Film cameras
Balda Baldessa - single page per scan User manual
User manual for Balda Baldessa - single page per scan. 29 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Balda
- Model / document
- Balda Baldessa - single page per scan
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 29
- File size
- 5.2 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 4 · Read text
To get the results with your comero the following instructions hove to be studied corefully.
When you toke the BALDESSA in your honds you will immediotely notice how snugly it'fits into the polm.
Observeo||thedetoi|softhisnewcomero:l_.@.&i'4W'1w.w.wI?"-*1 I
Compoct, hondy ond streomlined body.
Mosl up-to-dote PRONTOR SVS SHUTTER with Exposure Volue Scole ond Depth of J
Focus Setting.
Fomous 1t2,8145 mm lens, hord cooted ond colour corrected. ,',1I
Newly designed Quick Tronsport Key. I
Film Tronsport ond Shutter Speeds ore coupled, ond set in one movement. 1
Newly designed Rewind Hondle. I
Lorge Viewfinder Wind'ow shows excelleni ond cleor picture.
Newly designed Body Releose, enobles smooth shoke-free releose.
Besides these feotures the comero hos everything o modern cqmero should offer:
Accessory Shoe for Floshgun, Exposure Meter, Rongefinder. Socket for Coble
Releose for Time exposures, Removoble Bock, Counting Mechonism, Film Memorizer,
Eyelets for Corrying Strop or Choin.
Become ocquointed with oll the detoils of the comero ond you will obtoin excellent results ond lifelong
enioyment ond pleosure wiih your,BALDESSA.
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** tfView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
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The shutter is one of the decisive porls
of the comero.
Therefore the BALDESSA hos been fit-
ted with the most up-to-dote PRONTOR
SVS SHUTTER with Exposure Volue
Scole ond outomotic odjuslment.
'l Distonce Scole )
onlY 2 Indicoior Mork J t*oaet for Disronce serting J t
3 Lens Mount Ring
4 Red Triongulor Mork
for Exposure Volue Scole
5 VXM Scole
6 Lever for VXM
7 Exposure Volue Scole
8 Red Triongulor Mork for Exposure
Time-Aperture Coupl ing
9 Aperture Scole
l0 Coupling Lever for Exposure
Time-Aperture Coupling
1 l Exposure Time Scole
12 Exposure Time Setting Ring
l3 Depth of Focus Scole (only Model l)View original page 5Page 7 · Read text
Exposure vulue
ffi*QFGFiq' The Exposure @-:.-Volue T5- o figure representing the coupling of oh ExposUie l-ime-Aperlure, poir.-iT'q!*! in- correct
relotion lo eoch other. This meons thot oll Exposure Time-Aperture Volue poirs in correct reloticn wiih
eoch olher result in equolly exposed negotives ond correspcnd to one Exposure Volue. dW
Exposure Time ond Aperlure ore coupled. When setting o new Exposure Volue the Coupling Lever must
be disengoged by o slight downword pressure, ond the Aperture Ring con now be rototed either left or
right until ihe required Exposure Volue (shown in red figures) coincides with the red Triongulor Morl< for
Exposure Time-Aperture Coupling. Should it not be possible to get the red number you require opposite
these Triongulor Mork, it will be necessory to rotote the Exposure Time Setting Ring ond re-set the red
lndicoior Dot. d
.ws
EXAMPLE: When choosing Exposure Volue 12 one of the following Exposure Time-Aperture Volue poirs -
con be recC from ihe Mork for Exposure Time-Aperture Setiing:
- #
ffi
w
", "-."-*s
rly, r/m l/oo tlps 1/eoo
Ap e rtu re 11View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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'con *S" 'iruT6ilE;-Elffiffi"Tffi;A#;ilru-%l,"By turnins'ffi%o'.,r-" Ri"s poir u" set for eoch exoosure. ffi
events) o high shutter speed is sel, or when o consider- EXAMPLE: - with fost moving subiects (sporiing
oble depth fo focus is necessory (londscope etc.) o smoil operture is set.
The corresponding'operlure or shutter speed outomoticolly results through the Exposure Time-Aperture
Coupling.
When toking piclures with on exposure time of longer thon one second,, the exposure time is reod in full
seconds from the GREEN FIGURES on the Exposure Time Scole opposite lhe Aperture Volues. All green
figures represent full seccnds, B represents 2 seconds
k,
X.Exomple: -
Exposure Volue 4
Exposure Time
&
E Aperture
With on Exposure Volue of 4 ond Aperture 16 ihe Exposure Time of 15 seconds is reod. To expose on
this operlure, o'epress ihe Coupling Lever ond sei D on the Exposure Ring ond Aperture I6 on the Aperir..rre
Ring opposite the red Triongulor Morl< for Exposure Time-Aperiure Coupling on the lens mount. Then c1epress
the Body releose for'15 seconds. In this cose ond for oll time exposures it is odvisoble +o use o tripod.View original page 8Page 10 · Read text
www.butkus.usIleplh ol locus
The Depth of Focus dependls on ihe operture ond distqnce setting. lt indicqtes the oreo which will be in ,ffi
focus. Smqller opertures result in greoter depth of focus.
ii.
The depth of focus scole on the BALDESSA comero ,ho*, i-rr%diotely the neorest ond fqrthest distonce #
points whiclt ore in focus' The following illustrotion of this scole shows q distonce odiustmenl of l0 ft
opprox' (3 meters)' The depth of focus scole shows on eoch side of ihe Indicotor,Mork for Distonce Selting
the Aperiure ore engroved. For instonce if operture 8 is token, ihe two figures g of the deptlr of focus
scole right ond left of ihe Indicotor Mork rest under opprox. 6 ond lg ft.
Beyond thele figures the picture is not shorp.
tr,
The red figures on lhe Distonce scole ore o kind of Ever n"od| setiing. The red figure l3 ft (4 meters) is
ihe Ever Reody setiing for dislonce exposures, ond the red figure 5 ft (1.5 meter) is the Ever Reody seliing
for close-up work.
$
When reoding this it seems rother complicoted, however, when tried out with rhe BALDESSA ii is simple.
(Depth of Focus Scole Model lpoge 4, Model lo ond lb poge 12.)
'ffi,
fts
ffi
#View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
YX It[
These f igures seem very mystifying but ore
simple.
For normol pictures the Lever for VXM should be on X
or M.
When toking flosh pictures the chort is cpplicoble.
For Deloyed Aclion pictures V opplies.
"V" sfonds for Deloyed Action, "X" for usuol synchroni'
sotion, " M" f or f ull synchronisotion.
The Deloyed Action Setting V con only be used when lhe
shulter is cocked, ond it is self concelling, this meons
thot it relurns outomolicolly to X when the picture hos
been token.
When the Lever is on X setiing the flosh cnd shuiter opening coincide,
and in this cose the shutter speed should be set ot l/30th of o sec.
When M posifion is set for flosh bulbs o speed of up to'l/300th of
www.butkus.us o sec. con be used. This is the greot odvontoge of full synchroniso-
tion.
For eleclronic flosh only the X setting con be used, ot ony speed,
but speciol core should be token thot the Lever is not on M.
The opposite toble gives voluoble informotion obout the correct
exposure ond setting for flosh pictures.View original page 11Page 13 · Read text
{" Distunce setting
For BALDESSA lwiih froni lens oduisiment.
To obtoin shorp pictures the correci disionce beiween lens crnd> subject must be set. The drstonce con be eslimoted or meosured wrth
o rongefinder. The odiustment is mode by turning ,the lens so thot
the distonce coincides Wiih the block Indicotor Mork for Distonce
Seiting (see illustrotion with odjusiment of 9 ft-3 meters).
For close - up work - pictures under 3 ft - Protroit Attochments ore
ovoiloble.
When ioking pictures with o Portroit Attochment the usuol exposure
time is not extended, however, it is recommended to toke operture 8
or smoller.View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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Bqldessu Iu und Ib wilh Goupled Rangelinder
Rotote the Distonce Setting Ring either right or left until the
] 2 imoges coincide in the centre circle of the viewfinder. The
subiect is now properly focused.
-*EW
, WiihScolemovingond letsubjectsthe subiectf irst setcomeon estimotedtowords you.disionceFo!lowon thethe
]ffi movement2 imoges coincideof the subiectin the centrein the viewfindercircle releoseondtheos shutter.soon os Thethe
Eyelevel Mirror Reflecting Suspdnded Frome Finder gives the
exoci picture field thus helping the exposure to be token
ca rrecil y.
12View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
How to gel lhe Light Yulue with the Exposure Meler
The built-in exposure meter guorontees correctly exposed negotives of even lhe most difficult subiects.
First set the speed of the filrn in use. Turn the Ring wilh ihe smoll
Red Needle setiing lever until the block orrow coincides with fhe DIN or ASA
figures of ihe film in use. Turn the outer ring ond set the red needle
obove the instrument needle.
Instrument Needle
Light Volue Window
wr0ng
l
righl
I Knurled Ring
The estoblished Light Volue con be reod in the Light Volue Window
Setting Lever opposite the red triongulor mork. This Light Volue is lhen tronsferred
Film Speed to lhe shutter os exploined in the porogroph "The Light Volue". Now
set the speed-operture poir chosen for your exposure.
13View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
@ " _,***: sg8&*rye*r www.butkus.us
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Londscape Piclures -:-.- When toking pictures of open scenery with o bright bockground qnd o dork l foreground, ond when the distont port should be well reproduced toke
your reodings ogoinst the bockground. But when the foreground is the most
J importont port of the exposure toke your reoding with the comero inclined
slightly f orword.
With Portroiture ii is essentiol ihot the reoCing is- token ,r.. ,nfr
port of the poriroit ihot is most importont. ilo ioke o person in front
of o very bright sky lhe most importcnt port, for instcnce the foce,
should be the moin point of the reoding.
&
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ag,I
When toking Close-ups, i. e. smoll onimols, flowers, etc., toke your hond os
o stond-in. Hold your hond opproximotely 4" from rhe exposure meter of
your comero. However, the shoCow must not foll ,on the subiect.
When toking colour pictures the lighter shodes of the subject should
be reod ond when toking block-ond-white pictures the dork ports
of the subject should be reod.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
$huller f,elease
Wifh BALDESSA I the shulter is releosed by gently
depressing lhe Piono Key Type Body Releose.
On the BALDESSA lo ond lb fhe Body Releose is ot ihe
side of the shutter. Here ogoin, lhe shutter is releosed by
depressing the Body Releose gently. Try lhis severol times
before octuolly toking o picture, ond you will notice thot
the setting of the distonce ond the releosing of the shutter
con be done quite eosily without loss of time.View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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Parullax compensution
Model I
The viewfinder shows exoclly the scene which will be exposed. For close-up piciures under 6 fi tlre cornero
should be slightly lifted for lrorizonlol pictures, ond slighily rncved sidewoys towords the vievrfinder for
verticcrl piciures.
Model lo qnd lb
By coupling the Bright Line Frome with the Rongefinder the Porollox Compensotion is outomotic.
Inserling lhe liln
Hold the comero, lens downword in your honds os
shown on the illusiroiion, with the two Locking Cotch
Bultons held upwords. Press lhe two Buttons down
sirr.rultoneously ond ihe comero bock swings open ond
con be eosily removed.
li is importonl thot the looding ond unlooding of ihe
comero should not be done in bright sunlight.
16View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
It is extremely eosy lo insert the film into the comero. Insert the recessed open end of the cossette over the spindle in ihe cossette chomber ond the cossette folls outomolicolly into position. Insert the f ilm leoder into the slot of the Toke-up Spool with lhe perforotion of the fim hooked securly over the iooth of ihe Toke-up Spool. The slockness of the f ilm con be loken up by slowly rololing the wheel of the Toke-up Spool. It is importont to moke quite cerloin the teeth of the Tronsport Sprockets ore engoging the film perforotion.View original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
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Closing ol the comero
Hold the conrero lens downrvorci',
insert the lip of the cornero bock into
llre recessed porl otr llre corrrero body,
exert slighi downword pressure
on ihe Conrero Bock ond it
will click into tire closed po-
\I sition.
\
\
\IiView original page 20Page 21 · Read text
Exposure counler '--rfu
Tlrc' 'i - L,,HvJviFvno<rrrc Corrnler indicotes the number of ex-
@nosrTes still io lre lokerr. @
Wlren inserting ihe film turn the Exposure Counier to C"
cDnf A. The Exposure Counter rnoves bockwords, ihis
nreons thol it indicotes the number of exposures siiil
to be taken, i. e. 36, 35, 34 etc. When o film with 2C www.butkus.us
exposures is inselted into lhe comero put ihe Expostr;e
Counter on '22 ond not on 'A'.
Film memorizer
After inserting ihe filrn sel the Film /v\ernorizer io tlre iype
of film in lhe coremo. You cot.t refer to ihis ot ony loter doie.View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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$etting the lilm lor the lirst exposure
Before tokirrg tlre first e>l;tosure tlre filrrr rrust bc trcrnsltcr;cti
unlil lJo.36 (or 20) oppecrrs on tlre Exftost're CoL'nle r.
--"-*-..!
l) Turn the Quick Tronsport Key
o holf turn in o clockwise
di rection.
2) Depress the Piono Key Type
Body Releose (Model l).
For Model lo ond lb
see poge 15. *r1fl d.*-'t
Repeot the crbcve sequence or'rce nlore orrd tire re-
qurered nrrnrber (36 or 20) will be on the Exposrrrc
Counier.
The cenire oi the RewinC Hcrndle is o checl< on llrc
Fiinr Tronspori, wherr this rotcrtes it sirows the filnr i.
ironsporting correctly. 20View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
The exposure
Tlre Conrercr is rrow reody for the firsf exposure. Hold the cornercr firmly in both honds, view lhe sublect
ilrrougir tire viewfinder windovr holding the Cornero os neor io the eye os possible. Sei ihe Exposure Tirrre,
set tlre Distonce ond slowly depress the Body Releose os snroothly os possible with the index finger of tlre
riqlrt lrond. lt is esseniiol io irolci lhe cornero steody with bof h lronds ond os neor to the eye os possillle
It is recoprlrepded 1o oroclice ilris rnellrod of tokirrg pirotogroplrs. To ovoid ony cornero slrcrke onll'tlrc
rnCex firrger of the riglri hond should ttrove slowly downwcrrds.
Model lo c.nd lb lool< Poge l5
The greoi qdvontoge of the BALDESSA is thot lhe film con
be tronsported ond the next exposure token without removirrg
ihe Comero from one's eYe.
tol<e exposures in ropid 'Ef"v:*'' The BALDESSA is speciolly suitoble io
succession.
The Ccrrnerc rlr-'st noi be helci irr cr slcrrrring pc:iiio,r crnC in orCer io view the full piciure ihrough ihs
Viev",finCe;'iire Cor,-rero hos io lte helC crs close io'lhe eye crs co'sible'
21View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
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Bewinding
Wlrert tlre filrrr lros been corlpletely exposed llre Exposure
Ccunter will be slrow 0. When iire Exposure Courrfer lros not
been woiched o srnoll resistonce is felt when iire cornpletely
filrr is exposed.
jlre filrrr rnust now be revzound into lhe oriqinol cossetle.
After tlre lcrsi ex;tosure ilre Quicl< Tron,prri Key rroy orrly
nrove lrolf tlre norrrol distorrce. This hos no ill effeci onci tlre
Key ccrn be returned lo the correci position €rs soon crs llrc
Rewind Horrdle lros been used.
\I\\
To rse tlris unique Rewind lrcrndie tire Rewind Lever ltos io t\
be nroveci frorn T to R ond tlre Rewirrd Hondle will click open. \ d
\
iiotcrte llre Rervind Hondle in ihe direction of tire crrrow untl
\1cr sliglrl resisionce is felt, ihis is the perforotion of llre filrl
disengoging frorrr the tooilr on tlre Toke-up SpoolView original page 24Page 25 · Read text
I lre f ilrrr is now in its origirrol cossette.
Swing Rewind Hondle bock into tlre closed position ond si-
rnulloneously move the Rewind Lever from R to T (see illu-
stroiion).
ll is essenliol thot the Rewind Hondle is pressed down firmly
into position when the Lever is sei on T. lf the Rewind Lever
connot be moved from R io T it is becouse the Rewind Hondle
is not completely home, ond slight pressure on the Rewind
Hondle will remedy this.
Tlre BALDESSA con now be opened in the usuol woy ond lhe
f ilm cosseiie with ihe exposed f ilm token out.
(The film cossetie should be kept well wropped.)
Exposures with lilters und lens hoods
When using f ilters the lighi quontity is reduced which couses
unoer-exposure. Therefore, the exposure time should be increosed occording io tthe type of filter used.
Every filter hos o certoin foctor rvhich indicotes fhe time io be increosed for normol developing time. To
compensote for the reduced light ilre Exposure volue lros to be oCiusted ond the following scole gives exoct
deloils: -
1,5 x 5 6x 7-9x 10-.|3 x 14-19 x
Mrnus
Exposur-- 0,5 1,5 2,5 3r5
Vol ue
These estoblished Exposure Volue figures ore Berween Volues ond con be set on the Exposure Volue Scole.
(see poge 4 ond 5).
23View original page 25Page 28 · Read text
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//--:::-\_ _._)/Gable releose qnd tripod
For exposure times of lonqe r llrrrn I ll0 llr oi -=t/
o sec. it is odvisoble to r j(-. <' Ccrlrlc rr'1,.(r r,'
crnd tripod.
l-he Coble Releose is scr,".. t:ci ir:lo llre ti,recrcl
next to ihe Body Releosc, crrrcl iirc tripocl i,
screwed inlo the tripod lbL'slr crt 11rr'boito,rr o:
the comero.
A,\ocic I
Flushguns
Floshguns con be otioched io llreAccessory Shoe or, if required, (tffi t iirconnected by o brocket underneclil, , { tf
the comero. \_-/
The coble is connected to the Syn- .3:t:rg. -r;r,
chronisoiion Nipple ot the front of
the comero.View original page 28Related documents and language editions
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PDF verified 2026-10-10.