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Complete Optical Collimator For Sale

J

Jorge Díaz-Amador

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Location
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Website
www.cinematechnic.com
Due to space considerations and new directions in my business, I am considering selling some items that were previously on my "do-not-sell" list.

One of these items is my back-up collimator:

Complete Richter Autocollimator setup:

R-2 Reflex Autocollimator "block"
Compact LED light source (white)
Fiber Optic Adapter
60mm Objective
130mm Objective
254mm Objective
M-2 Focal Plane Micrometer (with Starret 0.0001" reading mic)
Model B Optical Test Bench with 36 in rods (accommodates an entire camera under test, or the M-2 micrometer).

Standards (lens mounts):
ARRI Standard
ARRI Bayonet
ARRI PL
Aaton A-50 (optional)
Panavision Elaine (optional)

Richter collimators are very well known in the industry, and while not as "sexy" as Chrosziel or Gecko-Cam collimators (which cost about € 26,000.-), they are widely used. I have seen one in just about every American rental house or lens repair shop I have visited.

These items *rarely* come up on the used market. I purchased this unit 10 years ago by immediately calling an In-Sync listing and paying the full asking price.

I built my business with this collimator and it served me very well until I had the opportunity to purchase a Möeller-Wedel collimator from ARRI. I kept the Richter as a back-up.

The Richter collimator can also be converted into "portable mode" where it easily fits into a small case and can be used to check and calibrate the back focus on a RED ONE in-field. I used this method very successfully when I worked as first AC on the RED feature "Mea Culpa" (DoP Philip Friesenbichler).

I believe using an Auto-Collimator is the only truly accurate method of calibrating the back focus on a RED ONE. It is possible to calibrate to tolerances of less than 0.01 mm (4/10,000ths inch)

At the moment I am willing to consider serious offers. I may be willing to accept good modern lenses in partial trade.

If you need a lens mount that is not on the list (such as Nikon), I can make the lens standard on my Swiss instrument makers lathe, for an additional fee, based on the cost of labor and materials.

I can also offer calibration tools to keep the collimator properly calibrated. This will also be at additional cost, depending on your needs.

The complete unit is offered at $5000.- USD.
 
PM sent...
 
I'll post a photo and some more detailed information soon.

Calibration tools would be an ARRI 52 mm gage block and a depth gage with special tip, plus a small surface plate. It's necessary to check collimators regularly for calibration. An adapter on the depth gage would be needed for each lens mount (only one for both ARRI Std/Bayonet though)

Other standards such as Nikon, Canon, etc. would require either custom gage block cylinders or making gage block stacks from commercial gage blocks. Gage block have to be hardened and ground to size, so they are not cheap.
 
This unit and how it is setup has been the standard for years in the motion picture business. The three focale length objctives will cover all you lenses. Worked for me for about thirty years anyways.
 
I used the Chrosziel and then had one of these for about 5 years at NYU. It's a great set up, and he is selling all the mounts and objectives and focal plane micrometer that you need - quite a deal, like 1/2 price of new which I don't think you can get anymore?. Yep, you gotta get a 52mm collar, gage, and block, and other collars, gages and blocks for other depths as well. Then you need an generous older technician to show you how to use it.
 
Douglas Underdahl said:
I used the Chrosziel and then had one of these for about 5 years at NYU. It's a great set up, and he is selling all the mounts and objectives and focal plane micrometer that you need - quite a deal, like 1/2 price of new which I don't think you can get anymore?. Yep, you gotta get a 52mm collar, gage, and block, and other collars, gages and blocks for other depths as well. Then you need an generous older technician to show you how to use it.
Click to expand...

Yeah Doug I was going to mention that also. Just because you have a tool in your hand it doesn't mean you know how to use it. But as you say a couple of hours with a decent tech. should get ypu started or at least keep you from doing the major boneheads. Well worth the cost for the techs time.
 
Douglas Underdahl said:
...Then you need an generous older technician to show you how to use it.
Click to expand...

Thanks Doug! I don't know about "older" but I will be train the purchaser on the operation of the autocollimator. The Richter does require that the user put some time in to get experienced with it, as opposed to the more objective but vastly more costly Chrosziel (or its Gecko-Cam clone, which is what ARRI USA bought). But once you do it can be quite accurate.

Also, in the portable mode, the Richter is perfect for setting the FFD on RED ONE very accurately. You can actually see the Bayer Mask so you are setting the back focus to full 4K accuracy.

I do have an extra ARRI 52mm cylinder so I could set up another depth gage. I like using small granite surface plates as the reference surface, rather than a lapped steel plate.

But hey, don't we all have € 26,500.- kicking around in a drawer somewhere:

http://www.gecko-cam.com/HTML/SERVICE/SPECIAL%20EQUIPMENT/maesuring-tools.htm

It's nice, but for another €25K or so, you can get an MTF tester.

BTW, I was told that Gecko-Cam had bought out all of Möller-Wedel's production of the optical components to make the collimator. This would obviously prevent Chrosziel from making any more collimators unless they had the components in stock already.
 
While I use to check my standards on the Richter with a depth gauge as Jorge and most others do, you can check it another way. If the different standards (lens mounts) have been varified they should never change espically if they were made by Richter. If you look at the micrometer mirror it has slots around the front ring. These allow you to lay a knife edge (straight edge) across the surface of the mirror. When the micrometer head reads "0" the edge of the knife should be flush to where the different standards screw down to. If you know how to do this right it is a very accuret adjustment. Ther are other tricks for verifying the retical and objectives.
 
Chuck,

What you say is mostly correct. However, because the Richter standards (mounts) screw-in, there is always a tiny variation in where the thread will stop and where the flanges will seat. Because the tolerances are so tight with modern lenses, I think it's best to check with a depth gage each time a mount is changed. Once a mount is screwed in, as long as it is not disturbed, there is no need to check again.

The trouble with the knife-edge method is that you are looking for a slit that might be a small as 0.01mm and not parallel. It's very hard to see that without magnification and strong light.

I will be posting photos of the collimator later today.
 
I think Arri sells their cylinder (I always called it a collar) and gauge and block for about a grand, no?

I built a straightforward lens tester with a PL mount and adjustable rack, dial micrometer, and a fiber optic screen from a CP16 (sharp and clear). I zero it with my Arri collar and gauge, then mount a lens and check at infinity. The Richter that Jorge has would be better if I fixed lenses for a living, no doubt.
 
Douglas Underdahl said:
I think Arri sells their cylinder (I always called it a collar) and gauge and block for about a grand, no?

I built a straightforward lens tester with a PL mount and adjustable rack, dial micrometer, and a fiber optic screen from a CP16 (sharp and clear). I zero it with my Arri collar and gauge, then mount a lens and check at infinity. The Richter that Jorge has would be better if I fixed lenses for a living, no doubt.
Click to expand...

Hi Doug, I'd be interested in a bit more info on this.

I'm looking at Jorge's collimator, but would be open to other solutions for checking lenses and camera mounts. I don't fix lenses for a living, just looking to be able to check and do basic service on my own gear in-house. The collimator still seems like a decent option at this point for overall versatility and a small investment that should at least hold its value. I'm not real familiar with the Richter, I've played with one before, so I'm not at a complete loss. If I were to buy it from Jorge, I'd probably pick it up in person and let him give me a training session. Or fly him out here with it and he can run through it as we set it up. Or something like that...
 
Hey guys,

Here is the photo as promised:

Richter_Collimator.jpg


I'm slammed today so that's all for now. I'll check in later.
 
I don't know why the picture didn't thumbnail... I know that's too big. If someone will explain how I'll correct this..
 
Oh, that's the one, Jorge! He's really offering it at a bargain. All the mounts and objectives really add up. I would probably replace the flashlight with a cheap light source, though. You could make something up with a wall dimmer and AC bulb.

I can see if I can take a picture of my low buck device, Jeff. You'd have to fab it yourself, though, so it depends on your skills.
 
Doug,

You wouldn't believe how well the LED Mag Lite works. It's nearly as bright as a fiber optic illuminator. Remember, the aperture is very small (reticle is about 3mm in diameter) so you don't need a large light source, just a point source with enough intensity.

And something about the light quality from the LED makes the collimator image snap in/out of focus more noticeably. Probably the fact that the color temp is much higher. Regular bulbs have way too much red-orange spectrum energy. You need a balanced color temp for best results, IMHO.
 
I was asked if this collimator will work with an Angenieux Optimo Rouge. There is no problem with that. There is nothing ahead of the special mirror which simulates the film plane, so any lens that can be put on any camera can be tested on this collimator if you have the correct lens mount.

The only exception to the above would be 3-chip type lenses that require a special mount (usually Sony B4) with a special optical block to simulate the 3CCD prism.

And, of course, the Bolex "Rex" lenses that were compensated for the prism in the Bolex H-16 reflex cameras. Richter actually did make the special mount for those.

I doubt either of the above exceptions will be an issue for anyone on this site.
 
Someone could mount a B4 lens using a PL to B4 adapter, like the one available from RED. This would provide the proper optical correction. However, it's one more link in the chain of equipment to check for proper alignment.

Anyway... Jorge,

How much do you think it would cost to pack and ship this unit? Like you, I'm very tight on space at the moment, but I'm still really interested.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
Anyway... Jorge,

How much do you think it would cost to pack and ship this unit? Like you, I'm very tight on space at the moment, but I'm still really interested.
Click to expand...

The optical bench is 36" long by 12" wide. The total weight of all the components is 35 pounds.
 
chuck colburn said:
This unit and how it is setup has been the standard for years in the motion picture business. The three focale length objctives will cover all you lenses. Worked for me for about thirty years anyways.
Click to expand...

im curious how the 60mm covers the smaller focal lengths... how does it handle 8mm to 50mm? can you explain this relative to collimating lenses?
also curious what I need (extra $ wise) for handling arri P/L mount lenses only... i.e. SS MKIII, Cooke S4, Red Primes, Red Mini Primes

$5000 seems fair

but how many extra plates per lens kit if they are all P/L mount?what other aaccessories does one need, what are the extra costs?

whats cost of ownership per year?

EDIT: is that cool Lens poster on the wall included? :)

thanks so much,
 
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