Ansco Commander User manual

:,t:
The Commander is anotHb-t, of Ans.oi**rr.rsatile, [recision-built cameras:
It  is easy to handle, ,:.'S-d,4+ple to operpte;; Qeautif uil;1 ''':designed  a
camera that anyone wi'Ii.,it ipqqud to own; and,.j(rse.                                                  .'
    It has a 105mm f6.3     * Agnar lens which is hard coated and coiqp
eorrected for higher t@ili'ansmission. The V?liq phutfer is synchrorr'-,
ized, for making nash-.piet'ures. This' efficient fg:ii5',E'iidls$p,ltter combina.i
tion makes possible cledi, crisp pictures in  bffifr" btieck-'bnd-.White and
color.
  As you read. oyer these instructions, try atl the working parts of the
camera and thoroughly familiarize yourself with its operation. Then you
will be ready to load the camera and start taking pictures.
*Agfa and @   are registered trademarks of Ansco Division of
Genetal Aniline and Film  Corp., of Binghamton, N. Y.

comercr body ports
              1. Opening device (camera
                  back )
              2. Winding knob
              3. Eye-level viewfind er
              4. Shutter release
              5. Tripod socket
              6. F ront rest and opening
                  catch

 FIGURE
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g.\
lens and shutter
Lens Openings:
           f 6.3, 8, 11, 16, 22
Shutter Speeds:
    B, r/25, L/50, L/200
Focusing Distances:
                                      ( infinitY  )    3  f eet, to oo
1. Index mark  f or distance set-
    ting
2. Cable release socket
3. Diaphragm setting lever
4. Index mark for speed setting
5. Shutter cocking lever
6. Shutter setting ring
7. Flash contact
8. Focusing scale                                        FIGURE 2

to open the ccrmercr front
                                  Lift up or1 the catch next to the Ansco name
                            plate. This rereases the   f ront so that  it
                       swings dorvn and locks in  position. This
                        opening catch also becomes the  f ront rest
                             for the camera

       to close the front
Press down the two side arm braces and bring the hinged camera front
into position until  it locks. The camera wilt not .to*u and t"*;;;"r,
the openi'g catch ries flat against the camera.

4

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the eye-level viewfinder                                         '     ,.:
 Bring the viewflnd.er into position by raising
 the two hinged metal frames. Raise the
 camera to your eye and comBose your pictur'e
 within the bord.er of the front frame.
    If the composition of your picture would
 be improved" by a horizontal view, turn the
 camera on its side to sight through the view-
 flnder.
  When photographing a
 subject closer than 8 feet,

sight a bit above the subject (if horizontal) in order to compensate for
the slight differenee in view between the lens and the viewfinder. If the
camera is held vertically, turn it slighily toward the viewfinder.
       focusing
The focusing scale is located on the focusing ring of the lens mounr
(#8, flg.2). The numbers B feet to o  (infinity)  refer to the distance
at which the lens is focused. x.or exampre, if the subject to be photo_
graphed is 10 feet away, revolve the focusing ring until the figure 10 is
opposite the index mark (#t,  fi1.2). When taking pictures from B to
10 feet from the subiect, it  is imperative to estimate the distance
accurately because of the limited depth of field. For distant views, set
the ring at o  (intinity    meaning as far as the eye can see).                            -
6
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zone focusing
To use as a  fixed-focus, non-adjustable
camera, set the focusing ring at 10' or 30'
(numbers in red), the lens diaphragm at the
red dot on the scale and the shutter at 1/50th of a second. With the
camera set at 10', everything from 8'to 15'will be in focus. At 30',
everything from 16'to infinity will be in focus. Sharper pictures will
result, of course, it the lens is focused at the exact camera to subiect
distance.
       the dicrphrogm
The diaphragm, or lens opening as it is often called, governs the amount
of tight which passes through the lens while the shutter is open. The
diaphragm is regulated by the diaphragm lever which moves across a
series of calibrated stops called "f"  numbers. As it moves from the

zone focusing
Tq use as a  fixed-focus, non-adiustable
camera, set the  f ocusing ring at L0' or  3 0'
(numbers in red), the lens diaphragm at the
red. dot on the scale and the shutter at 1 / 50th of a second. With the
camera set at L0', everything from 8'to  L5'will be in focus. At 30',
everything from 16' to infinity wilt be in focus. Sharper pictures will
result, of course, if the lens is focused at the exact camera to subiect
distance.
       the diaphrogm
The diaphr&grn, or lens opening as it is often called, governs the amount
of light which passes through the lens while the shutter is open. The
diaphragm is regulated by the diaphragm lever which moves across a                                               ('f"series of calibrated stoBs called    numbers. As it moYes trom the


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lower  ( f 6.3 ) to the higher  (t 22 ) num-
ber, the size of the opening d.ecreases
and is said to be "stopped down."
Remember, the lower the nurnber the
larger the aperture and the greater
the amount of light admitted.
  To observe the action of the dia-
phragm, open the camera back, set
the shutter at B, cock the shutter and
press antl hold down the  shutter
release. While looking into the back
of the camera toward a light, moYe
the diaphragm lever ( *5, flg. 2) back
and.  f orth. Notice how the diaphragm
leaves oBen and close.

8

the shutter
The shutter of a camera determines the
length of the exposure. When pressure is
applied to the release lever the shutter
opens allowing the light from the object
being Bhotographed to pass through the
lens and project an image on the film.
  The shutter of the Ansco Commander has mechanically regulated
speeds of L/25, L/50 and L/200 second. The shutter speed is set by
turning the, outer milled ring  ( +e, fig. 2) until the arrow Boints to the
desired speed shown on the lens mount
  The shutter must be cocked. before an exposure can be made. It  is
best to make all' adjustments to the camera bef ore cocking the shutter.
To cock, move the cocking lever ( +5, flg. 2) counterclockwise  until  it
locks. The shutter can now be released (the picture taken) bV pressing
on the shutter release  ( #4, fig. 1 )  .


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Dislance
                                                                   in F eet
                 depth of field              @
                         Depth of field is the distance          50                           between the nearest and farth-
                            est points of sharp  f ocus in          30
                                front  of  the  camera. For          20
                              instance, with the diaphragm           13
                            set at   f 6.3, and the focusing
                            scale at  t3',  everything from          10
                              L0'7" to L6'L0" will be in focus.              8
                             Ifowever, when the diaphragm              6
                                         is closed down to f.22, the depth
                              of field is increased measurably              5
and everything from 7'3" to 50' will be in sharp focus at the              4
same distance setting. Therefore,  it should be remembered that            3.5
if the existing light permits, the smallest diaphragm opening              3
possible should be used for sharp pictures.

 1-0

to load the ccrmercr
    open the back . .  r
      With the back of the camera facing
      you, press downward on the knurled
       lug which holds the camera strap (#t,
         fis. 1 ) , slide the latch to the tett and
        , the camera h?ck can be,, easily opened.
       '        toload.,
      Make certain the empty spool is in the
           ' upper chamber    the end nearest the
        latch. To place -it in this chamber,  llft
         u,p on the swinging arm, fit the slotted
        I end of the spool over the winding key,

       L2

and engage the other end in the
swinging arm. Carefully push the
arm back into position and make
sure the spool is secure by giving
the winding knob a few turns.
   Lift up the swinging arm on the
opposite end and put a fresh roll
of L20 film in the lower chamber in
the same manner. The colored side
of the protective paper will  be
uppermost when it is drawn across
the back of the camera. Break the
seal, remove the Ansco Guarantee
bond and carry the paper over the
two metal rollers and thread it into

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the long slot in the emptlt spool.
Make  cert,ain the  film   travels
straight so it will not bind. and tear.
Give the winding knob two half
l,urns to secure the film in the spool.
  Close the camera back, then slide
the carrying strap brace into closed
position, locking the back  into
place.
  Swing open the metal coYer on
the red. window and wind the film
until the figure 1 appears. It  will
be preceded bY an' indicating hand
and a series of  dots. KeeP the
window covered except when wind-
ing the film.

74

outdoor exposures
        Exposures outdoors vary according. to
         existing light conditions and the speed
         of the fllm being used. I{owever, with
        the versatile lens and shutter of the
       Ansco Commander and. the wide expo-
        sure latitude of Ansco fllms, good pic-
        tures can be made under almost any
            ligh t condition.

                                                    ar       The following table is given as
         guide to help you determine the correct
         exposure:
s
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OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE . PLENACHROME AND SUPREME
  Light Conditions            1/25          1/50               1 /200
  Bright Sunlight              t22            fl6              f8
  Hazy Sunlight                  fl6             f11               f6.3
  Bright Overcast                fl1              f8
  DulI Overcast                  f8                               f 6.3
    Fot Supetpan Press use lhe next smaller /ens openinp (next lat$et
     nutnber.)
      Fot brilliantly liphted subjects use next smallet lens openinp than
    indicated; Ior close ups and pictures in the shade open lens one or
    two lens openinps.
     The 50th of a second settinS is considered most desirable lot the
    avetage snapsfro/s to minitnize the possibility of camera rnovement.

16

i{indoor exposures  - floodlcmps fu.
The illumination from two #2 floodlamps (in good quality reflectors)_
or Reflector Flood g2 lamps-is recommended for taking indoor pic-
tures. They should be arranged as shown in the accompanying diagram.
The main light (No. 1) should be directed downward at an angle of
45'. The fill-in lisht (No. 2) should be placed close to the camera.
  The following table was computed from the above lighting diagram
and is offered as a guide to help you determine the correct exposure.
It is based on average subjects against light colored walls or surround-
ings. Darker colors require an increase of one to two lens stops.
  x'or exposures longer than L/25th of a second, it  is recommended
that a cable release be used. The cable release screws into socket-
#2, fi,g. 2.

                                                                      L7


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indoor exposures  - floshlcrmps
since the Ansco commander has built-in flash synchronizalion, an
additional flash synchronizing attachment is not necessary. All you
need is the Ansco Flash unit which should be attached to the flash
connector  ( #7 , fig. 2 ). Do not use force, as rough treatment will damage
the connector. use this handy guide for quick reference when making
flash exposures on Ansco film.
      using the llcsh guide numbers
To find the correct exposure, divide the guide number by the distance
from the flashlamp to the subject; the resulting figure will represent
the lens opening required. Example: the guide number for a #b flash-lamp with Supreme film at l/50th  is 120. The subject is 1b feet away,
therefore, L20 :15    :  8, use f8. (This exposure guide is based on
flashlamps in satin-finish reflectors).

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time exposures
To make exposures longer than 1 /25t};' of a second, turn the exposure
 setting ring ( #6, fig. 2) to B, cock the shutter and depress the shutter
 release. The shutter will remain open as long as the shutter release
 is held down.
  With all exposures longer t}.an I/25th of a second, the camera must
 be on a tripod or other flrm, level support.
       color photogrophY
 Beautiful. life-like color transparencies can be made on Anseo Color
 Fitm with your Ansco Commander in bright sunlight. Ansco Color
 Film is available in both Daylight and Tungsten Types for daylight and
 artificial illuinination. Follow carefully the exposure tables packaged
 with Ansco Color Film.

 20

Ansco Color transparencies may be viewed by projection and en-
 largements or contact prints can be made on Ansco Color Printon.
       to unlocd the comercr
When the last picture has been made, wind
the film until you can no longer see the
paper through the red window. Then open
the back of the camera and pull forward
the swinging arm to release the fllm. Take
out the fllm and seal it with the "Exposed"
sticker.
  Remove the empty spool and put it in the
upper chamber so the camera wilt be ready
for the next roll of film.
                                            2t
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