Takahashi Epsilon Collimation Aid

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In order to use a "fast" Takahashi Epsilon reflector with a full frame CCD or CMOS photographic sensor, a very high precision of the collimation is required. If not done, residual tilt of the image plane will lead to distorted star shapes and the scope will loose collimation if the focuser or the camera sensor is rotated. With the standard Takahashi collimation tool it is difficult to get a precise alignment of the optical axis to the focuser tube. The nylon strings attachted to the bottom of the collimation tube might not be perfectly centered and thus exact collimation is not achieved. This upgrade to the Takahashi collimation tool makes the nylon strings obsolete and adds instead an additional ring to the collimation arrangement which can be centered exactly during the collimation (see picture) and thus aligns the focuser precisely to the optical axis. The collimation aid provides guiding for the nylong strings to keep them better centered, if installed.