• 9 - If the CCD image is centered in the monitor, your adjustment
is complete. However, if the image is off to one side, the beamsplit-
ter axis adjustment needs to be reset. Follow the directions under
14.4 The Beamsplitter Axis Adjustment to recenter the image. After-
wards, loosen the two screws on the CCD head and refocus the op-
tics.
• 10 - Locate the iris rod on the CCD head (marked B in diagram)
and move it by hand to an upright position. Replace the CCD cover
on the body; take care to locate the iris control fork and position it
around the iris lever. Tighten the four screws to secure the cover in
place. Operate the manual iris lever and check that the CCD iris it-
self is functioning by looking at the monitor. If the brightness of the
image does not change, the iris rod may not be engaged in the
control fork. If this is the case, remove the CCD cover and repeat
the procedure.
2.12.8 The VSA Color CCD Assist capabilities
You may use the VSA color CCD assist in two different ways.
In some special situations (if you're filming in the dark for example),
it might be more comfortable to look your images on a monitor
than through the viewfinder. This is why the VSA is equipped with
a frame generator: as you can choose the size and position of the ge-
nerated frame, the image you see through the viewfinder (which
might be in ratio 1.78 or 1.66 for example) can match exactly the
image you see inside the frame on the monitor. Moreover this frame
is easier to locate than the viewing screen’s frame. The director can
then immediatly control his operator's images, or the operator is al-
lowed to stay away from his camera.
Of course, the video assist was first created to be used in such a way.
But, now that video editing (including the virtual video editing) of-
fers new powerfull tools to the editor, the VSA can be used in a dif-
ferent way. The VSA provides a Vitc lines generator, which are the
dots and lines, usually put above the video image, used by video edi-
ting machines. Therefore, images recorded by the video assist may
be directly used to make a video editing of the film; no need to use
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THE CAMERA BODY