Kodak support for the Aaton A-Minima

[Robert Edge]

Does anyone know what commitment Kodak has made to Aaton to support this camera with ready-to-use rolls of stock? Is there a duration? Is there a commitment about making certain stocks available? Or is the support solely in the discretion of Kodak?

 

Also, does anyone know how successful this camera has been in terms of sales?

[Robert Edge]

I asked the above question about support for the A-Minima because I'm trying to decide whether to buy one. If I'm going to buy a camera that uses special film rolls, I'd like to know what the support arrangement is. I'm wondering whether the participants on this site from Kodak or the US Aaton agent, Abel Cine, might respond.

 

One other question: Is there an arrangement between Aaton and Kodak that precludes Fuji from supplying ready-to-shoot rolls, or is this a business decision on Fuji's part?

[Josh Hill]

If you're going to spend 15 grand on a Super 16mm camera, why not throw it into something that is a little more viable for a wider range of products? Sure the A-Minima is a great little camera, but why limit yourself to 200ft loads (and specialty loads at that, which you will only be able to get factor sealed as far as I know).

 

You can get a nice used SR2 for 18,500 according to the Visual Products website, and if you don't mind fiddling with eBay auctions you could get a camera for half that (like an XTR or SR2 that is already super16) and just have it overhauled for a couple of grand.

 

That's just my opinion. Unless there is just some totally specific reason you need the A-Minima I would get a different camera if you have that kind of dough to spend.

[Michael Struthers]

I am also considering a s16mm cam and was very interested in the Aaton A-minima. What used super16 cams are reliable, light and reasonably quiet?

 

ms

 

If you're going to spend 15 grand on a Super 16mm camera, why not throw it into something that is a little more viable for a wider range of products? Sure the A-Minima is a great little camera, but why limit yourself to 200ft loads (and specialty loads at that, which you will only be able to get factor sealed as far as I know).

 

You can get a nice used SR2 for 18,500 according to the Visual Products website, and if you don't mind fiddling with eBay auctions you could get a camera for half that (like an XTR or SR2 that is already super16) and just have it overhauled for a couple of grand.

 

That's just my opinion. Unless there is just some totally specific reason you need the A-Minima I would get a different camera if you have that kind of dough to spend.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Rik Andino]

I am also considering a s16mm cam

and was very interested in the Aaton A-minima.

What used super16 cams are reliable, light and reasonably quiet?

 

ms

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well Josh already mentioned the best 2--used S16 cameras around

The Aaton XTR and the Arri SR2

You can find them for about the same price as the A-minima

There price range is somewhere between $12,000US --- $20,000US

But it can also be higher depending on the accesories (i.e. mattebox, lens, etc...)

 

If you find a really good deal on ebay

Make sure you have enough money (around 1K or 2K) to get it serviced

Because the camera will probably need it.

 

Lower down the rung is the first generations of these cameras

The Aaton LTR-54 and the Arri SR1

(aviod the earlier models of these cameras as they've been noted to have flaws)

 

Even lower down the rung are old R16 cameras converted to S16

Good examples are the:

Eclair NPR

Eclair ACL(very popular)

Cinema Products CP 16R

 

I recommend you stick to the first two cameras if you can afford it

 

As for the A-minima it's a nice camera...

But it's mostly a specialty camera

The industy standard S16 cameras are the Aaton XTR Prod. & the Arri SR3

 

I recommend you do your research because it'll be important...

The more you know the better you'll be able to make a decision.

 

 

Good Luck

[Rik Andino]

One other question:  Is there an arrangement between Aaton and Kodak that precludes Fuji from supplying ready-to-shoot rolls, or is this a business decision on Fuji's part?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well if you really want to use Fuji stock...

You can always go into a darkroom

& cut a regular 400' load into a 200' daylight spool.

 

And if Kodak discontinues the A-minima stock

You'll have to do the the same for Kodak 400' stock too.

[Robert Edge]

Rik,

 

I know, and it would be cheaper than buying the Kodak A-Minima rolls. From my point of view, the A-Minima rolls (if I wind up buying that camera) are akin to Readyloads, a Kodak product that I use for large format because Readyloads, while relatively expensive, are more convenient, and less dust prone, than loading film holders in a darkroom.

 

I'd just like to know if the future of Kodak's support for the A-Minima is entirely up to Kodak or whether there is a commitment, and also whether Fuji's failure to make these spools available is a business decision or the result of an arrangement between Aaton and Kodak.

Edited April 26, 2005 by R. Edge

[Josh Hill]

But I think someone pointed out before, by spooling your own loads they are not as light tight as the factory loads so you have to be more careful about loading.

 

I still think for me, though, I would use the money for an A-Minima to purchase an XTR or SR2. Then you wouldn't have to take the time to respool anything.

 

In my opinion, the A-Minima is much more of a specialty, rental camera than something I would want to shoot with constantly.

[Michael Struthers]

But I think someone pointed out before, by spooling your own loads they are not as light tight as the factory loads so you have to be more careful about loading.

 

I still think for me, though, I would use the money for an A-Minima to purchase an XTR or SR2. Then you wouldn't have to take the time to respool anything.

 

In my opinion, the A-Minima is much more of a specialty, rental camera than something I would want to shoot with constantly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

True, but just the portability of the a-minima makes me want to shoot with it. I guess I could get an old Eclair too, if I can find one light enough. But timecode would be nice...

[Robert Edge]

I've now received an e-mail that suggests that Kodak can decide unilaterally how long it will support the A-Minima and for what emulsions. As for Fuji, the Aaton website says that Fuji film is not available because Kodak handled the tooling of the flanges.

 

Josh,

 

People choose camera equipment based on their experience and objectives. I do a lot of travelling and backpacking with a 4x5 large format camera. This works because I keep the weight and bulk down. I use one of the lighter camera brands and a carbon fiber tripod and I carry no more than two or three lenses. I intend to use a 16mm camera the same way. I need a light, synch sound, super 16 camera with a bright viewfinder for use with two or three prime lenses. That is why I am interested in the A-Minima, as well as why I initiated a discussion in another thread about the viability of Nikkor primes. They are much lighter, as well as a lot cheaper, than Cooke and Zeiss primes.

 

I know that several people on this site have said that the A-Minima is a "specialty" camera. I'd love to know why, but nobody ever gives a reason for this statement. If I have learned anything from large format photography, it is that a camera is a box with a lens at the end. For me, the less complicated the setup, the better. Features that I won't use just represent things that can, and eventually will, go wrong. I haven't ruled out the XTR or an Arri, but right now it isn't clear to me why, for my purposes, they are better boxes.

 

I've read the threads about loading A-Minima spools. I imagine that it's a lot like loading sheet film into film holders. In other words, it's a bit of a nuisance, and you have to be careful about static and dust. I already load film holders, although I prefer to use Kodak Readyloads when the emulsion I want to use is available in that form. I know that at some point, Kodak will pull the plug on the A-Minima rolls. My working assumption is that it will do so sooner rather than later, and it sounds like Fuji won't be there to pick up the ball. This is a consideration, just one more thing to weigh.

 

As you probably know, there has been some discussion on this site about whether it is best to give self-loaded film time to adjust to the rewind. Some people say yes, others say no. A few days ago, I came across an article published by the Australian Cinematography Society that suggests 24 hours. It isn't clear whether this is the view of the author or of Aaton or Kodak. Anyway, the article is available at http://www.cinematographer.org.au/freestyl.../files/ac17.pdf

 

Cheers.

[Todd Anderson]

Well, 9 years after this original post I guess the question has been answered. It appears in the most recent discontinued listing, Kodak has killed off their 200' a-minima rolls for Vision 3 250D & 500T, which my understanding was the last emulsions that they were supporting in the a-minima load.

 

I always feared that this specialty load would be the first to go and held off on a used a-minma and opted for an XTR-Plus. I'm still glad we have 100' and 400' loads, so I will not complain.

 

What is the consensus from the a-minima users? Will you just get the lab to load spare 200' cores that you have?

 

-T

 

p.s. it also appears that Kodak mentioned (obviously) that there is not a catalog replacement but to contact them for spare 200' a-minima cores. So a heads up if you want to get a few for the future before they go. Obviously, now would be the time to call.

[Will Montgomery]

You can also contact labs and see if they have spare a-minima reels laying around and have them spool you up some from 400' rolls. Plus that way you can get whatever stocks are still out there, like 50D especially.

[Jean-Louis Seguin]

Does anyone have any idea how many A-Minima cameras were sold worldwide?

 

Jean-Louis

[Pavan Deep]

It would be good to know how many A Minima cameras are out there and being used, my guess is not many as I doubt many were made and most of them were probably rented out by rental companies. Unlike other 16mm cameras the A Minima’s are specialist sort of cameras and not really bought by filmmakers since a basic new A Minima iwas expensive and cost around d £10,000 and for general filming other 16mm cameras like the Xtera and the SR3’s were preferred.

 

Pav