Chesire Collimator or Laser?

[Spare Tyre Nebula]

Hi,

Which one would you advise to purchase, either a Chesire or Laser Collimator with a 250mm Dob?

Thanks

[pvaz]

+1 for Cheshire

[Ben Ritchie]

Depends on the budget. If you can afford one of these

Homepage - HoTech SCA laser collimator

then it's a great bit of kit, very pleased with mine. If not, buy a Cheshire - don't buy a cheap laser.

[Andyfx]

Def the Hotech

[Merlin66]

IMHO it's easier to start with a Cheshire.....

[G4YVM]

Laser.

I collimated my 16" with both and the laser is MUCH easier, all In My VERY HO

D

[Si W]

got both, the reason is laser collimation tool can go out of collimation them self, it's worth having a Cheshire to double check.

[Damo636]

Cheshire works well for me.

[johninderby]

I prefer the Hotech laser. Unfortunately it's not cheap but it's very accurate. I suppose it's another case of you get what you pay for.

On thing to consider re: Cheshires. Not everyone can use a Cheshire as they can't focus on the cross-hair. I can't use a Cheshire at all for that very reason.

John

[Rob L]

I didn't get on with the Hotech at all (I realise I'm very much in a minority with that though).

I find a Cheshire much easier to use and reliable.

[johnkirkpatrick]

Cheshire .... I've had both and the cheshire wins every time

[pvaz]

Not gonna rant much on this thread (I already did somewhere else ) but my Hotech came out of collimation, cost me 120£ and they charge me 45$ in postage to get it fixed, which I'm not willing to pay. Now it's in a drawer gathering dust.

[ken spencer]

Not gonna rant much on this thread (I already did somewhere else ) but my Hotech came out of collimation, cost me 120£ and they charge me 45$ in postage to get it fixed, which I'm not willing to pay. Now it's in a drawer gathering dust.

no guarantee?

[johnkirkpatrick]

Thats why I choose the Cheshire, Its never wrong..

[Digz]

Both?

I use a laser and a colli cap utilising the barlowed laser technique to fine tune collimation.

As mentioned above if you decide on a laser it must be well collimated itself.

[pvaz]

no guarantee?

It haves guarantee. They fix it for free, they just don't cover postage and make me pay both ways.

[umadog]

Cheshire. It's cheaper and it can't go out of collimation. You can supplement it with an autocollimator if you want greater accuracy.

[Spare Tyre Nebula]

Cool, thanks for the advice everyone. What's an autocollimator?

I'll probably just get a Chesire..

[umadog]

An auto-collimator--hard to explain but it's basically a mirror with a small hole in it. You place in the focuser and look through the hole. The centre spot get reflected in the mirror's surface and, through some complicated optical magic, you end up with 4 reflections of the centre spot. You stack the reflections to collimate the scope. Here's a video of how you use one: CATSEYE VISUAL IMAGE GALLERY

The cheshire/sight-tube combo tool will do you just fine and is sufficient for collimating a scope. If you ever need greater accuracy on a faster Dob, buy the Catseye autocollimator. It's cheaper than a quality laser and probably more accurate. Generally speaking, a well-made autocollimator is super accurate.

[ronin]

The one that you find easier to use.

To determine that you will have to buy both and try them out on the scope.

Since only by using one or both can it be determined which you find the best to use there is no answer.