D I G I T A L
S T U D I O
C A M E R A
S Y S T E M
Digital Camera Back for
4"x5" Large Format
Cameras
User’s Guide
Edition 3.0
85280002
PhotoPha se Digita l Ca mera Ba ck for La rge Forma t Ca mera s – User' s Guide
Ta b le o f Co n t e n t s
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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PhotoPha se Digita l Ca mera Ba ck for La rge Forma t Ca mera s – User' s Guide
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 PhotoPhase units; electrical shock may result.
If your units require service, contact your licensed PhotoPhase dealer.
Warning: Electrical equipment may be hazardous if misused. Always super-
vise children when electrical equipment is present.
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PhotoPha se Digita l Ca mera Ba ck for La rge Forma t Ca mera s – User' s Guide
Se ctio n 1
The PhotoPha se Dig ita l Ca m era Ba ck
The PhotoPhase 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.
Se ctio n 1 .1
Ho w it Wo rk s
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 5000 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 camera back also
contains microprocessors which control the camera back, processes
incoming images, and communicate with your computer. The Phase
One software, running on the computer, makes it possible for you to
calibrate and control the camera back, view your images, and make
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PhotoPha se Digita l Ca mera Ba ck for La rge Forma t Ca mera s – User' s Guide
Protection
Legs
Dust Cover
Ha ndle
(in open
position)
SCSI
Connector
CCD Sensor
Sca n
Direction
Sca n Area
Fig.1 Back Panel of the PhotoPhase Plus
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PhotoPha se Digita l Ca mera Ba ck for La rge Forma t Ca mera s – User' s Guide
image processing settings to perfect your images. Final images are con-
verted into the TIFF file format, which is readable by nearly every other
image processing and desk top publishing program.
Se ctio n 2
Ba ck Pa n e l De scrip tio n
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 comput-
er 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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