Time Lapse With Aaton A-Minima

Does anybody know the extent of the Aaton Minima for doing time lapse with the internal intervelometer i.e. How wide is the range?

Thanks

Brent Marrale

Filmmaker T.O
Canada

Brent,

The Aaton A-Minima's time lapse range is 1 to 80 sec interval, each burst from 1 to 99 frames. The camera shoots at a constant 1/4 sec exposure with no variable shutter so bring plenty of ND’s.

It's a great simple time lapse tool. It is physically small so it's easy to put places where you wouldn't use a larger camera. We've gotten lots of great time lapse shots in docs where we had the A-Minima as a "B" camera to an XTR-Prod "A".

Some of the earlier cameras had light leak problems so I'd recommend covering the camera with a simple light proof cloth if you are using it in daylight. That's kind of a good idea no matter what time lapse camera you're using. Also, it is sort of a moving target as to when you need to use a capping shutter. My experience is that you can go up to at least 30 sec outdoors in regular daylight with no problem. Over that is iffy. Your mileage may vary.

Aaton's website has a downloadable PDF manual for the camera and Able Cine Tech has a great Quicktime instruction on loading the magazine and camera.

Rod Williams
Motion Picture First Camera Assistant
Petaluma, California
U.S.A.

>The camera shoots at a constant 1/4 sec exposure with no variable >shutter so bring plenty of ND’s.

For day shots, you would need plenty of ND’s for sure. You can get away with most urban night shots with that exposure.

Too bad there isn't a way to change the exposure time - although I've wondered if the "gate check" button (I think it's the up arrow) could be held... one frame at a time?

If the gate check button can be used, and the camera is electronic, would there not be a way to attach an external intervalometer to do that basic same function? Or will that stress the camera too much?

Duraid Munajim
Toronto

Rod Williams wrote :

>The Aaton A-Minima's time lapse range is 1 to 80 sec interval, each >burst from 1 to 99 frames. The camera shoots at a constant 1/4 sec >exposure with no variable shutter so bring plenty of ND’s.

Recently released from AATON that they have a great new (long awaited) software upgrade for the A MINIMA cameras .Allowing you to you to extend the exposure time from 1/4 sec to 255 seconds.

These are pre-programmed exposure times at popular settings i.e. 30 seconds. ALSO in the upgrade is the Set magazine ID ( A,B,C,D) for the footage counter. Now AMINIMA will remember what you had left in each magazine but its not an automatic recognition like the XPROD, you must enter the mag ID loaded.

Best regards

John Bowring ACS

P.S. Thanks AATON for listening and making it happen!

>The camera shoots at a constant 1/4 sec exposure with no variable >shutter so bring plenty of ND’s.

I just did a bunch of slow speed and time lapse with an A-Minima off the hood of a truck. I found that, with either 7246 + a polarizer and ND1.2, or 7218 + an 85/pola and ND 1.2, I could switch quickly between 24 fps, 6 fps and 1/4 sec (2 fps).

I think we might have had some light leakage on one or two rolls.

There was blue light on one side of the image where no lens flare could have been. Since it was blue, and since I was shooting 7218 with an 85 at the time, I'm guessing the blue light came from somewhere other than the lens.

Check the gate often. We had some hairs. Nothing fatal, but I don't celebrate their appearance.

Art Adams, DP
Mountain View, California - "Silicon Valley"
http://www.artadams.net/