Film cameras
3-A Graflex User manual
User manual for 3-A Graflex. 15 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Graflex
- Model / document
- 3-A Graflex
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 15
- File size
- 3.5 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
I www.butkus.us
Directions for OPerating
GRAFLEXTHE, 3-A
Autographic
The Folmer Graflex Corporation
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
,-:Y.-::^-&^)View original page 2Page 3 · Read text
I
Directions for Operating
The 3-A Graflex Camera;
FOCUSING Adjust the focusing hoocl by releasing catch rlcal cen-
ter of carnera. Raise the covcr which arttouratically
extencls the focusing hood. Press down the two sitle artus, rvhich lvill
draw the focusing hood taut, and hold it rigidly in position' Open
Digitally signed by mike butkus
DN: cn=mike butkus,front of the camera by pressing the mike
o=orphancameras, ou=29,
c=USrelease button on right, upper, for- email=mike@butkus.org,Date: 2018.02.17 22:57:06 -05'00' butkusward corner. Draw down and lock
bed, then draw out lens front to the
"infinity stop" on front bed. Ad- ''''
just finL focus with rack ancl pinion. D
LOADING The hinged back A
THE CAMERA panel of the cam- H
era is opened by F
releasing spring catch. To load G
draw out the lower spool center Band turn slightly to right, which Plocks it in an extended position,
permitting the film spool to be
placed in position. A slight turn to the left allows the spling actttatetl
spool center to spring back in place, engaging the fihn spool. The rcd
paper is then drawn across the focal plane and threaded into the
winding spool. The camera back is then closed and the film wincling
key turned until 1 appears at the ruby window, which inclicates that
the portion of film for the first exposure is in position. Inunediately
after each exposure, the next exposure number should be wottncl into
position at the window. After the last exposure the winding key
should be turned until all of the red paper is wound upon the exposccl
roll of film. To remove the exposed film, open calnera back and
draw out the winding key, turning it slightly to the left, which locks
3View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
I
www.butkus.us t it in an extended position, and the spool may easily be removed. The IITempty film spool should then be placed in the opposite end of the
camera and the winding key given a slight turn to the left, permitting +t
Jthe web to drop into the milled slot in the spool end. A small pocket
:iat each end of the camera, opening with spring catch door, provides I
Lfor carrying four extra rolls of film.
SETTING Press down the lever H until the mirror locks in ,l 'j.THE MIRROR focusing position. I{.
THE CURTAIN The shutter curtain contains 5 apertures ranging
APERTURES from full opening o ro rA of an inch. when the
letter O appears at F, the shutter is wide open.
The other apertures, lrf , ,4, 34 and rf, follow in rotation at F as
key A is turned to the left.
THE SHUTTER The metal plate, attached to the Focusing Hood,
SPEED PLATE gives the approximate shutter speeds, in frac-
tional parts of seconds, obtainable with the
various combinations of curtain apertures and tension numbers.
SETTING THE Push down lever H. Slide the bar D to the left,
SHUTTER exposing I, indicating instantaneous exposure.
Wind the curtain by turning key A to the left,
until the required aperture appears at F. If the curtain is set at a
smaller aperture than required, release the curtain by pressing lever
M downward, until the proper aperture number is registered at F.
CAUTION A safety lock prevents the rewinding of the curtain be-
fore the mirror is set in focusing position. This pre-
vents fogging of the film, making it necessary to set the mirror before
rewinding the shutter curtain.
REGULATING THE Tension on the curtain is regulated by turn- IISHUTTER SPEED ing the milled head B to the right until the tt required tension number appears at G. The {'.t.numbers run from 1 to 6-the highest number indicating the greatest
speed. If the tension number is set at a higher tension than required,
release tension of spring by sliding escapement P, up and down, until *f'f
*
IView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
an the proper tension number is registered at G. Example: for
11235 of a second, register curtain aperture Ya af F, and ten-
"*poitt. sion No. 5 at G.
INSTANTANEOUS After the shutter has been set, and the image
EXPOSURES on the GroundGlass Focusing screen properly
focused, the exposure is made by one gentle,
downward pressure of the release lever, located on the forward, left-
hand side of the camera body. The pressure on the lever simulta-
neously releases the mirror and curtain. Slow instantaneous efiposures
of about 1/5 second can be made with the curtain set at O (full open-
irrg), and tension No. 1. Pressure upon the shutter release causes the'
*irro, to rise just before the curtain drops, closing the exposing
aperture.
TIME EXPOSURES Press down lever H, and slide the bar D to
the right, exposing T, indicating time ex-
posures. wind the curtain until the letter T is registered at F. After
iocusing the imag e, release the m'irror by pressing the shutter lever,
and commence the exposure by a gentle, downward pressure on lever
M. At the expiration of the required time, terminate the exposure
by a second pressure on lever M.
VERTICAL Vertical pictures may easily be made by first setting
horizontal PICTURES the shutter, and accurately focusing in
position, making the exposure with the camera held
in vertical position
CLOSING THE When closing the camera, hold the lever H back-
CAMERA ward as far as it will go before pushing the front
lens standard back into the.camel'a. Press down
t on the two front side arms, and swing the bed upward into lockings
P position.
each front end ofilI EXTRA FILM The two compartments-one at
the camera body-accommodate 4 rolls of Auto-
graphic Film No. L-r22.
L ilView original page 5Page 9 · Read text
How to Use Table to Stop Motion at
right an$les to Camera
Find the subject group, and the exposure for movement at right angles to.eam-
era will be founcl in the square on the line of "distance of object" and under "focal
length of lens."
Example:
Subject Motor Boat
Distance :: .:. 50 Feet
Speed of Subject 30 Miles per hour
Focal Length of Lens 634'
Exposure 1/550th of a secondt
The shutter speeds given are necessary_to- stop the.motion. The lens opening
must be regulated to meet the prevailing light condilions
For bright days it is suggested that Stop /.8 be used with exposures_ 1/195 to
1/350; /.5.6 with*exposures 1/350 to l/550; f .4.5 for exposures 1/680 to 1/1000.
On hazy or dull days, with same exposure, proportionately larger lens openings
should be used.
It is not advisable to operate the shutter at a higher speeci thqn rp necessary
to stop movement of the subject, thereby gaining th.e_advantage of full.exposures
and the ability to use smallei lens openings, which will give greater depth of focus.
To decrease a given shutter speed 1/3 for movement at 45 degrees, or 2/3
for oncoming subjects, use the second lower lpeed on Graflex exposure plate for 1/3 less, addlhe fifth lower exposure for 2/3 less.
Example:
1000
Eg3 Right angles >+
il3
45 degreesi lAless>>--+
Z}i
235
Toward camera; % less >+
i33
THE AUTOGRAPHIC The 3-A Autographic Graflex has a slid-
FEATURE ing door on the back, coverlng a narrow
slot through which the writing is done
upon the red paper. The slot is provided with an automatic safety
spring border which operates when the door is open to press the
papers into contact with back of the film, thus securing the sharp
printing of the image of the writing and preventing the diffusion ol
Iight around the edges of the slot. This slot is located so that nor-
mally the writing comes between the exposures.View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
www.butkus.usrTHE AUTOGRAPHIC Nlany arnateurs have distinctly im-
1 RECoRD AS A GUIDE provecl the quality of their work by
I rnaking notes, at the tirne of exposure,
of the prevailing eonclitions as to light, stop anrl exposllre. Ry keep-
ling such records the arnateur can quickly find the causes of failures,
if any. By conrparing negatives antl records he will soon get a lile
on his el'rol's ancl when he knorvs rvhat his crrors ar.e, he can easily
rectify thern. It is obvious that the best way to rnake these recor.cls
is autographically-on the fihn, at the time.
THE OPERATION Aftcr thc picturc is taken, slide back the door
with thurnb. Use the stylus (which will be
found in a slot on the upper right hand side of the instrurnent), helcl
in as upright a position as is convenient, and lvrite on the strip of
exposed red paper any nlelnorandunr tlesired, sueh as the title of the
picture, the datc, or rletails in regarul to the exposure, light, stop, etc.
4th ts,to€',tr, nrllt e.c'.c. W;ht
Ba^\d. Cwra$,ma$arnnd. PR. rlilrg
huqu ed"rq^a Le^^. ilndl(, tltoltC
€fifr{r- Otu.a-€atrear, fot %do ca
filcnr4g tra5r ltl Trrf*un O^rc . elailg
Tl",odr€',i*, Par. 8/ J l, f -6,Qe e?L.
An Autographic Negative
The "Autographic Negativc," shown in tlris booklet, is merely to
suggest a ferv of the thousand and one ways in which autographic
records may be used to ackl value to your negatives.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
Position of stylus when writing record data on Autcgraphic - Film Cartridgc trsed in Autographic Graflex
To get a clear impression, press firmly on both up and
down strokes. While writing or afterwards the sun should
not be allowed to shine upon the paper.
The action of the stylus so atlects the tissue as to pennit the
light to record the writing upon the filrn. After finishing the writing
the door should be lcft opcn for the printing, in accordance with the
following table:
(Enpose to the sk?|, but not to the sun.)
INI)OORS CI,OSE
TO WINDOW
Blilliant Light 5 to 7 Seconds
Dull Light 5 to 10 Seconds 10 to 15 Seconds
Incandescent Light, distance 2 inches, 30 to 60 seconds.
Welsbach Light, distance 6 inches, 30 to 60 seconcls.
Close the door before winding a new film into place.
CAUTION In order to locate the writing accurat,ely in the space
between the negatives it is important that the film
should be turned so that the exposure number centers
perfectly in the red window.
u
r-View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
www.butkus.usr1IMPORTANT When you have used the last exposure on your roll
I of film and have made the autographic record of it
fn accordance with the foregoing directions, turn the winding key
a letter (A) appears in the c-enter of the window in the back offrntil
lbhe instrument. Push back the door and write your name on the red
expose it to the sky the same as was done when making the[up.r,pxposure records, then close the door and finish winding film and red
lpup.. for removal from the instrument. Your film is now ready to
lend to your finisher and when developed will be readily identified
by the autographic copy of your name which you wrote on the red
paper.
L'oad, your 3-AGraf,er with Kodak Film.
Look for this Trade Mark on the bor:
EASTMAN
"If it isn't Eastnl,an, it isn't Kodah Film."
TIIE FOLMER GRAFLEX CORPORATION
ROCHESTER, N. Y.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
I
Kodak
Auto-Focus'
Enlarger
For Bromide Enlarging
Txr s time-saving,
trouble eliminating,
up-to-date apparatus brings to enlarging a degree
of ease and speed heretofore associated only with
contact prlntlng.
Ease: Slide the camera up or down and while the image
size ch.anges the -focus stays sharp. Auto-acting mechaniJm
keeps it so.
With a capacity for Maz<la lamps (not supplied)
of-Speed:from 7 S to 2oo watts, enlargements can be madeas rapidly as contact prints. "i-ori
Kodak Auto-Focus Enlarger accommodates negatives up to 4 x 6 inches
and makes plint_s_ flom rr4 to. j% times the negaiive size. It is supplied
c-omplete with Kodak Anastigmat Lens, negative and paper holders, six
fexible metal masks and electric cord and plug. pricc ' .' $j3.oo
Diffusing Disc for soft focus effects. Pricc r.oo
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER, N. y., The Kodak Citv
,tt lour dealcr'sView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Color prints and Jlotlr
enlargements with 0
Velox
Water Color
Outfit
No Experience -Mec'essary
This Outfit consists of an Artist's Nlixing Palette, three
special Cirmel's Hair Brushes, and one book of Velox
Transparent Water Color Stamps (twelve colors).
EASTMAN KOI)AK C'OMPANY
lt your dealer's RocHES'l'E,R, N. Y.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
Loofr " 4e/ox" for
on tlte Bach
r--\
IlvEny Graflex negatir.e should be printed on
velox. It is the only paper made especially for
amateur negatives; it meets their requirements as
no other paper can.
Finishe's knor,r' this and that is u,hy so many of
them use nothing butvelox in their contact printing
rooms.
For your protection, and to identif.y quality
finishers n'ith quality $'o.k, each sheet of velox
is faintly marked rvith the trade name.
Look for "Velor" on the back
EASTMAN KODAI{ COMPANY
ROCHBSTIIII, N. \'., The Kotlak City
I t-26-CH -lView original page 15From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.