AL-VISTA 5D User manual

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                   ,   Beforc Loading
          Before taking any pictures with the "AL'VISTA"
       Panoramic Camera read instructions carefully and make
         yourself perfectly familiar rvith the inst,rument. Stucly t,he
      mechanism and the working of all the parts; work che
       camera several t,imes before threailing up the lilm.
                It is very important, for the amat,eur to bear in mincl
       that the greatest care must be exeroised in hanclling t,he
          tilm, as the least, ray of light cah destroy the film as quickly
      as it makes a picture. Therefore, until the film has been
        developed and fixed it must, never be exposecl to whit,e light
        for evern the fraction of a seeond (this inclttcles gas light.
       lamp light, etc.) or it will be ruined. During the operat,ion
k,     of loading and unloading the camera. extreme care shoulcl       be taken to at all t,imes keep the black paper wound tight,ly
       around the fllm on t,he spool to prevent, any possibility of
        admirt,ing light.
              l-or lilm for the 5-D call for the No. il Cartridge Kodak.
           This comes in 6 exposure rolls and 12 exposure rolls.
           Price of 5x4 six exposure rolls, 45 cents.
           Price of 5x4 t,welve exposure rolls, 90 cents.
      A 12 exposure roll of fi}m will make three 1ti-inch
         negati ves.

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Pointers
Lenses must be kept free from flnger marks and dust
and must also be kept, in their proper posit,ion. No other
lens rvill give you the correct, focus and therefore lens must
nob be changed.
When clock movement, runs harsh and noisy or uneven
it, is a sign t,hat it, needs a iittle oil on the ends of the pivots
which show through on the top and bot,tom\ of movement,
case. IJnscrew key N (Fig.5. page 8) on top of camera
front and drop a lit,tle oil on winding pivot, also.
St,udy directions well before trying to make any
exposures.

Digitally signed by mike butkus mike DN: cn=mike butkus,
o=orphancameras, ou=29,
email=mike@butkus.org, c=US
Date: 2017.07.07 10:25:25 -04'00' butkus

reK& tz ft' :*t-' WrUi, , Fig. I.
After loadine and front is replaced see that the in{-
cator is set at the start,ing point (figure 0 on the dial) which
registers bhe clifterent, lengths <lf exposure.
Start paper straight on winding spool, or it will be apt,
to crowd against end and cause hard winding. If fllm winds
hard you can assist with opposite key.

II

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    Read This Before Taking a Picture
     Refore making an exposure it, is a good plan to rry the
 movement first, t,o see if t,he lens t,ravels stead.v and thereb.v
  at, the same t,irne clear t,he movement from any obstrucbions
 that, ma.'g have worked into the clock work.  If the move-
 menb gels dry, or. camera is not used for any lengt,h of time,
 a little oil on the ends of the pivot,s t,hat, sbow through on
 the top and bottom of movement, u'ill make same run
 smooth. Wipe off all superfluous oil.  Do not forget to stop
 down the lens for t,ime exposures.
         Loading the "AL-VISTA"
    The film used in t,he                     (.AL-VISTA" panoramic Cameras
 comes in light-proof rolls or spools and the inst,rumenL can
 therefore be loacled in  clay-
 light.  The operat,ion should,
 however, be performed in a
 subdued light, not, in the glare
 of bright sunlight.
    Take a position at a table
on suitabie support,, (as far
from anv window as poss.ible,)
lay the camera on its back
 (front up) and remove or oull                  Fig,2.
out, t,he flexibie slide A  (see
Fig. 5), t,urning to the left on thumb screws at each end.of
the front, of the camera as shown in Fig. l. and remove  f ront.
    Withdraw key at left lrand of camera and insert, spool
of fllm. (See Fig. 2.
   Now remove gum sticker from the black paper of film
roll, pass point, of black paper down over roller at, the end
of the g'rooves and gently draw the black paper into and.
tltrouglt the guides or grooves (at top and bottom) of semi-
circle to opposite side of camera; pull out the steel partition
to enatrle you to pass point, of biack paper easier back of
brass roller at end of grooves. Draw the black paper up
about, two inches above t,he camera. this  needs a little
practice and in guiding the paper along with the right

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hand, at the same t,ime press t,he paper lightly against the
back with the left hand.
Insert, empty spool with the encl up coniaining the
slot for the key to fit, into. pressing it down firrniy so [hat
t,he key will flt into the slob on the end of the spool. Now
thread point of biack paper through slit, in empt,y spool, 'il
(see F ig. 3) then turn key F (see I'ig. 5) to the right, and .lJ
wind from f ull spool until a white mark or the figure 1 ap- Llpears on the black paper of full spool at the le/t (see F'ig.3)
which indicat,es ttrat 5'ou are now coming to the film proper
and shoulcl stop winding and replace front. (Screw it down
securgly and replace the flexibie slide A Fig. 4, (see cut,
F ig. 5.)
Now t,hen, your camera heing loaded, we call at,benbion
to the setting of t,he indicator and winding of the film for
flrst, exposure, which is the next thing in order before
rnaking the exposure.
To set indicator turn but[on
H (see I'ig. 5) set indicator
at, start,ing point 0 in srnall
opening on dia,i.-Then t,ulii
key F to bhe right and wind
film unt,il t,he flgure l6 appears
in opening on dial, thus show-
ing that, you have enough fiIm
in position for flrst exposure.
(Make exposure.) Then move Fig.3.
lever J (F ig. 5) on top of
camera from you to perforate the film between exposures,
thus indicating to operator in dark room where [o cut the
film; then wind more film into position for next, exposure,etc. t To make negat,ives of different lengths draw out slide
A as far as needed. In order to geb object in center of $negat,ive piace the finder so the tit,tle pointer is set at the
size wanted, and then the camera, musc be so placed that t,he
finder is at, right angles to it, and the camera will be on a
slant.
Wincl enough film into place forthe length desiretl.
Press the button and .you have it.

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Perforate by moving the iever arm I on top of camera
after each exposure to show t,he operator where to cut, in
t,he dark room. After ever.)/ exposure push flexible slitle
A as far in as it, will go, thereby avoiding t,he chance of
making double exposures, eLc., also when changing t,he
diaphragms.
$
l Making the Exposure
The sun should always be behind or over the shoulder
of the operator. Careful observance of this will adtl lnuch
to the making of good pictures.
Never take pictures againsb t,he sun, as this will spoil
the effects.
For making snap shot exposures swing lens inbo place
to the left, by hand (tlo not use motor key N to swing lens)
catching back of release spring. IIse the fuil opening in

riris sirowr'#i"1,or"
"r,uu.
il lens. Snap shot exposures should be made only in good
fl bright sunlight,. tr'or snap shot,s camera may be held on
F ig. 6, but hold it steady, hold it lettel. -vour arm as in$
For time exposures olace c&mera on triDod, turn key N
on the top of camera half around until iu catches, or swing
lens into place with key N; slide a fan on to small post
K (see F ig. 5) on top of camera, selecting the size required
to make the length of exposure wanted; remove the lens
cap, draw out flexible slide, bring same around end of

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camera box.and fasben back of catch by string during time
 of exposure; sight across line on top of oamera to the object
to get same in proper place on negative for size desired:


                                                          ?





                                                                      -'-   |
,t"p uu"k of came"u, 0""., ;';;"rr""  B, -ur."1;r".r-"replace the lens cap. etc., and push in slicle.             ";;
   The movement, without a fan t,akes 1* seconds to travel
over t,he full length 16 inch negative.
   No. 1 fan, 3 seconds to t,ravel over the fu1l length 16
inch negative.
    I{o.2 fan,6 seconds to t,ravel over t,he full length lti
inch negative.                                             r
   No. 3 fan, 8 seconds to travel over t,he futl tengt,h 16                                                                                         Iinch negative.                                                                                                      ,l
    No. 4 fan, 10 seconds t,o travel over the full length 16     U
inch negat,lve.
   No. 5 fan,72 secorrds to travel over t,he full length 16
i nch negat,ive.
   The lens exposes only one-half inch of fllm at a [ime, as
it passes over the entire film.

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Diaphragms I
The tr'values of the diaphragms are as follows: The
one that is sbat,ionar;r in lens is the largest, one (F value 8).
Three diaphragms accompanv each camera.
The largest, of three has an F' value 16.
The medium of t,he three has an F' value 32.
The smallest of the t,hree has an F value 64.
In using stop F value 16 use the No. I or No. 2 fan.
In using stop F value 32 use t,he No. 3 fan.
In using stop F value 64 use the No. 4 or No, 5 fan.
There is no authority for this rule as experience and
iudgment will teach you, as owing to t,he different season
and t,he different, clegree of lights, somet,imes it would be
necessary tro use stop l' 64 with a Ncl. I fan, or vice versa.
Light is what makes the best picture. As the lenses work
very fast, be careful tha,t, you do not make over-exposures.
The main point is to have bhe whole view evenly illumi-
naLed. 'Ihe smallest
"stop always gives best,
definit,ions, but be sure
to use t,he proper fan.
The fllm used in t,he
5-D will make three 16
inch negatives or as
many proportionat,e
inches of short,er nega-
tives.
When the figure No.
48 appears in opening Fig.6. t-
on dial it indicat,es r,hat
-you now have t,he fllm in place for the last exposure.
To cltange diapltragm in lens uhile camera is loaded. See
t,hat the lens cap is securely on and flexible sliile is in place,
press but,ton B releasing lens, then bring lens around to the
center, slightly turn the lens to the left (in the-lens t,ube)
and part,ially withciraw it, unt,il slot in lerrs mount appears,
then remoae or Bl,ace tlterein the desired size of cliaphragm.
To replace lens, push it in as far as-it, will go and turn
siigholy to the right and it will be held in correct, focus.

,

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Unloading Camera
   When the ent,ire roll of lilm has been exposed, turn key
F to the right and wind enough of the black pa,per on t,he
                                  cover                                       the          last, negabive                                t,o thoroughlyend of                                                 film; wind                                                             until        i                             more                                         before                                            removing     indicator              registersthe                     20 inches or
frc-nt, and flexible slide. Then remove front, of camera and              I

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Itirmly wind t,he bulonce of black paper tiEhtly around the
spool, then place a gum sticker on it,, to keep the film from      $
unwinding, then draw out key F and remove full spool, etc.
                    Hints
    For short, negatives draw out, slide to t,he desired length
(see cut showing slide wirh the proper marking, F'ig. 4.) For
a -1 inch negat,ive draw out, slide until figure 4 shows; for
full lengch negatives draw out slide ent,irely. Always re-
turn slide afber every exposure. Change diaphragm with
slide pushed in. Do not, forget to perforate before pushing
slide back into plaoe. Alrvays sight across the line on top
of camera to get object, in proper place on negat,ive of
size clesired. T'he slide mtist'be pulled around and out of rh-e                                                              _*"=- |way of the swinging of lens and fastened to back during
time of exposure.

                IMPORTANI' NOTICE.                                                                    I
   The string on slide is to be used only to fasten slide in
the catch back of the camera and when you puil out slide
take holcl of the wooden paru and pull out the slide, do nob
pull out with the string, as you are liable to pull off t,he
wooden part, from slide.
   Be sure at all times to keep your camera level.
    In winding t,he tilm should it occur that, the indicator
refuses to work give button H a slight, t,urn.
   The lens in t,his camera can be raised to t,ake in high
objects. For more sky push lens barrel upward and for
more foreground have lens barrei pushecl down to center, or
as far as it, will go.
   To get the proper &mount of sky and foreground in
taking high objects, or buildings, it  is advisable to be

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approxilniltely t,hree times the height, of the object, awa,y
from it. Practice will teach operatol. more than can be
explained here.
'Io take a picture of st,reets running at, right angles, or
a building on & corner., t,he operator should stand as per
explanat,ion herewith :
To get a good picture of
stre e t,s rnarked (.Northtt
H F, and "Easttt operator should
stand on oorner No. B. and
z vice versa! as occasion de-
mands. Also, if there be
a house or buil<iing on
EAsr corner No. 3 the operacor
should stand at corner No.
1 in order to get a good
a posit,ion. We would re-
commend t,he use of a lripod C':
in all rurses, but where none
is at hand and operator can
not, rest, camera on some-
thing solid, it is perferable to,"rold carner& Gn &rnr.
If you have occasion to remove lens, in replacing same
in the tube the small post, on lens ba*el musi be inserted
in tube-slot and pushed back as far as it will go and a slight,
t,urn to right will hold lens in place and it is then in
correct, focus.
Care must be taken that the glasses are not, put back
wrong. The hood end of lens belongs nearesb to the small
post.
l)ontt, take a pict,ure of a block of buirciings on a straight
line from the center. Bu taking sante srightt.u obtique wirl
overcome the curvature that, will appear in pictures if taken
at, exacbly right, angles.
In photographing parades, etc., don'c fail to hold your
calnera, obliclue to the parade, about 45 degrees.
Be sure and ahru11.s hord the camera level no matter if
you are standing on a hill. some get, the idea that when
they are above the obiect they are going to take, they
should tilt the camera, but this should never be, as it, dis-
1l

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torts t,he picture. I'he level is put on the oa,mera in order
that, you ma.y at, all times l<eep the camera level, and if this
inst,ruction is not fpllorved you witi have to make t,he best
of the results.
    For mokinlJ orttdoor uroup Ttictures ariange the group in an
arc of a circle instearl of a straight line with each person
at, an equal dist,ance from t,he camer,a. Ry arranging t,he
group in t,his way each individual retains his or her proper
relative size in the picrure, and the picture can be made to
contain a larger number. 'Ihe larger t,he gi.oup t,he  f urther
away your eamera must, be seb. 'Io properly arrange your
group let the operator hold one end of the string while with
s-crme onets assistance he describes an arc of a circle with
the other end, and places the subjects on t,he arc which  it
rnakes. Select for a background a locat,ion which is free
from st,raight lines that, may be near to the camera, t,o
slrow  tl istortion.





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AL-VISTA 5D User manual

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