Film cameras
Balda Baldessa F User manual
User manual for Balda Baldessa F. 13 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
13 pagesEnglish2.4 MB PDF

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Document details
- Brand
- Balda
- Model / document
- Balda Baldessa F
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 13
- File size
- 2.4 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
,-t1
YOUR NEW BALDESSA.F CAMERA... i
"i
. .. gives you beautiful color pictures day or night and its many exclusive
features make it so easy to use!
. Light-Matic Exposure Control no need to think about exposure simply
, set to existing light condition, and snap the picture!
Automatic FlaBh simple distance setting gives you fine flash. pidtureq. Nothing
to calculate - - just flash!
R e t r a c t a b l e F I a s h . F I e c t o r w i t h b u i l t . i n f l a s h g u n , a l w a y s r e a d y a t t h e f l i p o f y o u r
finger. Nothing to J"rry, nothing to forget!
Color-Coded Distance Zones exclusive color'coded settings for SCENE, GROUP,
PORTRAIT or NEAR.
These and many other fine features of your BALDESSA-F are ready to go to work
for you right from the start.
- For your greater enjoymen t - - please take a few minutes to follow the simpl"
operating steps shown in these pages. You'll be rewarded with fine pictures year
: after year!
www.orphancameras.com L--.View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
LOADING
Use Film Size No. l3b in Z0 or S6exposuremagazines.
SHIELD CAMERA AND FILM FROM BRIGHT LIGHT WHILE
LOADTNG.
/ Open the camera back by pressing
I down on both CATCHES at the same
\ time.
Insert the narrow film end into the
slot of the TAKE-UP spool, arrd hook
a perforation hole of the film securely
on the TOOTH in the slot; hold
the TAKE-UP spool while you \
plaLe the film maga zin.e o-,re" \
the spindle in the empty fitm 7
compartment at the other end 7
of the camera. Let the maga-
zine drop all the way into the
compartment.
Slowly rotate the TAITE-UP spool until the narrow end of the film is
GUIDESi nearly wound on, and the perforation of the full width ,,leader" part
of the film is engaged on the SPROCKET. The film must run between
the edge GUIDES.View original page 4Page 5 · Read text
Close the badr: fnsert the LIP at the
narrow end of the camera badr cover
. into the drannel on the camera body. 'ffuTf ( 3;ffi ;;:nifffL il .t"Jl'lH ' lodred position. "I'T )
Fold out the film transPort KEY and
give it a half turn clodrwise until it
comes to a stop. Press down the shutter
release lever on the front of the camera.
Now give the KEY another half turn. \
The camera is now ready for the first I
expostlre, and the exposure COUNTER 7
is automatically set at "1".
^/Eadr half turn of the KEY moves the next
fnm frame into positior, winds the shutter
\for the next exposure, and advances the
COUNTER. (Dots bet'ween numerals indicate
eoen numbers.)
In the center of the rewind handle is a
SIGNAL of proper film advance; its rotation
shows that the film is transporting correctly.
4 www.orphancameras.comView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
UNLOADING - Shield catneraand film from bright light while unloading
After the 20th or 36th exposure (watdt the exposure
counter for red dot !), the film must be rewountl into its
Tagazine.
ISlide the ridged rewind LOCK in the direction of the )
arrow to release the rewind HANDLE
Crank the HANDLE clodrwise until a resistance is felt;
the film is now rewound into its magazine. \
FoId the HANDLE badr into cLosed position and press
it dorn'n until the rewind LOCK clidrs into place. ) I
Open the camera badr and take out the film magazine.
If necessary, unhook the perforation from the tooth of
the take-up spool. Opening the camera badr automati-
cally returns the exposure counter to starting position
" A". Exposed fikn should be developed as soon as
possible.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
T I G H T I M A T I C D A Y T I C
ASA
camera for LIGHT-MATIC operation, follow I 600 steps:
I 250When you load film into camera Turn the ASA DIAL by r 000its LEVER until the ASA number of the film is set next to
the red MARK. Illustration shows s,etting for ASA 64: Koda- 800
chrome X, Ektachrome-X, Kodacolor-X.
You can leave the setting unchanged as long as you eontinu.e to usb
the same kind of film. You will find the ASA number in the instruc-
tions packed with the film. The table at the right shows t'h,e-ASA
numbers represented by the numerals and intermediate dots o,f the
ASA DIAL. 320
When you start the day's picture-taking - 2s0
Check the position of the shutter speed 200 NOTCH. For average daylight pictures, set
NOTCH at 60, as sho'wn in illustration. For
fast action, or when using film of ASA 160
and higher, set NOTCH at 125. On dark
days, with heavy overcast, set NOTCH at
30. (30 is also for flash, see page 11 ; B is
for time exposures.)
If you use an exposure meter, you can set eon-
ventional f -stops by turning the white triangle
of your Baldessa to the appropriate number on
the f-stop sca1e. (Illustration shows setting to
flLL.)
\
6 www.orphancameras.comView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
lIHT EXPOSURE
HOW IS THE LIGHT? H
once the ASA number and speed. notch are set, you T
can keep on taking pictures all day long by simply s
turning the white speed numbers of the LrGHT-
MATrc RrNG to the symbol for the existing lisht
conditions. For example, if the speecl NorcH ist set
at 60 see opposite page -* just turn the white 60 of
the LIGHT-MATIC RrNG to the light condition sym-
bol. (rllustration shows setting for "Cloudy Bright".)
Sunny da5'5 are best fo-r. getting pleasing pictunes. The LIGHT-MATIC control gives proper
e x p o s u r e f o r f r o n t - l i t qupiects. For side-lit close-ups, turn the LIGHT-MATIC nff.ic clockwise
half -way to the next light symbol; for back-lit close-ups turn RING clockwise fully to next
Iight symbol.
The "Open Shade" setting applies on sunny days wh,en the subject is in the shade under the
open sky, not under trees or other overhanging orbjects.
On dark days, with heavy overcast, use "Open Shade" setting for average subjects out in the
opgn, or use flash.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
DISTANCE SET'TING for sharp pictures is an easy matter with your Baldessa-F.
The Color-Coded Distance Zone systern auto-
matically gives you the proper setting for the
type of picture you want to take. No need to
read distance scale numbers it's fast an+
convenient even if you wear glasses! The" colors
were purposely drosen so that theip' first .Ietter
agrees with the Zone setting: " , , .
SCENE - Sky-blue zone; GROUP i- Green zone;
PORTRAIT - Pink zone; NEAR : Neutral zone.
ZONE SETTING: Rotate the front of the lens until the desired Zone is opposite the
INDEX mark. When set in the middle of eadr Zotte, your BALDBSSA-F automatically
gives you sharp pictures covering all objects within the following ranges:
SCEI{E from 20 ft to InfinitY
GROUP 7 f t t o 1 3 f t
PORTRAIT 4rlz ft to 6rlz ft
NEAR Srla ft to 4Lla ft
These ranges apply for pictures of average subjects in sunny or bright daylight.
In the Open S'naaleor on Dark Days,-distance:you will get sharper pictures by s,etting the- Iens
to the actual camera-to-subject Rotate the front of the lens until the
distance (number of feet on the lens scale) is opposite the INDEX. It is also necessary
to set the actual distance for flash pictures. (See page 11.)
www.orphancameras.com8/ \View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
TAKING PICTURES
S-t-e-a-d-y does it! Ilold the carnera steady, with the view- ,
finder close to your eye. Have your finger "at the ready" on a
the shutter release. When you are ready to take the picture, I \ squeeze - don't jab - the release all the way down.
The luminous frame lines in
the viewfinder contein the
entire scene or subject that
will be in your picture. The \
shorter lines near the top D
indicate the top edge of a /
hortzontal picture when the
subject is closer than 5 feet.
Use this simple dteck- list when you .start using your Baldessa-F, With only a litfle practice,you will soon follow this sequence naturally:
Make sure ASA dial is set for the film you are using.
Checl< if speed notdr is set for t;'pe of picture.
Set Light-Matic Ring for existing light conditions.
Set lens for proper distance zone (or accurate distance).
Hold camera steady, with the viewfinder close to your eye.
Chedr proper framing in viewfinder.
When ready, squeeze the shutter release all the way down; the shutter
release will go down only if you have turned the film transport key to
the next frame.
After eadr exposure, turn the film transport key a half turn.
Do not force the transpo-rt key beyond -the 20t_h or 36th exposure (depending on film load), as
this_ may tear the film from its magazine and requlre unl,oading'of the cdmera in comfiete
darkness. gView original page 10Page 11 · Read text
F L A S H
Y o u r B a l d e s s a - F h a s a b u i l t - i n f l a s h g u n . f o r
AG-1 bulbs and exclusive retractable Flash-Flector to
give you fine flash pictures without fuss and bother.
You'Il have fun taking flash pictures at home, of parties,
on vacation, without needing to carry an extra accessory.
Battery. Push the COVER of the battery compartment
to the right. Insert a 15 volt battery (Eveready No. 504
or equivalent), making sure that the + and - ends are
in the correct positiorl. Replace the COVER and slide it,
to the left until it ctichs into place. r
NOTE: When you use an eleetronle or other flash unit instead
of your built-in flash, t'h;e battery of your Baldessa-F firust
be removed.
Flash Bulbs. l]se AG-l B blue bulbs with color slide
films (Kodactrrome, etc.), and AG-l clear bulbs with all
other films. Insert the base of the bulb into the SOCKET
and press it down all. the way until seated.
After exposure, eject the used bulb by depressing the
EJECTOR at the side of the camera.
Flash-Flector. Push the rtdged SLIDE below the battery
compartment to the right to snap up the Flash-Flector.
After use, push the Flash-Flector straight down into
camera until it clidrs into lodred position.
Keep the polished reflector of the Flash-Flector clean
and free of finger prints.
www.orphancameras.coml 0View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
TAKING FLASH PICTURES
Make sure the ASA dial is set for the film which you
are using. Set shutter speed NOTCH at 30.
Focus the camera. Estimate the distance fmm the camera to the subject, and set this
distance by turning the lens until the number of feet on the distance scale is opposite
the INDEX.
Set the Light-Matic Ring. Turn the RING so that either the white dot (for clear bulbs)
or the b,lue dot (for blue bulbs) is opposite the carnera-to-subject distance on the
FLASH SCALE. The ASA number of the film determines the nearest or farthest
distance to whidr the RING can be set on the FLASH SCALE. (Illustration shows
white dot set at 10 feet.)
Now-FLASH! Look at the subject through the viewfinder and - when ready -
squeeze - don't jab - the shutter release all the way down. The shutter release will
go down only if you have turned the film transport key to the next frame.
ilView original page 12From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.