Aaton Cam AMinima v229 Users Guide

							Connectors
The A-minima uses three connectors for power and accessory input
and output.
Following is a detailed list, location and main function of each.
The Lemo 6 connector located at the rear of the camera is the main
accessory connection  of the A-minima. It provides remote on/off
control and power output as well a s a connection for accessory
such as a capping shutter.
The lemo 6 connector located at the bottom of the camera body pro-
vides remote on/off, power input and a connection for accessory
such as the Aaton A-minima Power Base.
The Lemo 5 connector located at the rear of the camera, above the
Lemo 6, is the timecode interface. It provides timecode communica-
tion in both ASCII (in and out) and SMPTE (in).
Chapter 4 - Connectors
41
1
2
345 6
1
3 4 56
2
1
2
345
LEMO 6
1 - Ground
2 - Can Bus -
3 - Can Bus +
4 - + Batt (12 Volts)
5 - Shutter pulse / Synch
6 - StartLEMO 6
1 - Ground
2 - Can Bus -
3 - Can Bus +
4 - + Batt (12 Volts)
5 - Shutter pulse / Synch
6 - StartLEMO 5
1 - Ground
2 - LTC in
3 - ASCII in / out
4 - Not connected
5 - Not connected
A-Minima Pin Attribution 
						

							5
accessories 
						

							A-Minima Power Base
When used in conjunction with the A-minima camera body, the
Aaton small power base extends the camera functions.without com-
promising its size, weight and ease of use.
The power base is multi functional: as a tripod intermediary plate, it
accepts a standard 15mm or 19mm sliding bridgeplate for building
the camera system for studio work. This configuration can accept
Arri, Chrosziel or other manufacturer's mattebox, follow-focus and
support equipment designed for bridgeplate use.
Alighter configuration is also possible using the two 15mm Aaton
screw-in front rods attached to the power base by means of two 3/8"
threaded inserts located at the font of the base. 
This configuration can also accept Arri, Chrosziel or other manufac-
turer's mattebox follow-focus and support equipment 
The power base is also an electrical (fused) junction box between a
remote 12 volts power source, the camera body and various acces-
sories such as a zoom control or lens capping shutter.
Using its BNC connector, the power base allows you to automatical-
ly synchronize the camera to a source signal such as one delivered
by a computer/video monitor.
Finally a remote ON/OFF capability is offered when connecting an
Aaton wooden handgrip to the power base Lemo 2 socket.
Chapter 5 - Accessories
45
1
4
3
2
1
5
1
5
4
3
22
1 - Lemo 6 accessories connector     4 - 3/8” camera screw
2 - Front rods 3/8” threaded insert    5 - Lemo 2 handgrip socket
3 - 3/8” threaded insert1 - 5 Amps fuse holder              4 - BNC sync input
2 - Lemo 6 camera connector     5 - XLR4 battery cable connector
3 - Locating post 
						

							Use the 3/8" screw to attach the Aaton power base to the bottom of
the camera body. A 5mm locating pin insures the correct lateral
positioning of the camera. 
- The XLR4 connector located on the operator side is the main 12
volts power input. It is designed to accept a standard XLR4 power
cable. (Do not forget to move the switch, located in the disposable
battery compartment, to the "ext" position).
- The two Lemo 6 connectors located on the opposite side are the
two main accessory connection. Designed to accept a power zoom,
it also carries a sync signal and provides camera on/off
- The Lemo 6 connector located at the top of the power base is the
connection between the A-minima camera body and the power base.
It carries the 12 volt, camera on/off and external sync signals.
Next to it is the main 5 Amp fuse.
- The Lemo 2 connector located between the two front rod inserts
provides camera remote on/off.
- The BNC input connector located next to the XLR4 connector is
the connection between the base and a video source signal. When a
valid video signal is present, a small green led, located near the
BNC connector will  be lit. 
Use a BNC cable connected on one end to the base and on the other
end to the video output of your monitor. On the camera control
panel, press the "down" arrow to access the "video sync" menu.
Press YES to set the camera in video sync mode. Without a maga-
zine installed, run the camera. 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 identi-
cal. 
Chapter 5 - Accessories
47
1
2
341
2
345 61212
XLR4
1 - Ground
2 - not connected
3 - not connected
4 - + batt (12 Volts)LEMO6
1 - Ground
2 - Can Bus -
3 - Can Bus +
4 - + Batt (12 Volts)
5 - Shutter pulse / Synch
6 - StartLEMO2
1 - Ground
2 - StartBNC
1 - Video / sync in
2 - Ground
Power Base Pin Attribution 
						

							Chapter 1 - Presentation
49
Chapter 1 - Presentation
48
The A-minima Clip-on Batter y
Compact, lightweight and recellable, the A-minima Clip-On battery
provides 1,7 Ah of power at 12 V, running approximately 30 x 200ft
magazines at 24 fps.
The NiMH technology is superior to NiCad : about twice the capac-
ity in smaller cells, abscence of memory effect eliminates the need
to deplete the battery prior to recharging. The battery can be fast
charged whatever its state.
The Clip-On battery can be charged using  the Aaton CHA-3 charg-
er through a cable adaptor connecting the battery Molex connector
to the CHA-3's XLR4 socket.
Technical specification:
12 V - 1.7 Ah (1.6 to 1.8 Ah) Recellable 
Athermal sensor, installed inside the battery housing, shuts down
the CHA-3 charging cycle when the battery reaches 60° C during
charge
External dimensions: 86mm x 34mm x 61mm.
Weight : 386 gr
123
1 - Molex charger connector        
2 - Battery 12 volts output   
3 - Locking lever (in the locked position) 
						

							The A-minima Top Handle
The A-minima top handle has been design to accommodate new
ways of carrying, operating or mounting the camera.
Safely attached to the camera 3/8" top insert, the orientable top han-
dle also provides camera on/off capability, LCD monitor mounting
or an extra 3/8"insert to receive accessories such as french flags or
assistant lights.
As standard, a camera run function is available from the Top
Handle. The On/Off cable delivered with the handle must be con-
nected to the Lemo 6 socket located at the rear of the camera. While
hand-holding the camera, press the switch  two times (within 1 sec-
ond) to start the camera. Press one time to stop the camera.
The handgrip can be adjusted for maximum handheld operating
comfort. Use a 4mm Allen L wrench to loosen the attachment knob.
Rotate the handgrip around the knob axe until your preferred posi-
tion is found and lock the knob.Note that the handle is parallel to
the bottom of the camera. 
The 3/8" insert, located on front of the Top Handle can easily and
safely hold accessories such as French flags, assistant lights, HF
transmitters...
An optional Aaton ball & socket head is also available in order to
use the Top Handle as a small LCD monitor holder. Simply screw
the ball & socket head on the 3/8 insert located at the front of the
Top Handle and attach your monitor. The  ball & socket head pro-
vides three dimensional monitor positions and a large knurdle knob,
located at the base of the head, can be used to adjust the tension of
the head or lock it in a desired position.
When using the Transvideo A-Monitor, a small track, located at the
bottom of the monitor offers intermediate mounting positions and
can be used to effectively balance the camera.
Chapter 1 - Presentation
51
Chapter 1 - Presentation
50
6
5
2
3
1
1 - Lemo 2 socket                            6 - Transvideo mounting track
2 - 3/8” attachment screw
3 - Run switch
4 - Head friction and locking knob
5 - Aaton ball&socket head
4 
						

							The A-minima video assist
This on-board flicker less video assist has been designed to integrate
a reliable B & W CCD video camera without compromising the A-
minima size, flexibility and ease of use.
Powered internally from the A-minima camera body, it does not
need an outside power cable. Nevertheless, it is recommended to
power it using the Aaton power base installed on the A-minima
body, not from the internal disposable batteries.
The A-minima video assist has two separate video outputs. One is a
standard BNC connector, the other one is a small Fisher4 connector
used for a small mini LCD monitor. This connector carries 12V,
ground and composite video.
The video assist also features a main on/off switch, a small running
LED and manual lens iris control.
As standard from the factory The A-minima camera is equipped
with an internal 75/25 beamsplitter. This means that 25% of the
light from the viewfinder is sent to the CCD target.
Installing the video assist.
You should not usually have to do this operation. The video assist is
designed to stay with the camera body. as it does not add excessive
weight.
However, in some instances, you might need to do it. Please follow
this procedure when installing the video assist on the camera.
Unscrew the video port cover located above the camera motor, on
the control panel side, and pull out the wire bundle used to power
the video assist.
Through the hole located on the upper left corner of the camera lens
port, carefully loosen the tightening screw used to later hold the
video lens onto the camera internal tubular holder.
Do not unscrew it completely as it could fall into the camera hous-
ing. two or three turn will suffice.
Chapter 5 - Accessories
53
1 - Video lens iris lever      4 - On/Off switch
2 - Fisher 4 socket             5 - BNC connector,  video out
3 - Run light
2
1
543
Video tap Pin Attribution
2
3
41
FISHER 4
1 - Ground
2 - Video ground
3 - Composite video out
4 - + batt (12 Volts)
12
BNC
1 - Composite video out
2 - Ground 
						

							The video housing is made of two "half shell".
The back one holds the video on/off switch, led and mini monitor
connector, the front one integrates the manual iris and threaded ring
used to secure the video assist onto the camera.
Unscrew the three allen screws holding both part together (see dia-
gram)
Carefully feed the camera wire and its Molex white connector in
between the video lens and video front housing. 
Install the video head assembly into the tubular holder located
inside the camera video port. Note the 45° orientation of the head
assembly.
When approaching the video to the camera housing, gently pull on
the camera wire to avoid pinching it.
Push the CCD head all the way in and start turning the video thread-
ed ring clockwise. Slightly rock the video front housing from left to
right in order to engage its locating pin with the cutout machined on
the camera video port.  Tighten the locking threaded ring.
Connect the camera wire to the video three pin Molex connector
Connect a BNC cable to a monitor and to the BNC mounted on the
video back housing. Be careful not to pull on the BNC cable as you
could damage the video electrical connections.
Power the A-minima and turn on the video assist. 
You should see a picture of the viewing screen on the monitor. Open
the video lens iris by moving its lever towards the rear of the A-
Minima.
While looking at the image on the monitor gently move the CCD
head assembly until the viewing screen image is in focus and square
to the monitor. When this operation is achieved, hold the unit in
position and access the internal tubular holder screw. Tighten it
moderately.
Replace the video back housing on the video front housing and
secure it in position with the three allen screws, being careful not to
pinch any wires.
Chapter 5 - Accessories
55 
						

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Hagade[ Cameras, Keylink ]
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57
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3121 Victoria                               
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Fax: 32 5635 0780
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59
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