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Agena 1.25" Side View Newtonian Laser Collimator with 2" Adapter

4.1 (14 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand Agena AstroProducts
Part Number PALC-AG-NLC
Availability available

Product Info

Manufacturer Description

Agena's 1.25"/2" Laser Collimator for reflector telescopes is an easy to use collimation device. Collimation is a method to align your reflector telescope's optics. Your telescope is aligned at the factory, but shipping and handling, and frequent transportation can sometimes misalign collimation. Misaligned collimation can mean dimmer and blurrier images in your telescope eyepiece. This is a great accessory for precisely collimating your Newtonian reflector telescope to achieve the best image the telescope can deliver, especially for faster systems.

The Agena Laser Collimator uses a red laser to accurately align the mirrors in your reflector telescope. This device allows you to adjust both of the telescope's mirrors with a simple, precise, two-step procedure. The collimator fits in the 1.25" or 2" focuser and emits a red laser beam into the telescope. Tilt the secondary mirror so that the red laser dot hits the center of the primary mirror. Then tilt the primary mirror so that the return beam hits a silver plate angled at 45 degrees in the collimator's window. Adjust the mirror until the return beam lines up with the original beam. That's it! Once accurately aligned, stars will appear as sharp pinpoints, planets will reveal spectacular detail, and double stars can be easily split.

This laser collimator inserts directly into 1.25" focuser tubes. For use with 2" focusers, a precision-machined 2"-1.25" adapter is included. The collimator is made of strong anodized aluminum and includes batteries.

Reviews

4.1 (Based on 14 Reviews) 86% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

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      Review by BOBBY S.
      1547147252
      Jan 10, 2019

      4.0 Review

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Works as advertised. Did my scope in short amount of time. Easy to use. Gave it four stars because its not perfect, should include detailed instructions for collimation, but it is good.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Jose P.
      1526942629
      May 21, 2018

      5.0 Simple and efficient.

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Simple and efficient.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by eric s.
      1524695133
      Apr 25, 2018

      4.0 agena colimator

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      this collimator is adequate and very well aligned. Excellent for the price. It is not what I would consider fine instrument quality, but the results are indistinguishable from a $250 collimator that I borrowed.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by john g.
      1518291882
      Feb 10, 2018

      5.0 Agena 1.25" Side View Newtonian Laser Collimator with 2" Ada

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Considerably less expensive than others and the collimator appears to be well collimated itself.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Graham T.
      1482595548
      Dec 24, 2016

      4.0 Reasonable and effective

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      This collimating tool is decent for most amateur astronomers doing visual observations. However if you are calibrating for long exposure deep field CCD work you will need to go to a Howie Glatter system. Overall, it is a versatile tool and can be easily deployed in the field and has a good range of intensities. Good bang for your buck.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Silveradogold of Anaheim, California.
      1476662400
      Oct 16, 2016

      5.0 Why didn't I buy this laser collimator sooner ?!!!

      Pros:

      Compact,Easy to Use,Lightweight,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction,Accurate

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Excellent laser collimator!! Shipping was quick and the laser collimator showed up perfectly aligned without a problem.
      The finish on this product is very nice and fits right in with my collection of eyepieces.
      I immediately connected it to my 120mm F/8 Newtonian reflector and even though I had aligned the 120mm with a Cheshire eyepiece, I found the more precise laser showed that it was misaligned.
      Re-aligning the reflector was quick and very easy.
      Why didn't I buy this laser collimator sooner ?!!! .... I would have saved myself a lot of trouble and would've had much clearer images!!
      The price is well within my budget and easily affordable.
      On the slightly negative side, I found that the laser's intensity adjustment rotating wheel on the top, used to turn the laser ON and control the light intensity, it is a bit stiff in turning for adjusting the light intensity.
      Other than that this collimator is Great!!!
      I have also used it to align my star diagonal by just attaching it and re-aligning, re-adjusting the prism screws inside to center the out-going light beam. This solved a very slight vignetting problem I had been ignoring.
      I also agree with another review.....
      That in conclusion, if you're looking for a great laser collimator & adapter, that gets the job done just as well as a high-end one, don't look any further than this one. I strongly recommend it.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by uncle Nathan of Redmond, WA.
      1427500800
      Mar 27, 2015

      5.0 Very easy to use

      Pros:

      Strong Construction,Easy to Use,Accurate,Lightweight,Compact

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I'm using on my 8 inch reflector with no stress what so ever. Collimating scope can be done in less than 5 min .

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? No
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Bryan of San Antonio, TX.
      1422835200
      Feb 1, 2015

      1.0 Who aligns the alignment tools?

      Pros:

      Bright Laser,Lightweight

      Cons:

      Difficult To Focus,Difficult to Use,Unstable

      Comments:

      Mine showed up badly out of alignment. It is adjustable, but very difficult and screws are covered in glue. In addition, the 1.25 barrel is too small, allowing the whole unit to move as the eyepiece clamp is tightened. Pay more to get a better collimator, or learn to collimate without a laser.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? No
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by RauSV of El Salvador.
      1391817600
      Feb 7, 2014

      3.0 Decent

      Pros:

      Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      The laser itself is misaligned, not by much but it's noticeable. I get my telescope aligned with the laser but after that I do the star test to get it in the right spot. It's OK for the price.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Oscar L of Santiago, D.R..
      1380585600
      Sep 30, 2013

      5.0 Best Bang for the Buck in a long time!

      Pros:

      Easy to Use,Accurate,Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I have had a 10" F/4.7 reflector since 5 years from now and was using a collimation cap for the alignment (a real pain in the back).
      After a great deal of research for laser collimators under my budget I decide for the Agena one.
      The minute I started using this laser collimator I said to myself "Why on earth did I took so long to purchase a laser collimator?!" This single item dramatically improved my time spent with the telescope, now the views are 98% perfect every time and I finally can collimate it on the fly, in the dark and "easy".
      Regarding this product, for the price and the quality of it, is a real bang for the buck.
      Mine came perfectly aligned from the box after a long cross country shipment and with the Agena astro excellent customer service and fast shipment as always.
      I tested the laser on a bench from a 8ft distance, and was spot on, also has 3 adjustment screws covered in silicon, just in case of re-alignment.

      Have use it regularly for 5 months now and still haven't had the need to replace the batteries that came with it.
      Another nice addition is the 2" adapter I comes with that I even use it for some eyepieces that need a little more off travel on my telescope to get focused.

      Lastly the only downside I found is in the laser's intensity adjustment rotating wheel on the top, used to turn the laser ON and control the light intensity, it has 0-7 numbers or "clicks" but on mine it only changes the intensity 3 times ( 0, 10%, 30%, 100%) But it gets the job done, I just use the first 2 clicks during the dark, and the last clicks for daylight (which all have the same intensity from 5-7).

      In conclusion, if you're looking for a great laser collimator & adapter, that gets the job done just as well as a high-end one, don't look any further than this one. I strongly recommend it.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Tim of Marietta, GA.
      1328918400
      Feb 10, 2012

      3.0 Needed adjustment but fine afterwards

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      My unit needed adjustment out of the box as the laser traveled in about a 1.5 inch diameter circle at 15 feet when rotating it in a wedge on my workbench. The adjustment screws are sealed in silicone type material so you have to dig that out to adjust them. After removing this material (kind of pain) I had it adjusted in about 10 minutes so that it was accurate to within 1/4 inch at 15 feet which was good enough for me. I suspect all similar lasers arrive in need of adjustment the majority of the time so rating it average.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Nate of Illinois.
      1328054400
      Jan 31, 2012

      4.0 Solid Value, Excellent Performance

      Pros:

      Great Value,Easy to Use,Strong Construction,Accurate

      Cons:

      Poor instructionsmanual

      Comments:

      Purchased this for use with an F/5 SpaceProbe 130ST, and actually discovered that my collimation was never really that accurate since I had been using the supplied colli-cap.

      After doing some research online on how to use the laser collimator, I found it to be a snap. That is my only gripe about this product, is that the included documentation is not very clear. Not a big deal at all if you have internet access hehe.

      Now whenever I collimate it just takes a minute, I love the window viewer that makes aligning the primary SO much easier.

      As for value, it doesn't get much better. Quality made, it arrived nearly perfectly collimated itself, and gives reliable performance time and time again.

      Now on to AgenaAstro. Amazing service. I had ordered the product on a Monday morning and received it Wednesday afternoon from half the country away. Thanks AgenaAstro! Will definitely use your service again as well as recommend it to others!

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by Jeudy of Costa Rica.
      1323648000
      Dec 11, 2011

      5.0 Very easy to use

      Pros:

      Easy to Use,Strong Construction,Lightweight,Compact

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Very easy to use. It allowed me to collimate my reflector telescope in less than 10 minutes.

      The only con is that the user manual (a single sheet) as a couple of errors.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    14. Guest

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      Review by Bob of Georgia.
      1320451200
      Nov 4, 2011

      4.0 Actually collimated from factory

      Pros:

      Accurate,Lightweight,Compact

      Cons:

      Comments:

      First, let me say, I am one who believes in value for one's dollar.....No, I am not going to spend 300 dollars for a laser collimation system! But I will spend [$] for an accurate laser...this one is accurate and well worth the money. I have owned, oh, I guess over 10 laser collimators in my lastest sojourn into amateur astronomy. Out of those 10, I have had exactly TWO that arrived from the manufacturer in collimation; this one and another bought 9 years ago...long dead. The rest were either so wacked out to be unusable and couldn't be collimated and/or, I had to collimate them myself, and of those; they used those expensive little batteries which lasted exactly 1 hour before replacement. This one uses the inexpensive CR2032 , which are available most anywhere for as low as 50 cents each. I primarily use lasers to setup the secondary and for initial collimation...and trust my sight tubes and Cheshire eyepieces for final collimation. With this laser, I can actually use the laser as intended; collimate and the optical collimation agrees with my mechanical tools. When optical and mechanical collimation are in sync, it is a wonderful thing. The only item that I can see that could be improved would be the switching system for the various intensity staging. It is a click stop switch and it does have positive indents for each setting..it is just a wee bit loose. I don't think it is a major item, since the switch works quite well. And I don't think there is any chance of it falling apart. I imagine the manufacturer made a decision to allow free movement with positive indents, instead of having the switch tighter and harder to change intensity levels. I am pleased with it. I gave it four stars because, in my book, NOTHING gets five stars...ever. There is nothing perfect, but, as far as usability, accuracy and value for the dollar, this comes close.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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