Aaton Penelope

Last updated September 10, 2025

Aaton Penelope is a 35mm motion picture camera introduced by Aaton in October 2008. It is the first camera in the world designed as a switchable Techniscope or 3-perf shooting solution (2 perf-native and 3 perf user-switchable), and also the first 35mm camera to offer a progressive scan video-tap.^[1] It accepts a digital magazine and provides 4K digital output for true HD filming.^[2]

Camera technical specifications

Universal camera-body for 35mm 2-Perf.
2-Perf-native camera, swappable to 3-Perf and back in approx. 30 minutes with the 3-Perf kit.
22 dB noise level (±1 dB) in 2-Perf.
23 dB noise level (±1 dB) in 3-Perf.
Weight: 8 kg with loaded 400' mag and 1 battery.
3–40 frame/s, Synch & Variable speeds (0.001 increments)
Instant film-magazines, nine-minute autonomy at 24 frame/s in 35mm 2-Perf.
Ready for instant 'Digital-Mag' silicon sensor equipped.
Built to withstand extreme climates. (−10 °C to +40 °C)
Extremely bright optical viewfinder with generous peripheral coverage
Twin battery power supply: one for lightweight handheld shots; add the other for multi-accessory use.
Ready to print PDF 'Image Report' with JPEG snapshots, metadata and AatonCode via USB key.

Magazine

Open magazine.

Instant 400' preloaded magazine.
2/3 Perf.
Magnetic drive.
Semi automatic film loading
Easy loop length adjustment in daylight.
Delivered with nose protector.

Video-assist (Pal or NTSC)

Heater connector.

Double resolution progressive scan SD video-assist.
Flicker free at all operating speeds
Internal Fameline generator – Multiple frame option
Auto White Balance
Adjustable RGB values – Color bar generator – Frame store
Timecode in windows and VITC
Mechanical Iris and video gain control

Notes

↑ AbelCine Review 2009
↑ "Eyefish.tv Review". Archived from the original on 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
↑ Duncan: First Impressions of Penelope 2009
↑ "Aaton Penelope 2Perf Feature, The Fighter, Wraps 2009". Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-11-18.

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] AbelCine Review 2009

[2] "Eyefish.tv Review". Archived from the original on 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2009-11-18.

[3] Duncan: First Impressions of Penelope 2009

[4] "Aaton Penelope 2Perf Feature, The Fighter, Wraps 2009". Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-11-18.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]