LENSO × AZ SPECTRUM 416 IVS
LENSO × AZ SPECTRUM · FIELD MANUAL
DOCUMENT LFS-VIDEO-002 REVISION 1.0 · NOV 2026

ARRIFLEX 416
HD IVS →
HD-SDI 1080P
CONVERSION.

AZ Spectrum retrofit of the original Arriflex 416 Plus IVS. Adds a real HD-SDI 1080p output and keeps the two original SD analog outputs. On-set workflow revolves around three things: pick the right BNC, keep the shutter manual at 1/25 to avoid flicker, and remember the direct shortcuts (DZOOM, AWB, FREEZE) without entering the menu.

"Two BNCs and a Fischer. The right one is HD-SDI, the left one is PAL/NTSC. Mix them up and you'll spend half an hour asking why the monitor says NO SIGNAL."
02 · Specifications

Sony sensor,
three video outputs.

The conversion replaces the 416 IVS internal electronics with a 2 MP Sony board. The original chassis and physical buttons are kept — all retain their labels — but the firmware and the connectors are new.

Sensor

1920×1080· Sony HD

Sony HD CMOS progressive. SDI formats: 1080P 60/50, 1080i 60/50, 1080P 30/25, 720P 60/50. EX-SDI formats: 135M, 135M+, 270M.

Analog

PAL· NTSC · AHD / TVI / CVI

SD analog output in PAL or NTSC, or HD analog at 1080P 30/25 in AHD, TVI, or CVI (monitor-dependent). For a standard SD PAL/NTSC monitor: only CVBS works.

Power draw

3W

Minimum illumination 0.1 lux at f/1.2 and 1080P 25. Internal sync. Color or B/W mode. Shutter and WB auto or manual. 10 AGC levels.

03 · Connectors

RIGHT, SDI.
LEFT, ANALOG.

The 416 Plus body with the IVS carries two front BNCs and two 4-pin Fischer connectors. Only one outputs HD; the others are analog SD or auxiliary power.

ARRIFLEX 416 Plus with IVS: right BNC HD-SDI 1080P, left BNC PAL/NTSC, lower 4-pin Fischer 12V DC output only, FF/WB/MGC/ENTER-INSERT keys and up/down/left/right arrows, Focus Adj
416 Plus chassis with IVS conversionAZ Spectrum · notes p.1

Video outputs

Right BNC · HD-SDI
Digital output. To HD monitor, wireless TX, or village capture.
Left BNC · analog
SD PAL/NTSC output, or HD analog (AHD/TVI/CVI) selectable under SYSTEM → OUTPUT → ANALOG MODE. For standard SD monitor: CVBS.
Upper 4-pin Fischer
Same SD analog signal (PAL/NTSC) for traditional ARRI viewfinder cables.

Auxiliary power

Lower 4-pin Fischer
12 V DC output only. It is NOT a power input — the camera feeds the IVS internally. Use it for 12 V accessories (on-board monitor, tally light).

Classic first-day mistake: plugging a battery here trying to power the camera. Nothing serious thanks to protection, but you'll lose 10 min wondering why it won't turn on.

!
SDI cables — short ones first

Not every BNC cable works for SDI. An analog PAL/NTSC cable can seem to work on the bench and break at 10 m of run. If in doubt, use a short SDI reference cable to rule out the signal — then extend.

04 · Menu controls

FOUR KEYS
+ FOUR ARROWS.

The 416 keeps the original panel's FF, WB, MGC, ENTER/INSERT keys and the ▲ ▼ ◀ ▶ arrows. Inside the OSD they're navigation; outside the menu, each key is a direct shortcut.

IVS 416 MENU screen: IRIS ELC, EDGE DET OFF, EXPOSURE, BACKLIGHT OFF, DAY&NIGHT, COLOR, DNR LOW, IMAGE, iMOTION OFF, SYSTEM, EXIT
IVS root menu — 10 itemsArrow ↵ = submenu

Enter the menu

Press ENTER/INSERT. The MENU screen with 10 entries appears. The ↵ arrow next to an item means another ENTER/INSERT opens its submenu.

▲ / ▼
Navigate between items.
◀ / ▶
Change the selected item's value.
ENTER/INSERT
Enter submenu or confirm.

Save and exit

Go down to EXIT, press ENTER/INSERT. Changes save via SAVE. Exit any other way and the settings are lost at next power-on.

The original FF key (Freeze Frame) keeps its shortcut role when the menu isn't visible — see section 10.

05 · Flicker-free

THE CRITICAL SETTING
IN THREE LINES.

The 416 runs at 24, 25, 29.97, or 30 fps. Each speed asks for a different combination of FREQ, FRAME RATE, and SHUTTER SPEED in the IVS so the monitor comes out flicker-free. These are the three lines that save you from an unusable take.

SHUTTER SPEED 1/25 and OUTPUT screens: FRAME RATE 1080P 25, FREQ 50HZ, SDI MODE HD-SDI, ANALOG MODE CVBS
SHUTTER and OUTPUT submenusMENU → SYSTEM → OUTPUT
24

24 FPS · "25" configuration

  • SYSTEM → OUTPUT → FREQ: 50 Hz
  • FRAME RATE: 1080P 25
  • EXPOSURE → SHUTTER → MANUAL → SPEED: 1/25

At 24 fps, the 1/25 window overlaps enough with the mirror rhythm to stay nearly flicker-free. It's the default when the 416 runs cinema.

25

25 FPS · "25" configuration

  • FREQ: 50 Hz
  • FRAME RATE: 1080P 25
  • SHUTTER SPEED: 1/25

The cleanest scenario. The sensor runs at the same pace as the rotating mirror and flicker is gone.

30

29.97 or 30 FPS · "30" configuration

  • FREQ: 60 Hz (and confirm with CONFIRM YES by holding MENU/STORE 2 s)
  • FRAME RATE: 1080P 30
  • SHUTTER SPEED: 1/30

Changing from 50 Hz to 60 Hz in the OUTPUT submenu triggers a confirmation. Hold MENU/STORE (or ENTER/INSERT on this chassis) pressed for 2 seconds to apply. Without the confirmation, the change is discarded.

!
Don't use SYSTEM/RESET if the IVS is working well

The RESET in SYSTEM wipes the OSD: back to 60 Hz and SD NTSC by default, frame markers and privacy overlays gone. The manufacturer says it plainly: "We do not recommend using the RESET function when the IVS is working well". Use only as last resort.

06 · Exposure

Brightness, shutter, sens-up, AGC.

Inside the EXPOSURE submenu, SHUTTER is on MANUAL with SPEED locked to 1/25 or 1/30 (see section 05). The other three parameters are only touched when the scene asks.

Controls

BRIGHTNESS
0-20. Default 10.
SHUTTER
MANUAL + 1/25 or 1/30.
SENS-UP
In very low light, ×2 doubles exposure at the cost of motion blur. Default OFF.
AGC
Max allowed gain (10 levels). Default 1.

Modes

SHUTTER AUTO
The shutter moves to compensate — produces flicker on the 416. Not for takes.
SHUTTER MANUAL 1/25 or 1/30
The only valid configuration (see section 05).
SENS-UP × AUTO
Combined with SHUTTER AUTO, for extreme night work — breaks mirror sync, use with care.
07 · Color and White Balance

PRESET, MANUAL,
or AUTO with COLOR GAIN.

The COLOR submenu offers four AWB modes — PRESET, MANUAL (3000K / 5000K / 8000K), AUTO — and a COLOR GAIN from 0 to 20. For mixing tungsten interior and HMI exterior without touching the menu each time, AUTO is the most practical pick.

PRESET

Fixed white — locked in by pressing SET on a white reference card. Great if color temperature doesn't change. Doesn't follow variations.

MANUAL

Fixed temperature: 3000K, 5000K, or 8000K. For specific looks or as a fallback if AUTO drifts.

AUTO

Continuous tracking. Compatible with mixed tungsten + HMI within the same shot. Complemented by COLOR GAIN for saturation.

COLOR GAIN

0-20. Default 10. Useful when the DP wants more chromatic impact on the monitor without changing blue/red balance.

08 · Image

Sharpness, gamma, markers.

The IMAGE submenu groups 11 parameters, but only three get touched in production: SHARPNESS, D-ZOOM, and the PRIVACY masks.

IMAGE screen (SHARPNESS 4, GAMMA 0.55, MIRROR OFF, FLIP OFF, D-ZOOM 1.1X, DIS OFF, ACE LOW, DEFOG OFF, SHADING OFF, PRIVACY) and PRIVACY (BOX ON, POLYGON OFF)
IMAGE and PRIVACY submenusMENU → IMAGE

Standard processing

SHARPNESS
0-10. Default 4. Above 6, the playback looks "artificial".
GAMMA
0.45, 0.55, 0.65, 0.75. Default 0.55.
MIRROR / FLIP
OFF by default. Useful if the IVS mounts inverted on a crane.
D-ZOOM
Digital zoom in the IVS. Up to ×10. Also accessible as a shortcut (MENU/STORE knob — see section 10).
DNR
Dynamic noise reduction. LOW by default. OFF if you want the monitor truer to the negative.

On-screen generators

PRIVACY BOX
Up to 16 rectangles with position, size, Y/CB/CR, and transparency. For horizontal lines set V-SIZE 0; for vertical lines set H-SIZE 0.
PRIVACY POLYGON
Up to 8 four-vertex polygons. Use POS0 (top-left), POS1 (top-right), POS2 (bottom-right), POS3 (bottom-left). Useful as a frame marker or as shading.
ACE / DEFOG / SHADING
Contrast and fall-off compensation. OFF by default; only use with operator/DP present.
09 · System

OUTPUT. Where flicker-free lives.

The SYSTEM submenu holds general config. Most stays at defaults; the only block routinely touched is OUTPUT — because that's where FREQ (50/60 Hz) and FRAME RATE live.

OUTPUT

FRAME RATE
1080P 25 or 1080P 30 (see section 05).
FREQ
50 Hz or 60 Hz. Changing asks for confirmation (MENU/STORE 2 s).
SDI MODE
Always HD-SDI. The EX-SDI 135M / 135M+ / 270M options are for specific EX-SDI monitors — not used in LENSO flow.
ANALOG MODE
CVBS for SD PAL/NTSC monitor. For HD analog (AHD/TVI/CVI) pick the mode your monitor accepts.

Rest of SYSTEM

COMM
RS-485. Only if an external control board is present.
IMAGE RANGE
FULL. Don't change.
COLOR SPACE
HD-CbCr. Don't change.
CVBS
4:3 default. Keeps the SD frame matching the HD at 16:9 on the monitor.
COLOR BAR
SMPTE bars for monitor calibration. OFF during takes.
LANGUAGE
English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, German.
CAM TITLE
Up to 8 overlaid characters.
RESET
Factory reset — see warning in section 05.
10 · Direct shortcuts (no menu)

Outside the menu,
the keys have another life.

When you haven't pressed ENTER/INSERT and the menu isn't showing, each panel key becomes an instant shortcut. Useful for quick tweaks during rehearsal without losing the monitor image.

▲ / WB

Short press — AWB: triggers a white re-balance against the current scene. Useful when changing from tungsten to HMI without touching the menu.

◀ / MGC

Short press — DZOOM−: zooms the digital zoom out (toward 1.0×). Save it for quick framing in tests; on takes, the optical zoom commands.

▶

Short press — DZOOM+: zooms the digital zoom in. Useful for checking focus on the monitor without moving the camera closer.

▼

Short press — FREEZE: freezes the image. Press again to unfreeze.

FF

Freeze Frame, identical to the one above. The manufacturer documents both paths because chassis labeling varies between batches.

ENTER / INSERT

Opens the MENU. If pressed with the menu already visible, enters the submenu or applies the change.

11 · Troubleshooting

Fast on-set triage.

The 416 IVS's most common symptoms and their typical cause. The HD-SDI block and the accidental EX-SDI switch cover almost all the cases.

Symptom Probable cause Fix
No image at power-on Bad SDI cable, analog cable plugged in the SDI BNC, or empty battery. Check cable and connections. Try a short SDI reference cable. Verify camera battery charge.
No image from the HD-SDI BNC The IVS switched accidentally to EX-SDI. EX-SDI mode activates with three successive ◀ presses followed by ENTER/INSERT — happens in practice when someone fiddles with the buttons. Return to HD-SDI: power the IVS off and on. Press the ▶ arrow (BNC MODE) 3 times, then ENTER/INSERT. After 3 seconds it returns to HD-SDI. Or from the menu: SYSTEM → OUTPUT → SDI MODE → HD-SDI.
Continuous monitor flicker FREQ, FRAME RATE, or SHUTTER SPEED don't match the camera speed. Apply the combo from section 05 — make sure to confirm the FREQ change with MENU/STORE for 2 seconds.
Partial SDI image only Internal sync error. Power the IVS off and back on.
Image frozen at startup The ▼ (FREEZE) key was left active. Press ▼ (DOWN) once to unfreeze.
No signal in analog BNC or viewfinder Fischer SYSTEM → CVBS disabled. Check that SYSTEM → CVBS is set to 4:3 (or the matching ratio), not OFF.
Long SDI cable, no image Length exceeds the cable's quality. SDI fails "off the cliff": it works up to a length then drops everything. Use certified SDI cable or shorten the run.
Settings lost on power-off Didn't go through EXIT → SAVE. Return to the menu and exit explicitly via EXIT.
Everything off after too much tweaking Menu in inconsistent state. Last resort: SYSTEM → RESET → ON. Reapply frame rate and overlays. Manufacturer advises against it if the IVS still works (see section 05).