Aaton Penelope User's Guide

penelope

by Aaton

Aaton 35mm 2-Perf & 3-Perf motion picture camera

User’s guide v1.31 (rev.4)

Jan. 07 2010

Aaton

Aaton

Table of content

2

General overview 7

Front view 8
Rear view 9
Assistant’s side 10
Assistant’s controls 11
Assistant’s controls - detailed view 12
Operator’s side 13
Top view 15

Getting started 16

Power up the camera electronics 17
Power up the VHR video assist 17
Power down the camera electronics and video assist 17
The «set» key 17
TEST mode 18
Adjusting the Aatonite (glow) 18
Film camera status 19
Warning messages 20
Magazine footage adjustment 21
Foot or meter setting 21
Footage counting 21
Manual footage counter 22
Video assist direct access 22

Aaton

Table of content

3

Camera body 23

2.1 Lenses 24

The PL lens port 24
The PV lens port 24
i/lenses compatibility 24

2.2 Viewing System 25

Eyepiece 25
Attaching the finder extension 25
Viewfinder tension adjustment 26
Adjusting the viewing horizon 26
Adjusting the diopter 27
The eyepiece shutter 27
Viewing screen 27
Changing the viewing screen 28
Adjusting the viewing screen 28

2.3 The variable shutter 29

Concept 29
Adjusting the shutter 29

2.4 Film gate and pulldown claw 30

Adjusting the pitch 30
The side pressure bar 30
The film gate 30

Aaton

Table of content

4

2.5 Camera power 31

Installing batteries 31
Charging the batteries 32
Other power sources 32

2.6 Motors 33

Film frame-rate 33
Using external speed control 34

2.7 Assistant’s side LCD control panel and jog 34

The jog 34
Basics: «sync», «var», «iso», «mag» 35
AatonCode initialization 35
Timecode generator 36
ISO setting 37
SYNC speed 37
VAR speed 37
EXT speed 38
EXT SYNC speed 38
Low battery alert 39
Technical menu 39
LEMO start mode 40
Video Out menu 40
System Time 41
Adjusting the low-battery alert level 41
Display contrast adjustment 42
External Sync 42

Aaton

Table of content

5

Footage Mode 42
Software Version 43
Lens Data 43
Video-assist proxies 43
Firmware Install 44

2.8 Operator’s side settings 45

2.9 Cold weather tips 46

Magazine 47

3.1 Concept 48

3.2 Pressure plate system 48

Claw rear pressure plate 48
Picture rear pressure plate 48

3.3 Loading the film in 17 steps 49

In the light 49
In the dark 50
Still in the dark 51
Still in the dark 52
In the light again 53
Installing the magazine 54
Removing the magazine 54

Video assist 55

4.1 Image look (Video menu) 56

• Gain 57

• Color temp. 57

• Color saturation 57

• Color bars 57

• Color/B&W out (Output). 57

4.2 Frame & mask 58

4.3 Proxy capture 59

4.4 Metadata insert 60

• AatonCode 60

• Battery voltage 60

• VITC line & parity 60

• Lens Data 60

• Film status 61

• Software/hardware 61

4.5 Logos 61

Aaton

Technical drawings 62

Table of content

6

General overview

General overview

8

Aaton

10

1
2

3

9

8

7

6

Front view

1

Short eyepiece

2

Horizon setting knob

3

Friction adjusting ring

4

Fischer-2 connector

5

PL mount locking ring

6

LEMO-2 connector

7

Rosette

8

Video (VHR) ND knob

9

Video housing

10

Top rod holder

4
5

(Extension eyepiece to be ordered separately)
To adjust the image horizon
To adjust the tension of the eyepiece swivel
Eyepiece heating cable connector
Lock ring for 35mm PL mounted lenses
Run/Stop connector
For accessories compatible with ARRI rosettes
To adjust the video light level
Protects the CCD unit
To install a rod (15, 15.8 or 19mm)

Aaton

General overview

9

9

1

2

8

7

Rear view

1

Upper battery locking screw

2

LEMO-6 socket (x2)

3

USB socket

4

LEMO-8 socket

5

Magazine release lever

6

LEMO-5 socket

7

Gate

8

Run/Stop switch

9

Magazine locking lever

3

4

5

6

Fastens the upper onboard battery
Provides +Batt, Start and Ground for accessories
Connects to a USB key
Provides 12V, Start, Sync pulse and ground for accessories
Used to release the magazine from the camera body
Timecode communication
Removable gate, 2-Perf or 3-Perf
Runs/stops the film
Secures the magazine to the camera body

General overview

10

Aaton

1 2 3 4

Assistant’s side

1

Upper battery locking screw

2

Run/Standby switch

3

Fischer-4 socket

4

Jog wheel

5

Pitch control

6

Video (VHR) ND knob

7

BNC connectors (x2)

8

Magazine release lever

9

LEMO-8 socket

10

Lower battery locking screw

11

LEMO-6 socket (x2)

8

Fastens the upper onboard battery
Runs and stops the film shooting
Provides power and composite video signal for MiniMonitors
Modifies camera parameter settings
Adjusts the claw pulldown stroke
Adjusts the video light level
Provide video output
Unlocks the magazine from the camera body
Provides +Batt., Start, Sync and Ground for accessories
Fastens the lower onboard battery
Provides +Batt., Start and Ground for accessories

56791011

Aaton

General overview

11

12

1

11

10

9

8

7

Assistant’s controls

1

Fischer-4 socket

2

Jog wheel

3

LCD screen

4

Setting keys

5

Ethernet RJ45 connector

6

BNC sockets

7

LEMO-8 socket

8

Lower battery locking screw

9

Ethernet cable locking lever

10

LEMO-6 socket (x2)

11

Run/Stop switch

12

Upper battery locking screw

2

3

4

5

6

Provides power and composite video signal for MiniMonitors (IVS compatible)
Camera parameters settings
Displays camera and video parameters
Allows access to camera and video operating menu
Computer communication
Video outputs
+Batt., Start, Sync and Ground for accessories
Fastens the lower onboard battery
Locks Ethernet cable
Provides +Batt., Start and Ground for accessories
Runs/stops the film
Fastens the upper onboard battery

General overview

12

Aaton

1

2

5 6 7

11

Assistant’s controls - detailed view

1

«up» key

2

«left» key

3

«down» key

4

«right» key

5

«exit» key

6

«set» key

7

«vid» key

8

«sto» key

9

«tc» key

10

«on-off» key

11

«tech» key

12

«sync» key

13

«var» key

14

«iso» key

15

«mag» key

scroll video assist and film camera setups (direct access to video assist’s gain)
scroll video and camera setups (direct access to shutter phasing)
scroll video and camera setups (direct access to video assist’s gain)
scroll video and camera setups (direct access to shutter phasing)
confirm setup menu
select functions
access video assist setups ((«set» + «vid» activate monitor display)
access Framestore
access Timecode
power film camera electronics («set» + «on-off activate video assist)
access Technical
access synch speed settings («set» + «sync»)
access variable speed settings («set» + «var») and external speed control
access ISO and magazine IDs («set» + «iso»)
access magazine footage settings («set» + «mag»)

4

3

9 10

12

8

13 14 15

Aaton

General overview

13

9

8
7
6
5

Operator’s side

1 2

3

4

1

Magazine door locking lever

2

Magazine footage counter

3

Magazine door locking lever

4

Take-up spool inching knob

5

Lower display key

6

Operator’s LCD display

7

Middle display key

8

Upper display key

9

Run/Stop switch

Locks/unlocks magazine door
Manually checks magazine footage
Locks/unlocks magazine door
Adjusts loop size while loading the magazine
Modifies camera parameters
Displays camera speed and magazine footage
Modifies camera parameters
Modifies camera parameters
Runs/stops the film

General overview

14

Aaton

LCD display - Assistant’s side

1

LCD display - Operator’s side

10

9
8
7
6

5

1

L (mag upper lever) and G (gate) flags

2

Selected speed

3

Magazine footage

4

Remaining time (minutes and seconds)

5

Time code

6

Film ISO

7

Video assist white balance

8

Video assist gain

9

Lower battery meter

10

Upper battery meter

2

2

3

4

Symbols blink - error (magazine upper lock or gate)
Sync/Var./Ext. frame rate (thousanths not displayed)
Remaining or elapsed footage, in feet or meters
Magazine remaining running time
Hour : minute : second [initialization]
ISO for correct Aatoncode matrix exposure
5600°K, 3200°K and Assistant entered values
Current gain setting
Lower battery voltage
Upper battery voltage

1

3

Aaton

General overview

15

7

6

5

Top view

1

3/8” inserts

2

«Sh» tool

3

«Pitch» tool

4

Magazine’s upper lock

5

Collimation cap

6

Viewfinder friction screw

7

Tape hook

1

2
3

4

Socker for accessories
Shutter angle adjustment tool
Pulldown pitch adjustment tool
Secures the magazine to the camera body
Gives access to ground glass collimation adjustment
Adjusts the viewfinder up-down freedom of movement
Holds the gate to subject measurement tape

1

Getting started

Power up the camera electronics

To turn ON the camera electronics, press the «on/off» key.

Power up the VHR video assist

To turn ON the video assist, press the «set» key and then the «on/off» key.

Power down the camera electronics and video assist

Press the «on/off» key, a window appears on the LCD screen. Hold the
«on/off» key, a bargraph timer starts counting down.
When finished, the screen displays Au revoir.

The «set» key

The «set» key gives access to the camera’s settings. While pressing the
«set» key, a window appears for a few seconds allowing you to access the
desired parameters.

Aaton

Getting started

17

Aaton

Getting started

18

TEST mode

The TEST mode lets you open the shutter and keep it protected inside the
camera body. This is used to check the gate for cleanliness and to find the
image while doing a steadiness test, this lets you find the correct film/perf
position for the second film passage if you are using the double exposure
method.

To access the TEST mode, press the «Run/Stop» switch (A) – located on
both the Assistant’s and Operator’s sides — and hold it pressed for 3 to 4
seconds. When the shutter opens, the display background color turns dark
blue, release the switch.
If you want to inch the film frame by frame, press the upper key (C) located
Operator’s side. To leave the TEST mode, press the «Run/Stop» switch
again for 3 to 4 seconds.

A

Adjusting the Aatonite (glow)

The viewing screen carries illuminated markings referred to as Aatonite. The
brigtness level is user adjustable using the middle (B) or upper (C) keys locat­ed on the Operator’s side.
The configuration of these markings is different from one screen to another,
see the screen illustrations, Chapter 5.

NOTE: the brigtness level can also be adjusted while the film is running.

C

B

Aaton

Getting started

19

Film camera status

The LCD screen color informs the camera crew about the shooting status
from a distance.

Light cyan
The camera is in STANDBY.

Orange
The camera is in RUN, but has not yet reached the selected speed.

Green
The camera is in RUN at the selected speed.

Purple

The camera is at end of film

Red
A problem has been detected, e.g. film jam.

Aaton

Getting started

20

Warning messages

When a problem has been detected, the LCD screen’s background turns red
followed by an explanatory message.

Gate position

The camera gate is easily removable to allow switching between 2-Perf and
3-Perf formats. The correct positioning of the gate is mandatory for proper
camera functioning and focused pictures. The camera gate holder is
equipped with 4 sensors to check the gate position, if the gate is not proper­ly positioned, the camera displays the message GATE MISPLACED and
refuses to run. Remove the gate and reinstall it.

Magazine upper lock lever

The magazine top locking lever, located on top of the camera body, insures
the magazine’s proper positioning. It is equipped with a position sensor
which does not allow the camera to run if this lever is unlocked, the message
MAG NOT LOCKED is displayed and the camera refuses to run. Lock the
lever and press RUN.