Nope - that still isn’t right. It looks like the Hyperstar version is even
more, like $515 to $545, depending on the OTA aperture. These are new-ish, and
I only know about the Celestron offerings.
Anyway, I was responding to Williams post, and I believe he was referring to
his 10” Meade, which is an ordinary SCT, like my Celestron. Sorry for the
confusion.
Pete,
Hotech makes three types of laser collimators. Their Newtonian and Hyperstar
models are $145. Those of us with ordinary SCTs pay the big bucks that I quoted
below.
Alex
On Dec 28, 2016, at 10:28 AM, Peter Turner <peteturner@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:peteturner@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I have been studying collimators quite a bit lately. The benefits of each
are listed below, in addition to the Catseye auto collimator. Prices are
from the manufacturer’s website:
1. Hotech: Has a very tight beam which increases the accuracy. It also
has a self-centering device which means that focuser slop is reduced. The
lasers are collimated at the factory. If a laser comes to you out of
collimation they will recollimated it for free. 2/1.25 SCA Crosshair laser =
$145
2. Howie Glatter: this device is a simple tight beam that inserts into the
finder. You can buy extra attachments which will help you collimate your
primary. One is the “parallelizer” which ensure that the laser beam is
directed at the center of your secondary. Glatter does not believe that
self-centering helps, so doesn’t offer that feature. That collimators and
eyepiece inserted out of parallel are the problem. In addition he offers
what he calls the ‘Blug’ which can help you center your primary more
accurately from behind the primary. It can be used with other lasers that
Glatter’s and sells for $65 as it is essentially a Barlow lens with a donut
target. I have made a homemade version of the Blug and it does help accuracy.
Howie’s version is much easier to see from the back of the scope. It is
rated as close to a Chesire in accuracy: 2” Laser + parallelizer + Blug =
$260 1.25” version = $225.
3. The Catseye Auto collimator didn’t work well in the dark previously.
However they have added a set of primary centering decals that are visible at
night when using a flashlight. In addition, their latest version, the XLKP
has two pupil holes to increase alignment accuracy of the secondary. Four
object images of the center decal are displayed. Once aligned on top of each
other the secondary is in perfect position. The primary is aligned with a
Cheshire, which will need a flashlight: 2” XLKP + Black Cat Cheshire + decals
= $200
Pete Turner
MaidPro Phoenix-North – voted Best of Phoenix Magazine
19235 N Cave Creek Rd. Suite 106, Phoenix, AZ
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From: pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
<mailto:pasmembers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On Behalf Of Alex Vrenios
Sent: Monday, December 26, 2016 1:52 PM
To: pasmembers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:pasmembers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [pasmembers] Re: Hotech vs Howie Glatter vs Other
Hi William,
I don’t know anything about the Glatter brand, but ten+ years ago I bought an
astronomical green laser pointer from Hotech (http://www.hotechusa.com ;
<http://www.hotechusa.com/>) and it still works fine. A year or so ago I had
a problem with a loose front element. I could press it into place and the
pointer would work fine, but not for long. I contacted them and they fixed it
for FREE, long out of warrantee (minus one-way shipping cost). So I’m
impressed with their customer service, and their products. The Astro Aimer I
bought is now at level Gen3, and greatly improved over the original one I
bought.
Hotech makes a Schmidt-Cassagrain collimator that is pretty uniquely
designed. It has a small “target” eyepiece replacement, and a “plate” the
size of a large iPad. You connect the plate to a photo tripod and adjust it
so the red marks line up: jockey the plate first, then the OTA until it’s all
lined up. Then you make minor adjustments via the back mirror screws until
the three dots line up on the eyepiece target.
The plate has three bright, parallel red lasers that enter the front of the
OTA, through the open ring where the starlight normally enters. The plate+OTA
alignment process is simple and can be done in daylight or darkness, indoors
or out. After that, the three lasers form three dots on the eyepiece target.
You turn your mirror adjustment screws until they form a single dot, and all
is well in the cosmos. At least that’s what I remember.
The only bad news is the $455 cost of the 1.25” version. (The 2” is slightly
higher.)
I nearly bought one of these, but the cost was a deterrent. I don’t see any
problems (coma, e.g.) in my SCTs so I passed. I spent a lot of time watching
their video how-to and I was impressed. It’s a clever way to collimate an
SCT, and I like the company. If I did buy one it would be from them.
Alex
On Dec 26, 2016, at 1:14 PM, William Finch <psychogilgamesh@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:psychogilgamesh@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I'm thinking about getting a laser collimator, in case I need to collimate
in the dark.
Seems like the two I keep seeing good reviews on are Hotech and Howie
Glatter.
Does anyone in the club have a preference?
