Gregg MacPherson

I'm not off put by seeing a work in progress in a prototyping exercise. Doesn't have to be pretty, just has to show some good ideas. How about that photo.

Can you post a picture showing what it is? Cheers.

Tyler, You are a busy and determined fellow. I know we've argued some before, and we may always differ on some issues, but what you've achieved deserves some respect. Who's been training you on servicing the Aatons? Re: the V-lock mount with regulator for Aaton... Is this on the market? Are there pictures we can see? I didn't see any on your website. I saw pics of the Charnwoodmovements one. Looks interesting, but is very expensive. I would rather build my own for that price. The Finish guys who were making one are bankrupt. Charnwoodmovements one below... The loads imposed on the old Aaton style mechanical connection with a V-lock battery can be much higher than the Aaton onboards. At the same time, one of the opportunities to exploit is the ability to position the battery fore/aft for balance, which makes the loads even worse.

Hi Stephen, I'm guessing you had your batteries recelled by now or solved it some other way. The original capacity label on the onboard pack may be out of date. Bigger capacity cells may be in there. Just saw some 2.6Ah cells cheap on AliExpress. About USD25 for 40 cells, with solder tabs. They are not hard to replace if you have average solder skills and understand polarity. Sorry for the long link. https://he.aliexpress.com/item/1005007581188347.html?src=google&p4pItemId=1005007581188347&p4poffer=1_5001089013556&p4pkwd=ORIGIN RECHARG BATTERI&isp4p=y&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=742-864-1166&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&gclsrc=aw.ds&albagn=888888&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=en1005007581188347&ds_e_product_merchant_id=5504851841&ds_e_product_country=NZ&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=22474714061&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22474715975&gbraid=0AAAAA99aYpfXC2w3oy10uhpCOCRG77kkG&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NfDBhDyARIsAD-ILeDEcGKrdEsUrmQtrjeGHxEYdzywt70MtLyxoMTZrvGTU7ZfZxMisW0aAizcEALw_wcB&gatewayAdapt=glo2isr

Stephen Jackson pointed out on Cinemarketplace that the zoom looks like the standard 16 variant. I think he is noticing the red line on the focus barrel that you can see in one of the eBay pics. I can't find info that gives a way of discerning the difference. I have pics here of a 10x15 B that covered S16 easily and it seems to look the same as the one for sale above. The focus gear in my pic confuses the issue. The "S16" 15-150 at DU ALL doesn't have the "15x10 B" marking, it has "15-150mm", so adding more confusion... I will get the seller to look at the image circle, there is a big difference between the 16mm and the 1" image circle that the "S16" version will have. Meanwhile, there is always the light reading at Cinematechnic. He has some useful info on the S16 version https://cinematechnic.com/resources/optics_for_super-16/ scroll down to...Older zoom lenses with full S16 coverage...

I cant see a difference yet looking at the lens bodies. I have a couple of pics of the S16 one I had here a while ago. Let's shift the tech discussion on this to the Eclair form, oui ?

Thanks for that, I was unaware. I'll check and advise the seller the seller. Gregg.

The seller (he's not on the forum) now indicates that he would sell the lenses and camera separately if that suited someone. The zoom is a S16 zoom, and maybe it should go to a S16 camera. Also, the Zeiss 8mm lenses are expensive at the moment, so maybe splitting up is better strategy. Obviously the camera price will come down a good increment. I a day he may have a firm plan and a price.

The seller of the ACL II above (he's not on the forum) now indicates that he would sell the lenses and camera separately if that suited someone. The zoom is a S16 zoom, and maybe it should go to a S16 camera. Also, the Zeiss 8mm lenses are expensive at the moment, so maybe splitting up is better strategy. Obviously the camera price will come down a good increment. I a day he may have a firm plan and a price.

Thinking of the tolerance of the Aaton base, as built. My eccentric engineer friend (EEF) and I both think, looking at the Aaton mags, that the Aaton alloy body parts were investment castings ("lost wax" at art school), that then had localised machining just at critical places. Google (AI) says that CNC "machines began appearing in small manufacturing industries in the late 1970s and 1980s". My EEF says the sixties... So the local machining to the castings could be CNC, but could also be pre CNC tech. Pre CNC can still be quite accurate, using jigs, fixtures, end stops....the positioning of the 3/8" screw hole should look almost perfect. A 1.4mm shift would be either deliberate or a big blunder. and there is no way that

I think the connector for that is in the base just under the XLR-4 connector. I've read somewhere that ACL II did have external controllers, both factory and 3rd party (Tobin).

So I mounted LTR to the Proaim 15/19mm bridge pate. There are no obvious means of alignment, so I just put a rule across the front of the bridge plate and set it parallel to the lens front.There is actually about a mm of wiggle room with the cap screws fixing the 15mm rod clamp to the bridge plate, so I could shift the 15mm rods to the right. The MB was centred well.

Arri-LWS-3...Light weight 15mm support rod set made for the SR3, but I think it fits the earlier SRs too. Standard 16 / S16 switchable. Rod length 44mm, plus 98mm and 170mm extensions. Fair to good overal cosmetic condition, some fine scratches on the rod surfaces. Everything fits, the 15mm clamps on the follow focus or matte box slide on easily. USD360

I have asked for a pic that would show it. He doesn't know what it is.

I had a go at measuring the offset. I was not super rigorous and I think accuracy may be +, - 1mm. The offset I got was 1.4mm to camera left. So given my estimation of the accuracy, it may not be a meaningful measurement at all. I have a Proaim bridge plate here that has, I think, the 3/8" screw centred on the optical axis. That also will need confirmation, measurement. So I'll just mount everything and see if the MB looks centred. Verifying accurate mounting is another issue. Some mods needed to help with that. Gregg. Aapo, I sent you a message. I'm having difficulty with posting on the Aaton Anonymous group.

Update 10/07/25)... The seller is not signed up to the forum, so I will help by trying to itemise in an orderly way... Kit contents... ACL II body, standard 16, #2843 Kinoptic orientable VF, #....... Mag 1 #..... Nag 2 #..... Battery... Charger... Power cable spiral... Power cable short... Magic little box (to be advised)... TS/Arri-S lens port adapter TS/.....something I'm not sure of lens port adapter. (Nikon F...?) Ang. 15-150 zoom, Arr-S mount, #1432895... Zeiss distagon 8mm, f2, Arri-S mount, #5272243.... Rubber sunshade with bad memory bend... Pentax (sort of digital) spot meter)... A tray with some gel filter holders and glass filters..... If I missed something I'll fix later..... Notes: The gate looks quite good, no sign of high mileage. It's not clean, he will upload a better photo. I also asked for a sharp macro pic of the mirror The lens mounts aren't shown but assumed as Arri-S (pics of the mounted zoom). The other camera port adapter in the pics I can't tell what it is. Any ideas? A better pic should be coming. Is it Nikon F...? The video of the camera running (empty), with the camera about 30cm from the body, a few reflective elements in the environment...sounds reasonable. I'm assuming that it hasn't had CLA for a while. Noise will go down after that, even if just lubrication. Bear in mind that it's not a controlled test. The Ang 15-150 zooms are undervalued on Ebay at the moment. They cover S16 and can be quite sharp (I'm told). The magazine I saw ((didn't see detail of both)) is a late model type with a separate centre pressure plate. It's like an Arri SR mag, the overall pressure plate leaves a thin gap and only the little pressure plate over the aperture is applying pressure to the film. Good mag(s) for S16. Those little Pentax spot meters are great. I have one. New Price strategy if selling outside of eBay Price: NZD6000 (USD3614) Shipping: NZD500 (USD301) to NZD800 (USD482)..includes insurance. Money transfer by Wise..... If it just needs lubrication I think that is a really good deal...

Thanks for your ideas Aapo. The LTR camera arrived so I could measure that. It should be possible to manually draft lines to get the optical centre projected onto the camera base, within about, almost 0.5mm. A plane orthogonal to the lens axis can be shown with a piece of laminate board contacting the lens front. A line equidistant from the sides of the lens front will intersect the optical centre, and project down to the reference surface that the camera base is sitting on. A line orthogonal to the laminate board can now be drawn under the lens axis. The rear of the camera body may need a temporary surface glued on (protected by masking tape) to make marking easier. The camera is lifted back in to place against the reference marks on the board. The line under the optical axis can now be marked at the front and rear of the base. Should be possible to find the centre of the 3/8" threaded hole, maybe a turned centre point on a piece of 3/8" thread. So we nave the offset, the tolerance is down to our fine lines and drafting skill.

The 3/8" screw thread in the camera base for fixing to release plate etc. Does anyone know the precise horizontal offset between that (centre) and the optical centre? If you have a dimension, is it from common knowledge, or a factory spec, or was it measured. If measured, what sort of accuracy? Do all the Aaton cameras have the same offset? Thanks for any thoughts, Gregg

The 3/8" screw thread in the camera base for fixing to release plate etc. Does anyone know the precise horizontal offset between that (centre) and the optical centre? If you have a dimension, is it from common knowledge, or a factory spec, or was it measured. If measured, what sort of accuracy? Are all the Arri cameras the same offset? Have other manufacturers copied that for their designs? If they are not all the same, I'm wondering what the offsets are for Movicam, Aaton and Eclair (NPR/ACL). Another way to approach the question is to ask whether bridge plates made for Arri cameras will have the matte box aligned with the optical axis when fitted to other cameras. Was the offset idea carried over to some digital cameras or all? Thanks for any thoughts, Gregg

Update... The seller is unfamiliar with film cameras. On a video call I tried to help test and assess..I saw that it is standard 16. The gate looked good. Not a heavily used camera. The 400' mag I saw was late model with centre pressure plate. There is a second 400' mag. He uploaded a video of it running (without film) to eBay. He will update that page with a complete list of components in the kit. Seller is offering 20% discount if sold privately (not through eBay). And free shipping worldwide via Fedex.

Do you have pics of the lenses ot test footage we can look at stashed somewhere, dropbox etc? When was the set last serviced? By who? Thanks. Gregg.

Posted 1 minute ago (edited) I saw a promising ACL 2 kit on eBay. The seller bought it at action here in NZ. I'm trying to help him get it basically tested. USD6K buy now. eBay link.. https://www.ebay.com/itm/257001653238?_skw=eclair+acl&itmmeta=01JZBRQT3GBGZZMMJ75G0EA9FY&hash=item3bd67e03f6:g:cFIAAeSwn6doZzBH&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cd8G86BOp38L9y2kOLnA9JEzaLY%2FNyPJ56daSF0wr8kfbm5YqylzGiqQQ7MfSCaxXDNckbFe3iWhCkQckqW3e9%2FsIphp9BKEvjTSlAevHKPOQDQJuCEcGHNXCvsbR49A08CtA448z2NS8FdiB91vJnrY5Fr8VXG8A5vJ02HEp9KFnsGkegnSEdCrWS7F5ZAboqZdnaH0UwhVPQbje6ffJwaNKS4I2EAxBVICqpMsl%2FDknJUqPFmoel0wM9LkSVOoU%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-yh3_j6ZQ You can contact the seller directly... Will Wallace<fiveonefive(at)gmail.com> Comment from Gregg: If I help examine and test the camera (video call) I may get to see if it is standard 16/ S16. If not S16 then the 15-150 Ang is a bit wasted. Including lenses in a sale can often confuse the value issue. The 15-150 has a couple of listings under USD700, which seems undervalued to me. If the camera kit is pulled off eBay then he may sell the lenses separately. Update 10/07/25)...I deleted the earlier update The seller is not signed up to the forum, so I will help by trying to itemise in an orderly way... Kit contents... ACL II body, standard 16, #2843 Kinoptic orientable VF, #....... Mag 1 #..... Nag 2 #..... Battery (BAKEL)... Charger (CIBRE..?)... Power cable spiral... Power cable short... Crystal speed selector box... TS/Arri-S lens port adapter TS/.....something I'm not sure of lens port adapter. (Nikon F...?) Ang. 15-150 zoom, Arr-S mount, #1432895... Zeiss distagon 8mm, f2, Arri-S mount, #5272243.... Rubber sunshade with bad memory bend... Pentax (sort of digital) spot meter)... A tray with some gel filter holders and glass filters..... If I missed something I'll fix later..... Notes: The gate looks quite good, no sign of high mileage. It's not clean, he will upload a better photo. I also asked for a sharp macro pic of the mirror The lens mounts aren't shown but assumed as Arri-S (pics of the mounted zoom). The other camera port adapter in the pics I can't tell what it is. Any ideas? A better pic should be coming. Is it Nikon F...? The video of the camera running (empty), with the camera about 30cm from the body, a few reflective elements in the environment...sounds reasonable. I'm assuming that it hasn't had CLA for a while. Noise will go down after that, even if just lubrication. Bear in mind that it's not a controlled test. The Ang 15-150 zooms are undervalued on Ebay at the moment. They cover S16 and can be quite sharp (I'm told). The magazine I saw ((didn't see detail of both)) is a late model type with a separate centre pressure plate. It's like an Arri SR mag, the overall pressure plate leaves a thin gap and only the little pressure plate over the aperture is applying pressure to the film. Good mag(s) for S16. Those little Pentax spot meters are great. I have one. New Price strategy if selling outside of eBay Price: NZD6000 (USD3614) Shipping: NZD500 (USD301) to NZD800 (USD482)..includes insurance. Money transfer by Wise..... If it just needs lubrication I think that is a really good deal... The seller (he's not on the forum) now indicates that he would sell the lenses and camera separately if that suited someone. The zoom is a S16 zoom, and maybe it should go to a S16 camera. Also, the Zeiss 8mm lenses are expensive at the moment, so maybe splitting up is better strategy. Obviously the camera price will come down a good increment. I a day he may have a firm plan and a price.

I saw a promising ACL 2 kit on eBay. The seller bought at auction in NZ. I'm trying to help him get it basically tested. USD6K buy now. eBay link.. https://www.ebay.com/itm/257001653238?_skw=eclair+acl&itmmeta=01JZBRQT3GBGZZMMJ75G0EA9FY&hash=item3bd67e03f6:g:cFIAAeSwn6doZzBH&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cd8G86BOp38L9y2kOLnA9JEzaLY%2FNyPJ56daSF0wr8kfbm5YqylzGiqQQ7MfSCaxXDNckbFe3iWhCkQckqW3e9%2FsIphp9BKEvjTSlAevHKPOQDQJuCEcGHNXCvsbR49A08CtA448z2NS8FdiB91vJnrY5Fr8VXG8A5vJ02HEp9KFnsGkegnSEdCrWS7F5ZAboqZdnaH0UwhVPQbje6ffJwaNKS4I2EAxBVICqpMsl%2FDknJUqPFmoel0wM9LkSVOoU%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-yh3_j6ZQ You can contact the seller directly... Will Wallace<fiveonefive@gmail.com>

Tim, or any regular moderator, Sorry, I didn't realise the position of the Eclair Fleamarket had been shifted to this sub forum. Can someone delete this post. My endless edit powers are only effective in the Eclair forum. Thanks, Gregg.

I've decided to sell all my remaining ACL components and parts. The S16 body is not quite ready to sell, but we begin...Any offers please direct message me or email me viz(at)xtra.com.nz or phone me with WhatsApp.. 64 274 377 086 (08:00 to 22:00 NZT) There are links to more pics at dropbox under each heading. Any problems with access let me know. I may edit this later if any errors or improvements needed. I also listed this on the Cinemarketplace forum ..https://cinematography.com/index.php?/forums/topic/103570-eclair-acl-components-and-parts/ 1) ACL II S16 BODY, no motor or eyepiece pics at dropbox.. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fs7ao30o45ffyd9preapg/AEJhWgq9P1hq6-PZjIJan1U?rlkey=a5tusjicswi72qi6bp7aeru99&st=w8sxyd47&dl=0 The item is with a technician at Panavision getting a new 9 pin Canon motor connector. It may be with him for a month 'till he has time after hours, so there is time to consider how best to sell it and take questions..... My spare ACL II body, no motor, eyepiece or handle module. S16 conversion by Visual Products. VP conversions are about the best, with really nice, simple ground glass markings. The ACL II base, I don't know if it was a bespoke factory original or someone's aftermarket piece. The machining, apart from the front shape, looks the same as factory standard, including the labeling. The rod mount is almost integral at the front.... looks really useful..no plate needed. Needs a CLA and a couple of hopefully small repairs... I've never used it, but ran scratch tests to assess it (scratch free). Sounded like the shutter was just lightly ticking against the body. Also, one of the motor mount threads on the body is striped, so probably needs a thread insert. I emailed Paul at Visual Products and it sounded like the shutter ticking noise might get fixed within a CLA. It may be something easy like the mirror connecting rod. If it's difficult then maybe a couple extra hours. There could be a couple of options on how to sell this....I could sell as is. When the connector is replaced we could assess the noise. Or, I could send it to Paul at VP for CLA, repair then set a price A thought re the stripped motor mount screw.... That one screw has only a very thin section of body casting to anchor to. The other 3 screws are threaded into much stiffer sections, so I wonder if 3 screws are probably enough. I can ask Paul later. Added notes... If there is a new 9 pin Canon connector in one of the photos please ignore it. It's not included. The 9 pin Canon connector at the side grip location..has a big chip out of the plastic surround. The metal pins are all good and the connector works just fine. 2) ACL multispeed motor pics at dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ef8hntmi8lswndudmlwjo/AKYnbwbJWNZXU0aLn9Ezps4?rlkey=2uofa0lgo7xo7fy7ni2bbhdjw&st=9yvsy87o&dl=0 Heavy duty, late model Thomson crystal sync motor (MIMUL) with crystal speeds of 8fps, 12fps, 24fps, 25fps, 50fps, 75fps. Mirror parking on camera stop (meaning the mirror always stops in the viewing position). Serviced by Andrzej (AZ Spectrum) in July 2023 and not used since. Cosmetic condition quite good. A couple scratches and paint chips that the techs touch up. AZ Spectrum invoice in the photos. PRICE. $1300 3) FRENCH ACL MAGS dropbox pics at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/peubt0fb83952tjzbict6/AMVW4xSgubP7MAUtm5BrUG8?rlkey=ogxfip3ppmrtm1nngh593b7uq&st=ruyb70g9&dl=0 All mags are late model French with the separate little pressure plate over the gate. Like an SR, the film is held in a precise gap by the long pressure plate, and only the little plate over the gate applies pressure. - 400' French ACL mag, S16, machining looks nice. Fairly tidy looking. Needs CLA, but really just lubrication. ("Pat 1"), #SD-503, with cap. PRICE USD800 - 400' French ACL mag, standard 16. Fairly tidy looking. Needs CLA, but really just lubrication. ("FR3"), #SC-797, no cap. PRICE USD650 (you can buy a 3D printed cap on eBay for USD55) - 200' French magazine,standard 16, in as new condition, friction feels low, but should have lubrication soon, #D98, with cap. PRICE USD800 4) ACL MAG PARTS SELL dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ahux7jypyku5ls9u7f449/ABc2z_xeJVOUdHABIouUYtw?rlkey=y0r1oxtpnatyz6dz274w6hq4l&st=mf9hn5z0&dl=0 400' English mag for parts. Has a French throat, otherwise is all English. Missing feed side door, platters. Belts, spindles, rollers, guide shoe assembly all good. Drive sprocket, I cant remember what the ball bearing was like. Partly disassembled, I could probably disassemble completely and just ship the bits and pieces, leaving the body and door behind. USD100 as is...... USD120 just the bits and pieces, no body/doors.... Support plate assy with guide shoes and rollers, complete less sprocket assembly (MIN 445 E/A)...New Later model French. No mounting screws. One of the recommended mods if running high speed. See the Eclair ACL Parts Catalogue (not the UK one), page4, shows pics of the different plates. Drive sprocket spindle assembly for French mag (315 E..?)....used Ball bearing and shaft feel ok but shaft has a little bur right near the tip that needs smoothing before reassembly. The "pulley" on the assembly body that drives the take up belt has some little dents and burs that will need to be smoothed out (mostly just careful straightening. PRICE USD120 for support plate assembly and sprocket assemblies together..... French 400' mag doors...New. Brand new alloy doors, L/R. No latch hardware. There is one white disck for the big latch knob. (MIN 717, 727) Sound deadening for French 400' take up door...New (MIN 707/708) It has laminated layers. There is a lead impregnated layer. The factory screwed up when they laminated the rear part of the sound deadening, with the layers in reverse order. To use it, one would have to delaminate it and glue it back in correct order. The outer surface of the black vinyl stuff may then have old glue to clean off. Maybe one could use new vinyl for that part. USD160 for doors and sound deadening together...Shipping French 400' footage counter face plate. New. (MIN 748, 749, .. ?) Has 3 layers: printed metal face plate/ clear plastic/ inner metal face plate. PRICE USD150 for doors, sound deadening and footage counter face plate together...Shipping 5) Arri S adapter for Eclair ACL dropbox pics at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/z02yjls363fa5kqavubia/AMgsr3uilOWRww8QTE-G0iQ?rlkey=zuljlulh4so0vwmjv3cmchrn6&st=wxzcuqjh&dl=0 TS/Arri-S (standard) adapter for Eclair ACL. This mount will let you use older Arri, Zeiss, Schneider lenses, also old Cooke Kinetal. The Kinetal will turn OK in the lens port if it is loosened a tiny bit (normally have a light smear of lubricant). This is the standard Arri S adapter that was sold with the ACL cameras. Good condition, all thread movements smooth, some signs of use, some wear on the anodized coating on the front flange, but nothing that should affect FFD. Rear flange good. Just what's in the photo, no front or rear cap. There are proper caps for an Arri S port that you could buy somewhere, or scrounge up used ones. Being a Kiwi I have used a plastic cap off a vegemite jar. I can maybe find a spare one to go with. PRICE. $450