Click here for a user review from Digital FX in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The purpose of this instrument
- Check the flange depth of the sensor
- Generate reference frame
- Check camera real resolution
- Check camera light sensitivity
- Make all tests identical, "laboratory condition" compliant regardless of location
- Communicate sensor issues remotely by emailing reference frame grabs
- Create sensor test standards to which all digital cameras can be tested
The Optimator comes in two versions: the Pro and the Deluxe.
The difference between them is that the Optimator Pro can show you if the mount is out of alignment or not, but it does not tell you by how much it is out of alignment. It is preconfigured to a distance of 52.00mm, which is the proper distance for a PL mount to be calibrated at. All adjustments made to align the camera’s lens mount with the sensor must be checked visually on a reference monitor.
The Optimator Deluxe includes a micrometer on the end of it. This allows the user to determine precisely the amount of adjustment needed to adjust the sensor and takes some of the guesswork out of adjusting the backfocus or shimming the mount.
For instructional use videos please click on "Extras"
Design/Build features:
1. Stainless steel optics housing construction to minimize thermal expansion issues. This feature assures stable performance in diverse environments (extremely hot or cold conditions).
2. Precision ground stainless mount adapters. This feature allows for quick remounting for various camera mounting systems (PL, Panavision, Nikon , etc.). Precision grinding assures instrument quality tolerances so that the Optimator maintains accuracy that surpasses several times what is required by any camera manufacturer.
3. High resolution optics capable of resolving in excess of 5000 lines per inch , several times more than any camera specs, and necessary, in our opinion, to achieve test instrument quality. The focal length and speed (efficient light transmission) assure easy and accurate resolution reading. The extremely flat field displays the whole frame accurately and makes sensor tilt easy to see. The coverage area is 34mm (exceeds 5K sensor area). This feature allows viewing of the entire sensor and quickly detecting issues on and off axis.
4. High resolution full frame reticule, precisely centered and parallel. The highest resolution target has calibrated 2000 LPH (lines per height). This feature allows easy determination of the maximum resolution resolved and use for adjustment reference and communication. The full frame reticule with high resolution targets in corners makes any sensor tilt evident and
the center target helps to detect sensor centering problems. Custom reticule patterns with even higher resolution are available.
5. White LED backlight with instrument precision circuitry, light intensity adjustment, built-in rechargeable battery, and on-board battery charger. This feature has very low power draw that will make the batteries last for days. The LED power supply is very stable and precisely calibrated to assure identical light intensity on each step and on each Optimator. The built-in batteries are rechargeable and make this unit a stand-alone device. The built-in charger circuitry allows for charging the on-board battery from a 7V-30V source. We supply a d-tap cable to plug into lOX/Anton Bauer batteries for charging. There is also a blinking LED to indicate that the unit is on so the user can't forget to turn it off before putting the Optimator away.
