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Xterà user's guide 2007.indd

1. Red diode is flashing slowly The LCD control panel displays Lo Batt 2 11 5 Low Speed Indicator Yellow diode is on Red diode is blinking fast The LCD control panel displays Lo Speed 2 11 6 End of Film Warning Sequence The lightmeter display features pre end of film and end of film Displaying a 5 Digit Speed If the Xter is set to a variable 5 digit speed the control panel will only display that speed to the 01 digit Keep in mind the display will not rounf off the speed but sim ply leave off the last digit For example if the 5 digit speed of 23 976 is entered the control panel will display 23 97 not 23 98 Remember Variable Speed for Phas ing Keep in mind the speed phase function of the control panel will only operate when a vari able speed is initially selected When shooting 29 97 for example be sure to choose the specific 29 970 instead of the preset 29 97 if you plan to incorporate the phase function for that particular shot 41 42 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 coun ter on the LCD control panel 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 lightmet
2. manufacturer You can use the Aaton ChA 3 designed to charge 31 Nimh Batteries Tips Follow a few simple rules to insure the long life of your Nimh cells e Allow batteries to run through their normal cycle of charging and use Avoid topping off partially full batter ies Once every few months discharge cells to 8 10V using a standard discharger to mini mize their memory e Do not rapid charge your cells more than necessary as the added heat will eventu ally shorten their life span Instead recharge batteries at a normal charging rate when your schedule allows e If your batteries will not be used for long periods of time always store them in a cool dry environment fully charged 32 includes AC power supplies battery blocks lithium cells and car batteries 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 soutce 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 2 8 MOTOR The tri phase samarium motor design of the Xtera provides low power consumption and improved stability at high speeds The body is capable of speeds between 3 and 75 fps with a standard 12V bat tery 2 8 1 Camera Speeds
3. 27 28 cleaned every three to four mags if the shooting schedule permits Refer to the Cleaning chapter for more detailed information 2 5 FLANGE FOCAL DISTANCE ADJUSTMENT 2 5 1 Concept For a few years now Aaton has inserted a spacer between the lens port and the camera body This thin 0 3mm metallic ring is re sponsible for the precise distance between the lens port seat and the film plane called the flange focal distance FFD and therefore it is also mainly responsible for the sharpness of the images Anyone who would like to change the FFD of his own camera should now do so by simply changing the spacer and only with the spacer He has not to polish any other surface ot to insert anything else between the lens port and the film plane For that purpose you can order some aluminium spacers 0 35mm to Aaton and then safely change the FFD of your camera 2 5 2 Polishing a Spacer In order to fine adjust the thickness of a specific spacer Aaton catties a specific tool ref 09 202 92 designed to hold the spacer firmly and evenly against Emery paper When polishing a spacer always work on a perfectly flat worktable or stone and be sure to hold the tool firmly 2 5 3 Changing the Spacer The spacer is placed between the lens port and the camera body s titanium lens holder If you re camera is equipped with a PL lens port you first need to remove the lens locking ring screw two or three turns its stop placed on the
4. The Xtera provides boths preset crystal speeds in sync mode and specific crystal speeds in variable mode in 001 increments all ac cessible from the LCD control panel Available preset speeds consist of 6 12 18 20 23 98 24 25 29 97 30 36 40 48 60 and 75 fps The preset speed selector SYNC allows for quick access to these frequently used speeds If any other speed is desired or if the cam eta speed must match the frequency of a monitor to eliminate a roll bar the specific speed selector EX VAR should be employed The THE CAMERA BODY specific speed selector enables the body to run at any speed between 3 and 75 in 001 frame increments A phase adjustment of the vari able speed is accessible from the EX VAR selector The camera speed can also be adjusted while the camera is running in either sync or variable mode For more information on these speed functions refer to section LCD Control Panel and Jog of this chapter 2 8 2 Using External Speed Devices The Xter can be driven externally from devices such as film video synchronizers speed aperture computers and external speed con trols In these situations the camera EX VAR selector must be set to Et If such a device is connected and the selector is not set to Et the camera will run at the speed indicated on the display 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 factor
5. features illuminated viewing screen markings referred to as Aatonite The level of illumination is adjustable by the user via the Jog wheel which is located to the right of the motor To THE CAMERA BODY operate Aatonite power the body and switch the run test switch to test position and off again to turn on the camera electronics Look through the viewfinder and totate the jog to set the desired level of illumination The markings will remain illuminated for a full 2 minutes after the camera is set in the off position The illumination level set in test position will be memorized and recalled once the camera is run The illumination level can also be readjusted while the camera is running The configuration of illuminated markings will differ slightly be tween screen types Refer to the screen illustration on page 21 for a specific description of each screen type along with its correspond ing Aatonite markings 2 3 MIRROR SHUTTER 2 3 1 Concept The reflex mirror shutter 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 four position user adjustable opening Standard 180 for filming under standard 60 Hz HMI lighting at 24 fps _or_ under standard 50 Hz HMI lighting at 25 fps without flicker 172 8 for filming at 24 fps undet 50 Hz HMI lighting without flicket e 150 for filming at 25 fps under 60 Hz HMI lighting without flicker
6. of the screen until it is snug Look into the port and locate the left and right lip of the viewing screen holder With its flat side facing down gently push the screen straight into the holder above the lip until it seats firmly in place Unscrew the Vw tool and store back in the hollow of the carrying handle Reaffirm that the screen is seated properly by carefully pressing against the threaded hole with your thumb 23 Warning Each time you re touching the mirror the viewing screen or anything inside the lens port disconnect the battery You will therefore avoid any risk of seriously damaging your camera 24 2 2 9 Adjusting the Viewing Screen The image on the viewing screen should be sharp and its focus should match to that of the film This can be best determined with the use of a collimator or by looking through the viewfinder and checking that the sharp focus of a lens matches the measured dis tance on its barrel If it does not then you need to make an adjust ment of the viewing screen focus To proceed you must first unscrew and remove the circular cap lo cated on behind the camera body Run Test switch Inside the access hole inser a 2mm Allen wrench and screw or unscrew it Replace the circular cap Use a collimator to check that you have reached the sharpest focus of the viewing screen image If the image is not yet sharp ennough proceed again 2 2 10 Aatonite Illumination The Xter
7. 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 6 3 ORIGINCPLUS For the most efficient and foolproof means of working with Aaton en Code it is highly recommended that an Aaton device called Orig inCplus is used OriginCplus can be quickly programmed with a production ID full date and time of day then initialize timecode devices in either ASCII or SMPTE form Orig inCplus is TCXO controlled and will run for 150 hours with an internal 9V lithium cell it is designed to be left on during the shoot day and used as a comparator to monitor timecode drift between devices A OriginCplus can also be used as a SMPTE generator to supply accu ee rate timecode for slates and inserters or to record timecode on one audio channel of a non timecode audio recorder 6 4 INITIALIZING AATONCODE IN THE CAMERA 74 There are two ways in which AatonCode can be initialized in the Xtera camera The preferred method is by means of the OriginC plus which inputs timecode in ASCII form It is also possible for the camera to receive information in SMPTE form directly from a SMPTE timecode device such as an TC audio recorder Both meth ods are detailed below 6 4 1 Using the OriginCplus Recommended Methods 7 Program the OriginCplus by inputting Prod ID accurate date and time of day Press the key to s
8. 44 1 85 Full 12 42mm x 6 7mm 0 489 x 0 263 1 66 Full 12 42mm x 7 44mm 0 489 x 0 293 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 66 Proj Super 16 01 81 92 1 66 Proj 11 76mm x 7 05mm 0 463 x 0 277 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format_ Reference 4 1 78 Trans Super 16 01 812 21 1 78 Trans 11 76mm x 6 61mm 0 463 x 0 260 1 85 Markings TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 16 Std TV Safe 16 Std 01 812 22 16 Std 10 2mm x 7 44mm 0 401 x 0 293 TV Safe 8 4mm x 6 3mm 0 330 x 0 248 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 66 Full No Cross Hair Super 16 01 812 24 1 66 Full 12 42mm x 7 44mm 0 489 x 0 293 1 85 Proj Markings Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 2 35 Full 4 1 78 Full Super 16 01 812 29 2 35 Full 12 42mm x 5 27mm 0 489 x 0 207 1 78 Full 12 42mm x 6 96mm 0 489 x 0 274 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 78 Proj 4 1 66 Proj Super 16 01 812 23 1 78 Proj 11 96mm x 6 72mm 0 470 x 0 264 1 66
9. Film It is also possible to use the lightmeter without actually running the camera Set the ISO selection to the exposure index of the film be ing used Set the camera to test position using the on off switch on the body or the handgrip If the handgrip is used the momentary switch must be held in the test position The mirror shutter will ro tate 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 2 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 adjusting the sensi tivity reading of the lightmeter e 1 Evenly light a standard 18 grey card e 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 e 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 Single Frame Opera
10. Proj Markings 11 76mm x 7 05mm 0 463 x 0 277 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 78 Scan 4 14 9 1 55 Super 16 01 812 28 1 78 Scan 11 76mm x 6 61mm 0 463 x 0 260 14 9 1 55 10 97mm x 7 05mm 0 432 x 0 277 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 78 Full Super 16 01 812 30 1 78 Full 12 42mm x 6 96mm 0 489 x 0 274 83 WORLDWIDE SUPPORT 86 Australia LEMAC FILM 277 Highett Street Tel 61 39 429 8588 Victoria 3121 RICHMOND Fax 61 39 428 3336 Contact John Bowring email jbowring lemac com au Belgium COLOR BY DEJONGHE Diskmuidekaai 4 Tel 32 5635 0710 B 8500 KORTRIJE Fax 32 5635 0780 Contact Dirk Dejonghe email dirk color by dejonghe com Brazil HAGA DE Rua Tupi 397 s 31 Tel 55 11 3661 7752 Cep 01233 001 SAO PAULO Fax 55 11 3661 7006 Contact Hugo Kovenski email hugo hagade com br France AATON S A 2 rue de la Paix BP 3002 Tel 33 0 4 7642 9550 38001 Grenoble Cedex Fax 33 0 4 7651 3491 Contact Frank Fischer email frank aaton com Germany Q FOR FILM amp VIDEO Gmbh Dambachtal 10 Tel 49 611 890 500 65193 Wiesbaden Fax 49 611 890 5022 Contact Thomas Goebel email thomas q4film de Great Britain ICE FILM EQUIPMENT 156 Caledonian Road Tel 44 171 278 0908 N1 9UU London Fax 44 171 278 4
11. SPECIFICATIONS 8 2 CONNECTOR PIN ATTRIBUTIONS Type Fonctions Diagram Localisation Pin Attributions 2 Lemo2 On Off Test VA 1 Ground 2 Start 1 Lemo5 TimeCode f 1 Ground 2 o 3 Interface o o 2 Smpte In NG 3 ASCII In Out 4 et 51 Not used 1 6 Lemo6 Power Zoom j NI 1 Batt i ka 4 Batt 6 Start 2 3 amp 5 Not used 1 Batt 2 TV Sync 3 ASCII In Out 4 Batt 5 100 PFF Out 6 Start 7 100 PFF In 8 Ground Lemo8 Speed Controllers Do not hook accessoires consom ming more than 2 amps 81 AVAILABLE VIEWING SCREENS Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 78 Scan TV Safe Super 16 01 811 41 1 78 Scan 11 76mm x 6 61mm 0 463 x 0 260 TV Safe 8 4mm x 6 3mm 0 330 x 0 248 1 85 Markings Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 66 Full 1 66 Proj Super 16 01 81 48 1 66 Full 12 42mm x 7 44mm 0 489 x 0 293 1 66 Proj 11 76mm x 7 05mm 0 463 x 0 277 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 66 Full TV Safe Super 16 01 812 20 1 66 Full 12 42mm x 7 44mm 0 489 x 0 293 TV Safe 8 4mm x 6 3mm 0 330 x 0 248 82 Aaton 16 mm Ground glass schematic for Aaton XTer amp Aaton XTR Prod cameras Markings Format Reference 1 85 Full 1 66 Full Super 16 01 81
12. TAL 77 80 81 8 2 SYSTEM FEATURES AND CONTROLS I I FRONT VIEW Friction Adjusting Ring Tape Measure Stud Lateral Lock Knob Beamsplitter Access Cap VHR Cover PL Lens Port Wooden Handgrip Eyepiece Lock Ring Eyepiece Shutter 0 Body Run Test Switch VoNnavu pa On 10 adjusts the tension of the eyepiece swivel holds tape measure at film plane locks the lateral position of the viewfinder covers the port which accesses the beamsplitter adjustment screw accesses the VHR head standard mounting system for Xter Xter allows for comfortable handheld operation fastens interchangeable standard and extension finders blocks light when operator s eye is away from the finder provides camera run and half frame inching GENERAL OVERVIEW 17 18 1 2 BACK VIEW 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Magnetic Drive Mag Release Lever Amph9 Manual Iris Lever Lemo14 Batterv Lock Screw Camera Fuse XLR4 Lemo8 Lemo6 20 provides magnetic magazine coupling releases the magazine for removal accessory input provides Hz and camera run functions controls CCD iris operation connects CCD head to the CCD control unit 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 accesso
13. a cable from the SMPTE output of the timecode device to the Lemo5 chassis mount on the base of the camera e Set the on off switch on the camera to run or test position then off again this will send the timecode information to the camera body The small yellow diode on the camera base will blink to indi cate running timecode Also the Xtera will display hours minutes seconds when the button marked time is pressed Toggling this but ton will also display year month day and the camera s equipment No production ID will be recorded e Disconnect the cable from the body and proceed to the next de vice 6 5 MONITORING AND MAINTAINING AATONCODE AAfter initialization the OriginCplus should be left on during pro duction to act as a visual reference and for quick drift monitoring 75 76 Once timecode has been initialized into the camera s and sound recorder accurate time will be individually maintained in each ma chine 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 6 5 1 Monitoring AatonCode with OriginCplus Assuming that the OriginCplus has been left on during the produc tion follow the simple procedure below to monitor drift in the camera Plug the Lemo5 cable of the OriginCplus into the Lemo5 chas
14. and high precision area directly responsible for the exact focus of the image be careful not to use hard damaging materials like met al on the its surface Under no circumstances should you perform any function within the aperture opening lens port or near the claw with power attached to the camera Accidently running the camera while performing such tasks can cause serious damage to the shutter and mechanism Cleaning the Mirror Shutter Do not attempt to clean the surface of the mirror shutter any small dust particles vis ible from the lens port will not come into focus in your viewfinder If large particles of dirt must be removed do so using an air syringe Never use canned air on this surface If the mirror is in need of a deeper cleaning to remove smudges or oil take your cam era to a qualified technician to be cleaned 67 Finding the dirt There is a simple means of locating much of the dirt within your viewing system Look through the viewfinder with no lens on the camera and adjust the diopter ring If the dust particles remain in focus they are most likely located on either side of the eyepiece If the dust comes in position then removing the battery Remove the viewing screen as and out of focus as the ring is moved the dust is probably located on either surface of era Body chapter of the manual Clean both upper and lower sur the viewing screen Further more if the dust appears to b
15. 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 can be attached to the Xtera by means of the 3 8 16 tripod receptacle 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 4 2 HANDGRIP The Xtera body includes a wooden handgrip short 15mm rods rod coupler and Lemo2 cable as standard The handgrip which is designed to be used for com fortable handbeld operation can also be used to provide on off control on the battery side of the camera while on the tripod THE AATON SYSTEM 4 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 cou pler over the two tods to the desired location and fasten its center wing nut to secure the rods in position Attach the handgrip to the coupler by mating the star plate on the coupler to that on the hand grip 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 f
16. of film warn ings will function whether the display is on or off 2 10 LCD CONTROL PANEL AND JOG 2 10 1 The Aaton Jog Located to the immediate right of the motor the Aaton jog is a small wheel designed to simplify many user functions When used in conjunction with the control panel the jog allows quick adjustment of some of the otherwise time consuming parameters such as the setting of a precise 5 digit speed or a film short end 2 10 2 Understanding the Control Panel The LCD control panel consists of an illuminated display and five buttons to access information see diagram The control panel op erates in two modes Show and SET To show a parameter without adjusting go directly to one of the four function buttons 1 through THE CAMERA BODY 4 in the diagram to view relative information To set a parameter first press SET then go to the appropriate button Information is changed by either toggling that button or by rotating the jog de pending on the parameter Pressing SET afterwards or waiting for 7 seconds will enter your selection Capped text SYNC EX VAR ISO MAG refers to those func tions adjustable while in the SET mode standard text Fps Ft time batt iso elapse refers to those functions accessible directly in the default Show mode Note that while viewing a Show function on the control panel any inactivity longer than 10 seconds will revert the display back to its default mode speed and remai
17. 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 time code 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 carrying 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 5 3 VIEWING SYSTEM 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 soonet 5 3 1 Viewing Screen Look through the lens port at the reflection of the viewing screen in the mirror and check for visible dust particles Clear the mirror shutter so that it is rotated safely inside the body by rotating at the base of the shutter with your finger or by setting the camera to test Warning Remember the camera gate is a sensitive
18. 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 firmly in place During this procedure you will notice that the extension 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 installation rotate the finder 180 to regular viewing position 2 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 depending 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 friction adjusting ring THE CAMERA BODY c Hold the eyepiece in place rotate the adjusting ring slightly To increase tension of the eyepiece swivel rotate the adjusting ring clockwise to decrease the tension rotate the adjusting ring countet clockwise 2 2 4 Adjusting the Diopter Before shooting the diopter setting of the
19. viewfinder should be ad justed to the operators eye To set the diopter d look through the viewfinder rotate the diopter set ring until the edge of the cross hair is at its sharpest point It is recommended that for easiest set ting this adjustment be performed with the port cover off and no ens 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 2 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 running film and the operator s eye is away from the viewfinder 21 Checking your Viewing Horizon here is a simple means of determining whether adjust ment of the horizon needs to be made Mount a zoom lens onto the camera and rest the camera on your shoulder in a standard handheld position Look through the viewfinder with your right eye while also keeping your left eye open Compose a frame that includes vertical or horizontal lines a window frame for example and adjust the zoom of the lens so that the focal length of the lens genera
20. 3 3 Xtera User s Guide January 2007 AATON AATON Xter User Guide AATON 2 rue de la Paix BP 3002 38000 Grenoble FRANCE 33 4 7642 9550 33 4 7651 3491 fax E mail support aaton com Web http www aaton com Limitation of Liability The information contained in this manual is distributed without warranty of any kind express or implied To the maxi mum extent permitted by law Aaton and its licensors disclaim any and all warranties express or implied by statute or otherwise regarding this manual including the fitness for a particular purpose quality or merchantability Under no cir cumstances shall Aaton or its licensors be liable to the user of this manual or any other person for any incidental special or consequential damages resulting from the use of this manual or the operation of the equipment described therein whether arising out of breach of warranty breach of contract or otherwise Under no circumstances shall Aaton or its licensors be liable for any damages arising out of the operation of the equipment described in this manual whether operated in a manner which is consistent with or contraty to the instructions contained therein for physical abuse or misuse of the equipment No oral or written information or advice given by Aaton or its licensors their respective em ployees distributors dealers or agents shall create any warranty Aaton and its licensors further disclaim any and all war
21. 552 Contact Peter Bryant email peter icefilm com WORLDWIDE SUPPORT Holland HOLLAND EQUIPMENT H J E Wenckebachweg 137 1096 AM Amsterdam Tel Fax Contact Nico Van Den Boogard email techsupport hollandequipment nl Japan SUZUKI ENTERPRISE Daiichi Nishiya Bldg 2F 1 7 3 Hatagaya Shibuya Ku 151 0072 Tokyo Tel Fax 31 20 694 35 75 31 20 668 53 81 81 3 5350 8135 81 3 5350 5237 Contact Sadaaki Suzuki email suzuki sei8404 com Malaysia TRANS ASIAN amp AMERICAN FILMS amp CINEMA 7 Tingkat Taman Ipoh 10 31400 Ipoh Perak Fax Tel 605 545 7113 605 547 7873 Contact Alexander Sange email transasi tm net my Portugal ANIMATOGRAFO Rua da Rosa 252 1250 LISBOA Tel Contact Antonio Cunha Telles Spain EPC Calle Virgilio N 1 Ciudad de la Imagen Pozuelo de Alarcon 28223 Madrid Contact Oscar Perez email Tel Fax oscat epc es 351 1347 4593 351 1347 3252 34 91 512 0806 34 91 518 5554 87 88 USA AbelCine Tech LA 801 S Main St Tel 1 818 972 9078 Burbank CA 91506 Fax 1 818 972 2673 Contact lan Mc Causland email ian abelcine com AbelCine Tech NY 609 Greenwich Street 5th Floor Tel 1 718 273 8108 NY 10014 New York Fax 1 718 273 8137 Contact Rich Abel email Rich abelcine com WORLDWIDE SUPPORT 89
22. External Speed Devices Electronic Inching 2 9 Lightmeter Display Operation Using the Lightmeter without Running Film Testing and Adjusting the Meter Turning the Lightmeter Off 2 10 LCD Control Panel and Jog The Aaton Jog Understanding the Control Panel Aatonite AatonCode ASA Setting Battery Voltage Camera Preset Speed Camera Specific Speed Speed Phasing Feet or Meters Footage Remaining Footage Elapsed Mag ID New Magazine s Footage Camera Software Version Number 2 11 LED Indicators Position and Meaning of the Diodes Camera Test Indicator Camera Run Indicator Low Battery Indicator End of Film Warning Sequence 8 hours Warning Sequence 2 12 VHR Assists Installing the Control Unit The Internal Beamsplitter Positioning the Beamsplitter The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment 31 31 32 3 2 3 2 33 33 34 34 34 35 35 36 36 36 36 37 37 38 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 40 41 4 1 4 1 4 1 41 42 42 43 43 43 44 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Manual Iris Battery Life with VHR Assists Installing the VHR Heads The VHR Color VHR Assist Menu Operation 3 THE MAGAZINE 3 1 Concept 3 2 Compatibility DX Magazines Super16 Safe 3 3 Pressure Plate System The Picture Plate The Claw Plate 3 4 Mag Identification System Mag ID Changing the ID of a Magazine 3 5 Loading Feed Side In the Changing Bag Take up Side In Daylight 3 6 The GX 800 ft mag Feed side loading Take up s
23. bottom inside the PL port and turn the ring counterclockwise Remove the lens port by unscrewing its screws Then remove the aluminium spacer gently Once you have placed a new spacer replace the lens port then the THE CAMERA BODY lenses locking ring Do not forget to unscrew two or three turns the locking ring stop if you have a PL lens port 2 5 4 Adjusting the Viewing Screen Because you have changed the distance separating the base of the lens and the camera body the image on your viewing screen might now appear to be less sharp than usual Most likely you may need to readjust the precise focus of the viewing screen Refer to the 2 2 9 section of this chapter to proceed 2 5 5 Flange Focal Distances Here are the flange focal distances for all the lens port available for the Xter Mont Reference FFD Diametre Adjustment Aaton AA 01 112 35 40 00 mm 50 00 mm 8 17 microns Arriflex PL 01 113 20 52 00 mm 54 00 mm 8 17 microns Panavision PV 01 113 25 57 15 mm 49 50 mm 8 17 microns 2 6 THE MAGAZINE 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 fps the same roll will run for approximately 9 minutes The coaxial design of the magazine allows for complete self contained threading quick mag changes and a minimal amount of loading to be performed in the changing bag Loading the maga zine is a simple ope
24. core lock mechanism on ei ther side with thumb and forefinger to release core lock e 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 e Thread 4 of film around the outside of the lower guide roller and magnets Care for your Changing Bag A clean and light tight changing bag is the only thing separating your precious footage from a veritable washout Before using your changing bag each day turn it inside out and shake it clean of dirt and debris It is also a good practice to periodi cally inspect its edges for holes and tears Hold it up toa strong light to check for any pin hole leaks 51 52 through large coaxial roller emulsion out Make sure that the length of film feeds completely through to the take up side e Close and lock the feed door and engage the footage counter by rotating clockwise e Remove the magazine from the changing bag 3 5 2 Take up Side In Daylight e Unfasten the take up door lock by rotating downward and open the door Release the doors of the upper and lower pinch rollers by pressing the white buttons and gently pulling open e 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 channel slot to the outside of the nose Pull through about one fo
25. croll through cach field after all fields are set as desired Press to start the clock e Make sure the camera has a battery attached Plug the Lemo5 cable of the OriginCplus into Lemo5 chassis mount on the base of the camera On the Xtera the Lemo5 con nector is located on the motor side to the lower left of the motor e Press on the OriginCplus to send the timecode information The OriginCplus will display Good 00 0 after the timecode has been ac Q 9 SEEN 1 IDTE FR G cepted bv the cameta Likewise the small vellow diode on the cam eta base will blink to indicate running timecode Also the conttol AATON CODE panel of the Xter will display hours minutes seconds when the button marked time is selected Toggling this button will also display year month day then the production ID then the equipment e Make sure to adjust the ASA selection to the exposure index of the film stock being used e 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 Time code 6 4 2 Using an External SMPTE Device e Make sure the Xtera has a battery attached and is not running e Choose the SMPTE timecode device that will be supplying the timecode 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 e Connect
26. e 144 for filming to minimize the roll bar while filming an NTSC broadcast monitor at 24 fps 2 3 2 Adjusting the Shutter To adjust the shutter opening unscrew the blue shutter tool marked Sh located in the hollow at the rear of the camera s carrying handle 25 26 Make certain that the battery is off the camera and remove the port cap Locate the tool guiding hole to the lower right of the inside of the lens holder see diagram Gently rotate the shutter at its base with your finger until the brass driving gear is centered underneath the tool guiding hole Insert the shutter tool through the guiding hole and into the brass gear Rotate the tool until the appropriate notched shutter setting is reached turning counterclockwise will re duce the shutter opening turning clockwise will increase the open ing paa When setting the opening to 172 8 or 144 a shutter blade indi cating these settings will be visible from behind the left edge of the mirror Make sure the white line to the immediate right of the 172 8 and 144 markings meet the left edge of mirror When the adjustment is complete remove the tool and store back in the hol low of the carrying handle THE CAMERA BODY 2 4 FILM GATE AND PULLDOWN CLAW 2 4 1 Co planar Movement All Aaton cameras incorporate a patented means of advancing the film called a co planar claw movement By utilizing this technique Aaton is able to achi
27. e camera is running To do so run the camera then follow these simple steps e Operating under a preset speed in sync mode press SET then SYNC then use the jog wheel to choose a higher or lower stepped speed Under a specific speed in vari able speed press SET then VAR then use the jog to ramp the speed higher or lower in 001 frame increments 40 MAG to view the elapsed footage of that particular take The dis play will revert back to the default mode speed and remaining foot age after 10 seconds 2 10 13 Mag ID The Xtera will recall the footage according to the mag ID which distinguishes seven magazines A through G To check the ID of a particular mag as read from the control panel press button MAG twice the letter ID on the display should coincide with the letter on the mag s feed side door For more information regarding Mag ID refer to the chapter entitled The Magazine 2 10 14 New Magazine s Footage With a fully loaded magazine on board press SET then button MAG twice to reset the control panel to count down a full 400 ft load If a short end is being used press SET then button MAG then reset the desired footage via the jog 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 mechan ical footage counter on the magazine that automatically measures t
28. e on the same focus plane as the cross hairs of the viewing screen it is most likely on the bottom surface of the screen Clean the eye lens A which is the outermost element closest to your and easily accessible described in section 2 8 Changing the Viewing Screen in the Cam faces of the screen and reinstall 5 3 2 Eyepiece eye by first blowing the surface with canned air then cleaning 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 68 CLEANING 5 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 as sembly from the camera by removing the four allen screws that hold the base of the viewfinder to the front housing Clean the exposed underside element of the viewfinder 5 4 MAGAZINE 5 4 1 Exterior Keep 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 5 4 2 Pressure Plates The magazine pressure plates should be cleaned of dirt and film par ticles by means of a dust free cotton or chamois cloth Af
29. e precise focus of each image 49 l ID of Mags on XTRplus vs Xter As mentioned the Xter can distinguish seven magazines because its sensors can read all three receivers The XTRplus however can only distinguish three magazines as its sensors will only detect the two upper receivers Be aware of this fact when renting additional magazines For example a mag which is read as a G on an Xter will be read as a C on an XTRplus camera as the lower receiver will not be detected e O A e O e p e O e c e e D O e O E O O F O O Mc O O magnet O no magnet 50 3 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 3 4 MAG IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM 3 4 1 Mag ID Each DX magazine bears its own identification ID determined by the combination of magnets in receivers located above the drive wheel on the throat of the mag This identification is used by the camera to recall the remaining footage of a mag removed from the body unfinished The Xter can differentiate seven magazines A through G via electronic sensors located within the LCD control panel and recall the memorized footage for each By comparison the less sophisticated display of the XTRplus can id
30. ent in the manufac turing of fiber screens Such blemishes although occasional are the trade off for the brilliant screens which result from the use of this technology The Xter utilizes an interchangeable viewing screen system which allows the cinematographer to install the screen which best suits his particular application s Aaton offers ten viewing screens as standard see the Technical Specifications chapter Specially marked screens can also be manufactured to order Contact you local Aaton representative for details Unlike the XTRplus which uses a universal screen that shifts be tween std 16 and Super16 operation the Xter requires separate screens for std 16 and Super16 formats THE CAMERA BODY 2 2 8 Changing the Viewing Screen The viewing screen is designed to be easily removed by the user for the purposes of interchanging or for cleaning To remove the screen unscrew the black tool marked Vw located in the hollow at the rear of the camera s carrying handle Remove the port cap Clear the mirror shutter so that it is rotated safely inside the body by ro tating at the base of the shutter with your finger or by setting the camera to test position then removing the battery Look into the port and locate the threaded hole directly above the aperture open ing and screw in the tool until it is snug Carefully pull the screen straight out To reinstall the screen screw the Vw tool into the threaded hole
31. entify only three magazines A B C The chart to the right represents the seven IDs which can be read by the XTRplus and Xter cameras with the corresponding magnet in receiver combination for each 3 4 2 Changing the ID of a Magazine The Mag ID of a particular magazine can be easily changed by the user Determine the magnetic receiver s that need to be changed according to the chart above Locate the small silver spanner tool located on the coaxial roller in the feed side of the mag Using this tool loosen and remove these receiver s A spare receiver is located at the base of the coaxial roller Install the appropriate receivers as necessary Remember to change the letter decal on the outside of the feed side door to match the new ID For spare decals contact your Aaton representative THE MAGAZINE 3 5 LOADING 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 3 5 1 Feed Side In the Changing Bag e Place the film can and the magazine feed side up in the changing bag and zip closed e Disable the mechanical footage counter located on the feed door by rotating counter clockwise until it locks in its recessed position e Unfasten the feed door lock by turning downward and open the feed door e Remove the film from its can and bag e On the feed core holder squeeze the
32. er display is turned on When the counter reaches zero the left and right sides of the dis play will alternately flash indicating the end of a roll The end of film warning will function whether the lightmeter display is on or off 2 11 7 8 hours Warning Sequence The timecode diode flashes slowly every 4 seconds to indicates that 8 hours have now been elapsed since the timecode was initialized or controlled in the camera You need here to re initialize or to control you camera timecode AATOIN wun 2 2 12 VIDEO ASSIST THE CAMERA BODY The Aaton VHR color VHR tap is designed to add video assist capabilitv to the Xter without compromising the body s size flex ibility and ease of use Because the VHR head is incorporated into the Xter camera body there are no centering or focus adjustments necessary unless of course when converting the body between 16 and Super16 formats 2 12 1 The Internal Beamsplitter The Aaton VHR assist system employs an internal user retractable beamsplitter that reroutes a portion of the viewfinder s light path to the VHR target while the video assist is in use In situations which do not require the VHR assist the beamsplitter is designed to be retracted to allow 100 of the viewfinder s light to reach the eye piece 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 viewfind
33. er is sent to the VHR target when the beamsplitter is in place Although not visible from the outside of the body the 75 25 beamsplitter is identified by its blue anodized holder Also available is a 50 50 beamsplitter which sends a greater per centage of light to the VHR target 2 12 2 Positioning the Beamsplitter The beamsplitter adjustment screw is located underneath a small capped port on the battery side of the camera To access the beam splitter unscrew and remove this silver cap An allen head adjust ment screw will be visible through the opening With the shutter tool gently rotate the adjustment screw approximately 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 43 44 VHR target is maintained and the beamsplitter itself is less suscep tive to residual shocks caused by a drop or sudden jolt Positioning the beamsplitter 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 viewing area 2 12 3 The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment The beamsplitter axis adjustme
34. eve an ultra precise pulldown with a minimal number of moving parts The co planar concept is the key to the camera s low noise operation 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 horizontal and lateral film registration that is superior to all other 16mm cam era movements with an accuracy of 1 2000 of the image dimen sions 4 2 The Hair Free Gate In most 16mm camera designs there is a certain 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 accumulating film dust tends to be deposited The result could be a visible hair in the pic ture area and an unuseable shot Aaton has taken steps in the design of their magazines and gate as sembly to ensure hair and dust free images The Aaton magazine 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 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 DO o
35. ews lon ger than 8mm 1 3 can fracture the base casting and damage the camera s electronics 4 4 SHOULDER OPERATION One of the most attractive features of the Aaton system has always been its comfort and case of use in handheld situations The Aaton S16 camera line does not require the use of shoulder braces or additional padding for handheld operation The contour of the camera and magazine is designed to fit snugly around the operator s shoulder The wooden handgrip is attached to the front rod coupler 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 with out the use of a bridgeplate to allow for quick changing from shoul der to tripod operating modes 4 5 CARRYING HANDLE The carrying handle of the Xtera is reinforced to safely accommodate any carry ing operating or mounting situation 4 5 1 3 8 Accessory Screw The handle features a 3 8 16 insert to receive accessories such as french flags and lightweight monitors Be sure not to use a 3 8 sctew longer than 10mm 7 16 longer screws can fracture the in THE AATON SYSTEM sert casting and damage the viewfinder s optics 4 5 2 Mounting from the Carrying Handle The 3 8 insert along with a guide hole at the rear of the handle can also be used to build a plate to undersling the camera or to configure the rig for Steadicam low mode use For this reason the handle feat
36. f which can be used on today s Xter 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 3 2 2 Super16 Safe All DX magazines are designed to safely transport either standard ot Super16 stock Capped rollers keep the running film from tid ing 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 sensitive base side THE MAGAZINE 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 arca 3 3 PRESSURE PLATE SYSTEM The DX magazine features two pressure plates which are located at the front of the nose of the magazine When the loaded magazine is attached to the camera these pressure plates provide the precise stabilization of the film during exposure and transport 3 3 1 The Picture Plate The upper four striped pressure plate called the picture plate is positioned at the cameta s aperture opening and is designed to hold the film steady at the point of exposure Proper setting and func tioning of the picture plate assures th
37. film in the magazine Please check page 39 Blinking No Code means no timecode in the camera press one button to remove this message GENERAL OVERVIEW 15 THE CAMERA BODY 2 1 LENSES The Xtera s flexible lens mounting system allows for the use of a wide variety of 16mm 35mm and still photographic lenses Flange focal distance Refers to the critical distance 21 1 ArtrtiPL Lens Port from the lens seat to the film an plane The precise FFD of the The ArriPL lens port is the standard mounting system delivered SE 32mm oo to ms with the Xtera and allows the use of all 16 and 35mm ArriPL measured with a depth gauge i l in the lens port It is recom mounted motion picture lenses PL lens adaptors are available for mended that these tolerances Arri standard and Arri bayonet mounted lenses This mount is ideal be checked and maintained by a qualified technician The combination of FFD and back manufacturers 16 and 35mm cameras is often desired The specific focus distance of a lens directly l Sends affects precise focus and overall flange focal distance FFD of the Xter with PL port is 52mm 8 image sharpness Make sure to 17um these critical measurements are strictly upheld When using an unfamiliar lens for the first 2 1 2 Installing the Lens time check that the eye focus matches the tape measured focus marks of the lens and counter clockwise until it reaches its stop If the port cap is on or
38. he size of the camera roll use the magazine footage counter to de termine the correct short end length to input on the control panel 2 10 15 Camera Software Version Number If you need to know the software version number your camera is equipped with proceed as follow Unplug the battery fron the cam era Put the camera on Test mode Then while pluging back the battery watch carefully the LCD control panel During one second it will display the camera software version number 2 11 LED INDICATORS THE CAMERA BODY The Xter utilizes LED indicators in three locations to convey in formation in the viewfinder and on both left and right outsides of the camera body 2 11 1 Position and Meaning of the Diodes Two yellow diodes placed on both tight and left sides of the cam era body indicate that the camera is either on Test or on Run mode Two red diodes placed on both tight and left side of the camera body and a third one visible from the viewfinder display a special warning One yellow diode located to the right of the Jog wheel and called the timecode diode flashes each second if the timecode has been initialized in the camrea 2 11 2 Camera Test Indicator Yellow diode is on Red diode is blinking fast 2 11 3 Camera Run Indicator Yellow diode is on Red diode is off 2 11 4 Low Battery Indicator Yellow diode is on
39. iable crystal control from 3 to 75 fps in 0 001 incre ments Image stability Co planar claw and lateral pressure Vertical and lateral steadyness to 1 2000 of image dimensions Viewing screen Interchangeable fiber optical screens available in 1 33 1 66 1 78 16 9 1 85 and 2 35 aspect ratios and combinations thereof Aatonite illuminated markings Lens port Interchangeable hard fronts ArriPL as standard Aaton universal and Panavision on option Variable Shutter Opening sectors 180 172 8 160 150 144 120 90 60 45 30 15 y Formats 16 Super16 operation Field convertible quick centering of lens axis viewfinder and VHR target between formats Time recording AatonCode in camera at the gate matrix recording of man readable figures and machine readable data TCXO control for 1 2 frame accuracy over 8 hours internal clock SMPTE and ASCH RS232 in Accessory inputs Lemo6 x 3 Lemo8 x 2 Lemo5 Smpte and RS232 time input and Lemo2 x 2 camera on off Outputs BNC x 2 Fisher 4 x 1 located on VHR Magazine 400 ft and 800ft coaxial instant DX magazines quick loading magnetic drive no timecode related parts LCD control panel Illuminated display Pre set and variable speed selection ASA selection battery voltage monitoring remaining footage short end reset elapsed footage mag ID full timecode readout Warnings Low speed problem with the magazine low battery end of film coming soon TECHNICAL
40. ide loading Mag ID Footage 4 THE AATON SYSTEM 4 1 Camera Configurations 15mm Front Rods Sliding Bridgeplate 4 2 Handerip Mounting the Handgrip Handgrip On Off Functions Handgrip Adjustments 4 3 Tripod Use 4 4 Shoulder Operation 4 5 Carrying Handle 44 44 45 45 45 48 48 48 48 49 49 50 50 50 50 51 51 5 2 54 54 55 55 58 58 58 58 59 59 59 60 60 60 3 8 Accessory Screw Mounting from the Carrying Handle Tape Measure Stud 4 6 Transport 4 7 Extreme Conditions Cold Weather Warm Weather 5 CLEANING 5 1 Lens Lens Elements Lens Exterior Mounting Surface 5 2 Body Exterior Mounting Surfaces Camera Gate 5 3 Viewing System Viewing Screen Eyepiece Viewfinder 5 4 Magazine Exterior Pressure Plates Interior Film Path 6 AATONCODE 6 1 Concept 6 2 The Internal Clock 6 3 OriginCplus 6 4 Initializing AatonCode in the Camera Using the OriginCplus Recommended Method Using an External SMPTE Device 6 5 Monitoring and Maintaining AatonCode Monitoring AatonCode with OriginCplus Maintaining AatonCode without OriginCplus 6 6 The camera assistant duties 60 61 61 NNO a N DN DRADADDADADAQRADADRDAAAD CODODOMAANIYNYNNNNADAD 72 73 73 74 75 T 76 76 76 TABLE OF CONTENTS Checking the Diodes Setting the ASA Checking for Running Time 7 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS List of Specifications Connector Pin Attributions Available Viewing Screens 77
41. lly matches what you see with your left eye Ignore the viewing screen markings for the time being and determine whether the rotation of the image you see through the viewfinder match es what you see with your left eye If it does not then a fine adjustment may be necessary 22 To close the eyepiece shutter on the standard bellows eyepiece and 250mm extension grasp the ring at the base of the eyecup and to tate 1 8 of a turn counterclockwise On the hyperlong finder rotate the knurled ring closest to the eyecup counter clockwise to close the shutter 2 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 relative horizon Locate the small slotted screw located on the underside of the viewfinder just inside the eyepiece lock ring 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 rotation When the images seen through your left and right eyes coincide lock the screw 2 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 inher
42. n place your adjustments will move in the opposite direction than what is seen through the finder e Since the cavity is open light will enter through this open ing making any reading inac curate by 1 3 to 2 3 of a stop Therefore only use the direct view of the display to reference the number of diodes adjusted Always check your final adjust ment with the viewfinder in place 37 38 hour minute second then year month day then the six digit pro duction ID then the cameta s equipment in that order 2 10 5 ASA Setting When using the internal lightmeter and or AatonCode in the Xtera the ASA ISO setting must be adjusted to the exposure index of the film stock being used The ISO selector on the LCD control panel provides settings between 25 and 1000 ASA With regards to the lightmeter the setting on the ISO selector dic tates to the camera what the exposure should be for a particular film stock For AatonCode proper ASA ISO 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 Press button Batt Iso twice to view the ASA selection To adjust the ASA setting press SET then button Batt Iso Make your selec tion between 25 and 1000 ISO by toggling Batt Iso or by rotating the jog wheel If the ISO selector is adjusted while the camera is in test or run po sition the correction will not take place until the next came
43. ngers and check how the spacing relates to the proper loop length Of course each person s finger measured equivalent will be slightly dif ferent but for most people a tight two finger length is ap proximately a 14 frame loop a loose two fingers is about 15 frames After you become familiar loading the mag you should be able to use the two finger method to save time setting your loop 53 Warning Never use the 800 ft magazine without both platters 54 3 6 800 ft magazine Though the 800 ft design and loading is very close to the 400 ft magazine the following points need to be respected 3 6 1Feed side loading The loading is very similar to the 400 ft Do not forget to install the upper platter when the film stock is loaded This platter allows the proper driving of the film reduces the noise level and avoids scratch problems This platter and the take up side platter must al ways be clean 3 6 2 Take up side loading The film path is the same as the 400 ft magazine The 800 ft film stock is delivered with a 3 inch core It is necessary to use this kind of core to ensure a proper take up If you need these cores you can ask your Kodak dealer The 2 inch core can be used but Aaton ad vises against it The loop has to be adjusted to 14 15 perfs Do not forget to install the take up side platter THE MAGAZINE e Mag identification system Determined by the combination of magnets in receiver
44. ning footage As mentioned previ ously any break longer than 7 seconds while in SET mode will au tomatically enter the last selection The following parameters can be accessed from the LCD control panel in conjunction with the jog For more concise information see the table in the System Features and Controls chapter of this manual 2 10 3 Aatonite In its default mode the Jog controls the level of Aatonite viewing screen illumination from zero to full brightness 2 10 4 AatonCode As a standard feature the Xter is equipped with the capabilitv of recording AatonCode in camera time Timecode information 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 For more elaborate information regarding the uses and functioning of AatonCode OriginCplus and other related devices refer to the AatonCode chapter of this manual If AatonCode has been initialized in the camera press button Time to view timecode information Toggling button Time will display Adustment Tips While adjusting the sensitiv ity of the lightmeter you may wish to use your direct view of the display through the body s top cavity for reference If so there are a few points to remember e Because the image is inverted without the viewfinder i
45. nt is used to recenter the VHR assist image when switching between 16 and Super16 formats If when you turn on the control unit the image on your monitor appears off to one side the 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 see dia gram on the following page A red dot to the upper left of the slot indicates the position of the screw for Super16 Loosen the allen screw one turn 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 fol low the directions under 2 12 17 Installing the VHR Head to adjust focus 2 12 4 The Manual Iris The VHR assist features an manual video 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 recom mended to employ the manual iris feature which is located on the bottom of the VHR head cover please refer to VHR user s guide Under normal operation this mechanical iris should be wide open When further light control is necessary look at the video monitor and move the iris lever to the left to the desired degree 2 12 5 Battery Life with VHR Video Assist The VHR assist draws 200 mA when powered This translates into THE CAMERA BODY approximately 3 t
46. o 4 hours of operation without the Xter run ning on one 12V 3 2 ah on board battery Although battery life will vatv greatly depending on the amount of film run and the number of accessories powered from one power source you could estimate that one 12V on board could run 10 magazines and the VHR for 2 3 hours 2 12 6 The VHR Color Video Assist capabilities and Menu For all operating information please refer to the VHR user s manual which can be find at www aaton com 45 THE MAGAZINE 47 48 3 1 CONCEPT The Aaton DX Magazine incorporates many features which add to the camera system s ease of use efficiency and reliability The maga zine 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 single perforated 16mm film stock 400 feet of film is approximately 10 5 running minutes at 24 fps 3 2 COMPATIBILITY 3 2 1 DX Magazines Since the introduction of the XTR in 1984 only DX magazines have been manufactured by Aaton all o
47. o enter Stop the camera and then install a magazine Run the camera Press SET then EX VAR twice Look through the camera at the monitor and press EX VAR until the roll bar is out of view Press SET to enter 2 10 10 Feet or Meters The control panel can be set to count in either feet or meters in the following manner Unplug power from the camera until the display goes dark Simultaneously press button MAG while plugging power back in Continue to hold button MAG and set camera Run Test switch to test position foot or meter will show on the display Tog gle button MAG to make your selection 2 10 11 Footage Remaining The control panel will display the memorized footage remaining any time the camera is running with a magazine on 2 10 12 Footage Elapsed With the camera stopped press button MAG to view the elapsed footage of the previous camera run With the camera running press Force Processing and the AatonCode matrix Regardless of the situation always set the ASA selector to the actual exposure index of the film If you know before hand that your footage will be pushed or pulled don t worry about compensating for the sake of the precise exposure of your timecode matrix The matrix is resistant enough to handle exposure variances of one and a half stops or more in either direction 39 N Changing Speeds while Running the Camera Any camera speed wether pre set or specific can be changed when th
48. omprised of two triangular prisms sand wiched together On some viewfinders depending on the construction of this prism rotation of the eyepiece a full 360 will cause the image in the finder to shift slightly left or right After attaching an extension finder if the image in the finder appears to have shifted slightly rotate the finder 360 and choose the preferred cen right side viewing and an upright image in any position tered image The viewfinder is equipped with a standard short eyepiece that can be used for handheld and tripod mounted operation For more comfortable tripod and studio applications the standard extension 19 20 finder can be fitted in place of the short eyepiece With an Elemak ot Mitchell type dolly or in situations requiring additional reach the hyperlong finder can be used Note that standard short eyepiece can be equipped with a heating system as well as 250mm eyepiece extension in order to avoid any condensation on the eyepiece lens Aaton can provide you a heating lens neutral 3 or 3 diopters and the corresponding cable 2 2 2 Attaching the Extension Finder In order to use an extension finder on the Xtera the standard eye piece must first be removed To remove the eyepiece locate the eyepiece lock ring marked A in the photo below Rotate counter clockwise and gently pull off the eyepiece To install the extension finder locate the protruding guide pin on the seat of
49. on provides quick adjustment of Aatonite ASA speed phasing footage flashes each second if the timecode has been initialized in the camera locks the magazine feed door displays the footage remaining in the magazine feed side allows friction adjustments for short Long eyepiece 13 1 5 LCD CONTROL PANEL QUICK REFERENCE SET SYNC EX VAR ISO MAG Show toast IN SHOW MODE 24 080 ISO 100 Batt 10 4 Ela 042 22 32 54 95 03 25 123456 2321 IN SET MODE Sp 2 4 Sp 277454 Et Phase ISO 100 MAG 400 MAG 140 WARNINGS Lo Spd Lo Batt Empty Unadjust No Code 14 balt iso elapse default mode 1 x Batt Iso 2 x Batt Iso Camera speed and Remaining footage Film ASA Battery voltage Elapsed footage during last take 2 x Speed Hours minutes seconds in AatonCode 1 x Time Year Month Day in AatonCode 2 x Time Production ID in AatonCode 3 x Time Equipment number in AatonCode 4 x Time Adjusting a preset speed SET 1 x SYNC toggle SYNC or use Jog Adjusting a specific speed SET 1 x VAR use Jog Speed controled by external speed device SET 2 x VAR Phase Adjusting Camera running SET 2 x VAR use Jog ASA Setting SET 1 x ISO toggle ISO or use Jog Indicating that the new magazine is fully loaded SET 2 x MAG Indicating the new magazine s footage SET 1 x MAG use Jog Camera has not yet reached the selected speed Battery is too low below 10V No more
50. ot in length e Reintroduce the film into the lower slot back into the magazine e Place a plastic take up 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 e Bypass the lower sprocket for now and pass the film underneath the lower roller Fit the film end into a plastic take up core and wind on a few turns counter clockwise and emulsion in THE MAGAZINE e 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 e 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 un til 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 e Remove any slack then close and lock the take up door SS The Two Finger Rule When loading the take up side of the magazine the loop size can quickly be measured by inserting two fingers within the loop perpendicular to the mag s pressure plates At first determine proper loop size by pulling the looped film away from the mag counting and adjusting for 15 to 16 visible perforations for a length 14 to 15 frames long Then insert two fi
51. our sequence Use this pattern to occasionally check that all diodes are operational and evenly illuminated As part of the normal gate cleaning procedure clean this area with a Q tip 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 6 2 Setting the ASA When changing magazines make sure the ASA ISO setting of the camera matches the film stock being used To check the current ASA selection on the LCD control panel press the button marked ISO twice To adjust the ASA setting press SET then this button Make your selection between 25 and 1000 ISO by toggling the but ton or by rotating the jog wheel 6 3 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 simultaneously 77 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 79 80 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Weight 6kg 13 lbs with 400 ft load and 12V on board battery Power 10 14 V 600 mA with film a 25 C 77 F Temperature range 20 C 4 F to 40 C 104 E Noise level 20 dB 1 2 Speeds preset speeds of 6 12 18 20 23 98 24 25 29 97 30 36 40 48 60 and 75 fps Built in var
52. ra start 2 10 6 Battery Voltage Press button 3 to read the voltage of the camera s power source Notice that if the camera is running and button 3 is pressed the control panel will read and display the voltage under load 2 10 7 Camera Preset Speed The default mode of the control panel will automatically display the camera speed selection whether it be in sync or variable mode when the camera is powered but not running When the camera is turned on the actual running speed to the 01 frame is displayed To adjust the preset speed press SET then button SYNC Make your selection of stepped crystal speed between 6 and 75 fps by toggling SYNC or via the jog wheel 2 10 8 Camera Specific Speed THE CAMERA BODY To choose a specific speed press SET then EX VAR Make your selection of any 001 incremented crystal speed between 3 000 and 75 000 fps via the jog To set the camera to be driven from an external source such as film video synchronizer or external speed control press SET then EX VAR twice Et will be displayed indicating that camera is set in external mode 2 10 9 Speed Phasing The phasing of the variable speed can be set to eliminate a roll bar while filming a monitor Operate first with no magazine on the camera because you first need to synchronise the camera speed to the monitor frequency Run the camera Press SET then EX VAR once turn the jog until the roll bar seems stable on the screen Press SET t
53. ranties express or implied by statute or otherwise regarding this manual including the fitness for a particular purpose quality or merchantability regarding the equipment described in this manual and in no event shall Aaton or its licensors be liable for any damages including but not limited to incidental special or consequential damages arising out of the use of the equipment or any exposure of motion picture film used in the equipment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 SYSTEM FEATURES AND CONTROLS Front View 10 Rear View de al Battery Side 12 Motor Side 13 LCD Control Panel Quick Reference 14 2 THE CAMERA BODY 2 1 Lenses 18 ArriPL Lens Port 18 Installing the Lens 18 Aaton Lens Port 19 2 2 Viewing System 1 9 Viewfinder Options 19 Attaching the Extension Finder 20 Viewfinder Tension Adjustments 20 Adjusting the Diopter 21 The Eyepiece Shutter 21 Adjusting the Viewing Horizon 22 Viewing Screen 272 Changing the Viewing Screen 23 Adujsting the Viewing Screen 24 Aatonite Illumination 24 2 3 Mirror Shutter 25 Concept 25 Adjusting the Shutter 25 2 4 Film Gate and Pulldown Claw PASS 2 5 Flange Focal Distance Adjustment 28 Concept 28 Polishing a Spacer 28 Changing the Spacer 28 Adjusting the Viewing Screen 29 Flange Focal Distances 29 2 6 Magazine 29 Installing the Magazine 29 Removing the Magazine 30 2 7 Power 31 Installing the Battery on the Camera Battery Charging Other Power Options 2 8 Motor Camera Speeds Using
54. ration that with practice can be performed in a little over a minute Refer to the Magazine chapter of this manual for complete details on loading and caring for magazines 2 6 1 Installing the Magazine The instant mag design allows for instantaneous switching between mags on the set To install the magazine on the camera situate 29 30 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 midway 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 2 6 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 push the mag release lever towards the front of the camera with your thumb Pull the magazine straight off the camera with your right hand THE CAMERA BODY 2 7 POWER Xtera body requires only 12 volts for all aspects of operation One standa
55. rcular fashion start ing 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 sufficiently clean 5 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 5 1 3 Mounting Surface Always inspect and keep the surfaces of your lens mounts clean us ing alcohol or a multi purpose cleaner with a Q tip Remember any debris found on the surface which contacts the lens seat can directly affect the back focus of your lens Make sure the Q tip does not leave any cotton fibers behind 5 2 BODY 5 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 5 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 CLEANING well as the threads of the lens lock ring using alcohol or a multi purpose cleaner applied to a Q tip 5 2 3 Camera Gate The gate should be cleaned of film particles by means of a pointed 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
56. rd Aaton on board 12V 3 5 Ah rechargeable Nimh will power the camera video and any accessories which are connected to the body s accessory inputs such as zoom controls speed controls etc through a standard 4 pin XLR connector Two 3 5 Ah on board batteries can be installed on the Xter 2 7 1 Installing the Battery on the Camera In order to install loosen the blue knurled screw approximately four ot 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 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 replac ing the battery confirm that time is still counting by looking for the yellow blinking diode to the right of the motor or checking the control panel 2 7 2 Battery Charging The Aaton on board can be recharged with an appropriate 12V Nimh 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 Nimh cells Always follow the specific guidelines of the charger
57. ront of the accessory box 4 2 2 Handgrip On Off Functions Both camera run and test functions are available from the handgrip 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 hand grip 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 function allows the use of the handgrip as a simple intervalometer 4 2 3 Handgrip Adjustments The handgrip rotation should be adjusted for maximum handheld 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 intermedi ate arms which utilize the star plate system for adjustment Ask your agent for a configuration that meets your needs 59 60 4 3 TRIPOD USE In order to use the Xter 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 non standard scr
58. ry input provides Hz TVsync and camera run accessory input provides and camera run functions 11 1 3 BATTERY SIDE 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 12 VHR Control Unit VHR On Off Carrying handle Viewfinder Locking Ring Run Test Switch Take up Latch On board Batteries LED Indicators Lemo2 Adjusting Screw fastens to the body for video operation powers the VAR assist see VHR users guide includes 3 8 16 accessory hole and adjusting tools locks left right orientation provides camera run and full frame inching from the handgrip locks the magazine take up door 2 x 12V NiMh for handheld operation LED side indicators for camera run camera test and low battery input provides camera run functions adjusts the rotation of the handgrip GENERAL OVERVIEW 1 4 MOTOR SIDE 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 LCD Control Panel Diopter Set Ring Lemo5 Lightmeter On Off On Off Rotating Switch Motor Aaton Jog AatonCode Led Feed Latch Mag Footage Counter Eyepiece Friction Ring displays AatonCode ASA speed voltage remaining footage adjusts the diopter setting to the operator s eye AatonCode and SMPTE timecode communication activates the lightmeter display in the viewfinder for Run Stop Test fonctions Includes LED Indicators motor side indicators for camera run camera test and low battery triphase salarium low power consumption 3 75 fps operati
59. s in camera speed 2 9 1 Display Through the viewfinder the lightmeter display is positioned di rectly below the viewing screen across the bottom of the frame A single darkened diode moves across an array of 13 yellow and green diodes indicating proper exposure see diagrams Each diode represents one third of a stop while normal exposure darkens 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 LED Indicators for further details 2 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 ac curate reading To use the lightmeter follow these simple guidelines Set the ISO selection on the control panel 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 THE CAMERA BODY 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 ac cording to subject conditions 2 9 3 Using the Lightmeter without Running
60. s located above the drive wheel on the mag throat same combinations than the 400 ft magazine e Footage A sensor coupled to an external display allows to verify the remain footage in the magazine Warning when you install the platter be sure that the edge of the platter is placed on top of the driving roller An incor rect positioning could create some take up problems Note with XTR and XTRplus cameras the LCD display does not indicate the remaining footage in the 800 ft magazine This function is strictly reserved to the Xter 55 4 THE AATON SYSTEM 58 4 1 CAMERA CONFIGURATIONS 4 1 1 15mm Front Rods The most versatile and popular configuration for accessorizing the XTRplus camera the universal 15mm screw in front rod system can instantly accept Aaton Arri Chrosziel Petroff and other manufac turers mattebox and follow focus systems Utilizing the front rod system allows for quick conversion from tripod to shoulder operat ing modes without the need for recon figuration Aaton manufactures 60mm and 120mm length rods that screw di rectly into the front housing of Xter 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 be tween tripod and handheld modes is necessaty 4 1 2 Sliding Bridgeplate The Xter can also accept standard 15 and 19mm sliding bridge plates for building the
61. shoot a focus test for rental facilities where a mounting system compatible with other To install the lens on the camera body turn the outer locking ring remove it Align the four protruding flanges on the lens with the four 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 18 THE CAMERA BODY 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 2 1 3 Aaton Lens Port The Xter can also be equipped with an Aaton lens port In order to install the Aaton port the ArriPL lens seat and locking ring must first be removed Because the FFD of the Aaton lens port is shorter than most pro fessional cameras 40mm the Xter equipped with this mount 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 adaptors are avail able for Arri standard Arri bayonet as well as Nikon and Leica R photographic mounts 2 2 VIEWING SYSTEM 2 1 Viewfinder Options The viewfinder is designed to be fully orientable providing left or The Pechan prism In order to provide a fully orientable upright image the Aaton viewfinder incorporates a pechan prism assembly which is actually c
62. sis mount connector at the base of the camera e Press to monitor AatonCode drift OriginCplus will compare its own timecode to that of Xtera OriginCplus will display Good fair bad or dif time different time followed by the amount of drift in tenths of a frame e Follow the same procedure for each camera or sound recorder on the set running AatonCode When initializing or monitoring time code in aSMPTE device press 0 on the OriginCplus 6 5 2 Maintaining AatonCode without OriginCplus If the OriginCplus has not been used and timecode has been set in the camera 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 run or test posi tion for it to accept the newly fed code 6 6 THE CAMERA ASSISTANT S DUTIES Although timecode related practices on the set are very straightfor ward and uncomplicated there are a few duties which should be AATON CODE handled by the camera assistant as part of his her routine 6 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 ro tate the shutter 180 but the seven timecode LEDs in the gate will illuminate in a three f
63. ter clean ing run your finger across their surface for a slight lubrication 5 4 3 Interior Film Path qOpen 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 remaining dust in the throat and main chambers 69 AATONCODE 71 72 6 1 CONCEPT AatonCode Aaton s proprietary in camera timecode system is recorded in the Xtera on the edge of the film between the perfora tions 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 equip ment ID and the running speed of the body Timecode is exposed onto the film by means of seven micro di odes 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 sensi tivity by means of the camera s ASA selection The Xter can accept timecode information in both ASCH and SMPTE form and wotk 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 purpos es synchronization becomes fully automatic during the film tape transfer or la
64. ter post production stages An Aaton device called Keylink which consists of VHR reader heads and a PC and which is owned by the telecine house is de signed 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 notes from the set recorded by means of Aaton s Script Supervisor software The facility can then supply all correlated information in VITC ver tical interval timecode and or burn in windows on the transferred tape and also on floppy disk for direct use with non linear editing systems audio workstations and logging programs 6 2 THE INTERNAL CLOCK The Xter contains an internal clock designed to be initialized from AATON CODE an outside source and keep accurate time within a half a frame for 8 hours After 8 hours of keeping time the yellow diode on the base of the Xter will flash once every four seconds indicating that accurate time is no longer guaranteed In order for the internal clock to operate the camera 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
65. tion You may use the wooden handgrip Run Test switch of your camera to shoot a single frame just press this button to Test and immediatly release it In that case the film is exposed during 1 4 second But you need to know that the Xtera chamber is still not opaque enough so that more than 10 minutes can separate two single image shots To use an Aaton camera in single image shooting you d better use an intervalometer and a lens capping shutter 35 36 e 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 e 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 rotating counterclockwise will correct an underexposure e 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 2 9 5 Turning the Lightmeter Off If the lightmeter is not being used it may be 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
66. uipment 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 sealed container and letting it thaw for a few hours before opening Always keep your raw stock and loaded magazines below freezing temperatures at all times during a cold weather shoot 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 63 CLEANING 65 Lens Cleaning Tips Avoid handling lens tissue on the surfaces which will contact the lens Oil from your hands transferred to the lens surface will make an easy cleaning job tough Furthermore never clean a lens element without the aid of cleaning fluid A good number of scratches on lens surfaces are caused by poor cleaning methods 66 5 1 LENS 5 1 1 Lens Elements The front and rear surfaces of your lenses should be inspected reg ularly and always kept clean of dust particles smudges fingerprints etc First blow off any large particles of debris using an air syringe Lens elements should then be cleaned using lens cleaning fluid with lens tissue Apply a few drops of cleaning fluid to a fresh lens tis sue or directly to the lens Wipe the lens in a ci
67. ures a long flat top surface that is parallel to the bottom of the camera 4 5 3 Tape Measure Stud The handle is also equipped with a hideaway tape measure stud which is positioned between the rods directly behind the 3 8 insert To use this stud pull it up and fasten the ring of a standard assis tant s tape measure around it the stud holds the tape measure zero point precisely at the film plane 4 6 TRANSPORT One often overlooked yet vital factor in the proper functioning and longevity of your camera equipment is your transportation practices A few good shipping habits can avert potential damage caused by careless messenger services and air port handling When shipping and carrying your equipment it is always good prac tice to break down the package to its basic components whenever possible Ship the body mags and batteries unattached and individu ally 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 trans ported as one Make certain there is ample padding between individual components in a case and from the case s outer edges Shipping case manufactur ers suggest a minimum of 1 1 2 padding between high precision 61 62 components such as the camera and lenses 1 of padding is accept able howe
68. ver 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 determine the case configuration that best suits your needs 4 7 EXTREME CONDITIONS Certain precautions should be taken in order to achieve maximum performance when operating the Xtera in extreme or adverse conditions 4 7 1 Cold weathers The Xter features a built in electronic heating element located in its base which is designed to automatically turn on when needed and maintain the claw mechanism at a temperature of 15 E One of the cold hard facts of cold weather shooting is the consid erable reduction of battery life Do whatever possible to conserve THE AATON SYSTEM 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 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 protect the camera body from direct contact with the wind and cold To avoid condensation inside the mechanism electronics and lens ele ments do not take the eq
69. y limitation Overcranking in such a way however will increase mechanism weat 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 effects on its mechanics 2 8 3 Electronic Inching The inching function of the motor is accomplished electronically 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 inspec tion lightmeter functions and loop situating when installing a fresh mag From the Handgrip The wooden handgrip switch by way of the Lemo2 connector pro vides camera run and full frame inching for single frame operation 33 34 and loop situating From a Remote Cable The Lemo2 connector as well as Lemo6 Lemo8 and Amph9 ac cessoty connectors provide the capability of using a remote on off with either a half frame or full frame inching function 2 9 LIGHTMETER The Xtera 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 change

Xterà user's guide 2007.indd

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Xter&agrave; user's guide 2007.indd

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Xterà user's guide 2007.indd