Aaton Cam 35III Users Guide

							Mitchell type doll y, or in situations requiring additional reach, theThe  Pechan Prism
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THE  CAMERA BO DY
dc
b
a
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							pin on the seat of the viewfinder and align the pin with the hole in
the flange of the finder. Make the flange to the seat of the viewfin-
der 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 operatorÕs eye to be installed on the view-
finder. 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 operatorÕs 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 a standard extension finder, tension should be increased
to hold the additional weight of this finder in place.
To adjust the tension of the swivel, loosen the steel knurled screw
(C) located on the friction adjusting ring. Hold the eyepiece in pla-
ce, rotate the adjusting ring slightly and retighten the screw; 1/8 of a
turn, at first, will have an effect. To increase the tension of the eye-
piece swivel, rotate the adjusting ring clockwise; to decrease the ten-
sion, rotate the adjusting ring counter-clockwise.
2.2.4 Adjusting the Diopter
Before shooting, the diopter setting of the viewfinder should be
adjusted to the operatorÕs eye. To set the diopter, locate the diopter
set ring (D) in front of the carrying handle at the top of the viewfin-
der, and loosen the small knurled knob. Look through the viewfin-
der, rotate the diopter set ring until the edge of the cross-hair is at
its sharpest point and retighten the knob. It is recommended that,
for easiest setting, this adjustment be performed with the port cover
off and no lens on the camera.
Notice that the diopter set ring is engraved with numbers and dots
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							-use this reference to quickly recall your particular setting when
Checking  your vi ewing
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THE  CAMERA BO DY
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							The viewing screen is designed to be easily removed by the user for
the purpose of interchanging or for cleaning. To remove the screen,
first remove the port cap. Remove the battery and clear the mirror
shutter so that it is positioned safely inside the body by rotating at
the base of the shutter with your finger. Look into the port and
locate the screen directly above the aperture opening. To operate,
use a piece of Post-it, that will take the viewing screen without dir-
tying it. Put the Post-it on your forefinger, the sticking part of it
facing up. Smoothly put your finger on the viewing screen, and
remove it.
To reinstall the screen, look into the port and locate the right and
left lip of the viewing screen holder. The grounded side of the vie-
wing screen should face down. Proceed as before, with a piece of
Post-it on your finger.
2.2.9. Adjusting the viewing screen : 
The image focus on the viewing screen (or Òground-glassÓ) should
match the lens barrel focus mark and the focus on the film. Before
adjusting the viewing screen, be certain that the flange focal distance
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screen
post-it
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							of the camera is set according to the manufacturer specifications. 52
mm ,57.15 mm and that the lens used is correctly adjusted ; this
can be determined by the use of a collimator. It is preferable to use a
Òwide angle lensÓ i.e. : less than 25 mm. To proceed, you must first
unscrew and remove the circular Cap located on the upper side of
the rectangle plate, above the battery locking screw. Inside the access
hole, locate the screen holder that you can unlock by turning its
Allen screw counterclockwise. Set your focusing chart at a measured
distance. Set the focus mark of the lens at the exact same distance (
Adjust the diopter ! ) you can, now, focus the 
ground-glass, moving the holder up or down by turning the Aaton
two pins tool. Lock the Allen screw. Double check the focus of the
viewing screen using the focus ring of the lens. If the image is still
not sharp, proceed again.
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.
¥ Standard180¡ 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 
under 50 Hz HMI lighting at 24 fps 
without flicker.
¥ 150¡ for filming 
under 60 Hz HMI lighting at 25 fps 
Always Remove the 
Battery 
Each time you need to go insi-
de the camera body, you must
first remove the battery. If, by
mistake, the camera starts run-
ning while you finger is rota-
ting the mirror shutter, the
mechanism of the camera body
could be seriously damaged.
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THE CAMERA BODY
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							without flicker.
¥ 144¡
to minimize the roll bar while filming 
NTSC broadcast monitor at 24 fps.
2.3.2 Adjusting the shutter
To adjust the shutter opening, unscrew the shutter tool marked
ÒShÓ located in the hollow at the rear of the cameraÕs carrying hand-
le. Make sure that the battery is off the camera and remove the port
cap. Locate the tool guiding hole to the lower right of the inside lens
holder. 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 counter-clockwise will reduce the shutter opening,
turning clockwise will increase the opening.
When setting the opening to 172.8¡, 150¡ or 144¡, a shutter blade
indicating 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¡, 150¡ and 144¡ markings meet the left edge of the mirror.
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tool guiding hole
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							When the adjustment is complete, remove the tool and store back in
the hollow of the carrying handle.
2.4 FILM GATE AND PULLDOWN CLAW
2.4.1 Adjusting the Pitch
To adjust the pitch, use the tool (Ref 09.203.65) located at the rear
of the camera carrying handle.
Looking at the camera with the lens port facing you, locate the
small opening situated between the two camera front rods, closer to
the left rod. Using the tool, you can undo the Allen screw retaining
the opening cover. Insert the tool inside the opening. You will feel
a screw that you will turn counter-clockwise until it stops. The leng-
th of the pulldown is now at its maximum.
Put the loaded magazine on the camera, and keeping the tool in
position, inch and run the camera. The camera will run with a clic-
king noise, due to the perf being hit by the claw. Turn the tool
clockwise until you reach a more pleasant noise, like a loud pur-
ring. If you go too far, you will hear one clack noise indicating
that the claw lost a perforation. If more than one clack is heard,
the camera display will show LOOP.
Once you reach the proper setting, it is recommended to turn the
tool counterclockwise, approximately 20¼, to accomodate any varia-
tion of the film pitch that occures between different film stocks or
under humid or hotweather conditions. To do this adjustment, use
the film stock you are most likely to use.
2.4.2 The Side Pressure Bar
The film gate also features a side pressure bar which is recessed into
the claw-side rail at the point of image exposure to insure maximum
lateral stability.
2.5 FLANGE FOCAL DISTANCE 
ADJUSTMENT
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							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 res-
ponsible 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.
In order to change the FFD of the AATON 35-III,  simply change
the spacer, and only the spacer. Do not polish any other surface, or
insert anything else between the lens port and the film plane. For
fine adjustment of the FFD, order some aluminium spacers
(0.35mm) from your Aaton agent, 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 car-
ries a specific tool (ref 35 310 32) designed to hold the spacer firmly
and evenly against polishing paper. When polishing a spacer, always
work on a perfectly flat worktable or stone, and be sure to firmly
hold the tool.
2.5.3 Changing the Spacer
The spacer is placed between the PL lens port and the camera bodyÕs
titanium base. First, remove the lens locking ring: screw two or three
turns its stop (placed on the bottom, inside the PL port), and turn
the ring counterclockwise. Remove the PL port by unscrewing its 6
screws. Then gently remove the aluminium spacer .
Once you have placed a new spacer, install the PL port, then the
lenses locking ring, and do not forget to unsrew two or three turns
the locking ring stop.
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
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							to readjust the precise focus of the viewing screen. Refer to the 2.9
section of this chapter to proceed.
2.5.5 Flange Focal Distances
Here are the flange focal distances for all the lens ports available for
the AATON 35-III. Remember that these distances are automatical-
ly shorter by 0.3mm than the indicated ones (because of the needed
spacer)
2.6 MAGAZINE
The Aaton magazine holds 400ft (122m) of 35mm film, which repre-
sents 4Õ28ÕÕ shooting at 24fps in 35mm 4-Perf, and 5Õ26ÕÕ shooting at
24fps in 35mm 3-Perf.
2.6.1 Installing the Magazine
To install the mag, situate yourself at the rear of the camera body,
battery side. Do not forget to remove the aperture plate cover.
Place your left hand underneath the magazine while your right hand
is firmly holding it at the midway point of its rear. Rest the nose of
the magazine on the camera base, hold the camera body with your
left hand while pushing the mag in the bottom dovetail and into the
aperture area with your right hand. Make sure that the top of the
nose of the mag is parallel to the camera carrying handle as you
guide the mag in place. Push firmly and evenly until you feel and
hear that the mag snaps against the aperture area. The mag nose
should be pressed against the camera bodys rubber seal. This opera-
tion should be done without having to force the mag into position.
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THE CAMERA BODY
Mount RŽfŽrence FFD Diameter Adjustment
Arriflex (PL) 35 340 30 52.00 mm 54.00 mm -40 / -50 microns
Panavision (PV) 35 330 30 57.15 mm 49.50 mm -60 / -70 microns
Nikon (Ni) 35 360 10 46.44 mm 43.53 mm -40 / -50 microns
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							2.6.2 Removing the Magazine
To remove the magazine, situate yourself at the rear of the camera
body, battery side. Place your right hand palm on the camera take-
up motor and pull the mag lock lever towards the rear of the camera
with your fingers.
The mag will be toward the rear of the camera. The mag is now free
to be pulled offthe camera, using both your hands.
2.7 POWER
The AATON 35-III body requires only 12 volts for all aspects of opera-
tion. One standard Aaton on-board (12V, 1.8 Ah, rechargeable, nicad)
will power the camera, CCD and accessories which are connected to the
bodyÕs accessory inputs (such as zoom controls, speed controls, etc.)
through a standard 4 pin XLR connector. One 1.8 ah on-board battery
will run 7-8 magazines on the AATON 35-III, without CCD and
accessories. With accessories in use, this number will decrease.
2.7.1 Installing the Battery on the Camera
The on-board battery fits above the LCD conrol panel. In order to
install, loosen the black knurled screw approximately four or five
turns. Push the battery evenly onto the XLR4 connection of the
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