Aaton Cam Xter Users Guide

							
Xt e r à
User’s Guide
January 2007 
						

							
AATON Xterà User Guide
AATON
2 rue de la Paix
BP 3002
38000 Grenoble
FRANCE
+33 4 7642 9550
+33 4 7651 3491 fax
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.aaton.com
Limitation of  LiabilityThe information contained in this manual is distributed without warranty of  any kind, express or implied. To the maxi-mum extent permitted by law, Aaton and its licensors disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, by statute or otherwise, regarding this manual, including the fitness for a particular purpose, quality, or merchantability. Under no cir-cumstances shall Aaton or its licensors be liable to the user of  this manual or any other person for any incidental, special, or consequential damages resulting from the use of  this manual or the operation of  the equipment described therein, whether arising out of  breach of  warranty, breach of  contract, or otherwise. Under no circumstances shall Aaton or its licensors be liable for any damages arising out of  the operation of  the equipment described in this manual, whether operated in a manner which is consistent with or contrary to the instructions contained therein, for physical abuse or misuse of  the equipment. No oral or written information or advice given by Aaton or its licensors, their respective em-ployees, distributors, dealers, or agents, shall create any warranty. Aaton and its licensors further disclaim any and all war-ranties, express or implied, by statute or otherwise, regarding this manual, including the fitness for a particular purpose, quality, or merchantability, regarding the equipment described in this manual, and in no event shall Aaton or its licensors be liable for any damages, including but not limited to incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of  the use of  the equipment, or any exposure of  motion picture film used in the equipment.
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1  SYSTEM FEATURES AND CONTROLS
Front View    1 0
Rear View    1 1
Battery Side    1 2
Motor Side   1 3
LCD Control Panel - Quick Reference    1 4
2  THE CAMERA BODY
2.1 Lenses   1 8
ArriPL Lens Port   1 8
Installing the Lens    1 8
Aaton Lens Port   1 9
2.2 Viewing System    1 9
Viewfinder Options   1 9
Attaching the Extension Finder    2 0
Viewfinder Tension Adjustments   2 0
Adjusting the Diopter   2 1
The Eyepiece Shutter   2 1
Adjusting the Viewing Horizon    2 2
Viewing Screen   2 2
Changing the Viewing Screen    2 3
Adujsting the Viewing Screen   2 4
Aatonite Illumination   2 4
2.3 Mirror Shutter  2 5
Concept  2 5
Adjusting the Shutter    2 5
2.4 Film Gate and Pulldown Claw    2 7
2.5 Flange Focal Distance Adjustment    2 8
Concept  2 8
Polishing a Spacer   2 8
Changing the Spacer    2 8
Adjusting the Viewing Screen    2 9
Flange Focal Distances   2 9
2.6 Magazine   2 9
Installing the Magazine    2 9
Removing the Magazine   3 0
2.7 Power   3 1  
   3
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
						

							
Installing the Battery on the Camera  3 1
Battery Charging   3 1
Other Power Options    3 2
2.8 Motor   3 2
Camera Speeds   3 2
Using External Speed Devices    3 3
Electronic Inching   3 3
2.9 Lightmeter   3 4
Display   3 4
Operation    3 4
Using the Lightmeter without Running Film    3 5
Testing and Adjusting the Meter   3 5
Turning the Lightmeter Off    3 6
2.10 LCD Control Panel and Jog   3 6
The Aaton Jog   3 6
Understanding the Control Panel    3 6
Aatonite  3 7
AatonCode    3 7
ASA Setting   3 8
Battery Voltage   3 8
Camera Preset Speed    3 8
Camera Specific Speed   3 8
Speed Phasing   3 9
Feet or Meters   3 9
Footage Remaining    3 9
Footage Elapsed   3 9
Mag ID   4 0
New Magazine’s Footage    4 0
Camera Software Version Number    4 0
2.11 LED Indicators   4 0
Position and Meaning of  the Diodes   4 1
Camera Test Indicator   4 1
Camera Run Indicator   4 1
Low Battery Indicator   4 1
End-of-Film Warning Sequence    4 1
8-hours Warning Sequence   4 2
2.12 VHR Assists   4 2
Installing the Control Unit    4 3
The Internal Beamsplitter   4 3
Positioning the Beamsplitter    4 3
The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment   4 4
4 
						

							
The Manual Iris   4 4
Battery Life with VHR Assists    4 4
Installing the VHR Heads   4 5
The VHR Color VHR Assist    4 5
Menu Operation   4 5
3  THE MAGAZINE
3.1 Concept   4 8
3.2 Compatibility   4 8
DX Magazines   4 8
Super16 Safe   4 8
3.3 Pressure Plate System    4 9
The Picture Plate   4 9
The Claw Plate   5 0
3.4 Mag Identification System    5 0
Mag ID   5 0
Changing the ID of  a Magazine    5 0
3.5 Loading   5 1
Feed Side - In the Changing Bag    5 1
Take-up Side - In Daylight   5 2
3.6 The GX 800 ft mag       
Feed side, loading                     54 
Take-up side, loading                    54  
Mag ID                        55 
Footage                        55 
               
4  THE AATON SYSTEM
4.1 Camera Configurations   5 8
15mm Front Rods   5 8
Sliding Bridgeplate   5 8
4.2 Handgrip   5 8
Mounting the Handgrip    5 9
Handgrip On/Off  Functions    5 9
Handgrip Adjustments   5 9
4.3 Tripod Use   6 0
4.4 Shoulder Operation    6 0
4.5 Carrying Handle   6 0
   5
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
						

							
3/8 Accessory Screw   6 0
Mounting from the Carrying Handle   6 1
Tape Measure Stud   6 1
4.6 Transport   6 1
4.7 Extreme Conditions    6 2
Cold Weather   6 2
Warm Weather   6 3
5  CLEANING
5.1 Lens   6 6
Lens Elements    6 6
Lens Exterior   6 6
Mounting Surface  6 6
5.2 Body  6 7
Exterior   6 7
Mounting Surfaces    6 7
Camera Gate   6 7
5.3 Viewing System    6 7
Viewing Screen   6 8
Eyepiece  6 8
Viewfinder    6 9
5.4 Magazine   6 9
Exterior   6 9
Pressure Plates    6 9
Interior / Film Path    6 9
6  AATONCODE
6.1 Concept   7 2
6.2 The Internal Clock    7 2
6.3 OriginCplus   7 3
6.4 Initializing AatonCode in the Camera    7 3
Using the OriginCplus - Recommended Method    7 4
Using an External SMPTE Device   7 5
6.5 Monitoring and Maintaining AatonCode   7 5
Monitoring AatonCode with OriginCplus    7 6
Maintaining AatonCode without OriginCplus   7 6
6.6 The camera assistant duties   7 6
6 
						

							
   7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Checking the Diodes   7 7
Setting the ASA   7 7
Checking for Running Time    7 7
7  TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
List of  Specifications   8 0
Connector - Pin Attributions    8 1
Available Viewing Screens   8 2 
						

							
8 
						

							
SYSTEM  FEATURES AND  CONTROLS
9
1 
						

							
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1.1 FRONT VIEW
1    Friction Adjusting Ring adjusts the tension of the eyepiece swivel.
2    Tape Measure Stud   holds tape measure at film plane.
3    Lateral Lock Knob   locks the lateral position of the viewfinder.
4    Beamsplitter Access Cap covers the port which accesses the beamsplitter adjustment screw.
5    VHR Cover   accesses the VHR head.
6    PL Lens Port   standard mounting system for Xterà.Xterà.
7    Wooden Handgrip   allows for comfortable handheld operation.
8    Eyepiece Lock Ring   fastens interchangeable standard and extension finders.
9    Eyepiece Shutter   blocks light when operator's eye is away from the finder.
10    Body Run/Test Switch provides camera run and half frame inching.
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