Film cameras
Argus Forty User manual
User manual for Argus Forty. 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 Forty
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 25
- File size
- 2.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
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INSTRUCTiONS
FOR USE
Loading 4-7
ShutterAdju-"tment 8.9
LensAdjustment.. 8"9
Focusing 10
Depthof Field.. ",1
Takingthe Picture . " .. 1fr-1t
C l o s e - U p s . . . 1 4 - 1 5
Windingthe Fiim 1(r
'l{.i Unloading
Doublef,xposrirePrever,tlon. 1 ;
Tak;ngFlishFicturer". " "... 18-?'lView original page 2Page 4 · Read text
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rwin-lens rype camera wich
:reen. Like ocher cwin-lens
picrure before you cake ic.
co use as che mosr simple
vhich permics piccure caking
indoors or ourdoors, in cloudy or btighc ireache. *iifi
black and whice, or color hh. A?.ran..J f."c,.ri.,
usually reserved for expensive cameras, like built-in
flash and double exposure prevencion, are representacive-
o[ che advanceddesign of ihe Argus Foruy.
To obcain che ucmosc frgry yo"ur Argus Forry, read
this inscrucrion book carefully'so you i"itt choro.rghiy
underscandics operacion.
I rilm winding r
2 Shutter Release
3 Taking Lens
4 Uiewing Lens
5 Locking Gatch
6 Film window
7 Flash GontactsView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
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Use Only 620 Size Film
Due to its splendid lens and shutter equipment, the
Argus Forry permis use of any type of black and
white or color film, che selection being sovcrned by
the type of pictures you want to take.
I
Open the back of
che camera by lifc-
ing up the locking
cacch. The back is
hinged for conven-
ience but do not
lec ic drop or hinge
lr:,.aybe sprung.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
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2
Place empry film
spool in upper film
compaftment, firsc
making sure film
spool slor is engaged
wich winding knob;
then pressorher end
of spool in place.
3
Be sure ro load rhe
camera in subdued
lighc; noc in brighc
sunlighc. Insercroll
of film in lower film
cornpartmenc and
slide inro place en-
gaging spool pins.
Be sure film is in-
serted wich end of
proceccive paper in
posirion indicaced.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
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4
Pull off about six
i n c h e s o f p a p e r
leader for threading.
Caution: Do not
thread pd.per leader
under small metal
roller dt bottom of
frame.
5
Fold end of paper
(abouc one inch)
and insercinto long
slot of the empcy
film spool. To Se-
cure end of paper,
give the winding
knob two or three
turns.
6View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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6
Close camera back,
making sure ic is
securely closed and
locked.
7
Turn film winding
knob unril Figure I
appearsin rhe center
of the red window.
The camera is now
ready for the firsc
piccure.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
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There are three adjustments ro make in caking piccures
with your Argus Forty :
1. Adjust the shutter speed according to
the type of subiect.
2. Adjust the lens according to the light
condition.
3. Focus the camet1, accordin$ to the dis-
tance of the subject.
To adjusc che shut-
cer, place the rnoV-
able indicacor op-
posite the speed de-
sired. (SeeExposure
Guide on opposice
page.)
To adjusc the apercure
(lens opening) curn slide
poincer to a posicion op-
posice che desired f num-
ber. (SeeExposureGuide.)
8View original page 9Page 11 · Read text
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FOCUSING
Focusing the Argus Forty is accomplished by rotating
rhe fronc lens mounr until chedfscanceseleccedis opposice
the index marker ac chetop of the mount. All markings
are in feec, and the Zs-fooc marking is in red. When
used wich red iens and shucter setcings, this is the uni-
',rersalfocus posicion for all ave rage pictures of subjeccs
beyond Iz feet
On the facittg ptge, tables are provided to indicate the
range o[ sharpness at all combinations of lens and
focus settings.
10View original page 11Page 13 · Read text
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Open the reflecting
view-finder hood,
using the thumb as
indicated.
The \illianc view-
finder shows you che
way the picturewill
look on the film.View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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ffi
ffi
ffi
To take the picture, hold rhe cam era as illusrracedabove,
and composethe subjecr in the view-finder as you wanc
ic to appear in rhe flnished picrure. A lower or higher
camera posirion tr.ay be desirable ro geLjusc che effecc
you want. Then, hold your breath for an inscancand
sqveezethe shutter releasesmoothlywith rhe righc fore-
finger. Be sure ro pressreleaseas far as ic will go, before
removirg finger. Tak e carenor ro jar rhe canneraor che
picture rr'ay be blurred due to camera movemenc.
13View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
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Argus Forty may be focused for close-up pictures at
a distance of 3rl feet. When it is necessaryor desirable
to photograph a subject from a closer posirion use
optical glass portrait and copy lenses.
A selection of such lensesprovide a wide range of utility
in close-up photography.
Camera Focused on 3rh ft. Infinity (oo)
Porrait lens for use a[ 20' to 393f"
Copying lens for use ar L3r4' to L9rf"
The lensesare supplied unmounred, 30 mm. in diameter
and an Argw adaprer ring, size 30 mm., holds them in
place on the camera lens.
Caution: When using porrrait or copy lenses check
distancescarefully wirh a-tape measure or rule. Detailed
instrucrions are supplied wirh each lens.
Ask your camera dealer co show you rhese useful lenses.
l4View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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Taken ar 3Ll feer,
no porrraic lens
Taken ac 1B inches,using
Porrraic 7D lens
15View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
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WINDING
FILM
Afcer each picture is tak-
er, wind uncil che nexc
figure appearsin che cen-
cer of che red window.
After all LZ piccureshave
been uken, wind about
6 turns co take up film
and proceccivepaper.
UNLOADING
FILM
Open che back of the
camera by lifcing rhe
locking cacch,and lifc
ouc the roll of exposed
film.
L6View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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DOUBLEEXPOSUREPREVENTION
An unusual fearure of Argus Forty is double exposure
prevenrion. This means you cannor accidenrally take
rwo picrures on rhe same film. Afrer taking a picrure,
the shutcer releaseis locked and anorher picrure cannoc
be taken wich Argus Forcy until rhe film is wound.
This invaluable feacurewill eliminare one of rhe mosr
common amaceur mistakes.
If ir is desired ro incenrionally rake a double exposure,
rhis can be accomplishedby means of a small lever on
the fronc of the camera. When pressedupward, ir re-
sets the shucter for a second piccurewichouc rhe need for
winding rhe film.
],lote; This double -ex-
posure feature does noc
work when shuccer is
actuaced by a cable re-
lease.
L 7View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com Argus Forcy rnay be used co take piccures wich flash bulbs wichouc special adjusrmenc. Synchronization is buik-in, and che only excra reqtrired is che Argus 76 Flash Unic. This unic merely il.rgs inco the .i-.rr, like plugging in a lamp and you ar- ready ro rake flash piccures. Before using che flash unic, inserc cwo fresh size C flash bacceries,wich che brass caps uppermosc. 18View original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
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To attach Flash Unic co
the camera, inserc flash
concaccpins inco che holes
on the side of the camera.
The camera is automar-
ically synchronized. Cau-
tion : do not have a flash
bulb in Flash Unic when
atrachirg.
;,#
It is recommended tharffi&.
v the film be advancedv
before fash bulb is in-
serted. After atraching
Flash Unic to the cam-
er^, a flash bulb may be
inserredin ic. Clean flash
bulb concacc. Push bulb
in as far as ic will go.
19View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
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FLASH T ABLES
When taking flash piccureswich rhe Argus Forcy, Gen-
eral Eleccric SM or Sylv ania SF flash bulbs or equivalenc
are recommended. Using eicher of cheseflash bulbs, che
shutter rr'ay be sec at any speed. Ocher flash bulbs of
tlre wire-filled rype n\ay be used wich rhe shutcer ser ar
25 (I/2.5 second)only. This speedis marked in greenas a
reminder. Refer ro che Table below for proper lens
sectings.
FlashBulb Shut- Distancein Feet
ter
'!0Sylvania G.E. Speed3.5 4 5 6 I 1 5 25
S F S M | 125 t22 f 1 6 f 1 6 f1 1 f8 f5.6
S F S M 1/50 t22 f 1 6 f 1 6 f l 1 f8 f5.6
S F S M 1/100 t22 f l 6 fl6 fl I f8 f 5.6
S F S M 1 / 1 5 0t22 f l 6 f l 1 f l 1 f8 f5.6 f 4.5
Press25 s.P.#5 1125 t22 t22 f I 0 f l 1 f5.6
All figures are based on use of Kodak Verichrome, Plus X or Ansco Supreme
roll film. For other films, refer to instructions furnished with flash bulbs,
available from your Argus Dealer.
Caution: Do not use flash bulbs in an explosive atmosphere. Use of a trans-
parent, protective screen is recommended as flash bulbs may shatter.
z0View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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To cake picrures wich
flash, check rhe dis-
tance to be sure you
are neicher too close
nor coo far, and follow
the instruccions on
page 20.
After che flash piccure
is caken, che flash bulb
rliray be ejected auro-
macically by pressing
the red butcon ac rhe
top of che Flash unic.
This prevens burned
fingers.View original page 22Page 24 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com ;IMPORTANT DO YOU PLAN TO TAKEA TRIP? Or photographsomespecialevent? lf so, you should exposea practiceroll or two ol f1lm, including a few flash pictures. This will acquaint you with your new camera and prevent the disappointment of spoiling rn importantpicture through l a c k o f f a m i l i a r i t y . ' ' ' ' ' ' 'View original page 24
Page 25 · Read text
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il
i
jr
Your Argus Forty camera was thor- f
oughly inspected an.l tesced before ir
was shipped from our factory, and when
purchased from an Authorized Argus
Dealer, it is fully guaranceed for a
period of one year againsc defects in
workmanship or material.
If rhis camera develops defecrs in me-
tgrial or workmanship ic will be re-
paired or replaced (our option) with-
out charge.
This guaranree is void in che event rhe
carrrera has been damaged through.
accident, rnisuse, mishandling or for
reasons beyond our conrrol.
IMPORTATIT
Authorized Argus Dealers sell new
Argus equipmenr ac full lisc price; used
or rebuilr equipment sold ar less then
list price is not guaranreed by rhc faccory.
Argus Grrncrer lnc., Ann Arbor, tichigrn
Parttlo. 40131 Litho in U. S" A.View original page 25From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.