Aaton Cam AMinima v229 Users Guide

							ASA setting
Third on the list, the ASA must be adjusted to the exposure index of
the film stock being used. The ISO selector of the camera provides
settings between 25 and 1000 ASA.
From the camera default display, press the DOWN key three times
to access the ASA setting menu, press YES, then use the UP or
DOWN key to select the desired ASA. Press YES to validate.
Note: for Aatoncode, proper ASA setting will insure that the time-
code matrixes recorded in between the film perforations will be
exposed at an appropriate and useable level. When using the exter-
nal camera incident lightmeter, it simply insures that the T stop indi-
cation shown on the display is the correct one for a particular film
stock. When using the lightmeter, please check the speed setting.
The T stop indication takes the camera speed into account.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
21
To delete a specific speed added to the preset list
If you want to deleted it from your preset list, choose DELETE,
then press YES. The camera will default to 1.000 fps. 
Magazine footage setting
Second on the list, press the DOWN key twice, press YES to access
the magazine footage setting. With a fully loaded magazine installed
on the camera press YES again -NEW MAG- to reset the control
panel to count down a full 200ft load.
If a short end is being used, press the DOWN key -SET FOOT- then
YES. Use the UP or DOWN key to set the counter to the desired
footage, press YES to validate.
Note: a magazine needs to be installed, locked in its running posi-
tion, for you to have access to the magazine footage setting.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
20
24.000
200 ft
asa =
250
500
 
24.000
200ft
set asa
@ 500
1.000
200 ft
remove
33.333?
preset
removed
speed=
1.000
modify
delete
modify
delete
25.000
0 ft
25.000
200 ft
mag=
0 ft
new magset foot
set @
200 ft154 ft
new magset foot
200 ft
new magset foot
25.000
154 ft
set @
154 ft 
						

							Programming the internal clock with a new time :
You can change the camera internal time within the timecode menu.
Access the timecode menu, then press YES. Select NEW TIME
with the DOWN key then press YES. First select the year with the
UP or DOWN key, press YES to validate, A-minima will take you
to each timecode field. After each fields are set as desired (the NO
button allows you to move backward one field at a time) and that
you have reached the minutes, press YES, then press YES again to
validate the time. A-minima displays this new time and date for few
seconds, the yellow LED will start flashing. The camera is now ini-
tialized and will keep accurate time (within half a frame) for eight
hours.
Note : If the camera has already been initialized and if you need to
change the time, simply access the timecode menu, press YES and
A-Minima will take you to each field at a time.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
23
Timecode
As a standard feature, the A-minima is equipped with the capability
of recording Aatoncode in camera time. Timecode information is
exposed onto the film by means of seven micro diodes located into
the gate of the camera, near the camera pulldown claw. These
diodes flash rapidly to form the code, as the film pass through the
gate between exposures.
Timecode can be quickly initialized from the camera internal clock
or can be inputted from an external device.
Initializing the camera from its internal clock :
Pressing the DOWN key four times will take you to the timecode
menu of the A-minima. Press YES to enter, CAM TIME blinks,
press YES again. The display will show you the camera internal
time and date for few seconds, the yellow LED will start flashing.
The camera is now initialized and will keep accurate time (within
half a frame) for eight hours.
Note: The Yellow blinking LED is the garanty that timecode has
been initialized and that the camera is running an accurate time. The
camera internal clock is not accurate and timecode will not be
recorded onto the film if it has not been first initialized. The camera
internal clock does not need the camera to be powered to keep the
time. The timecode generator does. Get into the habit of having a
fresh battery near by when replacing an exhausted one. An internal
camera capacitor allows a full minute for battery replacement before
timecode is lost.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
22
year
01
month
jul
24.000
200 ft
24.000
200 ft
23:59:0011jul01
timecode
cam time
new time
day
11
hour
23
min
59
validate
time ?
cam time
new time
24.000
200 ft
timecode
cam time
new time
24.000
200ft
09:53:00
11.feb.01
24.000
200 ft
timecode
10:25:00
year
01 
						

							The following procedure has to be followed when initializing a
Nagra equipped with a QSIA circuit, or an audio recorder or other
timecode device wich is driven by an Aaton GMT.
With the Lemo5 to Lemo5 cable, connect the A-minima to the
GMT, another camera or recorder. Go to the "SEND ASCII" display
and press YES to send the timecode information.
The camera will display GOOD 00.0 after the timecode has been
successfully accepted by the device. 
If the GMT or audio device is not powered, or if the cable is faulty
the camera will display NO ANSWER. 
A-minima can be used to monitor timecode after it has been initial-
ized in another device. Using the lemo5 to lemo5 cable, connect the
camera to the other device. Access the "SEND ASCII" menu then
press YES. The camera will display GOOD, FAIR , BAD, DIF
TIME or BAD DATE , followed by the amount of drift in tenth of a
frame.
The A-minima is comparing the timecode running in this machine to
the one running on its own display.
Video SYNC
When used in conjunction with the small Aaton Power Base, this
option allows you to automatically synchronize the camera to a
source signal such as a computer/video monitor. In that mode, the
UP or DOWN key can phase the camera, programming the relation-
ship between the camera shutter and the source signal. After this one
time adjustment, the phase relationship remains identical every time
the camera is turned on.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
25
Initializing the camera with an external device :
The preferred method is by means of the OriginCplus wich inputs
timecode in ASCII form. It is also possible for the camera to receive
information in SMPTE form, directly from a SMPTE device such as
a TC audio recorder.
• Using the OriginCplus :
(please refer to the OC+ manual in order to program it)Make sure
the camera is powered. Connect the OriginCplus to the lemo5 sock-
et located at the rear of the camera, above the lemo6 socket.Press *
on the OriginCplos to send the timecode information. The camera
display will show the timecode and the small yellow LED located to
the right of the display will start to blink.
• Using an external SMPTE device :
Make sure the camera is powered. Connect the cable from the
SMPTE output of the timecode device to the lemo5 receptacle of
the camera. The display will show "LTC IN PROGRESS" then
show the time, the small yellow LED located to the right of the dis-
play will start to blink. Also, press on the UP arrow to re-initialize
the camera with a new incoming LTC timecode. 
Send ASCII  ?
A-minima can be use to initialize another ASCII device.
From the camera default display, access this option by pressing the
DOWN arrow five time (if the timecode has not been initialized,
this option will not show on the camera display)
Connect the camera to the timecode device, using the proper cable.
Most likely, this would be a Lemo5 to Lemo5 cable. Please contact
your Aaton representative or rental house for further information
concerning cables wiring.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
24
24.000
200 ft
send
ASCII
send time
no answr
reload ?
GOOD
00.0
11:53:00
200ft
LTC in
progress 
						

							YES to validate and enter the intervalometer control screen.
The upper line of the display shows the interval set and the total
footage available in your magazine.
The lower line displays frame burst chosen and the number of frame
already taken. You can reset the frame count to zero by pressing the
DOWN key.
You are now ready to start the camera with the camera on/off
switch.
To exit the INTERVAL menu, press the BLUE key for three second. 
The display will show the battery voltage followed by an" EXIT?"
message. Press YES to validate and go back to the default display.
Note: With a 172,8° shutter, each exposure is 0,24s instead of 0,25s
if you had a 180 degrees shutter.
In 16mm, a full 200 feet roll contains 8000 frames. When viewed at
24 frames per second, a roll last approx 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
The following formula gives you the actual time T1 (in seconds) the
event will be filmed in according to the interval, frame burst chosen
and the total number of frame taken.
TI= (interval + (frame burst : 2) x (total Nb of frame : frame burst) 
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
27
The video connector installed on the Aaton power base accepts a
video composite signal.The video sync menu simply allows you to
film a monitor or computer screen with the roll bar set out of view. 
Listed after the camera timecode options, press YES to set the cam-
era in video sync mode. Without a magazine installed, run the cam-
era. Look through the camera viewfinder at the monitor screen and
press the up or down arrows until the bar is set out of view. Stop the
camera and then install a magazine. The relationship between the
camera shutter and monitor remains identical. 
Note: If the source signal is faulty, the camera will run at 1fps, the
camera display showing a "NO TV SYNC" message. 
To exit the VIDEO SYNC menu, press the BLUE key for three sec-
ond. The display will show the battery voltage followed by the
"EXIT TV SYNC?" message. Press YES to validate and go back to
the default display.
Interval
A-minima makes time lapse photography easy, it offers different
intervals from 1 to 80 seconds (in one second increment) as well as
the possibility of taking 1 to 99 frames in between intervals (frame
bursts).
In the intervalometer mode, the A-Minima operates at a constant
rate of 2 frames per second. The shutter opening being a fixed 172,8
degrees, it makes for an approximately 1/4 of a second exposure
time for each frames.
From the camera default display, press the DOWN key to access the
INTERVAL menu, then press YES. First set the desired interval
lenght with the UP or DOWN key then press YES to validate.
Set the number of frame burst with the UP or DOWN key , press
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
26
24.000
200ft
exit ?
7s     3frNb=0000
> 3s
24.000
200 ft
interval
interval
7 s
interval
3 s7s 200ft
3fb      0
burst
3 fr
burst
1 fr
24.000
200 ft
video
sync
tv sync*
200 ft 
						

							shutter :
Go to the A-MINIMA OPTIONS menu, then press YES to enter.
COUNTER flashes, press the DOWN key to select SHUTTER,
press YES to access the SHUTTER MODE settings.
Use the UP or DOWN key to scroll through the five different 
choices.
Depending on the mode you are in, the camera shutter pulse out
located on pin 5 of the lemo 6 will be different.
Normal mode:
the camera default mode.
Shutter long:When using the intervallometer function of the cam-
era,this mode will synchronize a capping shutter to the camera
frame bursts.
Shutter flash:Used to synchronize a flash with the camera shutter.
Camera slave:to slave the camera shutter and speed to another 
A-Minima.
Note: an incoming signal must be present when using the camera in
the "camera slave" mode. If the source signal is faulty, the camera
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
29
Display light
In order to save battery power, the A-minima display backlight can
be turned off.
From the camera default display, press the DOWN key eight times
to access the display light menu. 
Press YES to enter, select ON or OFF with the UP or DOWN key.
Press YES to validate
Note:When pressing any keys of the control panel, the backlight
will be turned on for 30s, disregarding the display light setting. 
Also, to prevent excessive drain on the small on-board lithium bat-
teries,the backlight will automaticaly turn itself off after five min-
utes. If initialized with timecode, the camera display will flash for
one second every ten seconds.
A-Minima Options:
This is the last menu on the list. It allows you to set the camera
footage units and the camera shutter pulse output.
Counter :
Go to the A-MINIMA OPTIONS menu, then press YES to enter.
COUNTER flashes, press YES then use the UP or DOWN key to
switch the footage counter between feet and meters. Press YES to
validate. The camera will then default to its default display, showing
you the desired footage unit.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
28
24.000
200 ft
aminima
options
shutter
mode ?
counter
shutter
counter
shutter
24.000
200 ft
aminima
options24.000
61 m
counter
shutter
feet
meter
feet
meter24.000
200 ft
display
light
on ?
off ?
normal
mode ?
modify
OK
shutter
mode ?
24.000
200 ft
shutter
flash ?
modify
OK
shutter
mode ?
24.000
200 ft
camera
slave ?
ext syn*
200 ft
shutter
mode ?
shutter
long ?
modify
OK
shutter
mode ?
24.000
200 ft 
						

							3
magazine
will run at one frame per second, the red LED flashes and a "NO
EXT SYNC" message is displayed.
Camera master:
to control another A-Minima speed and shutter.
Please contact your Aaton representative or rental house for further
information concerning cables wiring.
Chapter 2 - The A-Minima Control Panel
30
camera
master ?
modify
OK
shutter
mode ?
24.000
200 ft 
						

							The Film
The  A-minima magazine is designed to accommodate the new
"Aminima daylight spools" designed by Aaton. Manufactured and
delivered by Eastman Kodak, the spools can handle 200ft of film. 
The magazine coaxial design utilizes two identical spools, one on
each side. 
The A-minima spools are "daylight friendly". If you load and down-
load your magazine in daylight, you will exposed approximately 5 ft
of film during loading and 2 ft of film when taking the magazine off
the camera body.
The spool is made of two flexible flanges attached on each side of a
specially designed core. Both flanges can be clipped on either side of
the core.You should not need to separate the flanges from the core,
but if you wish to do so, hold one flange firmly while turning the
other one counter-clockwise.
The film is being delivered by Kodak already rolled onto one of the
spool. The film is spooled emulsion out. With its wind clockwise, the
perforation should be towards you.
The magazine
The magazine attach to the camera body by mean of two guiding
post located on the magazine take up side. A third post will trigger
the magazine shutter open when engaging the magazine onto the
camera.
You can manually move this post in order to open or close the shut-
ter. When pushed toward the nose of the magazine, the shutter is
closed. We recommend that you leave it closed to ensure the light
tightness of a loaded mag. 
Two locating pins, on either side of the mag throat, will maintain the
camera door closed when the magazine is installed on the camera in
its running position.
Chapter 3 - Loading the A-Minima
33
1 - Magazine latch
2 - Camera door locating pin
3 - Magzine hinge4 - Magazine guiding post
5 - Shutter trigger
6 - Magazine serial number
122
34
45
6 
						

							When engaging the mag onto the camera, the magazine shutter
opens,  allowing the two flexible spools to come in contact and be
driven by the camera take-up and feed sprockets. In this position,
both spools are spread apart to ensure a clean and silent passage for
the film.
Loading the magazine
Check that the magazine shutter is in its open position, if not, move
the trigger towards the rear of the magazine to open it. 
Open the magazine by pushing on the spring loaded lock and turning
it clockwise. Place the magazine with the take up side to your right..
Release both, feed and take-up spool locking mechanisms by pulling
on the semi-circular lever. Remove the fully loaded spool from the
black bag and peel of the sticker, keeping it attached to the end of the
film as you will need it to attach the film to the take-up spool. Gently
pull approximately one foot of film, being careful not to spread apart
the two flexible flanges. Install the loaded spool onto the mag feed
spindle with its wind clockwise. Press evenly on each side of the
core and, while doing so, push the semi-circular lever down to lock
the spool in place. 
Using the sticker, attach the film to the take-up spool. Wind on a few
turn, clockwise and emulsion out. (you should not need to separate
the flanges from the core, but if you wish to do so, hold one flange
firmly while turning the other one counter-clockwise). Place the take
up spool on top of the feed side spool and flip it 180° (the flange pre-
viously touching the feed spool should now be facing you). Guiding
the film into the throat of the magazine take-up side, install the spool
on the take-up spindle. Press evenly on each side of the core and,
while doing so, push the semi-circular lever down to lock the spool
in place.
Close the magazine, being careful not to pinch the film, close the
lock and close the magazine shutter.
Chapter 3 - Loading the A-Minima
35
4
1
3
2
1 - Feed side
2 - Feed spool
3 - Take-up side
4 - Magazine shutter 
						

							Installing the loaded magazine and threading the
A-minima.
Before installing the magazine, adjust the loop length by pulling it to
the beginning of the magazine hinge.
Also, on the camera body, open the feed and take-up sprocket door
by simply pushing them away from the sprockets (fig 1).
Swing the gate pressure plate open by pulling it toward the rear of
the camera.
Before installing the magazine, you should power the camera body.
When powered without a magazine, the camera motor automatically
moves half a turn, in the test position, clearing the claw for the film
to be installed onto the gate. 
Install the magazine on the camera body with your right hand, mak-
ing sure that the two locating pin are engaged into the camera lock-
ing mechanisms. While "dropping" the magazine on the camera,
spread apart the film loop at the magazine throat around the outside
of both take-up and feed sprockets.
Engage the film around the upper take up sprocket and close the
sprocket door, making sure that the film's perforations engage the
sprocket teeth.
Engage the film around the lower feed sprocket and close the sprock-
et door.
Install the film on the camera gate and close the rear pressure plate.
Navigate the film into the gate channel with two fingers on each side
of the pressure plate until you ear this one pop into place. When cor-
rectly set, the film should move freely, not being pinched by the
pressure plate. If needed, open the feed sprocket door to adjust the
loop length and center the figure eight loop top and bottom following
the loop marking.
Engage the magazine, pushing it firmly toward the front of the cam-
era. Use the upper arrow located on the control panel to inch the
camera frame by frame. Run the camera a few feet to check your
threading (after you become familiar threading the camera, you
should be able to load the camera without running a few feet of film
to save time and film stock)
Chapter 3 - Loading the A-Minima
37 
						

							4
connectors
Pull the magazine locking lever to release the magazine, close the
camera door and re-engage firmly the magazine into position. Press
on the upper arrow to re-engage the claw and set your camera shutter
in the reflex viewing position.
Removing the exposed film spool
After you exposed your full 200 ft roll, you can disengage the maga-
zine from the camera and remove the daylight spool.
Remenber to never pry the spool out of the magazine but to simply
release the spool locking mechanism and flip the magazine up side
down to let the full spool fall into you hand.
Wrap the complete spool  in the black bag and into the can to send it
to the lab.
Chapter 3 - Loading the A-Minima
38