Film cameras
Argus Model A / A2 User manual
User manual for Argus Model A / A2. 11 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
11 pagesEnglish1.5 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Argus
- Model / document
- Argus Model A / A2
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 11
- File size
- 1.5 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 2 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
GUABANTEE AND SERVICE POTICY
Argus cameras are guaranteed against de-
fective material and workmanship for ninety
days after shipment. If 'defective the camera
should be returned to the factory with trans- qrgusportation charges prepaid." The defect will 'andbe promptly corrected - the- camera re' I
prepaid.turned
Argus owners of. low upkeep MODET A - To assurd
guarantee, of above after expirationcosts the MODET 4,2 re-adjust any Argus will inspect andfactory
camera shipped to them prepaid and return
it to the owner prepaid for the sum of $t.00
for the Model A, $L.25 for the Model 42. Ja
This poiicy is effective for one year from
date of purchase and applies only to cameras
sent directly to the factory by the owner.
This does not cover replacement of cameras
broken through misuse of cameras which
have been abused. www.orphancameras.com
- sfli"€,'PPI INSTRUCTIO eruH.p
BOOK P A R T I O I 6 3 .lil.. 9 t49-3700
i
t-r-t3 .View original page 2Page 3 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
IF YOU'NE AN EXPERT
If you are accustomed to using a candid
type camera, the brief instructions givel be-
low will suffice. It is strongly recommended,
YOUR ARGUS CAMERA however, that the experienced amateur as ,
well as the beginner read the step by step
Your Argus camera is a precision instrtl- instructions which are given on the pages
ment of All-American manufacture known followlng. We know that better pictures
as a thirty-five millimeter camera from the will be your reward for taking the added
width of film it uses. The f :4.5 Argus lens time to carefully read the instructions in this
with which your Model A or Az Argus book.
is equipped is a three element anastigmat
lens of fifty millimeter focal length. These
Argus lenses are compounded of a number BRIEF INSTRUCTIONS
of pieces of optical glass accurately com- l.-Locrd your cqmerq qs ex- puted and ground to assure you needle-sharp plcrined in "Locrding Your pictures in either black and white or color.
Cqmercr."
your Although Argus camera is ruggedly
years built to stand of hard service, it must Z.-Turn lens bcrrrel cllowing it to
be treated with the same care as any other snqp into taking Position.
high quality precision instrument. Never 3.-Focus qccurctely crs explcrined
attempt any repairs yourself and never oil in "Focusing For ShcrrP Pic-
the camera mechanism. The delicate adjust- tures."
ments in any camera demand an experienced 4.-Set shutter speed on dicl (ll). man for the work, and rcpair can be most
satisfactorily done in our own Service De- S.-Set dicrphrcrgm opening on
partment. The guarantee and service policy dial (16).
[, applying to your camera will be found at 6.-Sight and mcke exposure bY
the end of this instruction book. pressing shutter release (18).
7.-Advance lilm a{ter each ex-
posure.
,."'ot:..li,,View original page 3Page 5 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
depressing the back lock clip. Point the These are known as stop values and each
lens toward a bright source of light and press figure indicates the amount of light being
the shutter release (18) several times while admitted through tl-re lens during the ex- fvarying the shutter speed dial from t/25 to posure. At f:4.5 the diaphragm is widest
l/I5O of a second. Notice the smooth ac- open and admits the most light. At f:18
tion of the shutter it admits the the smallest opening mechanism ovet the wide il throughrange of shutter speeds. The smaller openings or those least light.
.Now set the shutter speed dial (f i) to with the larger "f" values are used on the
brighter days when too much light would"8" or bulb exposure. Notice now that ioiL
when you press the release the shutter re- be likely to cause over-exposure. By the
mains open until you remove your finger. same token the larger stop openings or
By setting the dial at "T" or time exposure, tlrcse with the smaller "f" values are nec-
the shutter will open when pressed the first essary when light conditions are not as
time and close when pressed again. Try favorable such as in the late afternoon or in
these operations several times and then deep shade.
leave the shutter open while you practice So the diaphragm adjustment, together
using the diaphragm adjustment. Bulb or with the shutter speed adjustment, enables
time expcsures can be used only for sub- you to adapt ycur camera to various light
jects in which there is no movement and conditions as well as to subjects with vary-
only when the camera is mounted on a tripod ing degrees of motion. The diaphragm also
or some solid object. An Argus cable re- controls the depth of field or sharpness in
lease should be used to avoid jarring the your pictures and is an aid in securing nega-
camera. This release may be inserted di- tives which are sharp from the near fore-
rectly into the cable release socket. ground to extremely distant objects. *
\7ith the shutter in open position and
the camera pointed toward a light object, IUDGING EXPOSURE CORNECTTY
revolve the indicator on the diaphragm dial It isn't hard to get on to the knack of
(16) until the lens opening is diminished judging the correct shutter speed and dia-
to smallest point. Turn this back and forth phragm opening for any given exposure if
several times to become familiar with its you make use of a few simple helps. lf
operation. You will note on the dial a yours is a Model A camera, the exposure
series of figures preceded by the letter "f". table and depth of 6eld table at the end of
6
-'",.1d,,,,tl.i, t'.. . . | -i* :-,a 1.,....,,., LView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
exposure by "reading" the light for you and
accurately judging correct exposure. A few
moments spent in practice with this meter
will enable you to produce noticeably better
pictures. Each type of film on the market
is given a \Teston speed rating according
tt to its particular emulsion speed. This speed
rating is given in the directions included
with the particular film or can be obtained
4 I from a \Teston film rating table available at
your dealer's.
Let's suppose we arc using Eastman Plus
X film. \(/e know that this film has a
\Teston speed rating of 50. Referrittg to
Figure 2, move the tab (l+7 on the ex-
posure meter bndge ( 6 ) until the number
FrcunE 2
this book will give you suggestedshutter
speedsand stop openingsfor use with East-
man PanatomicX, Dupont Superior, Agfa
Finopan and Agfa Fine Grain Plenachrome
films. lf , however,yours is an Az Model,
the built-in exposuremeter on your camera
will do the judging for you if you will
follow a simple rule or two.
Your exposuremeter is designedto take
the guessworkout of selectingcorrect stop
opening and shutter speedfor any particular Frcunr 3
9View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
40 is exposed as shown. This tab is www.orphancameras.comalways of a second at f:4.J may be used. Your
set to just expose the number nedrert that meter also shows you that if you wish you
of the \Teston rating of the film you are can use l/5o of a second at f :6.3 or t/25 of.
using. In this case, the number 40 given on a second at f :9 and so on down the column.
the bridge is the n€arest number to 50, the So just a few simple steps are necessary
spied of the frlm we are using. to use your exposure meter:
Now set the small arrow on the bridge 1-Set the tab on the meter bridge to just (6) as shown in Figure 2, assuming for uncover the number nearest to the speed iF
our little example that it is an average day of the film you are using. If the speed
and setting the arrow opposite "average." of your film is below 12, push the tab
' all the way to the bottom covering allHolding the camera as in Figure 3, point it
toward the subject to be photographed and numbers. If the speed of your film is
look through the exposure meter slot, You above 72, set the tab at 72 and take
will notice six windows of graduated density. your reading as usual, but close up your
Slide the entire meter bridge (6) across to diaphragm one full "f" stop from the
your left until the metal pointer is directly reading given.
over the darkest window through which 2-Set the arrow on the meter bridge oppo-
you can see any light at all. On dull days site the lighting conditions.
the bridge will necessarily be moved farther 3-Sight through the meter at arm's length
to the left than on brighter days.. and slide the bridge until the metal
pcinter covers the last window through Let's assume that the second window from
the left was the last through which we were which you can see light.
able to see ^ny light at all. Slide the 4-Read the selection of exposures at the
top of your meter to the immediatepointer directly over this window and notice left i* your of the and set adjustments bridge figures tothat only two columns of remain
the left of the bridge on top of the meter. accordingly for correct exposure.
With the meter still set for an "average" As is the case with all exposure meters, &day, you will find that the stop opening a little practice is required. Shoot your
f:4.J on the bridge is opposite the shutter first roll of film and keep notes on meter lspeed of 7/loo of a second in the column readings. Then after your film is developed, i
to the immediate left of the bridge. You compare the results with the meter reading i
know, then, that for correct exposure I/IOO and you will be able to tell how accurately
10 1 LView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
you are reading your meter. Since no two PRACTICING FOR PERFECT PICTURES
people read the meter alike you may have You are now ready to practice makingto adjust these exposures to your own pictures. Do this first without film in themethod of reading. The greatest.usefulness camera and repeat several times until theof a meter is in giving you an accurate in- operation becomes almost mechanical, beingterpretation of light intensity. After oper- sure to remember after each picture to ad-ating the meter a few times you will be able vance the film by turning the filmwinding
to .do it easily and accurately. You will knob. Reference to loading instructions willfind its use a definite safeguard against over help you in this regard.or under exposed negatives.
Select the subject which you wish to
FOCUSING FOR SHABP PICTURES "photograph" and compose your picture by
Needle sharp pictures will be yours if' looking through the view finder and by
you take the extra moment's time to be sure moving closer or backing up as may be re-
your camera is accurately focused. Focusing quired to secure the amount of subject mat-
is simplicity itself. \7ith the lens locked for ter wanted, making sure that the vertical
carcying, a short turn allows the lens to lines are parallel to the vertical edges of
snap into taking position for objects at dis- your view finder. \ilfith the camera held in
tances from your camera of eighteen feet or the conventional position it makes a hori-
more. Continue to turn the cameta lens and zontal picture. 'When you wish to pho-
you will feel it snap out slightly farther and tograph a subject which will appear better
lock. This "close-up" position of tbe lens in vertical pictures turn the camera on end
is for focusing on objects from six to eigh- and.proceed as usual. After you have de-
teen feet from the camera. Your Model A termined the correct spot to stand in order
ot A2 camera, therf, has only these two fo- to secure the picture you want, focus the
cusing positions. \7hen the lens barrel can camera and select the proper shutter speed
be rotated easily, it is in the "infinity" posi- and stop opening. Sight while holding the
tion for subjects at a distance of eighteen or camera firmly with the elbows resting on
more feet from your camera. t07hen a fur- the chest and slowly depress the shutter
ther turn allows the lens to lock in out or release until the shutter is tripped. Repeat
"close-up" position, your camera is ready this operation often enough to become
to shoot subjects betwien six and eighteen thoroughly familiar with it. After you havd
feet from your camera. mastered this stage of camera operation, you
t 2 r3
4rl:;iView original page 8Page 9 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
aie ready to load your camera and actually
mlke your first picture.
TOADING YOUR CAMERA
Your camera may be loaded with any one
of a variety of thirty-five millimeter films.
It is suggestedthat you consult your dealer
for his recommendationsas to film for your
camera. Hold the camera with the back
open as in Figure 4. Pull out thb rewind
knob ( 19 ) and insert the film cartridge in
the camera with the lip and leader of the
film pointing toward you.
\When the film cartridge is properly set in
position the rewind knob will snap back Flcunr 4
into place easily. Do not attempt to force
it and if it does not snap freely into posi- soon as the full width of the film appears
tion turn it backwards and forwards until from the cartridge wind very slowly and
the slot in the shaft engages properly with carefully untit the sprocket holes on each
the recessof the film cartridge. side of the film hrve just engagedin the
sprocket which is imrnediatelyin front of \7ith the cartridge propeily placed, grasp
the lip of your film cartridge.the film leader and pull it toward you un-
til you have withdiawn four or more inches As sodn as the sprocket holes ate firmly
of the film which will be sufficient to en- engaged examine the camera carefully to
gage into the winding shaft slot. Enough make sure the film is travelling straight
of the film leader may be extended through and will not bind, and holding the 4l* in
the slot to be folded over on the opposite position with the forefingers,carefully clo'se
side. This will prevent its accLdentallypull- the lid making sure that the pressufeplate
i.tg out of the slot a{ter the camera back (29) on the inside of the lid holds the film
is closed. in its proper position. Snap the back of the
Slowly take up the slack on the winding camerashut, making sure that it is tightly
shaft by turning winding knob ( 8 ) . As locked. Now turn the camefawith the lens
L4 L 'View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
facing away from you and advance the wind- sure not to pull or strain the film for addi-
ing knob in the direction of the arrow turn- tional exposures. After the counter dial
ing gently until resistance is felt. Do not shows that you have taken the number of
attempt to force it past this point but with pictures specified on your roll of film, the
the thumb of the right hand depress the film must be rewound. Neuer .open the
counter dial release (4) and start turning cctmerdbach xntil rewinding is cornplete, for
the winding knob again. the entire length of film must be rewound L
As soon as you have started winding the into the film cartridge to prevent fogging. I
knob, allow the counter dial release to snap Turn rewind knob (19) in the direction
back into place and continue winding until of the arrow, continuing to turn until count-
resistance is again met. Each time the film er dial (2) ceasesto revolve. Your film may
stops of its own accord you have advanced then be safely removed from the camera and
the film one full frame. After repeating must be given fine grain development for
this operation twice the film is properly best results. If your local photo finisher
adjusted for making your first exposure. does not ofr.et a fine grain developing service,
Turn the counter dial (2) clockwise until you may obtain full particulars and in-
the "O" is opposite the indicator on the structions for processing your own negatives
camera body. The camera counter dial will by writing .A.rgus, Inc.
ncjw automatically register the number of
pictures you have taken.
If before loading the camera you have
conscientiously practiced with the empty
camera as described in the preceding pages
you can with confidence expose a full roll
of film with reasonable certainty that you
will have few if ahy disappointing pictures.
Remember to form the habit of advancing
the film one full frame immediately after
making each exposure in order to prevent
double exposure.
When nearing the end of a roll of film
carefully watch the counter dial (2) and be
T6 L 7
:dffiView original page 10Related documents and language editions
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.