Film cameras
Argus 21 User manual
User manual for Argus 21. 25 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Argus
- Model / document
- Argus 21
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 25
- File size
- 2.1 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
HOW rO USr
gour argus
Poget
looding +7
ShutterAdiuslment 8
lensAdiustment I
ExposureGuide 9
Focusing l0
Depfi of field ll
Tokinglhe Piclure 12-13
ThelUlorkfinder 14-15
Argus Gameras, Inc.
Ann Arbor, MichiganView original page 2Page 4 · Read text
Argus zr is a complecely new incerprecarion o[ 35 mm.
carncra design. Ic shows che piccure as ic will appear on rhe
hlrn . thanks to che exclusive Markfinder rhar permics pre-
sclccrion o[ the besc composicion. Also incorporace.l in che ZI
arc other advanced features which make piccure-caking
cesicr, and good resulcs more certain. Ic is a precision inscru-
n'tcllt and should receive the care accorded a fine wacch,
though it is rugged in conscruccion and witl give you years of
picrurc-caking enjoymenc.
To ohcain the ucmosc from your Argus zl read chis inscruc-
rion book cArefully so you will chorouglrly underscand ics
operatlon.
I Wind Knob 6 Lens
2 Shutter Releose 7 Aperture Ring
3 Mcrrkfinder I Counter Diol
4 Rewind Knob 9 Flcsh Affochment
5 Shutter Speed Diol t O Ffosh Bulb Adiusrment
| | Film pfqne Index For Crilicol Copy Work
12 Focusing RingView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
TOADING
Use Stqndqrd 35 mm. film cqrtridges
Block qnd white or color
Winding knob musl be engoged before
looding qnd wound until it stops
Unlock the back of che camera by
turning che locking catch on the
base of che camera in the direction
marked "open".
"i';,- ***:/*L_:7r_ l?' ""!'@ .- s.\-r'
E
2 Slicteoff rhe camera back.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 5Page 7 · Read text
"*ffi irtd'ffi'knob5 engagesin[, [ressth"shu-cter &., liletje
un-cil-endof film lies back against the spiockec.
Replace camera back making sure
it is fully closed and the locking 6 cacchrurned ro rhe locking posicion.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
.rt^t4
7
Turn winding knob
unril ic srops, press
shuccerrelease,and again
turn winding knob unil
lt stops.
courv rFR
8H
Sec exposure coun '+tcgsl-*
pushing down wirh rhurxbi,rT*'ffiffi
ing clockwise until index lin;'"fs
70 or 36, depending on film used Th; camera is
now ready for che 6rsc picture. The counterdialwill i.Ji-
cate at all rimes rhe number o[ piccureslefc on rhe Ehn.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
To adjust che shutter, turn speeddial
unril speeddesired is opposiceindex
doc. Don't set becween numbers.
Don'r rurn dial clockwise (to the
righc) beyond "8" or counterclock-
wise (to the lefc) beyond "10". (See
longer exposuresindoors or a[ nighc
wirh diaf sec ac "8", shucter will
remain open as long as shucter re-
leaseis depressed.
There qre four steps
to tqking picrures wiih Argus 2lz
Shu,.., adjustment, according to the type of subject.
A0.r.,r.., o, lens adjustmenc, according to che lighc
condicion.
Fo..rring, according to the distance from camera to
subjecc.
E*ooru.., or caking the picture.
Think of the word SAFEond you will ger into the
hobir of moking eoch step in the correcl order. www.orphancameras.comView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
'tc
To adjusc the aperrure (lens open-
ing) turn fronc milled ring of lens
mounc until index line is opposite
correcr f number. (See Exposure
Guide above). Lens opening f:B is
marked in red. When lens opening,
shucter speed and focus markings in
red ^re used in combinarion, che
Argus ZI is properly sec for atl
averageaverage prcturespictures oucdoors.oucdoors.
Subiecl Brilllont Brighl Cloudy-Bdghl Gloudy-Du
Beach, \tr/ater and Snow Shutter r/rco r/roo r/Loo
Scenes; Distant Land- t/rco
scaPes. Lens
fl 16 f/ rr f/8 f/5.6
C l o s e - u p s i n B e a c h , L/roo Llrco rl rco r/roo
Vater and Snow Scenes;
Landscapes with Fore- f/rr f/8 f / 5 . 6 f/4grouno.
r/roo rlroo rlroo L l s o
fl8 f / 5 . 6 fl4 fl4
4_ll _Subiects in Open rlroo r/roo L / 5 0 | / 2 5Shade; Not Under Tfees
or Porches. f/5.6 fl4 f/4 f/4
. For color see instructions supplied with film
For indoor pictures see instructions supplied with flood and f,ash bulbsView original page 10Page 11 · Read text
To focus che Argus 21, turn the center milled ring of
the lens mount, uncil proper distance (camera ro subjecc)
is opposiceindex line. When lens opening, shutter speed
and focus marking in red are used in combinacion, che
Argus 2l is properly secfor all averagepicturesoutdoors.
to
www.orphancameras.comView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
DEPTHOF FIETD TI'rc ".lcprh o[ficld" rablc bclow indicatcs the rangc o[sharpncss in thc picrurrc ac differenc lcns and focus sertings. For examplc : wich chc Argus 21 focused on 25 feec, and che lens ser ac fB, all srrbjcccsbccwccn rl' 6u and infrniry will appear sharp. By rcfcrring ro chc cable, you can readily dcrcrmine che rangc o[ sherpncss for any lens and focus scccings.View original page 12
Page 13 · Read text
TAKING THE PICTURE
,d'
Shown above ere the correccrnechodsof
lrolding che Argus 2-L for vcrtical anJ
horizontalpiccurcs.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
HORIZONTATAND VERTICAI
Be sure co hold che camera sready rr rhc
rlloment che picrure is raken, and prcss
thc shurcer release smoochlv.
t 3View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
The Argus Markfinder on che Argus 2l is a new cype view-6nder, similar in principleto the milicary gun-sightswhich proved so accurareduring rhe war. Ics field o[ view includesmore chan will appear on che 6lm, and a rericule, projecredinro che freld, ourlines rhe area which will be in the picture. A cross helps ro center che subjecc. Thus, composicion is simplified. l 4 www.orphancameras.comView original page 15
Page 16 · Read text
The Markfinder's chief advantages are: Ic shows you
the subjecr as ir will appear on rhe film, nor jusr a parc
of ir as is rhe casewirh orher optical view-6nders. The
Markfinder field of view is independencof rhe eye; no
ma[ter how or where you hold your eye, rhe view is
always the same.
The cross-secrionabove shows rhe principle. Lighr
passingrhrough ground glass (A) and rhe rericule (A,) is
refleccedby mirror (B) semi-silvered mirror (C) and is
projecred inro rhe 6eld of view through disrortionless
doubler finder objeccive (D). You see rhe picrure ^rea
outlined wich a whire line . . always rhe same whar-
ever your eye position.
t 5View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
WIND AND REWIND
Mekc ic a praccicc co wind dicates pictures lefc on chc
che hlm by turning windins roll. The shutccr is aur()-
knob as far as ir wi[ go rnatically sec for che ncxt
jusr before caking a piccurc. piccure when che frlm is
This will prevcnc tripping wound. Thus, you canno[
chc shutccr relcase acci- acci.lcncellyteke two pic-
.lcntelly. Thc countcr in- turcs on the sarnc film.
When all pic-
tures have been takcn.
pull out winding knob and
givc onc-quarter inch currn to rc-
leasc cake-up spool ccnsion, and rcwirrd
film (using knob markcd "Rcwind") urrtil
countcr dial has sroppcd rotating. Concinue to
turn kr-rob thrcc to four full rcvolutions to be surc
hlm is cntircly in rhc cartridgc
r 6 www.orphancameras.comView original page 17Page 18 · Read text
Open back oF c d-
ing, and remove film carrridge.
F O R B E S T R E S U T T S
Develop or have the 6lm developedas soon as possible.This
will insurebercerpicrures. Keep checameraloaled wich film
so you will be ready for any picture opporcunicy.
Argus 2 | Uses Stqndord 35mm Fifm Cqrtridge
Blqck-ond-Whire or Color
t 7View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
Argus Zl nay be used wich che Argus Flash Unic, which clips co che cop o[ che camera. Synchronization is built inco the camera and is correcr at all shutter speeds. For complece information refer ro flash unic instructions. l 8 www.orphancameras.comView original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
A small black lever on rhe back of the camera permits adiust- ment for using trrth mcdium and fast delay-fash lamps. It should be set at "M" foi me- dium delay and "F" for fast d.elaylampi (See note on oppo- site page). s-urethe setting is correct forQe the lamp in use. The Arsus 21 Flash s versarilicy in flashphorography;hel ining baliifi er modeling and unusual effecs. For complece intormation reflei ro llash unrt rnstructlons.View original page 20
Page 21 · Read text
The Cintar f :3.5lens on che Argus ZI is removable,
and may be used on an enlarger. LJnscrewthe lens
by means of che knurled ring ac che base o[ che
lens mount, adjacencto the camera. Do not un-
screw by means o[ che focusing ring or focus ad-
justment may be damaged. There is no danger o[
fogging 6lm in the camerawhen che lens is removed'
20 www.orphancameras.comView original page 21Page 23 · Read text
Argus Dealer can supply ond*Tffe*f5bfe te
the top of the shucter release. It is useflul
[ures when the "bulb" setcingis used.
BUSHING
lRIPOD
To use a Tripod wich
arcachic to che chreaded
bushing on che base of the camera.
22 www.orphancameras.comView original page 23Page 24 · Read text
ARGUSAUTOMATIC3OO
BLOWER-COOLED PROJECTOR
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crr\c lc's Ar'crice's f lvorirc rvey ro vicw c,rl..ri ,liJ.r.View original page 24From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
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PDF verified 2026-10-10.