Farpoint 2" Collimation Kit — Laser + Cheshire + Carrying Case

Product Overview

The Farpoint 2" Collimation Kit is the two-tool solution for Newtonian and Dobsonian reflectors with 2" focusers. It pairs the Farpoint 650 nm laser collimator — supplied with the 1.25"/2" combo stepped barrel — with a 2" Farpoint Cheshire collimation eyepiece, and packs both into a red carrying case with a fitted foam insert.

Between them the two tools cover the whole alignment sequence: the laser sets the focuser axis and brings the secondary into position quickly, and the Cheshire refines the primary using reflected light rather than a beam. Farpoint machines both in the USA, and the laser carries a lifetime alignment guarantee. A mirror center-marking template with triangle center spots is included.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you own a Newtonian or Dobsonian reflector with a 2" focuser and want to do the job properly in one purchase rather than adding a second tool later. It suits a visual observer who wants collimation repeatable night after night, and it particularly suits an imager — long exposures put every residual alignment error into the corners of the frame, and the Cheshire is what closes the gap the laser leaves. The fitted case makes it practical to carry to a dark site rather than leaving the tools at home.

Key Features & Design

• Farpoint 650 nm laser collimator: single-piece machined body, eight-screw alignment system with directly opposing screws at both ends of the diode, and a 0.76 mm beam aperture — the smallest Farpoint publishes for any collimator on the market.
• 1.25"/2" combo stepped barrel on the laser: seats in either drawtube size, so the laser is still useful if you add a 1.25" scope later.
• Farpoint 2" Cheshire eyepiece: reflective-pane design in the CATSEYE™ BlackCat style, without crosshairs.
• No batteries in the Cheshire: it works on reflected light, with no electronics to fail in the cold.
• Mirror center-marking template and triangle center spots: covers mirrors up to 12.5".
• Red carrying case with fitted foam insert: both tools have their own cutout, so nothing rattles in transport.
• Lifetime alignment guarantee on the laser, and USA manufacture throughout.

How the Two Tools Divide the Work

A laser and a Cheshire are not redundant — they read different things, and each is better than the other at one half of the job. The laser projects a beam down the focuser axis, so it shows immediately whether the secondary is centred and tilted correctly; that is a geometric question, and a beam answers it in seconds, in the dark, without your eye at the eyepiece. What a laser is less good at is the final primary tilt, because the return spot is a small bright point judged against a mark, and small errors are easy to under-read.

The Cheshire inverts both strengths. Its reflective pane illuminates the optical path and presents a wide, evenly lit field, so the primary's centre mark and the reflected stack of apertures line up visually with much finer resolution than a spot on a target. It is slower, it needs some ambient light on the pane, and it is poor at secondary geometry. Run in sequence — laser first for the secondary and a rough primary, Cheshire second to finish the primary — the whole process takes about five minutes.

Recommended Uses

• Full collimation of a 2" Newtonian or Dobsonian: secondary alignment and precise primary alignment, start to finish.
• Pre-imaging setup: where corner star shape depends on the primary being genuinely square, not approximately square.
• After transport or reassembly: a truss or collapsible Dob that has just been set up benefits from the laser check, and from the Cheshire if you are staying out.
• Routine seasonal alignment: a full pass on a solid-tube reflector that has been in storage.
• Field use: the case keeps both tools together and protected in a car or an observing bag.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

• Focuser fit: the Cheshire is 2" and requires a 2" focuser drawtube. The laser's combo barrel steps to fit 1.25" or 2".
• 1.25" focusers: the 2" Cheshire will not seat in a 1.25" drawtube. The Farpoint 1.25" Collimation Kit is the equivalent for those scopes, and we stock it.
• Telescope types: Newtonian and Dobsonian reflectors. Not for SCTs, Maksutovs, refractors or other catadioptric designs.
• Mirror center mark required: both tools align to a mark on the primary. The supplied template covers mirrors up to 12.5".
• Mirrors over 12.5": the LARGE center-marking template covers 12" to 26" and is sold separately.
• Adding an autocollimator: for iterative refinement beyond what a laser and Cheshire reach, the Farpoint 2" Super Collimation Kit adds a 2" autocollimator to the same two tools.

Good to Know Before You Order

• The Cheshire needs a 2" focuser. This kit is sized for 2" drawtubes; if yours is 1.25", the 1.25" kit is the one to order and we carry it.
• Reflectors only. Both tools are built for Newtonian and Dobsonian optics. For an SCT, Maksutov or refractor, get in touch and we will point you at the right approach.
• Your primary needs a center mark. The template and spots are in the box, and marking a mirror is a one-time job of a few minutes.
• The supplied template fits mirrors up to 12.5". Larger mirrors take the LARGE template, which we also stock.
• The Cheshire wants some ambient light. Its reflective pane is illuminated by the sky or a red light, which is why the laser is the tool of choice for a check in full darkness.
• It includes a laser. The beam is bright by design, and the usual care about not looking into it applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. Each tool drops into the focuser like an eyepiece. The sequence is laser first for the secondary, Cheshire second for the primary, and the whole pass runs about five minutes once you have done it a couple of times. The one preparatory step is marking the centre of the primary mirror — the template and spots are supplied, and the mark lasts the life of the mirror.

Why buy both tools instead of just a laser?

They answer different questions. The laser is fast and geometric, so it is the better tool for the secondary and for a check in the dark. The Cheshire reads the primary's final tilt far more finely, because you are judging a wide illuminated field rather than a bright dot. For visual observing the laser alone will often do; for imaging, the Cheshire is what keeps the corners clean.

Will this fit my telescope?

If your Newtonian or Dobsonian has a 2" focuser, yes. If it has a 1.25" focuser, order the Farpoint 1.25" Collimation Kit instead. If you are not sure which your drawtube is, send us the make and model and we will confirm it.

Does the Cheshire need batteries?

No. It is a reflective-pane design with no electronics — nothing to charge, and nothing that behaves differently at −20 °C.

What is a CATSEYE™ BlackCat style Cheshire?

It is a reflective-pane sight tube without crosshairs. The pane illuminates the optical path so you align against the reflected apertures and the primary's centre mark, rather than against a crosshair.

Should I add an autocollimator?

Only if you want to push the alignment past what a laser and Cheshire resolve — an autocollimator stacks several reflections, which magnifies whatever error is left and makes it easier to see. The Farpoint 2" Super Collimation Kit bundles all three tools if that is the direction you want to go.

Bottom Line

In short: a USA-made 650 nm laser and a 2" reflective-pane Cheshire in one fitted case, covering both halves of Newtonian and Dobsonian collimation for scopes with 2" focusers. It needs a centre-marked primary — the template is in the box — and it takes about five minutes end to end.