RICHTER - Richter R2 AutoCollimator Instructions

Complete instruction manual for the Richter Cine Equipment Reflex Autocollimator Model R-2, a precision instrument designed for testing and evaluating photographic optics. This guide provides comprehensive coverage of the device's operation, enabling users to observe directly on camera film, under high magnification, the quality of the image formed by camera lenses. The manual explains the optical principles underlying the autocollimator, which employ technology derived from the ophtalmoscope used for over 80 years in ocular examinations. Testing procedures include focal plane determination, camera lens quality assessment, visual and photographic resolution measurement, and detection of optical aberrations including astigmatism, chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, field flatness, and coma. The document features detailed schematic diagrams illustrating the internal structure and optical path of the instrument, along with illustrations of the test pattern employed for optical evaluation. Practical instructions are provided for mechanical and optical lens adjustment, defective lens identification, and precise calibration procedures enabling focal plane measurement to an accuracy of 1/5000 of the lens focal length. The manual addresses lens misalignment detection, spacing errors in lens elements, and methods for determining optimal lens apertures for specific photographic applications.