Time Code — PANAVISION AATONCODE
Generator Unit Overview

The PANAVISION AATONCODE Generator is fitted to the underside of a PANAFLEX camera.

The Generator, together with the special camera aperture plate and the unit which exposes the matrix of dots on the edge of the film, will have been installed into the camera before it goes onto a particular production. The Camera Assistant will not have any installation procedures to worry about.

The Generator takes its power from the film camera (it has no ON-OFF switch) and is programmed with the camera serial number before the camera leaves PANAVISION Inc.

The Generator must be synchronized with the Time Code unit within the Nagra at the start of the working day and thereafter at least every four hours, and after any period when power has been disconnected from the camera for 45 minutes or more.

If the battery has been disconnected for more than 45 minutes a red LED light will flash and a message on the LCD display will say OUT OF SYNC.

Synchronization is accomplished by transferring the time from the Nagra IV-ST.C. to the more portable ORIGIN C unit and using that to set the time in the camera.

It is good practice, when convenient, to confirm that the units are holding absolute sync.

Special Note:

Productions contemplating “going Time Code” should give PANAVISION early notice as not all cameras are Time Code ready.

1. Generator panel displaying Time Code data settings, 2. Generator panel displaying the OUT OF SYNC message and the red LED flashing.