5
Collimating The BINOTRON-27TM
Collimation is Easy! Below is a Brief Explanation Followed by a Very Simple Procedure.
Many Telescope users become ner ous when faced with the prospect of collimating an optical instrument.
Howe er, this is required if optimum performance and aberration-free images are to be obtained. Generally
speaking, telescope components such as mirrors and lenses must not be tilted or shifted from an ideal
relationship to one another or aberrations in the focused and defocused image will be seen. In the case of a
bino iewer, when we are referring to "collimation", we are actually dealing with alignment of the left and right
eyepieces so that they form a single image when merged. An object seen in the left eyepiece field at a certain
location should be seen at the same location in the right eyepiece. So we are not dealing with tilting optics or
aberrations, because a poorly aligned bino iewer will generally not introduce aberrations, only a "double
image". This poorly merged double ision results when the target object such as a planet or star is located in
different areas in each eyepiece field. A ideo on the “Choosing A System” webpage demonstrates this.
In order to mo e the object to the same exact area in each eyepiece field, we mo e the eyepiece holders, not the
object! The Collitron Eyepiece Holders ha e been designed to shift in a 360 degree direction on a flat plane.
Note that we at Denkmeier "set" the prisms first, and the fixtures hold these prisms in place permanently. The
Final Collimation using the Collitron Holders can be fined-tuned so that e en the highest power images are in
the same location in each eyepiece field. Once this is done, the bino iewer will gi e extremely relaxed, two-eye
iews at all magnifications. Collimation will become so quick and easy, that it may be repeated as often as you
feel the need. We e en feel that the Collitron System makes this process enjoyable.
Preforming Collimation
Load your eyepieces into the holders first before loosening The Collitron Rings. See preceding page.
The diagram at the right illustrates how the Collitron Ring is loosened. It should be rotated counter-clockwise to
a point where the black parts abo e the Collitron Ring can be grasped and the entire holder may be shifted in any
directions. Do not o er-loosen the Collitron Ring. The goal is to loosen it only enough so that both the right and
left holders can be mo ed in any direction in a flat plane. If
the Collitron Ring is loosened to much, the eyepiece holder
can tilt. The Collitron Ring must only be loosened enough
so that the eyepiece holder can slide in all directions in a
flat plane. You are now ready to collimate. (See Videos)
ithout a Telescope
Firstly, we will offer a ery simple and excellent
collimation method. Our B-27 Optical Collimation Device
is a ailable as an option so that your Binotron-27 may be
collimated at anytime, indoors, without a telescope. This
de ice threads into the bottom of the Bino iewer or Power
x Switch and a beautiful in-focus target can be seen in both
eyepiece fields. It contains a fully coated optical lens, and a
laser engra ed target. A separate instruction sheet is
pro ided.
Simple and Fast Procedure
1.Load eyepieces into the bino iewer eyepiece holders by following the instructions on page 4.
2. Thread the B-27 Optical Collimation De ice into the bottom of the Bino iewer Power x Switch
3. View the target by looking through the eyepieces and facing a light source.
4. Make sure the target is in sharp focus for each eye. Consult B-27 Collimator instruction sheet.
5. Loosen each Collitron Ring a bit so that the Upper sections of the eyepiece holder can be shifted. A small
