In a method of detecting changes in direction of a collimated coherent light beam, the light beam is split into partial light beams which are superimposed on a camera to form an interference pattern displaying light intensity minima and maxima alternatingly following to one another in a transverse direction oriented transversely to an average propagation direction of the partial beams. The light beam is focused into at least one focus located in front of the camera. Pictures of the interference pattern including a plurality of the light intensity maxima are registered with the camera. An average shift of the plurality of light intensity maxima with regard to the camera in the at least one transverse direction is determined from the pictures. A change in angular orientation of the collimated coherent light beam in the at least one transvers direction is deduced from the average shift.