Film cameras
Balda Baldessa User manual
User manual for Balda Baldessa. 27 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
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 27
- File size
- 13.0 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 4 · Read text
To get the results with your comers ihe following instructions hove to be studied corefully.
When ycu loke the BALDESSA in your honds you will immediotely notice how snugly it fits into the polm,
-- Observe oll the detoils of ihis new comero:
Compoct, hondy ond streomlined body.
.',,' Most up-to-dote PRONTOR SVS SHUTTER with Exposur:e Volue Scqle ond Depth of
;": FoeusSetting. '-"t ' .
*::.,.:.: ''Fqm.qus'122,8145 mm lens, hqrd cooted ond colour correcfed.
,l N"*ly designed Quick Tronsport Key. -'
,i ; .'. Filrn;lronsport ond Shuiter Speeds ore coupled, ond set in one movemeni.
li:, r Nefvly designed Rewind Hondle.
: ' .Lgrge. {leqfindei Window shows excelleni ond cleor picture.
Ngwly designed Body Releose, enobles smooth shoke-f ree releose. .::
Besides these feotures the comero hos everything o modern comerq should offer:
Accessory Shoe for Floshgun, Exposure Meter, Rongefinder. Socket for Coble
Releqse for Time exposures, Removoble Bock, Counting Mechonism, Film Memorizer,
Eyelets for Corrying Strop or Choin.
#*
Become oceuointS-d with oll the detoils of the comerd ond you will obtoin excellent results ond lifelong
enioyment ond plEosure with your BALDESSA.
'/:' ' ....: i -'l
..'"+iiii'tt:r'l
"b- *,"^#;{*:-,,L* ;Sdrj''r_-i' --^ ;s{rj6s\ rView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
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The shutler is one of the decislve ports
of tlre comero.
Therefore ihe BALDESSA hos been fit-
ted with the most up-lo-dote PRONTOR
SVS SHUTTER with Exposure Volue
Scole ond outomoiic odiustment.
'l Distonce Scole )I onlv
2 lndicotor Mork i Uoi"t t for Distonce Setting J
3 Lens Mount Ring
4 Red Triongulor Mork
for Exposure Volue Scole
5 VXM Scole
6 Lever for VXM www.butkus.us
7 Exposure Volue Scole
8 Red Triongulor Mork for Exposure
Time-Aperture Coupling
9 Aperture Scole
t0 Coupling Lever for Exposure
Time-Aperlure Coupl ing
ll Exposure Time Scole
12 Exposure Time Setting Ring
t3 Depth of Focus Scole (only Model l)View original page 5Page 8 · Read text
www.butkus.usDeplh ol locus
The Depih of Focus dependls on the operture crnd distcrnce setiing. lt indicotes ihe oreo which will be in
focus. Smoller opertures result in greoter depih of focus.
The depfh of focus scole on ihe BALDESSA comero shows immedioiely the neoresi ond forthest distonce
points which ore in focus. The following illustroiion of this scqle shows o distonce odjustment of 10 ft
opprox. (3 rneters). The depth of focus scole shows orr eoch side of ihe lndicotor,Mork for Disionce Setiing
ihe Aperture ore engroved. For insionce if operture 8 is token, the two figures 8 of the depth of focus
scole right ond left of ihe lndicotor Mcrrl< rest under opprox. 6 ond '18 ft.
Beyond these figures ihe piciure is not shorp.
The red figures on ihe Disiqnce Scole ore o kind of Ever Reody setting. The red figure 13 ft (4 meiers) is
ihe Ever Reody seiting for distonce exposures, ond the red figure 5 ft (1.5 meier) is the Ever Reody selting
f or close-up work.
When reoding ihis it seems rother complicoted, however, when tried out with the BALDESSA it is simple.
(Depth of Focus Scole Model lpoge 4, Model lo crnd lb poge'12.)
I 5,6, + 2.8 2.8 + 5.6
2,E
+
5.6I.11
16View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
r
vxM
These figures seem very mystifying but ore
simple.
For normol pictures the Lever for VXM should be crn X
or M.
When toking flosh piclures the chort is cpplicoble.
For Deloyed Action pictures V opplies.
"V" stonds for Deloyed Action, "X" for usuol synchroni-
sotion, " M" f or f ull synchronisotion.
The Deloyed Aciion Seiiing V con only be used when the
shutter is cocked, ond it is self concelling, this meons
thot it returns outomoticolly to X when the picture hos
been token.
When the Lever is on X setting the flqsh ond shutter opening coincide,
crnC in this cose the shuiter speed should be set ot 1/30th of o sec.
When M position is set for flqsh bulbs o speed of up to'l/300th of
q sec. con be used. This is the greot odvonioge of full synchroniso-
iion.
For eleclronic flosh only the X seiting 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 selting for flosh pictures.View original page 9Page 11 · Read text
Dislunce selting
For BALDESSA I with front lens od'uistment.
To obioin shorp pictures the correct distonce beiween lens ond
subject must be sei. The distonce con be estimqted or meosured with
o rongefinder. The odiustment is mode by turning ithe lens so lhot
the distonce coincides vliih ihe block lndicoior Mork rfor Dislonce
Setting (see illustrotion with odiustment of 9 ft-3 meters).
For close - up work - pictures under 3 ft - Protroit Aitochmenls ore
ovoiloble.
www.butkus.us When toking pictures with o Portroit Attochment the usuol exposure
time is not extended, however, it is recommended to toke operlure 8
or smoller.
l--.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
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Buldessu Iu qnd Ib wilh Coupled Rungelinder
Rotoie lhe Distonce Setting Ring either right or left until the
2 imoges coincide in the centre circle of the viewfinder. The
subject is now properly focused.
r"**s;W
With moving subjects first set on esiimoled disionce on the
Scole ond Iet the subject come towords you. Follow the
ff movemeni2 imoges coincideof ihe subjectin the centrein the viewfindercircle releoseondthecrs shuiter.soon os Theihe
Eyelevel Mirror Reflecting Suspended Frqme Finder gives ihe
excrci picture field thus helping the exposure io be token
ca rrectl y.
12View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
IIow to get the Light Value with the Exposure Meler
The built-in exposure meter guorontees correctly exposed negotives of even the most difficult sublects,
First set ihe speed of ihe film in use. Turn the Ring wiih the smoll
setting lever until the blocl< orrow coincides with the DIN or,ASA
figures of ihe film in use. Turn the outer ring ond set the red needle
obove the instrument needle.
lnsirument Needle
Light Volue Window
right
Knurled Ring
The estoblished Light Volue con be reod in the Light Volue Window
Setting Lever opposite lhe red iriongulor mark. This Lighi Volue is ihen ironsferred
Film Speed to the shr.liter os exploined in the porogroph "The Light Volue". Now
set the speed crperture poir chosen for your exposure.
13View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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Lundscupe Piclures -f-:
When tcrl<ing pictures of open scenery with o brighf bockground cnd o dork
foreground, ond when the distqnl port should be well reproduced ioke
your reodings crgoinst the bcrckground. But when lhe foreground is the most
importonl pcrrt of the exposure toke your reoding wiih the comero inclined
slightly f orword. /-
Wiih Portroiture it is esseniicrl ihot the reoding is token from ihe
port of the portrcrit thot is most imporlcrnt. Jo tcrke q person in front
of o very bright sky ihe most importont port, for instcnce the foce,
should be the mcrin point of the reoding.
When toking Cl,cse-ups, i. e. smoll onirnols, flowers, etc., to!<e your hond os
o stond-in. Hold your hond o,:proximoiely 4" from ihe exposure meter of
your comerq. Hovzever, the shodow must not foll ,on the subiect.
When toking colour pictures the lighter shodes of ihe subiect shoulcj
be reod qnd when toking block-ond-white pictures the dork ports
of the subject should be reod.
14View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
$hutter Beleuse
With BALDESSA I the shutter is relecrsed by gently
depressing ihe Piqno Key Type Body Releose.
On the BALDFSSA lo ond lb the Body Releose is ot ihe
side of the shutter. Here ogoin, the shutter is releosed by
depressing the Body Releose genily. Try this severql times
before octuolly toking o picture, ond you will noiice ihot www.butkus.us
the setting of the distonce ond the releosing of the shutter
con be done quite eosily without loss of fime.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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Purullqx compensulion
Model I
The viewfinder shows exoctly ihe scene which will be exposed. For close-up pictures under 6 fl lhe ccrmer-cr
should be slighily lifted for irorizonlol pictures, ond slighily moved sidewoys lowords the vievrf inder f or
verticol pictures.
Model lq ond lb
By coupling the Bright Line Frome wiih the Rcrngef inder the Porollo>< Compensotion is outomotic.
Inserling lhe lilm
Hold the comero, lens downword in your honds os
shown on the illuslrotion, with the two Locking Cctch
Bullons held upwords. Press the iwo Bultons down
simultoneously ond ihe comero bock swings open ond
con be eosily removed.
It is impotlont thot ihe locrding crnd unlooding of ihe
comero should not be done in brighi sunlight.
16View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
It is extremely eosy io insert the film into the comercr.
lnsert ihe recessed open end of the cossette over ihe
spindle in the cossette chomber ond the cossette folls
outomoticolly into position.
lnsert the film leoder into the slot of the
Toke-up Spool with the perforoiion of ihe fim
hooked securly over the tooth of ihe Toke-up
Spool.
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The slockness of the film con be ioken up by slowly
rototing the wheel of ihe Toke-up Spool.
It is imporlont to moke quite certoin the teeth of the
Tronsport Sprockets ore engoging ihe film perforoiion.
17View original page 17Page 19 · Read text
Exposure counler
The Exposure Counter indicoies ihe number of ex-
6l|posures still io be token. art
When inseriing the film turn the Exposure Counter to a$,!riib 'l
'A'. The Exposure Counier moves bockwords, ihis sl**:
meons tho I it indicotes the number of exposures still
to be t,:ken, i. e. 36, 35, 34 etc. When o film with 20
exposures is inserted inio the comero put the Exposure
Counter on '22' ond not on 'A'.
Film memorizel
After inserting the film set the Film Memorizer to ihe type
of film in the coremo. You con refer io ihis ot ony loter dote.View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
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$etling lhe lilm lor the lirsl exposure
Before tol<ing the first e><posure the film must be trcrnsporied
until No. 36 (or 20) oppeors on lhe Exposure Counter.
1) Turn the Quick Tronsport Key
o holf turn in o clockwise
di reclion. I
2) Depress the Piono Key Type I
Body Releose (Model l).
For Model lo ond lb
see poge 15.
Repeoi ihe obove sequence once more ond the re-
quiered number (36 or 20) will be on the Exposure
Co u nte r.
The centre oi the Rewind Hondle is q check on the
Film Tronsport, when ihis rototes it shows ihe f ilm is
tronsporting correctly. ?oView original page 20Page 21 · Read text
The exposure
The Ccrmero is now reody for ihe firsi exposure. Hold the comero firmly in both honds, view the subiect
through the viewfinder window holding the Comerq ss neor to the eye os possible. Set ihe Exposure Time,
sei ihe Distonce ond slowly depress the Body Releose os smoothly os possible with ihe index finger of the
right hond. li is essentiol io hold the comero steody wiih bo+h honds ond qs neor to ihe eye os possible.
It is recommended to proci ice this method of toking photogrophs. To ovoid qny comero sholce only the
index finger of ihe right hond should move slowly downwords.
Model lo c.nd l,b lool< poge 15
The greot qdvqntoge of the BALDESSA is thqt the film con
be tronsporied ond the next exposure tol<en without removing
the Comero from one's eye.
The BALDESSA is speciolly suitoble to tol<e exposures in ropid
successi on.
The Cqmerc must not be held in o slcrniing posiiion onC in orCei'to view the full piciure through ihe
Viewfinder the Comerq hqs io be helC os close io the eye os possible.
21View original page 21Page 23 · Read text
l-he film is now in iis originol cossette.
Swing Rewind Hondle bocl< into ihe closed position ond si-
rlulloneously move the Rewind Lever from R to T (see illu-
strotion).
ll is essentiql thqt the Rewind Hqndle is pressed down firmly
into position when ihe Lever is set on T. lf the Rewind Lever
connot be moved from R to T it is becouse the Rewind Hondle
is not compleiely home, ond slighl pressure on the Rewind
Hcrndle will remedy ihis.
The BALDESSA con now be opened in the usuol woy ond the
film cossetie with the exposed film token out.
(The f ilm cosseite should be kept well wropped.)
'i
E{#: le *tt .':L Exposures wilh lillers ond lens hoods i EPA:
When using f ilters ihe light quontiiy is reduced which couses
uncler-exposure. Therefore, the exposure time should be increosed occording to lthe type of filter used.
Every filter hos o cerioin foctor rvhich indiicotes the time io be increosed for normol developing time. To
compensote for the reduced light the Exposure volue hos to be odjusted ond the following scole gives exoct
deioils: -
F
Focto;" ilte r 1,5x I ,- I ,- 7-sx Lo-,r" I M-ex tl
Minus
Exp os u re 0,5 | 1 I l,s | 2 I 2,s | 3 I 3,5
Vol ue
These esioblished Exposure Volue figures ore Beiween Volues ond ccrn be set on the Exposure Volue Scole.
(see poge 4 ond 5).View original page 23Page 25 · Read text
Proximeler I snd Proximeter II
The PROXIMETER is on opiiccrlly superb oitochment
for your fine rcrnge-finder comero, it opens up on
entirely new field of photogrophy. Hond-held close-
ups down io o dislonce of '10 inches ore mode poss-
ible by q mcrtched poir of supplementory lenses of
highest opiicol precision. Toking lens ond ronge-
finder ore now fully odopied io the close-up ronge
free from porollox.
PROXTMETER I . ... . 38"-20',
PROXIMETER t! . ... 20"-13"
PROXIMETER I ond ll 13"-I0"
Scole of Reproduction
Ronge of Picture Areos Depth of field
For exomple: lf the distonce of on objeci
is 38" owoy, you will hove o 6" depth, Scole of Reprod.
which is 3" eithser side of the obiect. Ronge of Picture Areos
When using fhis PROXIMETER it is recom- Depth f 5,6 2rl.
mended to use ot leost operture 5.6 or 16. of Field f 8 3'1,
4View original page 25Page 26 · Read text
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Csble releqse qnd tripod
For exposure times of longer thcrn I/30 ih of
.o sec. it is odvisoble to use cr Coble releose
ond tripod.
The Coble Releose is screwed into the threcrd
next to the Body Releose, crnd the tripod is
screwed into the tripod lbush crt the bottorn of
the comero.
Modei lcr crnd lb
Flushguns
Floshguns con be oitqched io the
Accessory Shoe or, if required,
connected by o brocket underneoih
the comero.
The coble is connected to the Syn-
chronisolion Nipple of the front of
the comero.View original page 26From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.
