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XTRplus user manual

1. XTRplus and provides and camera on off It is designed to accept a power zoom as its main input but will accept any acces sory which does not require a sync signal and provide remote on off control as well 13 5 Lemo2 On Off Input The Lemo2 connector located on the battery side at the front of the base provides camera on off and is primarily used to carry handgrip on off functions to the camera body The Lemo2 can also be used for remote on off control 13 6 Lemo5 Timecode Input The LemoS connector located on the motor side to the lower left of the motor is the timecode interface It is used when recording AatonCode and provides timecode communication in both ASCII in out and SMPTE in 36 The Camera Body The Aaton VR42 black amp white and VR46 color CCD taps are designed to add video assist capability to the XTRplus without compromising the body s size flexibility and ease of use Because the CCD head is incorporated into the XTRplus camera body there are no centering or focus adjustments necessary unless of course when converting the body between 16 and Super16 formats The control units for all Aaton CCD assists attach quickly to the camera s PBX housing and can be used with an on board battery 14 1 Installing the Control Units The VR42 and VR46 control units can be easily attached onto the XTRplus in a few seconds without the need for adjustment Remove the two allen screws located on the PBX i
2. The XTRplus User Guide Peter Abel Abel Cine Tech Inc 66 Willow Avenue Staten Island NY 10305 718 273 8108 718 273 8137 fax January 1995 Abel Cine Tech Inc All rights reserved No part of this manual may be reproduced or trans mitted in any form or by any means electronic mechanical photo copying recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher For more information contact Abel Cine Tech Notice of Liability The information in this manual is distributed without warranty While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual nei ther the author nor Abel Cine Tech Inc shall have any liability loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this manual or by the equipment described herein Trademarks AatonCode Keylink OriginCplus XTRplus XTRprod and XOplus are registered trademarks of Aaton Cameras Inc Grenoble France Printed and bound in the United States of America Attaching the Extension Finder Viewfinder Tension Adjustments Adjusting the Diopter The Eyepiece Shutter Adjusting the Viewing Horizon Viewing Screen 3 Mirror Shutte 4 Film Gate and Pulldown Claw Co planar Movement The Hair free Gate Cleaning the Gate Single Frame Operation Table of Contents 4 Table of Contents mn 12 Low Battery Indicator
3. End of Film Warning Sequen Lemol4 CCD Assist Lemo6 Accessory Input Lemo2 On Off Input LemoS Timecode Input 14 CCD Assists Installing the Control Units The Internal Beamsplitter Positioning the Beamsplitter The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment The Manual Iris Battery Life with CCD Assist Installing the CCD Heads 1 Lens Lens Elements When to Shoot Super 2 General Concerns Protecting the Negativ Maintaining High Quality Super16 Compatible Lenses Ordering Film Film Processin 3 Shooting Supert6 Selecting a Film Stock Lenses 4 Super16 Field Conversions Before You Begin 6 Tabte of Contents 3 Origin Cplus 4 Initializing AatonCode in the Camera Using the OriginCplus Recommended Method Using an External SMPTE Device 5 Monitoring and Maintaining AatonCod Monitoring AatonCode with OriginCplus Maintaining AatonCode without OriginCp 6 The Camera Assistant s Duties 7 Recommended Film Audio Selections List of Specifications Connector Pin Attributions Table of Contents 7 Front 10 System Fosturos and Controis Rear 11 Amph9 12 Manual Iris Lever 113 Lemo14 14 Magnetic Drive 15 Mag Release Lever 16 Battery Lock Screw 17 Camera Fuse 18 XLR4 19 Speed Dial 20 Lemo6 accesso
4. LED Indicators for fur ther details 9 2 Operation Because the lightmeter takes its measurement as a reflection off the film you must have film in the gate for the camera to provide an accurate reading To use the lightmeter follow these simple guidelines Set the ASA knob to the exposure index of the film stock being used Set the camera to run or test position and adjust the lens iris until the center green diode is darkened this will be your proper metered exposure Remember the lightmeter is giving you an average reading of the entire frame You may choose to vary the suggested exposure according to subject conditions 9 3 Using the Lightmeter without Running Film It is also possible to use the lightmeter without actually running the camera Set the ASA knob to the exposure index of the film being used Set the camera to test position using the on off switch on the body or the handgrip If the handgrip is used the momen tary switch must be held in the test position The mirror shutter will rotate 180 allowing light from the lens to reach the film and a reading to be taken by the meter Adjust the lens iris until the center green diode is darkened indicating proper exposure The Camera Body 29 30 The Camera Body 9 4 Testing and Adjusting the Meter If you are operating the lightmeter for test purposes don t forget to have film in the gate before taking a reading The following is the procedure for checking and adj
5. Nikon and Leica R mounted lenses onto the camera 2 1 Viewfinder Options The viewfinder is designed to be fully orientable providing left or right side viewing and an upright image in any position The viewfinder is equipped with a standard short eyepiece that can be used for handheld and tripod mounted operation For more com fortable tripod and studio applications the standard extension finder can be fitted in place of the short eyepiece With an Elemak or Mitchell type dolly or in situations requiring addi tional reach the hyperlong finder which is twice as long as the standard extension finder can be used The Camera Body 17 2 2 Attaching the Extension Finder In order to use an extension finder on the XTRplus the standard eyepiece must first be removed To remove the eyepiece locate the eyepiece lock ring marked A in the photo below Rotate counter clockwise until the ring reaches its stop and gently pull off the eyepiece To install the extension finder locate the pro truding guide pin on the seat of the viewfinder and align the pin with the hole in the flange of the finder Mate the flange to the seat of the viewfinder and tighten the lock ring until it is set firm ly in place During this procedure you will notice that the exten sion finder needs to face 180 away from the operator s eye to be installed onto the viewfinder Because of its optical construction this is completely normal After installati
6. angle of the beamsplitter must be adjusted The beamsplitter axis adjustment is located to the above right of the aperture and consists of an allen screw within a slot A red dot to the upper left of the slot indicates the position of the screw for Super16 Loosen the allen screw one tum while looking at the monitor move the screw within the slot in the appropriate direction until the image of the screen is centered Afterwards if the image is not sharp follow the directions under 14 7 Installing the CCD Head to adjust focus 14 5 The Manual Iris The VR42 and VR46 CCD assists feature an automatic gain In certain situations however further light control may be desired such as high contrast or strong back light circumstances In these instances it is recommended to employ the manual iris feature of the XTRplus which is located on the CCD head cover on the battery side of the camera Under normal operation this mechanical iris should be wide open check that the iris indicator on the CCD cover is pointing to the large circle indicating an open iris The VR42 utilizes a black lever as an iris indicator the VR46 incorporates a silver dial with a black dot When further light control is necessary look at a video monitor and move the iris indicator towards the small circle to the desired degree 14 6 Battery Life with CCD Assist The VR42 assist draws 180 200ma when powered This trans lates into approximately 8 to 9 hours of ope
7. 1 2 Sliding Bridgeplate The XTRplus can also accept standard 15 and 19mm sliding bridgeplates for building the camera system for high end studio work The bridgeplate configuration can accept Aaton Arri Chrosziel and other manufacturers mattebox follow focus and support equipment that is designed for bridgeplate use Standard bridgeplates from Aaton Arri and other manufacturers can be attached to the XTRplus by means of the 3 8 16 tripod recepticle on the underside of the camera The sliding bridgeplate system is recommended when large 35mm lenses and accessories are to be used when using a geared head or when the highest possible production value is neccessary 1 3 Lateral Bracket System Another option for studio work is Aaton s lateral bracket system The XTRplus can accept Aaton Panavision and Chrosziel matte box follow focus and support equipment that is designed for the lateral system Aaton s lateral bracketry can be attached to the XTRplus by means of four allen head screws located on the PBX on the bat tery side of the camera The lateral bracket system is recommended when large 35mm lenses and accessories are to be used when using a geared head or when the highest possible production value is neccessary The Aaton System 53 54 The Aaton System The XTRplus body includes a wooden handgrip short 15mm rods rod coupler and Lemo2 cable as standard The handgrip which is designed to be used fo
8. about 45 minutes Super16 71 4 2 Procedure Step 1 Shifting the Viewing Screen The XTRplus features a universal viewing screen which is designed to be shifted for use in both 16 and Super16 formats Remove the lens port cover and clear the mirror shutter so that it is rotated safely inside the body and the aperture opening could be seen from the lens port opening This can be done by rotating at the base of the shutter by hand or by setting the camera to Test position then removing the battery Locate the small slotted screw to the upper right inside the port opening and loosen the screw tum In order to shift the view ing screen place an orange stick at the point indicated in the photo and gently push the screen in the desired direction until it stops Super16 c shift screen to the Right Secure the viewing screen by tightening the slotted screw until it is snug 72 Supert6 Step 2 Checking Screen Centering In order to check your work you must now confirm that the screen is properly centered to the aperture opening Remove both the port cap and the aperture cover Power the camera preferably using a powercable so that a battery is not onboard Open the eyepiece shutter and direct light into the eyepiece by pointing its opening at a desk lamp or an overhead light source Situate the body so that the lens port is angled to face you Run the camera at normal speed the opening of the a
9. firmly and evenly until you feel and hear the magazine snap into place To engage the film turn the camera to test position and off again until a noticeable click is heard The Magazine 49 50 The Magazine 5 4 Removing the Magazine To remove the magazine situate yourself as before towards the rear motor side of the camera Grasp the magazine anywhere which is comfortable at its rear Place your hand above the motor of the camera and push the mag release lever towards the front of the body with your thumb Pull the magazine straight off the camera with your right hand Camera Configurations 1 52 The Aaton System The XTRplus is designed to be easily converted between the following three accessory configurations 1 1 15mm Front Rods The most versatile and popular configuration for accessorizing the XTRplus camera the universal 15mm screw in front rod s tem can instantly accept Aaton Arri Chrosziel Petroff and other manufacturers mattebox and follow focus systems Utilizing the front rod system allows for quick conversion from tripod to shoulder operating modes without the need for reconfiguration Aaton manufactures 50mm and 100mm length rods that screw directly into the front housing of XTRplus underneath the lens port The 15mm front rod system is recommended when standard size lenses and accessories are to be used or when quick conversion between tripod and handheld modes is necessary
10. is designed to provide an optical path to the viewfinder while the claw movement advances the film to the next frame The shutter features a 180 opening necessary for filming under standard 60 Hz HMI lighting at 24 fps without flicker or filming under standard 50 Hz HMI lighting at 25 fps In order to film at 24 fps under 50 Hz HMI s without flicker either a 172 8 shutter needs to be used or the HMI lights need to be square wave While a 172 8 shutter is not available on the XTRplus camera the XTRprod model which features a multi position 180 172 8 144 shutter as standard can be used The Camera Body 21 rire ma en Im Gate and Pulldown Claw 4 4 1 Co planar Movement All Aaton cameras including the XTRplus incorporate a patent ed means of advancing the film called a co planar claw move ment By utilizing this technique Aaton is able to achieve an ultra precise pulldown with a minimal number of moving parts The co planar concept is the key to the camera s low noise opera tion The film gate also features a side pressure bar which is recessed into the claw side rail at the point of image exposure to assure maximum lateral stability This unique straight forward mechanism design results in hori zontal and lateral film registration that is superior to all other 16mm camera movements with an accuracy of 1 2000 of the image dimensions 4 2 The Hair Free Gate In most 16mm camera designs there is a c
11. means of the camera s ASA knob The XTRplus can accept timecode information in both ASCII and SMPTE form and work with all standard timecode devices Because the same time address is running in both the camera and the sound recorder a slate is no longer needed for syncing purposes synchronization becomes fully automatic during the film tape transfer or later post production stage An Aaton device called Keylink which consists of CCD reader heads and a PC and which is owned by the telecine house is designed to read Keycode and Aatoncode off the film during transfer and correlate this to the continuous video timecode and all other colorist entries for storage on its hard drive Keylink can also ingest scene take information and script notes from the set recorded by means of Aaton s Script Supervisor software The facility can chen supply all correlated information in VITC vertical interval timecode and or burn in windows on the trans ferred tape and also on floppy disk for direct use with non linear editing systems audio workstations and logging programs 82 AatonCode The XTRplus contains an internal clock designed to be initialized from an outside source and keep accurate time within a half a frame for 8 hours The side display of the camera will flash after seven and a half hours of running time to warn that a half hour remains before re initialization is necessary In order for the internal clock to operate the XTRp
12. screen If this is the case remove the beam splitter access cap on the battery side of the camera and retract the beamsplitter by rotating the adjustment screw approximately Finding the Dirt There isa simple means of locating much of the din within your viewing system Look through the viewfinder with no iens nthe camera and adjust the diopter ring A the dust particles remain in focus they are most likely located on either side of the eyepiece I the dust comes in and cut of ocus as the ring is moved the dusts probably located on either surtace ofthe viewing screen Furthermore it the dust appears to be onthe same focus plane as the cross hairs of the viewing screen it is most likely on the bottom surtace ot the screen and easily accessible 30 turns clockwise Double check that the beamsplitter is fully retracted giving you access to the top surface of the screen With lens cleaner applied to a 6 inch wooden Q tip reach in and gently clean this surface making certain to angle the shaft of the Q tip as far from the edge of the beamsplitter as possible The beamsplitter is an extremely thin and fragile glass any con tact whatsoever will most likely break it Therefore if this view ing screen surface does not appear dirty or if you do not have the right tools do not clean the surface in this fashion There is an alternative means of cleaning this surface which is a bit time consuming
13. us must be powered before initialization The camera is also equipped with an instantly charged supercapacitor buffer that is designed to keep time between battery changes Keep in mind that a battery which is too low to run the camera has enough energy to drive the internal clock for hours Get into the habit of leaving an exhausted battery on board the camera until you have a fresh battery close by The supercapacitor allows a full minute for battery replacement before timecode is lost OriginCplus 3 For the most efficient and foolproof means of working with AatonCode it is highly recommended that an Aaton device called OriginCplus is used OriginCplus can be quickly programmed with a Production ID full date and time of day then input into timecode devices in either ASCII or SMPTE form OriginCplus is TCXO controlled and will run for 150 hours with its internal 9V lithium t is designed to be left on during the shoot day and used as a compara tor to monitor timecode drift between devices OriginCplus can also be used as a SMPTE generator to supply accurate timecode for slates and inserters or to record timecode on one audio channel of a non timecode audio recorder Initializing AatonCode in the Camera 4 There are two ways in which AatonCode can be initialized in the XTRplus camera The preferred method is by means of the OriginCplus which inputs timecode in ASCII form It is also AatonCode 83 84 AatonCode possi
14. SA knob is moved while the camera is running the adjustment will take place until the next camera start If the internal lightmeter is not being used and there is no time code running in the camera the ASA knob setting will have no effect The XTRplus is equipped with an internal lightmeter that is designed to read the quantity of light reflected off the film itself For added accuracy the meter measures the light by means of two photocells The metering system automatically compensates for filters and changes in camera speed Diagram A above with the center diode unlit indicates proper exposure Diagram B below illustrates one stop under exposed Diagram C illustrates one stop overexposed CEN CIETTTCCEC ME CCERI 9 1 Display Through the viewfinder the lightmeter display is positioned directly above the viewing screen across the top of the frame A single darkened diode moves across an array of 13 yellow and green diodes indicating proper exposure see diagram Each diode represents one third of a stop while normal exposure dark ens the center green diode Underexposure of 2 stops or more darkens the green diode on the left end of the row overexposure of 2 stops or more darkens the green diode on the furthest right of the display To the immediate left of the display is the Red Diode Indicator which has the same functions as the Red Diodes on the left and right sides of the body See section 12
15. aled container and letting it thaw for a few hours before opening Always keep your raw stock and loaded magazines below freez ing temperatures at all times during a cold weather shoot The XTRplus as an option can have its base equipped with a built in electronic heating element which is designed to automat ically turn on when needed and maintain the claw mechanism at a temperature of 15 F Contact your Aaton representative for further information 7 2 Warm Weather To keep the temperature of the camera body down avoid having the camera exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time by using a barney all weather cover or some form of shading like an umbrella Most importantly keep raw stock and magazines in a dry cooler or in the coolest location available 7 3 Humid Conditions Moist and humid climates are very often the cause for the erratic behavior of any electronic equipment In order to keep the cam era performing normally care should be taken in such conditions A threaded port on the battery side of the XTRplus front housing can be fitted with a silica gel caplet which will protect the most sensitive area of the camera s electronics Also transport the camera and other electronic devices in cases containing silica gel pouches and store with the cases closed in the driest location available any time the equipment is not being used 1 1 Lens Elements The front and rear surfaces of your lenses shoul
16. arameters can be monitored by the LCD display of the XTRplus For more concise informa tion see the table in the System Features and Controls chapter of this manual 11 1 AatonCode If AatonCode has been initialized in the camera the display will indicate the running timecode any time the on off switch is in the off position The XTRplus will alternately display hours min utes then minutes counting seconds 11 2 ASA Setting With the magazine off the camera switch the camera on off switch to test position The display will show the ISO setting of the ASA knob 11 3 Battery Voltage With the magazine on or off the camera press button 3 the dis play will read and indicate the voltage of the attached battery Notice that if the camera is running and button 3 is pressed the display will indicate the voltage under load 11 4 Camera Speed With the camera running press button 2 for a reading of the camera s frames per second rate Note that the display is not merely indicating the speed setting on the FPS dial but rather the actual running speed of the camera to the nearest tenth of a frame 11 5 Footage Remaining The display will show the mag ID A B C and the memorized footage remaining any time the camera is running with a maga zine on For more information regarding Mag ID refer to sec tion 4 of the chapter entitled The Magazine With a fully loaded magazine on board simultaneously press buttons 1 amp 3 to r
17. ble for the camera to receive information in SMPTE form directly from a SMPTE timecode device such as an TC audio recorder Both methods are detailed below 4 1 Using the OriginCplus Recommended Method Program the OriginCplus by inputting Prod ID accurate date and time of day Press the key to scroll through each field afier all fields are set as desired Press to start the clock Make sure the XTRplus has a battery attached Plug the LemoS cable of the OriginCplus into LemoS chassis mount on the base of the camera On the XTRplus the Lemo5 connector is located on the motor side to the lower left of the motor Press on the OriginCplus to send the timecode information The OriginCplus will display Good 00 0 after the timecode has been accepted by the camera Likewise the XTRplus will alternately display hours minutes then minutes seconds in its LCD window Also the small yellow diode on the camera base will blink to indicate running timecode Make sure to adjust the ASA knob to the exposure index of the film stock being used Disconnect the OriginCplus from the body and proceed to the next device For further details on the OriginCplus please refer to the publica tion entitled OriginCplus Initializing and Monitoring Aaton Timecode 4 2 Using an External SMPTE Device Make sure the XTRplus has a battery attached and is not running Choose the SMPTE timecode device that will be supplying the timec
18. camera and lenses 1 of padding is acceptable however between some of the more rugged components such as magazines and batteries Manufacturers also suggest to allow 2 of padding between the component and the outside of the case Choose a case design that not only meets your shipping and travel requirements but allows you maximum flexibility and comfort out in the field Check with your Aaton agent to deter mine the case configuration that best suits your needs Certain precautions should be taken in order to achieve maxi mum performance when operating the XTRplus in extreme or adverse conditions 7 1 Cold Weather One of the cold hard facts of cold weather shooting is the con siderable reduction of battery life Do whatever possible to con serve your batteries and always carry more than usual Favor many small batteries such as on boards and lithium cells which are easier to keep warm over large block batteries Use a The Aaton System 57 58 The Aaton System powercable so that the on board battery could be kept in a pocket close to the warmth of your body When filming outdoors use a standard or heated barney to pro tect the camera body from direct contact with the wind and cold To avoid condensation inside the mechanism electronics and lens elements do not take the equipment indoors or expose it to sudden temperature changes If and when the equipment must be moved inside do so by first placing it in a se
19. cated on the bottom of the PBX panel is the main power input It is designed to accept a standard on board battery or an XLR4 powercable to another power source such as a battery belt block or AC power supply 13 2 Amph9 Accessory Input The Amph9 connector located at the top of the PBX panel is one of two main accessory connections on the XTRplus and provides Hz and camera on off It is designed to accept a crystal speed control as its main input but will power any acces sory such as power zoom and provide remote on off control as well In the instances where the video assist VR42 or VR46 is used the CCD control unit is plugged directly into Amph9 and a dupli cate Amph9 connector is provided on the side of the control unit near the CCD on off switch 13 3 Lemo14 CCD Assist The Lemo14 connector located directly underneath the Amph9 connector on the PBX panel mates the CCD head assembly to the CCD control unit When the CCD control unit is fastened to the body it connects to the Lemo14 and the Amph9 described above Keep in mind that this connector can only be used for CCD assist if the CCD head is not installed in a particular XTRplus body the Lemo14 will not be present and a black plug or blank plate will seal the connector port 13 4 Lemo6 Accessory Input The Lemo6 connector located on the battery side at the rear of the base is the second of two main accessory connections on the The Camera Body 35
20. counter clockwise to close the shutter 2 6 Adjusting the Viewing Horizon If the rotation of the image seen through the cameras viewfinder does not exactly match what is seen through the naked eye there is a fine adjustment that can be made to the image s relative hori zon Locate the small slotted screw located on the underside of the viewfinder just inside the eyepiece lock ring see photo Notice that the screw travels in an elongated cutout Loosen the screw one turn and while looking through the viewfinder move the screw within its cutout in order to adjust the horizontal rota tion When the images seen through your left and right eyes coincide lock the screw 2 7 Viewing Screen The unique concave design of the Aaton fiber optic viewing screen gives it its superior sharpness and lucid quality If your viewing screen possesses a dark blemish or two don t be alarmed these spots are actually fractured fibers and are inherent in the manufacturing of fiber screens Such blemishes although occasional are the trade off for the brilliant screens which result from the use of this technology The standard universal screen of the XTRplus remains in the camera for both std 16 and Super16 operation and possesses all the markings needed to frame for standard 1 33 aspect 1 33 TV safe 1 66 full frame 1 77 HDTV projection and Super16 1 85 The diagram below illustrates these markings in greater detail The reflex mirror shutter
21. d be inspected regularly and always kept clean of dust particles smudges fin gerprints etc First blow off any large particles of debris using an air syringe Lens elements should be then cleaned using lens cleaning fluid with lens tissue Apply a few drops of cleaning fluid to a fresh lens tissue or directly to the lens Wipe the lens in a circular fashion starting from the center and working towards the outer edge Finish with a fresh dry tissue If some streaking remains repeat the procedure until the surface is suffi ciently clean 1 2 Lens Exterior The exterior of your lenses such be cleaned of dirt and adhesives as necessary Use a multi purpose cleaner or degreaser such as De Solv It applied with a Q tip lens tissue or cotton cloth 1 3 Mounting Surface Always inspect and keep the surfaces of your lens mounts clean using alcohol or a multi purpose cleaner with a Q tip Remember any debris found on the surface which contacts the Jens seat can directly affect the back focus of your lens Make sure the Q tip does not leave any cotton fibers behind 60 Cleaning 2 1 Exterior Keep the external body surfaces clean using a cotton cloth with alcohol or a multi purpose cleaner Use a utility brush with soft bristles to clean dirt from tight crevices 2 2 Mounting Surfaces Like the lens mount extra care should be taken to keep the lens port ring completely free of dirt and debris Clean this surface as well as the threads of th
22. deter mine image quality contrast and sharpness are most critical at wide angle and wide open aperture In order to achive the best image quality and the greatest depth of field favor the longer focal lengths and T stops of 4 and above when possible 3 3 Lighting It is recommended not to cut corners with your lighting package for the sake of the budget Those scenes which rely in the speed of the lens to compensate for minimal lighting will produce more grain than scenes which are amply lit and use a less critical lens aperture T4 and higher Super16 69 3 4 Exposure When shooting Super16 for blow up avoid underexposure and push processing whenever possible In fact slight overexposure of the negative will produce a blow up with less grain and increase color saturation and detail in shadowed areas For best results it is recommended to overexpose the negative anywhere from 1 3 to one stop depending on the stock and the desired look When shooting Super16 for video transfer slight overexposure is recommended for the same reasons but care must be taken Overexposed negatives on a telecine require a higher gain which increases video noise The benefits of an overexposed negative however outweigh the additional noise introduced if the overex posure is kept within one stop or less 3 5 Camera Moves If a Superl6 film is to be viewed on a large screen any camera movement becomes intensified Therefore it is best to keep cam
23. device is compatible with Super16 it is always best to check with the manufacturer or the facility responsible for the equipment 2 2 Maintaining High Quality When Super16 is to be used for 35 blow up for future HDTV purposes or for any other medium of greater resolution than today s standard television it is of utmost importance to use the appropriate equipment and develop practices that will ensure the high quality of your images Slight imperfections which very often pass undetected on an NTSC or PAL screen are greatly magnified when viewed in a more demanding format The XTRplus with a registration tolerance of 1 2000 of the image dimension both laterally and horizontally delivers the most stable and exact imaging of any 16mm camera available Your Super16 images however will only be as sharp as the iens es you use to capture those images It is not enough to choose a lens that merely covers the wider aspect of Super16 just as important are the attributes of a lens such as sharpness contrast and zoom curve which affect overall image quality See the list of recommended lenses for Super16 use which follows The critical adjustment of camera and lens and their relationship to one another insures that the lens is achieving its optimum focus point at precisely the same distance as to where the film plane lies With the stringent requirements of Super16 it is rec ommended that camera flange focal distance FFD and Jens back f
24. e absence of a red diode indicates that the camera is running and receiving an acceptable voltage 10 14V 12 3 Low Battery Indicator If the yellow diode is accompanied by an evenly flashing red diode same duration on and off this indicates that the camera is receiving a voltage of 10V or below and that sync will soon be lost within 5 minutes of camera run time The flashing red diode alone will also be activated in the viewfinder When the input voltage reaches a level too low to run the camera at crystal speed the body will automatically shut off 12 4 End of Film Warning Sequence The lightmeter display features pre end of film and end of film warnings for the operator Under normal operation the lightmeter display will flash once for every foot or meter that is counted down When the footage counter on the LCD display counts down to 10 feet remaining the display will flash more rapidly at a frequency of about 2 3 times per second Keep in mind the pre end of film warning will only operate if the lightmeter display is tumed on When the counter reaches zero the left and right sides of the display will alternately flash indicating the end of a roll The end of film warning will function whether the lightmeter display is on or off The XTRplus uses six main connectors for power and accessory input Following is a detailed list of the location and main func tions of each 13 1 XLR4 Power In The XLR4 connector lo
25. e film from its can and bag On the feed core holder squeeze the core lock mechanism on either side with thumb and forefinger to release core lock Place the film on the feed spindle with its wind clockwise and press the center of the core lock to lock the core in place Thread 4 of film around the outside of the lower guide roller and through large coaxial roller emulsion out Make sure that the length of film feeds completely through to the take up side The Magazine 47 48 The Magazine Close and lock the feed door and engage the footage counter by rotating clockwise Remove the magazine from the changing bag 5 2 Take up Side In Daylight Unfasten the take up door lock by rotating downward and open the door Release the doors of the upper and lower pinch rollers by press ing the white buttons and gently pulling open Pull the length of film from the slot of the coaxial roller and pass below the first idler roller Bypass the upper sprocket for the time being and push the film directly through the upper chan nel slot to the outside of the nose Pull through about one foot in length Reintroduce the film into the lower slot back into the maga zine Place a plastic core onto the take up spindle check that the core is seated properly and press the center of the core lock to lock the core in place Bypass the lower sprocket for now and pass the film underneath the lower roller Fit the f
26. e lens holder Supert6 75 76 Supert6 Carefully replace the lens port ring and its shims and install the three allen screws in the appropriate holes as detailed in the dia gram Be sure not to damage the shims take extra care to align their cutouts around the holes to be used Fasten the three screws then loosen each 1 2 a tum in preparation for fine center ing Step 5 Fine Centering of the Lens Port There are two methods by which to set the exact centering of the lens to the viewing screen Both methods are equally acceptable Method 1 via the Port Alignment Tool The port alignment tool consists of the alignment jig and the centering rod Check that the three allen screws of the lens port ring are loose enough that the ring can move independently of the lens holder Clear the mirror shutter as described in Step 1 so that it is rotat ed safely inside the body and the aperture opening could be seen from the lens port opening Make sure that the battery is removed from the body before proceeding further Remove the centering rod from the alignment jig and position the jig over the lens port ring with the jig s engravings facing out Make sure the alignment jig is flush against the surface of the lens port ring While holding the jig in place and looking at the aperture plate carefully slide the appropriate side 16 Super16 of the center ing rod through the jig and into the port until it peeks throug
27. e lens lock ring using alcohol or a multi purpose cleaner applied to a Q tip 2 3 Camera Gate The gate should be cleaned of film particles by means of a point ed wooden or plastic orange stick The tool used should be of a soft and pliable enough material like wood to conform to the grooved side channels of the gate without breaking Make sure to inspect and clean the left and right channels the frame of the aperture opening the lateral pressure plate the tip of the claw and the timecode LEDs Afterwards run your finger across the left and right rails of the gate if your hands are clean The oil from your finger will provide just enough lubricant for the film to pass these surfaces smoothly Inspect the gate if the rails are still dirty or are carry ing any debris such as the adhesive from recanned rolls of film with a Q tip use a cleaning fluid that will do the job Alcohol and lens cleaner are safe to use on the surface of the gate Make sure the Q tip does not leave any cotton threads behind The following components of the viewing system should be cleaned whenever dirt particles are visible through the view finder Use lens fluid applied with a cotton or preferably a foam Q tip for all areas By cleaning the viewing system in the order described below you will clean the more dust prone areas first which may help you track down most dirt particles sooner 3 1 Viewing Screen Exterior Surface Look through the
28. e to the right of the motor or checking the Control Panel 6 2 Battery Charging The Aaton on board can be recharged with an appropriate 12V nicad battery charger For the best results use a microprocessor controlled charger or a standard trickle charger with a charging output of at least 200ma both of which prevent the overheating and mistreatment of your nicad cells Always follow the specific guidelines of the charger manufacturer Beware of older timed chargers manufactured when 1 2 and 1 4 ah batteries were the norm these chargers were most likely rated for the lower amperage batteries of that time and will consistently undercharge the higher rated nicad cells of today 6 3 Other Power Options Since the XTRplus power input is a standard 4pin XLR type a great variety of 12 14 volt sources can be used to power the cam era This includes AC power supplies battery blocks lithium cells and car batteries The Camera Body 25 Get into the habit of carrying a standard XLR4 powercable in your package in case an alternative power source is needed Regarding AC power supplies it is recommended that the unit you use be at least 4 amps and 25 watts Before connecting any non standard source always make sure that the pin configuration of the unit is correct See the Technical Specifications chapter of this manual for details for proper wiring The tri phase salarium motor design of the XTRplus provides low power consumptio
29. eeds Certain precautions should be taken in order to achieve maxi mum performance when operating the XTRplus in extreme or adverse conditions 7 1 Cold Weather One of the cold hard facts of cold weather shooting is the con siderable reduction of battery life Do whatever possible to con serve your batteries and always carry more than usual Favor many small batteries such as on boards and lithium cells which are easier to keep warm over large block batteries Use a The Aaton System 57 One often overlooked yet vital factor in the function and longe vity of your camera equipment is your transportation practices A few good shipping habits can avert potential damage caused by careless messenger services and airport handling When shipping and carrying your equipment it is always good practice to break down the package to its basic components whenever possible Ship the body mags and batteries unattached and individuaily padded Never under any circumstances ship the camera with a lens attached especially a zoom lens Shocks transferred from the outside of a case could have disastrous effects to the ultra critical back focus of a lens and flange focal distance of a camera if transported as one Make certain there is ample padding between individual compo nents in a case and from the case s outer edges Shipping case manufacturers suggest a minimum of 1 1 2 padding between high precision components such as the
30. er Locate two allen head screws identified by a red dot Loosen the screws one turn While looking at the monitor gently move the CCD head until the viewing screen image is in focus Notice that this adjustment also affects image rotation When sharp and even focus is achieved and the image is square to the monitor tighten the two screws Locate the iris rod on the CCD head and position it by hand to an upright position Replace the CCD cover on the body take care to locate the iris control fork and position it around the iris lever Tighten the four screws to secure the cover in place Operate the manual iris lever and check that the CCD iris itself is functioning by looking at the monitor If the brightness of the image does not change the iris rod may not be engaged in the control fork If this is the case remove the CCD cover and repeat the procedure AatonCode Aaton s proprietary in camera timecode system is recorded in the XTRplus on the edge of the film between the perforations in both matrix and man readable form As recorded in the camera AatonCode contains a six digit production ID a SMPTE compatible real time address full date and time a camera equipment ID and the running speed of the body Timecode is exposed onto the film by means of seven micro diodes which flash rapidly to form the code as the film rolls through the gate The intensity of the diodes is adjusted to the film s sensitivity by
31. era moves subtle and handheld activity more controlled than when shooting in 35mm 70 Supert6 All XTR cameras including the XTRplus are capable of both 16mm and Super16 operation These cameras are designed to be field convertible switchable between formats by the user in a few simple steps The following section offers detailed instructions on this procedure For easier identification the Super16 position of all adjust ments will be marked with red dots standard 16 position will be unmarked All references to alignment in these instructions are made look ing at the port of the camera from its front unless otherwise noted 4 1 Before You Begin Before attempting a field conversion make sure you have the fol lowing tools on hand 1 small slotted screwdriver 1 loupe approximately 5x magnification 1 standard metric Allen L wrench set sizes delivered with camera 1 orange stick 1 Port Alignment Tool part 09 100 62 for Aaton Port 09 100 61 for PL Port There is an alternate means of aligning the port which does not require the use of the Port Alignment Tool See Step 3 for a descrip tion of both methods You ll also need the following equipment 1 Battery preferably with XLR4 powercable 1 Zoom lens Bay aml i Gil The conversion should be performed on a clean workbench or table by an individual who is somewhat mechanically inclined The entire procedure should take
32. erating modes The Aaton System 55 One often overlooked yet vital factor in the function and longe vity of your camera equipment is your transportation practices A few good shipping habits can avert potential damage caused by careless messenger services and airport handling When shipping and carrying your equipment it is always good practice to break down the package to its basic components whenever possible Ship the body mags and batteries unattached and individually padded Never under any circumstances ship the camera with a lens attached especially a zoom lens Shocks transferred from the outside of a case could have disastrous effects to the ultra critical back focus of a lens and flange focal distance of a camera if transported as one Make certain there is ample padding between individual compo nents in a case and from the case s outer edges Shipping case manufacturers suggest a minimum of 1 1 2 padding between high precision components such as the camera and lenses 1 of padding is acceptable however between some of the more rugged components such as magazines and batteries Manufacturers also suggest to allow 2 of padding between the component and the outside of the case Choose a case design that not only meets your shipping and travel requirements but allows you maximum flexibility and comfort out in the field Check with your Aaton agent to deter mine the case configuration that best suits your n
33. ertain amount of film dust also referred to as fluff or hair that is generated as film rolls through the magazine and enters the camera gate Because the gate and pulldown are the areas where the film must be held most rigidly these are also the areas where most of the accumu lating film dust tends to be deposited The result could be a visi ble hair in the picture area and an unuseable shot Aaton has taken steps in the design of their magazines and gate assembly to ensure hair and dust free images The Aaton maga zine features a twistless film path with little sprocket contact which minimizes the amount of film dust that builds up before entry into the aperture area Whatever dust does accumulate is filtered through the gate area quickly and efficiently This is attributed to the design of the gate itself which features recessed channels on the far edges of the film path and which does not require the use of a polished frame around the aperture opening to keep images in focus 22 The Camera Body 4 3 Cleaning the Gate In order to avoid film dust buildup in the recessed channels of the gate the gate should be inspected during magazine changes and cleaned every three to four mags if the shooting schedule permits Refer to the Cleaning chapter for more detailed information aes The Aaton Magazine holds 400 ft 122m of standard 16mm or Super16 film Shooting at 24 fps a 400 ft roll will run for 10 5 minutes shooting 30 f
34. eset the display to count down a full 400 ft load If a short end is being used press 1 amp 3 to reset to 400 ft then press 1 amp 2 to adjust the displayed footage to the approxi mate short end load Note that the camera does not take a physical reading of the film roll to determine the footage reading on its display it is only a counter and it must be set by the user There is however a mechanical footage counter on the magazine that automatically measures the size of the camera roll use the magazine footage counter to determine the correct short end length to input on the LCD display 11 6 Feet or Meters With the magazine on the camera simultaneously press all three buttons to switch the footage counter between meters and feet 11 7 Software Version With the camera on off switch in the test position press button 2 the display will show the software version of the lightmeter eprom which also controls all display functions The Camera Body 39 34 The Camera Body The XTRplus utilizes LED indicators in three locations to convey information n the viewfinder and on both left and right out sides of the camera body 12 1 Camera Test Indicator A blinking red diode long on short off is activated in all three locations when the camera is in test position On the outside of the body this will be accompanied by a solid yellow diode 12 2 Camera Run Indicator A solid yellow diode on the sides of the camera with th
35. front housing Take note of the side on which the spacer has been removed The spacer is used to fill the gap that is created when shifting the viewfinder between formats Replace the viewfinder assembly accordingly Secure the viewfinder by installing the spacer on the appropri ate side and installing the four screws loosely After all four screws are in place tighten each screw until it is snug Step 4 Shifting the Lens Port The lens port needs to be reset to the new optical center of the shifted viewing screen and viewfinder If the port cap is on remove it Remove the lens stop knob by loosening the single slotted or allen screw which secures it to the lens lock ring Remove the lens lock ring by unscrewing it off the lens port ring Take a look at the lens port ring Notice that there are three allen head screws which lock the lens port ring to the lens holder each with an unoccupied hole alongside it Also note that one of each pair of holes will be marked with a red dot indicating Super16 positioning Remove the three allen screws and carefully lift off the lens port ring and its accompanying shims and place on a clean sur face with the shim side face up Take note of the screw holes from which the three screws have been removed Also note an unoccupied hole alongside each Shift the lens port by refastening the lens port ring utilizing the second set of screw holes in both the lens port ring and th
36. h the outside of the aperture plate If the centering rod is not centered to the aperture plate and cannot slide through its opening gently move the lens port ring until it can do so For 16 centering you ll notice that the 16 end of the centering rod is less wide than the aperture and can easily fit in place In this case make sure that the right edge of the centering rod is flush against the right edge of the aperture opening For Super16 centering make sure the Super16 end of the cen tering rod fits evenly through the aperture opening When the centering rod is aligned accordingly firmly secure the three allen head screws of the lens port ring Replace the lens lock ring by screwing it onto the lens port ring until it stops then backing it off until the lock stop knob screw hole is at the 2 o clock position Install lock stop knob and secure its screw Install the port cap to check that the lens lock ring functions properly Method 2 via Lens Tracking Replace the lens lock ring and lock stop knob as described immediately above Check that the three allen screws of the Jens port ring are just loose enough that the ring can move independently of the lens holder On a piece of paper draw a mark in the center of the page that extends out to its edges so that the page is divided into four equal quadrants Tape or pin the paper to the ceiling directly above your working surface Position the camera b
37. he target matches and holds its center through the entire zoom range firmly secure the three screws The target cross should remain within the inside edges of the viewing screen cross hair to be considered in tolerance through the range Step 6 Realigning the CCD Assist Target The CCD assist needs to be repositioned and refocused to be properly aligned to the new optical center Fasten the CCD assist to the camera body by means of three allen screws Attach a monitor and BNC cable and power the camera and assist If the monitor has an underscan mode select it Because all other elements of the body have already been converted the CCD image should be soft and off to one side Locate the beamsplitter axis adjustment which is to the above right of the aperture and consists of an allen screw within a slot Notice a red dot to the upper left of the slot indicating the posi tion of the screw for Super16 Loosen the allen screw 1 turn while looking at the monitor move the screw within the slot in the approprate direction until the image of the screen is centered i Standard 16 Super16 move allen screw Down move allen screw Up The resulting CCD image after this adjustment should now be centered but slightly out of focus Follow the next few steps to refocus the CCD head Super16 79 80 Supert6 Remove the four screws which hold the CCD cover onto the battery side of the camera Carefully remove the CCD cov
38. held operating comfort Loosen the T screw and rotate the handgrip at the star plate until a more comfortable position is found If a more extreme repositioning is required whether it be for rea sons of comfort or clearance in certain studio rig configurations this can be achieved with coupler extenders spacers and interme diate arms which utilize the star plate system for adjustment Ask your agent for a configuration that meets your needs Tripod Use 3 In order to use the XTRplus on a standard tripod the tripod s quick release plate must be fastened to the underside of the camera body with its standard 3 8 16 screw Make sure to use only a quick release plate screw provided by the manufacturer tandard screws longer than 8mm 1 3 can fracture the casting and damage the camera s electronics Shoulder Operation 4 One of the most attractive features of the Aaton system has always been its comfort and ease of use in handheld situations The XTR line does not require the use of shoulder braces or addi tional padding for handheld operation The contour of the c era and magazine is designed to fit snugly around the operator s shoulder The wooden handgrip is attached to the front rod cou pler at a slight angle to bring the operator s elbow into his side and increase stability The system can be completely built off the 15mm front rods without the use of a bridgeplate to allow for quick changing from shoulder to tripod op
39. ilm end into the plastic take up core and wind on a few turns counter clockwise and emulsion in Thread the film around the lower sprocket making sure the film s perforations engage the sprocket teeth Close the lower pinch roller until it locks firmly in position and a noticeable click is heard Hold the lower sprocket with your right thumb and rotate the take up core counter clockwise to remove any slack Thread the film around the upper sprocket and adjust the loop until its taut length is 14 to 15 frames long outside of the nose When the proper length is achieved close the upper pinch roller until it locks firmly in position Remove any slack then close and lock the take up door 5 3 Installing the Loaded Magazine Before installing the magazine make sure the film loop is centered pull out the length of film loop center its length top and bottom and push back against the mags pressure plates To install the magazine on the camera situate yourself towards the rear motor side of the camera body Place your left hand around the front of the camera just underneath the lens area Grasp the magazine firmly with your right hand below the mid way point of its rear While holding the camera body with your left hand guide the magazine along the base of the camera into the aperture area Make sure that the top edge of the throat of the magazine is parallel to the carrying handle of the camera as you guide the mag in place Push
40. ip and lens cleaning fluid to assure that no dust particles cover the LED array The seven diodes will illuminate in test position whether or not timecode is running in the camera 6 2 Setting the ASA As an instant reminder test position with magazine off the camera will also display the current setting of the ASA knob Make sure that the ISO rating of the loaded film matches what is set on the ASA knob The ASA knob is located to the right of the motor on the motor side 6 3 Checking for Running Time The yellow LED located to the right of the motor will flash once per second on the second when timecode is running in the camera Get into the habit of looking for this flash as an additional peace of mind check If more than one camera is counting time on the set check that all flashes occur simultane ously The following are recommendations for the audio timecode resolving rates to use with specific film speeds under normal operation For less common situations such as filming with sync sound and a separate audio playback filming live monitors or resolving with audio from video recorders consult your Aaton representative or your transfer facility for advice AatonCode 87 List of Specifications 90 Technical Specifications Technical Specifications 91 Connector Pin Attributions 92 Technical Specifications
41. is approximate ly 10 5 running minutes at 24 fps 44 The Magazine 2 1 DX Magazines Since the introduction of the XTR in 1984 only DX magazines have been manufactured by Aaton all of which can be used on today s XTRplus approximate ser 3500 and above The DX code distinguishes this magazine from earlier designs D refers to its emulsion out Super16 safe coaxial roller further explained below X refers to its magnetic drive system 2 2 Super16 Safe All DX magazines are designed to safely transport either standard or Super16 stock Capped rollers keep the running film from riding up and prevent any contact within the picture area The mag s large coaxial roller which transports the film from the feed into the take up chamber handles the film on its less sensi tive base side and facilitates a long and twistless film path Severe twisting of the more sensitive high speed stocks as is the case with the LTR and some other manufacturers magazines has been known to cause grain fracturing and a resulting abnormal exposure of the film in that area Pressure Plate System 3 The DX magazine features two pressure plates which are located at the froni of the nose of the magazine When the loaded maga zine is attached to the camera these pressure plates provide the precise stabilization of the film during exposure and transport 3 1 The Picture Plate The upper four striped pressure plate called the picture plate is positi
42. lens port at the reflection of the viewing screen in the mirror and check for visible dust particles Clear the mir ror shutter so that it is rotated safely inside the body by rotating at the base of the shutter by hand or by setting the camera to test position then remove the battery Clean the lower surface of the screen Cleaning 61 62 Cleaning 3 2 Eyepiece Clean the eye lens A which is the outermost element closest to your eye by first blowing the surface with canned air then clean ing with lens fluid and a Q tip Remove the eyepiece and clean the field lens B which is located on the inside of the eyepiece in the same fashion 3 3 Viewfinder With the eyepiece off look into the remaining viewfinder and clean the exposed element of the pechan prism using canned air or an air syringe If dirt particles are still present remove the viewfinder assembly from the camera by removing the four allen screws that hold the base of the viewfinder to the front housing Clean the exposed element of the viewfinder 3 4 Viewing Screen Interior Surface The last surface to be cleaned also happens to be located in a most delicate area With the viewfinder off look into the top cavity of the camera body and visually locate the top interior sur face of the viewing screen If you shoot with the CCD assist you will also notice that the retractable beamsplitter will most likely be in place between your eye and the viewing
43. lly and can be accessed in a number of ways From the Body The large run test switch on the motor side of the body not only runs the camera but provides half frame inching for gate inspection lightmeter functions and loop situating when installing a fresh mag From the Handgrip The wooden handgrip switch by way of the Lemo2 connec tor provides camera run and full frame inching for single frame operation and loop situating From a Remote Cable The Lemo2 connector as well as the Lemo6 and Amph9 accessory connectors provide the capability of using a remote on off with either a half frame or full frame inching function The Camera Body 27 28 The Camera Body 7 4 Single Frame Operation With the use of the electronic inching switch via the wooden handgrip or a remote cable the XTRplus can be used as a simple intervalometer for single frame operation Each frame is 1 4 sec exposure When using the internal lightmeter and or AatonCode in the XTRplus the ASA knob must be set to the exposure index of the film stock being used The ASA knob provides selections between 64 and 800 ASA With regards to the lightmeter the setting on the ASA knob dic tates to the camera what the exposure should be for a particular film stock For AatonCode proper ASA selection will insure that the timecode matrix recorded on the edge of the film in the gate will be exposed at an appropriate and useable level If the A
44. mmediately below the Lemol4 connector Mate the amph9 and Lemo14 con nectors of the control unit to those connectors on the body and plug in the unit Replace the two allen screws to fasten the control unit a third screw of the same size should be screwed into the upper right side of the unit from the opposite direction The control unit can remain permanently attached to the XTRplus without adding discernable bulk or weight Simply keep the unit turned off and the beamsplitter retracted see below when video assist is not needed 14 2 The Internal Beamsplitter The Aaton CCD assist system employs an internal user retractable beamsplitter that reroutes a portion of the viewfinder s light path to the CCD target while the video assist is in use In situations which do not require the CCD t the beamsplitter is designed to be retracted to allow 100 of the viewfinder s light to reach the eyepiece From body 1928 and on the beamsplitter delivered as standard from the factory has a 75 25 reflection ratio This means that 25 of the light from the viewfinder is sent to the CCD target when the beamsplitter is in place This 75 25 ratio is ideal for use with Aaton s VR42 black and white CCD Although not visi ble from the outside of the body the 75 25 beamsplitter is identi fied by its blue anodized holder Also available is a 50 50 beamsplitter which sends a greater per centage of light to the CCD target This beamsplit
45. mounting system for the XTRplus Because the flange focal distance FFD of the Aaton lens port is shorter than most professional cameras the XTRplus can accommodate most motion picture and still camera lens mounts Lenses can be used equipped with an Aaton mount or by adapting another manufacturer s lens mount Aaton lens adap tors are available for Arri standard Arri bayonet and Eclair CA 1 as well as Nikon and Leica R photographic mounts 1 2 Installing the Lens To install the lens on the camera body turn the outer locking ring counter clockwise until it reaches its stop If the port cap is on remove it Align the three protruding flanges on the lens with the three corresponding cutaways in the locking ring and insert the lens into the camera port so that its flanges rest evenly against the lens seat Tighten the locking ring by turning clockwise until the lens is secured in place and the lock ring is firmly set Make sure the lock ring is tight enough so that it cannot be inadvertantly unlocked 1 3 ArriPL Lens Port The XTRplus can also be installed with an ArriPL lens port which is available on option and allows access to all 16 and 35mm ArriPL mounted motion picture lenses In order to install the PL port the Aaton lens seat and locking ring must first be removed The specific FFD of the XTRplus with PL port is 52mm 6 to 15 um Keep in mind that the greater FFD of the PL port forfeits the ability of fitting Aaton
46. n and improved stability at high speeds The body is capable of speeds between 3 and 75 fps with a standard 12V battery 7 1 Camera Speeds The XTRplus provides dial in crystal speeds of 6 12 20 24 25 29 97 30 48 50 60 75 With the use of a external speed con trol any speed between 3 and 75 in 001 frame increments can be achieved The speed dial is located at the rear of the camera base towards the battery side As a precaution if the speed is adjusted while the camera is running the change will not take place until the next camera start 7 2 Using an External Speed Control When using an external speed control the camera s speed dial must be set to ext If a speed control is connected and the speed dial is not set to ext the camera will run at the speed indicated on the dial Keep in mind that with certain manufacturer s speed controls it may be possible to run the camera at speeds higher than the 75 fps factory limitation Overcranking in such a way however 26 The Camera Body will increase mechanism wear increase noise and compromise image registration Aaton urges to avoid such usage at all cost and will not be responsible for the resulting damage that may occur This top speed cap of 75 fps has been designated by Aaton because it is the level at which the camera can run safely without any adverse effect on its mechanics 7 3 Electronic Inching The inching function of the motor is accomplished electronica
47. nding the picture into an area otherwise reserved for soundtrack or a second set of perforations This increase in usable area results in significant improvements in image quality obtainable from 16mm film when used for any wide screen application Standard 16 Aspect Super16 Aspect a E 1 2 When to Shoot Super16 Generally speaking Super16 can be a good choice of origination in the following instances Any low budget theatrical production shot in 16mm for blow up to 35mm Any documentary or film that has the potential for future use in HDTV or some other widescreen aspect Any 16mm production that has a long shelf life or would like to extend the shelf life of their film by making it wide screen ready Any 16mm commercial music video or such that will be shown in the letterbox format 66 Supert6 2 1 Protecting the Negative Specific precautions should be taken with any piece of equipment that handles the Super16 negative The additional usable area of the film must be free from contact with transportation surfaces in all instances whether it be in the camera at the lab or on the telecine The Aaton XTR camera series since its debut in 1984 has been built for safe and trouble free Super16 operation On the other hand equipment that has not been designed with Supcr16 in mind may cause rub scratch or pressure marks within the area once occupied by a second set of perfs In order to be sure that a certain
48. nt needs to be reset Follow the directions under 14 4 The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment to recenter the image Afterwards loosen the two screws on the CCD head and refocus the optics 10 Locate the iris rod on the CCD head B and move it by hand to an upright position Replace the CCD cover on the body take care to locate the iris control fork and position it around the iris lever Tighten the four screws to secure the cover in plac Operate the manual iris lever and check that the CCD iris itself is functioning by looking at the monitor If the brightness of the image does not change the iris rod may not be engaged in the control fork If this is the case remove the CCD cover and repeat the procedure The Aaton DX Magazine incorporates many features which add to the camera system s ease of use efficiency and reliability The magazine s coaxial design allows for separate feed and take up chambers which ensures that the bulk of the loading process is performed in daylight The DX Magazine is driven magnetically from an intermediate drive connected to the camera motor a magnetic wheel on the inner side of the camera body couples with a similar wheel on the throat of the magazine to transport the film This magnetic drive system decreases noise and power consumption and prevents mechanical stress during mis loads The magazine handles up to 400 ft 122m loads of double or sin gle perforated 16mm film stock 400 feet of film
49. ocus be checked and precisely upheld by a qualified service facility Supert6 67 2 3 Super16 Compatible Lenses 2 4 Ordering Film When ordering raw stock from your distributor make sure to specify Super16 or single peff film In the US where 16mm double perf film is manufactured as standard it is recommended to check stock of Super16 color negative 1 2 weeks prior to shooting When ordering Super16 black amp white stocks it is advised to contact your distributor a month in advance when possible 2 5 Film Processing It is always recommended to choose a film lab that has a certain level of experience handling Super16 Make sure of the services they offer When preparing your film to be processed be sure that your cam era assistant has clearly indicated on the film cans and camera reports that the exposed film is Super16 Kes dele One of the most important aspects of shooting Super16 is achiev ing the full potential quality of the image The best way to maxi mize image quality is to reduce the amount of perceptible grain within the picture Factors such as film selection exposure and processing techniques will affect the graininess of the resulting image 3 1 Selecting a Film Stock Relatively speaking the faster the stock the more grain there will be Therefore it is recommended to use stocks rated at 200 ASA and below whenever possible 3 2 Lenses The characteristics of any given zoom lens those which
50. ode such as a Fostex PD2 or a Nagra IVS TC Set the time of day and date and set its clock to free run mode Connect a cable from the SMPTE output of the timecode device to the LemoS chassis mount on the base of the camera Set the on off switch on the XTRplus to test position then off again this will send the timecode information to the camera body The XTRplus will alternately display hours minutes then minutes seconds in its LCD window Also the small yellow diode on the camera base will blink to indicate running timecode Disconnect the cable from the body and proceed to the next device After initialization the OriginCplus should be left on during production to act as a visual reference and for quick drift monitoring Once timecode has been initialized into the camera s and sound recorder accurate time will be individually maintained in each machine for six hours It is suggested however that new timecode be re initialized after four hours or so as a precautionary measure Get into the habit of using the OriginCplus to monitor timecode drift in each device when possible every 2 3 hours or so is recommended 5 1 Monitoring AatonCode with Origin Cplus Assuming that the OriginCplus has been left on during the production follow the simple procedure below to monitor drift in the XTRplus Plug the LemoS cable of the OriginCplus into the LemoS chassis mount connector at the base of the camera Press
51. ody underneath the paper target with the lens port facing up towards the target Use a block of wood or a spacer of sorts to position the camera so that the lens port is approximately parallel to the ceiling Superi6 77 78 Supert6 Select the zoom lens that will be used most frequently with the camera preferably the lens in your kit with the longest zoom ratio Mount the lens on the camera and tighten the lens lock ring until the cutouts in the ring give full access to the three allen screws Look through the viewfinder and set the zoom of the lens to its full telephoto position the longest focal length Focus the lens on the target and reposition the camera body so that the center of the viewing screen cross hair exactly matches the center of the target Set the zoom to complete wide angle position and notice that the center of the target with relation to the viewing screen cross hair will track off in one direction Without moving the camera steady reposition the lens and lens port ring until the target is centered Using an allen L wrench carefully tighten the three screws enough to secure the lens port ring Set the zoom lens to telephoto position and check that the cross es remain centered If this is not the case reposition the body loosen the screws slightly and repeat the above procedure You will find that with each adjustment you will come closer to the correct lens centering When the cross on t
52. on rotate the finder 180 to regular viewing position 2 3 Viewfinder Tension Adjustments The large knurled knob at the base of the left right lateral move ment point B locks the lateral positioning The friction adjusting ring located behind the eyepiece lock ring can be used to adjust the tension of the eyepiece swivel depend ing on the operator s preference and the viewfinder being used When using the standard eyepiece tension should be relatively light to allow for movement with a moderate amount of pressure When using the standard extension finder tension should be increased to hold the additional weight of this finder in place To adjust the tension of the swivel loosen the steel knurled screw C located on the friction adjusting ring Hold the eyepice in place rotate the adjusting ring slightly and retighten the screw 1 8 of a turn at first will have an effect To increase tension of the eyepiece swivel rotate the adjusting ring clockwise to decrease the tension rotate the adjusting ring counter clockwise 2 4 Adjusting the Diopter Before shooting the diopter setting of the viewfinder should be adjusted to the operator s eye To set the diopter locate the diopter set ring D in front of the carrying handle at the top of the viewfinder and loosen the small knurled knob Look through the viewfinder rotate the diopter set ring until the edge of the cross hair is at its sharpest point and retighten
53. oned at the camera s aperture opening and is designed to hold the film steady at the point of exposure Proper setting and functioning of the picture plate assures the precise focus of each image 3 2 The Claw Plate The lower plate called the claw plate is positioned at the pulldown claw and functions to stabilize the film as the claw engages the film perf between exposures Proper tension and functioning of the claw plate contribute to reliable transport and quiet operation The Magazine 45 Loading Care for your Changing Bag A clean and light tight changing bag is the only thing separating your pre cious footage rom a veritable washout Before using your changing bag each day tum t inside out and shake it clean of int and debris Iti also a good practice to periodically inspect its edges tor holes and tears Hold it up toa strong light to check forany pin hole leaks 5 The straightforward design of the DX magazine allows for quick easy loading and an absolute minimum amount of threading in the dark The film does not need to be cut in preparation for loading 5 1 Feed Side In the Changing Bag Place the film can and the magazine feed side up in the chang ing bag and zip closed Disable the mechanical footage counter located on the feed door by rotating counter clockwise until it locks in its recessed position Unfasten the feed door lock by turning downward and open the feed door Remove th
54. perture plate should be easy to detect If this is not the case place a white piece of paper behind the camera in your field of view With a loupe closely inspect the frame area If the light through the eyepiece is strong enough you should be able to see the reflection of the viewing screen superimposed over the aper ture opening when the camera is running If this is not the case adjust the amount of light through the finder by moving the eye piece in or out of the light Supert6 73 74 Suporte When both the viewing screen and aperture opening can be dis tinguished check that the viewing screen image is properly aligned to the aperture opening indicated below in grey For 16 centering the left edge of the 16 full frame dotted line should meet the left edge of the aperture opening For S16 centering the entire Super16 full frame should be centered to the entire aperture opening lt The tolerance for this alignment is approximately the thickness of a line of the screen If the viewing screen does not seem to be aligned properly loosen the viewing screen adjustment screw and try moving the screen again Step 3 Shifting the Viewfinder The viewing optics of the camera need to be set to the new opti cal center of the shified viewing screen Remove the viewfinder assembly from the camera by removing the four allen screws and spacer that hold the base of the viewfinder to the
55. ps the same roll will run for approximate ly 9 minutes The coaxial design of the magazine allows for com plete self contained threading quick mag changes and a minimal amount of loading to be performed in the changing bag Loading the magazine is a simple operation that with practice can be per formed in a little over a minute Refer to the Magazine chapter of this manual for complete details on loading and caring for magazines 5 1 Installing the Magazine The instant mag design allows for instantancous switching between mags on the set To install the magazine on the camera situate yourself towards the rear motor side of the camera body If the aperture cover plate is on remove it Place your left hand around the front of the camera just underneath the lens area Grasp the magazine firmly with your right hand below the mid way point of its rear While holding the camera body with your left hand guide the magazine along the base of the camera into the aperture area Make sure that the top edge of the throat of the magazine is parallel to the carrying handle of the camera as you guide the mag in place Push firmly and evenly until you feel and hear the magazine snap into place The Camera Body 23 5 2 Removing the Magazine To remove the magazine situate yourself as before towards the rear motor side of the camera Grasp the magazine anywhere which is comfortable at its rear Place your hand above the motor of the camera and p
56. r comfortable hand held operation can also be used to provide on off control on the battery side of the camera while on the tripod 2 1 Mounting the Handgrip Screw in one 15mm short rod into each of the two recepticles on the front housing of the camera below the lens port Slide the coupler over the two rods to the desired location and fasten its center wing nut to secure the rods in position Attach the hand grip to the coupler by mating the star plate on the coupler to that on the handgrip adjusting to the desired position and fastening the T screw of the handgrip Connect the Lemo2 cable between the handgrip and camera body to add on off capability to the handgrip The Lemo2 connector is located on the battery side of the camera at the front of the accessory box 2 2 Handgrip On Off Functions Both camera run and test functions are available from the hand grip While hand holding the camera pressing the rocker switch to the right provides camera run pressing the switch to the left provides test Unlike the body switch the camera test position of the handgrip is a momentary switch Pressing and holding the switch opens the shutter and advances the mechanism 1 2 frame Pressing and immediately releasing this switch advances the mechanism one full frame at a 1 4 sec exposure time This func tion allows the use of the handgrip as a simple intervalometer 2 3 Handgrip Adjustments The handgrip rotation should be adjusted for maximum hand
57. ration without the XTRplus running from one 12V 1 8 ah on board battery Although battery life will vary greatly depending on the amount of film run and the number of accessories powered from one The Camera Body 39 40 The Camera Body power source you could estimate that one 12V on board could run 4 5 magazines and the VR42 for 4 5 hours In order to con serve battery life get into the habit of shutting off the assist when not in use The VR46 on the other hand because of its color frame store and timecode capabilities draws 730 750ma which translates into approximately 2 to 2 5 hours of operation from one 12V 1 8ah on board battery For this reason it is recommended to use a battery block or AC power supply when using the VR46 for long periods of time 14 7 Installing the CCD Heads Under normal circumstances if you own a VR42 or VR46 CCD assist you will not need to deal with the removal and or installa tion of the CCD head The head and its accompanying relay lens are designed to remain within the camera body whether the assist is being used or not In some instances however such as the renting or sharing of a unit among a few cameras it would be necessary to remove and install this head The installation and removal of the VR46 color head assembly is somewhat involved and considered a shop operation It is recom mended that this procedure be performed by a qualified techni cian The VR42 however is much more s
58. ry input provides Hz and camera run functions controls CCD iris operation connects CCD head 10 the CCD control unit releases the magazine for removal fastens the on board battery to the camera body protects the body from excessive current and reverse polarity main power input for on board battery or other 12V powersource adjusts the crystal sync speeds of the body accessory input provides and camera run functions System Features and Controls 11 Battery Side 12 System Features and Controls AatonCode and SMPTE timecode communication activates the lightmeter display in the viewfinder motor side indicators for camera run camera test and low battery triphase salarium Jow power consumption 3 75 fps operation indicates AstonCode ASA speed voltage mag ID footage adjusts the internal ASA setting for lightmeter and timecode matrix access information from the control panel includes tape measure stud and 3 8 16 accessory screw Jocks the magazine feed door displays the footage remaining in the magazine feed side System Features and Controis 13 CD Control Panel Quick Reference ED Indicators Quick Reference _ Lenses 16 The Camera Body 1 Aaton s flexible lens mounting system allows for the use of a wide variety of 16mm 35mm and still photographic lenses 1 1 Aaton Lens Port The Aaton lens port is the standard
59. ter is recom mended for use with the VR46 color CCD and is distinguished by its black holder The Camera Body 37 38 The Camera Body 14 3 Positioning the Beamsplitter The beamsplitter adjustment screw is located underneath a small capped port on the battery side of the camera To access the beamsplitter unscrew and remove this silver cap A 1 3mm allen head adjustment screw will be visible through the opening With an allen wrench gently rotate the adjustment screw approximate ly 30 turns in the desired direction to position or retract the beamsplitter After 30 or so turns the adjusting screw will reach its stop and resistance will be felt At this point stop and rotate the adjusting screw one turn in the opposite direction to complete the adjust ment By backing the beamsplitter off its stop fine centering of the CCD target is maintained and the beamsplitter itself is less susceptive to residual shocks caused by a drop or sudden jolt Positioning the Bcamsplitter for video use the adjusting screw should be rotated counter clockwise to move the glass in place Retracting the Beamsplitter for non video use the adjusting screw should be rotated clockwise to move the glass out of view ing area 14 4 The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment The beamsplitter axis adjustment is used to recenter the CCD assist image when switching between 16 and Super16 formats If the CCD image on your monitor appears off to one side the
60. the knob It is rec ommended that for easiest setting this adjustment be performed with the port cover off and no lens on the camera Notice that the diopter set ring is engraved with numbers and dots use this reference to quickly recall your particular setting when more than one person will be looking through the view finder The range of the diopter setting is or 3 If the range does not reach your particular diopter setting the viewfinder optics can quickly be adjusted by a qualified technician and the diopter range reset to meet your needs If a corrective lens is required one can be fitted in the recessed area of the eyecup ring of both the standard eyepiece and the extension finder This area of the eyecup ring can also be used to hold an anti mist glass 2 5 The Eyepiece Shutter In order to avoid unwanted light seepage through the viewfinder the eyepiece shutter must be closed any time the camera is run ning film and the operator s eye is away from the viewfinder To close the eyepiece shutter on the standard bellows eyepiece grasp the rubber ring at the base of the eyecup and rotate 1 8 of a turn counterclockwise On the extension finder and the old style The Camera Body 19 20 The Camera Body standard eyepiece locate the small tab at the base of the rubber eyecup and slide it until the shutter completely covers the eye piece opening On the hyperlong finder rotate the knurled ring closest to the eyecup
61. to monitor AatonCode drift OriginCplus will compare the timecode of the XTRplus to the code running on i display OriginCplus will display Good fair bad or dit different time followed by the amount of drift in tenths of a frame AatonCode 85 Follow the same procedure for each camera or sound recorder on the set running AatonCode 5 2 Maintaining AatonCode without OriginCpius If the OriginCplus has not been used and timecode has been set in the XTRplus directly from the TC audio recorder there is no way to monitor timecode drift between the two devices In this case it is recommended to simply re jam the camera every two to three hours Follow the procedure detailed in section 4 2 Using an External SMPTE Device Make sure that the camera on off is switched to test position to tell the camera to accept the newly fed code 86 AatonCode Although timecode related practices on the set are very straight forward and uncomplicated there are a few duties which should be handled by the camera assistant as part of his her routine 6 1 Checking the Diodes In order to inspect and clean the gate between magazine rolls the camera must be set to test position Not only will test position rotate the shutter 180 but the seven timecode LEDs in the gate will illuminate in sequence Occasionally check that all diodes are operational and are evenly illuminated As part of the normal gate cleaning procedure clean this area with a Q t
62. traightforward the following is the procedure for its installation 1 Unscrew the four allen screws as indicated in the diagram on page 41 and remove the PBX cover plate and rubber gasket On the cover plate you ll notice a plastic plug which is press fit into the cover plate Remove this plug by pushing it to the inside of the plate If it is very tight use a pencil eraser to do the job 2 Remove the four screws which hold the CCD cover onto the battery side of the camera and carefully remove the CCD cover If you do not own a VR42 you may have a flat plate in place of the CCD cover 3 Check that the exposed lens of the CCD head assembly is free of dust particles If necessary clean this surface with lens fluid applied with a foam or cotton Q tip In order to install the head assembly into the side cavity first feed the Lemo14 connec tor into the PBX so that it faces towards the rear of the camera then install the head assembly into the tubular holder until the steel collar is stopped by the tube 4 While holding the head assembly in place locate the allen set screw located within the left side of the PBX see diagram and tighten moderately until the head assembly is secure To avoid any damage to the relay lens housing do not overtighten this screw 5 Position the Lemo14 in its cutout within the PBX and hold in place Make sure that the flat index towards the rear of the con nector faces
63. turned off The on off toggle switch is located on the operators side to the left of the motor Keep in mind the red diode indicator and end of film warnings will function whether the display is on or off 10 As a standard feature the XTRplus is equipped with the capabili ty of recording AatonCode in camera time Timecode informa tion is exposed onto the film by means of seven micro diodes which are relayed by means of fiber optics into the gate above the claw to the right of the aperture opening These micro diodes flash rapidly to form the code as the film rolls through the gate between exposures Because the Aaton timecode system is completely self contained in the camera body any XTR compatible magazine DX style can be used on cameras recording AatonCode The Gamera Body 31 Furthermore the size or position of the film loop does not in any way affect the accuracy of the recorded timecode AatonCode is initialized in the camera in ASCII or SMPTE form through the Lemo5 connector located to the left of the motor on the motor side of the body For the most straightfor ward and reliable communication OriginCplus Aaton s master clock comparator and SMPTE generator device should be used For more elaborate information regarding the uses and function ing of AatonCode OriginCplus and other related devices refer to the AatonCode chapter of this handbook 32 The Camera Body The following operator controlled p
64. up and mates with the flat in the cutout Do not con fuse this flat with the two flats on the threaded portion of the Lemo 6 Replace the rubber gasket and the PBX cover plate via the four allen screws Double check that the Lemo14 sits flush against the lip of the circular opening in the cover plate 7 Plug the control unit into the PBX and fasten it to the body with three allen screws Connect a BNC cable to a monitor and power the XTRplus Turn on the toggle switch of the CCD assist the yellow diode should light You should also see an image of the viewing screen on the monitor If this is not the The Camera Body 41 42 The Camera Body case the beamplitter may be retracted Remove the beamsplitter access cap on the battery side of the camera and position the beamsplitter by rotating the adjustment screw approximately 30 turns counter clockwise until it reaches its stop Back off the stop one turn clockwise 8 Locate two allen head screws on the CCD head A identified by a red dot Loosen the screws 1 2 a turn While looking at the monitor gently move the CCD head until the viewing screen image is in focus Notice that this adjustment also affects image rotation When sharp and even focus is achieved and the image is square to the monitor tighten the two screws 9 If the CCD image is centered in the monitor your adjustment is complete However if the image is off to one side the beam splitter axis adjustme
65. ush the mag release lever towards the front of the camera with your thumb Pull the magazine straight off the camera with your right hand 24 The Camera Body XTRplus body requires only 12 volts for all aspects of operation One standard Aaton on board 12V 1 8 ah rechargeable nicad will power the camera CCD and any accessories which are con nected to the body s accessory inputs such as zoom controls speed controls etc through a standard 4 pin XLR connector One 1 8 ah on board battery will run 9 1 magazines on the XTRplus without CCD and accessories With accessories in use this number will decrease 6 1 Installing the Battery on the Camera The on board battery fits below the CCD control unit on the bat tery side of the camera body In order to install loosen the black knurled screw approximately four or five turns Push the battery evenly onto the XLR4 connection on the body When snug tighten the knurled screw onto the battery tab to hold it in place When running AatonCode get into the practice of having a fresh battery on hand before removing the one from the camera Even a low battery that no longer runs the body below 10V will have enough voltage to keep accurate time counting Thanks to a super capacitor built into the camera base you will have a full minute to change the battery before time is lost After replacing the battery confirm that time is still counting by look ing for the yellow blinking diod
66. usting the sensitivity reading of the lightmeter 1 Evenly light a standard 18 grey card 2 With a loaded magazine and lens on the camera frame the chart so that it completely fills the Super16 frame 3 With a properly calibrated handheld lightmeter take a reading of the grey surface and set the T stop of the lens accordingly 4 Switch the camera to run or test position and check the posi tion of the darkened diode If the center green diode is darkened the camera s lightmeter is set correctly If the darkened diode is to the left or right it is possible to adjust its reading 5 To access the lightmeter potentiometer remove the complete viewfinder by means of the four screws which mount it to the front housing Locate the hole between the two viewfinder screwholes on the top motor side of the front housing The white potentiometer will be visible within this hole 6 With a small screwdriver adjust the potentiometer slightly 1 8 of a turn will have an effect Rotating clockwise will correct an overexposure and move the darkened diode to the left rotat ing counterclockwise will correct an underexposure 7 In order to check your adjustment replace the viewfinder tighten the four screws and repeat the procedure from step 4 When the reading through the camera matches your handheld meter the adjustment is complete AatonCode 9 5 Turning the Lightmeter Off If the lightmeter is not being used it may be
67. yet much safer and very effective By removing the CCD cover and head as detailed in section 14 7 Installing the CCD Head there is direct access to the top of the screen from the side Because the beamsplitter sits well above the top surface of the screen there is no danger whatsoever of contacting it Cleaning 63 64 Cleaning 4 1 Exterior Kcep the external surface of the magazines clean by wiping down with a cotton cloth with alcohol or a multi purpose cleaner When a deeper cleaning is necessary use De Solv It rubbed into the mag s surface with a cotton cloth Finish with alcohol applied with a cloth to restore its original finish 4 2 Pressure Plates The magazine pressure plates should be cleaned of dirt and film particles by means of a dust free cotton or chamois cloth After cleaning run your finger across their surface for a slight lubrica tion 4 3 Interior Film Path Open the doors of the magazine and inspect all surfaces on which the film rides If any film dust buildup is apparent in the sprocket or roller areas use alcohol and a Q tip to clean Use a utility brush with soft bristles to clean particles from tight crevices Afterwards use canned air and thoroughly blow out any remain ing dust in the throat and main chambers 1 1 The Format Super16 is a means of utilizing the cost effectiveness of 16mm film for wide screen applications The 1 66 aspect of Super16 uses 20 more of the film surface by exte

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