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Keeping Aaton 35-III absolutely in fixed position on Ronford Baker F7 tripod?


Dirk DeJonghe

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I need to shoot a long sequence spanning several magazine changes. The framing should not change at all. Changing the magazine on the Aaton 35 requires a hefty push from behind.

Is there a way to fix the camera so that the maximum repeatability between mags is guaranteed? How to solve this? The camera only has a fixed focal length lens mounted and no other accessories.

I use a Ronford Baker F7 head on a sturdy tripod. Any hints?

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The mag release lever can be used to not only to release the mag but also engage it, so it doesn't require a hefty push. Disengage the spring loaded mag release lever and gently slide in the mag, and then engage the release lever, instead of having it raise and catch the mag lock pin automatically with the mag push. At least on the XTR it works.

Other than that, have a tripod plate with a locating pin engaged in the rotation lock hole, and the plate being pushed back before screwing it down, so the camera can't be moved forward anymore.

Machine or 3D print a sleeve that grabs the bottom of the body and fix that securely on the tripod plate.

Edited by David Sekanina
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it might be possible to mount the camera from multiple points (at least top and bottom and preferably some other point too) to a much sturdier platform like something built out of speedrails and stabilized with sandbags. If it is a totally locked up shot all the time and lots of mags shot (so that it is used for a long-ish time) then it might be worth it to build something like this to ensure better stability.

One does not necessarily need to use a fluid head or a tripod at all if they look like being the weak link of the lockup system.

Think of a huge block of concrete which has a camera cage embedded to it and which supports the camera from multiple points at the same time, not just from the bottom like a tripod head would do

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All ya need is a dovetail and baseplate that locks into the body. The standard Arri baseplates work great on the Aaton cameras. They lock directly into the little pin sticking off the front of the body. Then a heavy-duty tripod, you should be fine. 

Taking the mag off doesn't require much energy at all. Pushing it on, does require a slam, but if you practice, you'll see it's not bad. 

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Are you concerned about the camera position on the head, the head mounting to the tripod, or the tripod shifting? 

A locked off head shouldn’t move, nor should a properly mounted base plate. I would check all the places where you could get play - camera mounting to base plate and then to the head, head lock offs, bowl lock off - and make sure they are secure. Dirty or worn lock off threads will bind before properly locking.  As a general maintenance tip, I clean and lubricate the threads and handle washers of lock offs with a dry lubricant and replace any that have threads worn down to a saw tooth thread profile. If you have the option to use a Mitchell plate instead of a bowl, it is more secure.

If you’re concerned about the tripod shifting, make sure to use a spreader and sandbags, or perhaps use a clamped down high hat.

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20 hours ago, Dom Jaeger said:

Are you concerned about the camera position on the head, the head mounting to the tripod, or the tripod shifting? 

The Aaton cameras don't have positive lock tripod mounting positions. So when you swap magazines, which require a heavy hit, you could very easily shift the image position. 

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