter, collimate and then replace the adapter??......quite expensive but a well collimated secondary is essential and I can’t be doing with a cap or a Cheshire 

[johninderby]

Yes just remove the 1.25” eyepiece adaptor and insert the concenter.

Have been thinking of selling my 1.25” concenter and getting one of these. 🤔

Edited October 25, 2020 by johninderby

[Jiggy 67]

2 hours ago, johninderby said:

Yes just remove the 1.25” eyepiece adaptor and insert the concenter.

Have been thinking of selling my 1.25” concenter and getting one of these. 🤔

I see from the for sale section you’re no longer thinking about it 😀😀.....I might be doing the same soon 

[popeye85]

Not letting me into the link for some reason-what's the RRP on this new one?

[johninderby]

Can’t get onto the APM website at all at the moment.

Think it is £80.00.

Edited October 25, 2020 by johninderby

[johninderby]

9 hours ago, popeye85 said:

Not letting me into the link for some reason-what's the RRP on this new one?

APM website now working again.

[Jiggy 67]

I’ve seen some photos of this new version with a battery, appears to be illuminated which is even better 

[johninderby]

No it doesn’t have a battery. Saw that photo and the battery was just used for a size comparison.

However you can shine a light into the hole in the side to illuminate it. I’m wondering if the illuminator from a reticle eyepiece could be adapted to fit or just an LED? 🤔

Edited October 26, 2020 by johninderby

[johninderby]

However there is a luminos ring around the inside that illuminates the disc.

“the self-luminous function of the concentric circles, which after briefly illuminating with a white light source (eg flashlight) glow for about five minutes”

Edited October 26, 2020 by johninderby

[johninderby]

Concenter Visus on it’s way by DPD. 🙂

[Jiggy 67]

Let me know what you think...... I think I’m going to invest 

[popeye85]

And I just ordered the other one a couple of days ago 😭😭😭

[johninderby]

43 minutes ago, Jiggy 67 said:

Let me know what you think...... I think I’m going to invest 

Will do. While I found the Concenter I had did the job the circles were hard to focus on but then I use reading glasses for close work.

I’m thinking one of these little keyring lights might be adapted to fit or just held up to the hole in the side of the Concenter.  Have some translucent model paint for tinting lenses on models that could be used on the LED. 🤔

Or maybe just use a small red astronomy torch. ?

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by johninderby

[johninderby]

3 minutes ago, popeye85 said:

And I just ordered the other one a couple of days ago 😭😭😭

Couple of days ago didn’t know the new Visus version existed. 😬

[popeye85]

Are you able to get light into the "old" concenter?

Might just leave mine in the box until I read your review then see if I can send it back!!

[johninderby]

8 minutes ago, popeye85 said:

Are you able to get light into the "old" concenter?

 

Don’t think you can unless you drilled a hole in the side.. 🤔 🙀

[popeye85]

Be interesting to here your thoughts comparing the 2. Especially since they are pretty similar in price.

[popeye85]

Just revieced my toys this morning. Very impressed with the con center I must say! After getting the secondary pretty Central and circular using the Cheshire I popped in the concenter only to find it was well of! I found that using a sheet of A4 behind the secondary made the rings stand out nice and clear and after a fair bit of fiddling about I got it as good as I could and happy with the results!

Unfortunately not as impressed with the hotec- I completed collimation using the Cheshire only to find that the laser was nowhere near the donought (approx 3 inches away). Might just be user error but seemed simple enough to set up and use 🤔🤔🤔

Edited October 29, 2020 by popeye85