Your experience with the TS-Optics TSCOLLIT collimator

Equipment
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IS_17m avatar
IS_17m avatar
Hi,

I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on the new collimator from TS-Optics, the TSCOLLIT. I have searched for reviews but I couldn't find any.

Those of you that have bought it and used it, is it worth the cost?

With what camera do you use it and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this product?

https://www.teleskop-express.de/en/telescope-accessories-5/telescope-collimation-and-test-11/ts-collimating-telescope-for-rc-cassegrain-and-dall-kirkham-telescopes-as-well-as-refractors-16757

Thanks
Clear Skies
Frank
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Ben Koltenbah avatar
Ben Koltenbah avatar
Hello, Frank!

I use this product on my RC10, but I don't use a camera, rather the two supplied eyepieces.  Putting a camera on, however would be helpful when adjusting the secondary mirror, where I could stay at the front of the scope and view a computer screen while adjusting.  However, this step doesn't normally take that long, so I've not been motivated to set up the camera.  I also like to use the product for daytime collimation, and my available cameras might get oversaturated anyway.  At night, however, the camera could be of help.

My overall assessment is good.  I like being able to attach quickly, illuminate when needed using the light source, swap out the two eyepieces for closer view on secondary adjustment, wider view for primary adjustment.  I find it comparable to the Takahashi collimation scope with a couple of advantages from my perspective: better and variable magnification with the eyepieces, a more controllable light source, possibility to attach a camera.

Finally, when night falls, I always follow up with star collimation, and I usually find little to no additional adjustments are necessary.  This speeds things up for me at night.

I have not done any tests of this product on a refractor and therefore can't speak about how effective it is on these kind of telescopes.

You ask if it's worth the price.  I hesitate to try to answer that for you as everyone's situation and experience is unique.  However, I'm happy to tell you about my own assessment and experience with it.

Good luck!

Best Regards,
Ben
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Ben Loftin avatar
Ben Loftin avatar
Ha another Ben with an RC10 !  Yep I use this too and it worked great.  I think I did very small correction at night but would recommend the product over others for RC10 anyway.
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Has anyone tried using this with an Ocal collimator? I am wondering if the illumination option works with it. That would make it an instant buy for me.
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Bill McLaughlin avatar
Bill McLaughlin avatar
Ashraf AbuSara:
\Has anyone tried using this with an Ocal collimator? I am wondering if the illumination option works with it. That would make it an instant buy for me.

Good Question. The OCAL is super as long as you know how to use it but using it at night can be an issue. Works with a flat panel for illumination with the primary but of course the flat panel gets in the way for secondary adjustments. I tend to use my OCAL during the day for that reason.

I would think it would be fine as long as the light does not leak back into the OCAL.
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Bill McLaughlin:
Ashraf AbuSara:
\Has anyone tried using this with an Ocal collimator? I am wondering if the illumination option works with it. That would make it an instant buy for me.

Good Question. The OCAL is super as long as you know how to use it but using it at night can be an issue. Works with a flat panel for illumination with the primary but of course the flat panel gets in the way for secondary adjustments. I tend to use my OCAL during the day for that reason.

I would think it would be fine as long as the light does not leak back into the OCAL.

Yes that is exactly the problem I'd like to solve. Trying to use the Ocal at nightor in darker conditions is painful.
THIBAUD Lucas avatar
THIBAUD Lucas avatar
My 2 cents as I'm Collimating RC's at my job, I would 100% add up and buy a Takahashi microscope. OCAL is a pain with some Rc's design including GSO/Kepler and so on,TSkollit make half the job.

You need two thing to collimate an RC, a laser to adjust tilt at the back and the Takahashi microscope.

That is costly but worthy.

I barely touch anything on a star afterward.
Ben Koltenbah avatar
Ben Koltenbah avatar
... TSkollit make half the job. ...

Thibaud:

Could you please elaborate on what you mean by this?  I don't understand your comment.  Thank you!

Best Regards,
Ben
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THIBAUD Lucas avatar
THIBAUD Lucas avatar
I couldn't explain exactly why because I didn't dismantled it but we have different results after collimation,the Tak microscope ends up being right all the time. the TSCOLLIT have an offset when adjusting the secondary so the primary is also shifted.

Focusing on different element with the takahashi microscope is also a different way to be more precise

I suspect that there's too much assembly for it to be straight. the eyepiece is hold by compression screws which can induce tilt as well.

On the practical side,12V powered is painful also on some rig as I work on telescopes that are cable managed already. the tak microscope use daylight/flashlight
You find a lot of adaptators for the tak collimator for it to be screwed instead of the crayford focuser which is the best for collimation, here they assume you keep the focuser in the path and delivers a T2 to 1.25' .

magnification with both eyepieces with the TSCOLLIT is not optimum to most of the telescopes we set here, we have to remove the baffle tube to adjust the primary mirror. Only one OTA on the huge quantity I collimated needs that that with the Tak.

anyway I could go on and on but to me a good laser to center the imaging train to the seconday and adjust the back tilt and then the Tak microscope is the best investment you can make for any RC/CDK or CCA.

PS: I have no shares in Takahashi smile
Ben Koltenbah avatar
Ben Koltenbah avatar
Thibaud:

Very interesting that you come up with a difference between the two collimator scopes.  This afternoon I checked the collimation of my RC10 using both scopes, and they both showed the same alignment.  I concur that the TS collimator, having several different parts, could possibly be more prone to self-misalignment.  However, mine appears to be adequate and comparable to my Takahashi, but I'm sure other experiences may vary.

Incidentally, on my scope I have to remove the baffle tube for both collimators to be effective with the final primary mirror alignment step.  I'm sure that varies depending upon one's configuration.

For anybody reading through these comments for guidance and suggestions, let me be sure to leave off with the strong recommendation to always do a star collimation check after using any of these alignment scopes or other methods.  These tools shouldn't be used to replace the star test, but rather to aid in the collimation and, if done well, either no or very small  adjustments will need to be done with the star.  You can finalize the process with the satisfaction that collimation has been validated.

Best Regards,
Ben
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