User's Guide
Film
Gate
and
Pulldown
Claw
4
n The Camem Body
4.1 Co-planar Movement
Ali Aalon cameras, including the XTRplus, incorporate a patcnl-
cd means
of
advancing the
film
called a co-planar claw move-
mem. By uûlizîng this technique. Aaton is able 10 achieve an
ultra-precise pulldown with a minimal number
of
moving parts.
The co-planar concept is the key to the carncra's
low
~
no
ise
opera-
tion.
The film gale
al
sa features a side pressure bar which is recessed
into the claw-side rail
al
the point
of
image exposure to assure
maximum lateral Slabilily.
This unique, straight forward mechanism design results
in
hori-
zontal and laierai film registnltion thal
is
superi
or
to ail other
16mm camera movements with an accuracy of
112000
of
the
im
age
dimensions.
4.2 The Halr-Free Gate
ln most 16mm camera designs, thcre
is
aec
nain
amount
offi
lm
dust (also referred 10 as tluff or hair) that
is
generated as film
mUs
through the magazine and e
nl
ers the camera gale. Because
the gate and
pulldown are the areas where the film mu
s!
he
held
mosl rigidly, these
ac
e also Ihe areas where
ma
s!
of
the aceumu-
lating film dusl tends
10
he deposited. The result could
be
a visi-
ble
hair
in
the
pi
c
lUre
acea a
nd
an unuseable shot.
Aaton has taken steps
in
th
e design of their magazines and gale
asse
mbl
y
10
ensure hair and dust-free images.
Th
e Aaton maga-
zine features a twistless film path with
Httle
sprockel con
la
ct.
which minimizes the amount of film
dusi tha! builds
up
before
entry into the aperture area. Whatever dust does accumulate
is
filtered through
th
e gate area quic
kl
y and efficie
ntl
y.
This
is
attributed to
th
e design of
th
e gale itself. which fcarures recessed
channels on the far edges
of
th
e
fi
lm path and which does not
require
th
e use
of
a polished frame around the aperture opcning
10
keep images
in
focu
s.