PhaseOne Studiokit User manual

Digital Camera Back for
4" x 5" Large Format
Cameras
User’s Guide
DIGITAL STUDIO CAMERA SYSTEM
Edition 3.0
85350002

Table of Contents
For Your Safety..................................................................................................................2
Section 1: Introduction......................................................................................................3
Section 1.1: How it Works...........................................................................................3
Section 2: Back Panel Description.....................................................................................5
Section 3: Mounting and Unmounting the Camera Back..................................................7
Section 3.1: Mounting the Camera Back ......................................................................7
Section 3.2: Unmounting the Camera Back..................................................................7
Section 4: Care and Cleaning............................................................................................8
Section 4.1: Storage and Handling................................................................................8
Section 4.2: Cleaning the Camera Back Case................................................................8
Section 4.3: Cleaning the CCD Sensor.........................................................................9
Section 5: Camera Back Specifications.............................................................................10
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For Your Safety:
Read this manual carefully before turning on your system.
•If any component of your system becomes wet or damaged, remove
power by unplugging the power unit from the wall socket.
•Keep these instructions handy for reference by you or others.
•If you receive a shock while using this equipment, remove power and con-
tact a licensed electrician immediately.
•Follow all instructions and warnings dealing with your system.
•Never try to open any of your Studiokit units; electrical shock may result. If
your units require service, contact your licensed Studiokit dealer.
Warning: Electrical equipment may be hazardous if misused. Always super-
vise children when electrical equipment is present.
!

Section 1 Introducing: The Studiokit Digital Camera Back
for 4"x 5" Large Format Cameras
The Studiokit digital camera back for large format cameras will enable
you to use your usual 4" x 5" large format cameras and lenses to take
digital photographs in color. The camera back fits into a standard spring-
back film loading mechanism, just like a normal camera back.
Section 1.1 How it Works
The camera back contains a light sensitive element called a CCD (charge
coupled device). This device contains many tiny light sensitive areas,
each of which maps to one pixel in the final photograph. A pixel is one
picture element or picture cell, and is analogous to the grain size of film
stock.
The camera back uses a sensor with three linear CCDs; there is one line
for each additive primary color: red, green, and blue (RGB). Each line,
or array, is one pixel high and 2500 pixels wide. In the final image, the
three RGB lines are digitally mixed to produce a single line of pixels in
full color.
Before exposure, called capturing in digital techniques, the image is
focussed onto the plane in which the CCD array will travel. At the start
of the capture process the array is positioned at the top of the area to be
scanned. During capture, the RGB lines are read, the CCD sensor is
moved a distance equal to the height of one pixel, and then the next lines
are read. This is repeated until the entire image area has been covered.
This process is called scanning.
The camera back contains the basic sensory electronics for image cap-
ture (the CCD and analog to digital converter). The Phase One soft-
ware, running on your computer, makes it possible for you to calibrate
and control the camera back, view your images, and make image pro-
cessing settings to perfect your images. Final images are converted into
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Fig.1 Back Panel of the Studiokit
CCD Sensor
Scan Area
SCSI
Connector
Scan
Direction
Protection
Legs
Dust Cover
Handle
(in open
position)

the TIFF file format, which is readable by nearly every other image pro-
cessing and desk top publishing program.
Section 2 Back Panel Description
Referring to Fig.1, the following back panel features can be seen:
• CCD Sensor: This is a linear light sensitive surface. It scans across the
entire exposure area to capture the full image.
• Scan Direction: The arrow shows the direction of the CCD sensor's
movement during camera back operation. This information is useful
when troubleshooting your system.
• SCSI Connector: The camera back communicates with your PC
through a SCSI cable connected here.
• Scan Area: The rectangular area on the back panel is the scan area.
The CCD sensor moves across this area during scanning.
• Protection Legs: The protection legs help to protect the scan area
when the camera back is placed on a horizontal surface.
• Dust Cover: This aluminum cover slides over the scan area. The cover
must be slid all the way up to fully expose the scan area before use (as
shown). Always store your camera back with the dust cover fully
closed to protect the CCD and other internal components.
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Fig.2 Studiokit camera back mounted on a Sinar camera

Section 3 Mounting and Unmounting the Camera Back
The camera back fits to your camera just like a normal film cassette. Use
the following procedures to mount and unmount the camera back:
Section 3.1 Mounting the Camera Back
1. Set your film mounting assembly in the portrait (for pictures that are
taller than they are wide) or landscape (for pictures that are wider
than they are tall) position.
2. Pull back the focusing screen release lever on your camera to make
room to slide the camera back into place in front of the screen.
3. Gently slide the camera back into place until it will slide no further.
4. Return your camera's focusing screen release lever to the closed posi-
tion to hold the camera back in place.
5. Slide the camera back's dust cover all the way up to fully expose the
scan area.
6. Be sure to install a Phase One infrared filter on your camera before
using the camera back.
Section 3.2 Unmounting the Camera Back
1. Slide the dust cover all the way down to protect the scan area.
2. Securely grasp the camera back by its rubber grip
3. Pull back the focusing screen release lever on your camera to make
room to slide the camera back away from your camera.
4. Pull the camera back up and away from the camera.
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Section 4 Care and Cleaning
Your Studiokit camera back is a sensitive and high precision instrument.
To keep it working properly, treat it carefully as you would any of your
other high quality photography equipment, and take special note of the
advice given here.
Section 4.1 Storage and Handling
• Keep the camera back away from sources of moisture. Do not let liq-
uid get in or on the unit.
• Do not touch the CCD sensor or any of the other internal elements.
• Always store your camera back with the dust cover slid all the way
down over the scan area, so that the CCD sensor and other internal
components are protected from dirt and damage.
• Avoid extreme temperatures.
• Protect the camera back from falls and collisions.
Section 4.2 Cleaning the camera back case
1. Disconnect the unit from power.
2. Be sure the dust cover is closed to protect the CCD and other
exposed components visible in the scan area.
3. Lightly wipe the case with a clean, soft cloth dampened with water.
Do not allow moisture to get in any of the openings on the back
panel or in the connectors.
Section 4.3 Cleaning the CCD Sensor
You must never touch the CCD sensor with your fingers, nor allow the
surface to become dirty, scratched, or damaged in any way.

However, if you notice that your images contain cyan, magenta, or yel-
low lines in the direction parallel with the scan movement, then your
CCD sensor may be in need of cleaning. In this case, use the following
procedure:
1. With your system fully assembled and with the software running,
select Maintenance ➜Cleaning Position from the Camera menu.
This will move the CCD to where it can be cleaned easily.
2. Spray the CCD sensor surface with a compressed air spray to remove
any abrasive dust.
3. Lightly moisten a clean piece of standard lens cleaning paper with
some isopropyl alcohol.
4. Rub the CCD sensor surface with the moistened lens cleaning paper.
Be careful not to get any alcohol anywhere else inside the camera
back. After the alcohol evaporates, inspect the CCD for dust. Repeat
if necessary.
5. Use one pump of Studiokit anti-static spray (included with your cam-
era back) to lightly moisten a new, clean piece of lens paper. Never
spray the fluid directly into your camera back.
6. Gently rub the CCD sensor surface with the moistened lens cleaning
paper. The purpose of this step is to apply a very light coating to pre-
vent static electricity from building up on the CCD surface. Do not
apply too much of the anti-static solution.
7. Always store your camera back with the dust cover slid all the way
down over the scan area, so that the CCD sensor and other internal
components are protected from dirt and damage.
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Section 5 Camera Back Specifications
Fits
Standard for 4"x5" large format cameras
Exposed Frame
7 x 10 cm (2.76" x 4")
2500 x 3600 pixels per color
Maximum Print Size at 150 lpi
21 x 30 cm (8,3" x 12")
Accuracy
12 bits per color
Max File Size
25.7 MB
Equivalent ASA Rating
Equivalent ASA of 800 (including the required infrared filter)
Exposure and Data Storage Time
Typical image capture about 3 minutes with full color and resolution
Data Interface
Connects to the computer via standard SCSI cable.
Output
24 bits RGB TIFF 6.0