Aaton Cam 35III Users Guide
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necessary, clean this surface with lens fluid applied with a coton Q- tip. Install the lens into the camera video port. Connect the control unit cable to the camera body through the Amph9 connector. Connect a BNC cable to the monitor and power the AATON 35- III. Turn on the toggle switch of the CCD Unit, the yellow diode should light. Set the video assist iris wide open, and while looking at the monitor, move the whole control unit until the viewing screen image is in focus and square to the monitor. Rotating the unit controls the image horizon, pulling or pushing it controls the image focus. Tighten the Allen set screw to lock the control unit in posi- tion. If the camera lens mount has been shifted from 35 to super 35, loosen the video tap retaining the screw and refocus. 2.11.3 Menu Operation The CD56 unit contains six operator buttons: up, down, left, right arrows, menu and exit keys. Press MENUto have the menu displayed. Use arrows to access to the desired parameter. Press MENUto indicate that you want to modify this parameter. Use arrows to adjust this parameter. Press MENUto validate Press EXITto memorize the new configuration. ¥ Std Choose the video image frequency you need between 24 and 25 frames per second. Keep in mind that choosing 24 fps, provides a non standard video signal, that you wonÕt be able to record. ¥ Color T emp Depending on the kind of film youÕre using (a film for inside or a film for outside) the colors it will register will not be the sames. To have the video colors closer to the film colors, you can choose bet- ween 3200K (tungstein) and 5600K (daylight). ¥ D ate Date allows you to choose the position of the current date insertion 41 THE CAMERA BODY USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 41
inside the video image. Use the arrows to proceed. ¥T ime Time allows you to choose the position of the current time insertion inside the video image. Use the arrows to proceed. ¥ C am Cam allows you to choose the position of the magazine number insertion inside the video image. Use the arrows to proceed. ¥ F rame Frame/Frame On-Off allows you to choose if you want (On) or not (Off ) a frame to be inserted in the video image. Frame/Frame Top Left allows you to choose the position of the top left position of the frame. Use the arrows to proceed. Frame/Frame Botton Right allows you to choose the position of the bottom right position of the frame. Use the arrows to proceed. Frame/Edge allows you to choose between an Edge around the fra- me, or No Egde. ¥ P hase adjust Phase adjust is designed to move the flicker area outside the video image. This function is available only when the CD56 and the AATON 35-III are running at the same speed (both at 25 fps, for example). Use the up and down arrows for a first quick phase adjustment. And then, use the left and right arrows for a fine adjust- ment. To proceed, run the camera and watch the video monitor. ¥ O ptions Options allows you to access to a submenu only dedicated to the AatonCode insertion. Options/Screen allows you to choose to insert (On) or not (Off ) AatonCode information, which consists of Time, Date, and Equip- ment number ID. Options/Screen Y/C allows you to choose to insert (On) or not (Off ) the Y/C video exit informations. Options/Font allows you to choose the font you need for the charac- ters to be inserted. Choose 0 for edged characters, 1 for standard characters, and 2 for bold characters. ¥ T echnical 42 USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 42
Technical allows you to access to a submenu only dedicated to the Vitc lines insertion. These lines are automatically inserted in the video image. Technical/XTAL Adjust is a parameter adjusted in factory. Keep in mind that you should never modify it. Technical/VITC Position allows you to choose the position of the Vitc lines. Choose between line 16 and line 24. Technical/VITC Parity allows you to select the parity of the Vitc lines between Odd and Even. Make sure that your post-production tools run properly with the selected value. ¥ A bout the Vitc lines In order to have meaningful information encoded in the Vitc lines, camera and video need to run at the same speed. If the video is set to run at 25 fps, then the AATON 35-III should run at 25 fps. And when the video is set to 24 fps, the AATON 35-III should run at 23.98 fps (this slight variation between these two speeds comes from some electronical imperious needs). If the third Vitc line cannot be generated by the CD56, then a (*) appears on the screen. This might occur because of two different situations: whether the speeds of the AATON 35-III and the CD56 are different, or AatonCode has not be initialized inside the AATON 35-III. 43 THE CAMERA BODY USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 43
THE MAGAZINE 45 3 USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 45
3.1 CONCEPT The Aaton magazine has been designed to be instantly installed or removed, and to be loaded quickly. In order to have a more compact magazine, both cores (feed and take-up) shift together during fil- ming. The magazine is driven magnetically from two intermediate drives connected to the camera motors; two magnetic wheels on the inner side of the camera body couple with two similar wheels on the throat of the magazine to transport the film. A magnetic drive sys- tem decreases noise and power consumption, and prevents mechani- cal stress during mis-loads. The magazine handles up to 400 ft (122m) loads of 35mm film stock. 400 ft of film is a little more than 4 running minutes at 24 fps 3.2 PRESSURE PLATE SYSTEM The magazine features two pressure plates which are located at the front of the magazineÕs nose. When the loaded magazine is attached to the camera, these pressure plates provide the precise stabilization of the film during exposure and transport. 3.2.1 The Gate Plate The long plate, called the gate plate, is positioned at the cameraÕs gate. Its main function is to stabilize the film as the claw engages the film perf between exposures. Proper tension and functioning of the gate plate contribute to reliable transport and quiet operation. 3.2.2 The Picture Plate The striped pressure plate, called the picture plate, is positioned at the cameraÕs aperture opening and is designed to hold the film stea- dy at the point of exposure. Proper setting and functioning of the picture plate assures the precise focus of each image. 46 USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 46
3.3 LOADING 3.3.1 First Step, in Daylight Here you prepare the magazine to receive the film. ¥Place the magazine on a table, its throat facing left. Unfasten the door locks by turning downward and open the door. ¥You can now choose to have the footage remaining displayed (on the magazine as on the LCD control panel on the camera body) in feet or meters. The red sliding switch, accessible from the inside of the magazine, sets meters on its right, and feet on its left. ¥With your thumbs, push the two spindles towards the nose of the magazine. This operation is accompanied with a loud clicking sound: donÕt be alarmed, this is completely normal. ¥Unscrew both spindle-locks (if necessary, hold the base of the cores). The spindle-locks are easy to locate: they have the shape of a rounded rectangle. ¥You can now place an empty core on the take-up spindle (the left one). Check that the core drive pin on the spindle is not caught on one of the core ribs or the roll will not seat properly. Firmly screw down the corresponding spindle-lock to secure the empty core to the spindle. Attention! Be sure you have put the core in its correct way. To check so, imagine that you will have to fit the film in its slot. A white arrow is engraved on the base of the spindle to help you install it correctly. ¥Release both sprocket pinch rollers (they have the shape of a half circle) by rotating them counter-clockwise. Theses rollers should be opened to let the film slide between them and the sprockets. Their half-circles face the nose of the magazine when closed, or face the chamber of the magazine if they are opened. ¥Now closely look at the mechanism inside of the magazine. And memorize the following diagram and instructions. ¥Then, put the magazine in a dark room or changing bag. 3.3.2 Loading, in the Dark 47 THE MAGAZINE USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 47
¥Remove the film from its can and bag. ¥Place the film roll on the rear spindle. Check that the core drive pin on the spindle is not caught on one of the core ribs or the roll will not seat properly. Secure the spindle-lock. ¥Thread two feet of film, making sure it passes outside the top gui- ding rollers. ¥Insert the film between the pinch rollers and sprockets making sure the perforations engage with the sprocket teeth. ¥Turn the upper and lower pinch rollers clockwise, to close them. ¥Slide the film in the slot of the take-up core. Rotate this core three or four turns. ¥Check that the film is firmly attached and positioned correctly around the sprocket wheels. ¥Close the door, and fasten the door locks by turning them upward. If you cannot close the film door, it means that you have forgotten to close one or both pinch rollers. ¥The remainder of the procedure can be performed in daylight. 3.3.3 Adjusting the Loop, in daylight 48 sprocket pinch roller take up core feed core sprocket USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 48
Once the door is closed, you need to adjust the loop. ¥Place the magazine with its digital display facing toward you and the magazine nose being to your right. The correct loop size can be adjusted, by using the loop tool delivered with the magazine. ¥If you cannot insert the tool between the mag pressure plate and the fim, you need to enlarge the loop. To do so, push the disk mar- ked push for loop adjust with your right tumb while holding the film against the pressure plate with your right forefinger. Using your left hand rotate the upper magnetic wheel clockwise until the loop length allows you to insert the tool. ¥If you need to reduce the loop length, simply push the disk marked push for loop adjust with your right thumb and rotate the upper magnetic wheel counterclockwise before installing the mag on the camera. DO NOT FORGET to remove any slack existing between the lower sprocket and the take-up spool. To do so, rotate the magnetic wheel situated at the left of the loop adjusting disk coun- terclockwise. The wheel should turn smoothly as the film winds on 49 THE MAGAZINE USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 49
the take-up core indicating that the magazine has been correctly loa- ded. ¥You can then install the mag on the camera body. ¥To engage the film, turn the cameras ON/OFF switch to test posi- tion and off again. If the loop is too short or not properly centered into the camera gate, the camera LCD display should show LOOP. Desengage the magazine, readjust the loop length if neces- sary and reinstall the magazine on the camera body. 50 USER 35 US 23/1 -2 1/20/98 19:46 Page 50