Film cameras
Balda Baldessamat User manual
User manual for Balda Baldessamat. 16 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
16 pagesEnglish2.8 MB PDF
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Document details
- Brand
- Balda
- Model / document
- Balda Baldessamat
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 16
- File size
- 2.8 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 5 · Read text
|,,"ffi Close the badr: Insert the LIp at the
narrow end of the camera back cover
into the channel on the camera body /
near the take-up spool. press down the I \ other end of the cover until it clicks into
locked position.
Fold out the film transport KE)f and
give it a half turn clockwise 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
exposure, and the exposure COUNTER )
is automatically set at "L".
llF,ach half turn of the KE]f moves the next www.butkus.us
film frame into positioh, winds the shutter I
\ for the next exposure, and ad.vances the
couNTER. (Dots between numerals indicate
eTJennumbers.)
In the center of
SIGNAL of proper
shows that the filmView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
uNLOADING - Shieldcameraand fiIm from bright lisht u)hileunloading
After the 20th or 36th exposure (watdt the exposure
counter for red dot !), the film must be rewound into its
magazine.
I ! Slide thr: 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.
I FoId the HANDLE back into closed position and press
\ it down until the rewind LOCK clidrs into place.
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 film should be developed as soon as
possible.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
AU T O M A T I C D A Y L I G H T E X P O S U R E
The only thing you need to do about comect exposure is to set the camera for the ASA
number of the film you are using; (you wiil find the ASA number in the instructions
padlaged with the film.) Once that's done, the Automatic Exposure Control of your
BALDESSAMAT takes over to give you correctly exposed pictures all day long out-
doors. (See page 15 about flash pictures).
Set the ASA number: Depress the ridged LOCK while you
rotate the speed RING until its red mark is opposite the ASA .
/ number of the film. The numbers and dots on the SCALE !
S CAIrE \ represent these ASA numbers:
(400) 200 160 125 100 80 64 50 40 32 25 20 16 10
Thus, if you use Kodadrrome If, set the red mark at ,25,;
for Kodadrrome X, set it at ,64,; for plus-X pan (ASA 160),
set it at the dot to the right of .200,.
NoTE: Whe-n -using AsA 400 fllm, set the red mark at '200' and use a 2x neutral glay fllter in front of the lens.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
I
l
Set the Selector Ring to "AIJTO".
Depress the selector LEVER while
you rotate the SELECTOR ring
clockwise to bring the word AUTO
ssLECr oR to the top of the shutter, in line
,vith the INDEX of the lens.
The AUTO setting automatically assigns a shutter speed to the film as follows:
ASA 10 : 1/30th sec.; ASA 25 : 1/60th sec.; ASA 50: 1l725th sec.; ASA 100 : ll250th
sec.; ASA 200: 1/500th sec. Intermediate ASA numbers are assigned corresponding
shutter speeds. For example, if you set the SCALE for Kodadrrome X (ASA 64), the
shutter speed is 1/160th sec. These shutter speeds apply only to the AUTO setting.
The Automatic Exposure Control sets the correct lens opening for proper exposure.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 8Page 9 · Read text
ADDING YOUR *PERSONAL TOUCH'
When you aim your BALDESSAMAT at a seene or subject, the built-in exposure meter
"looks" at the entire picture area; it averages the light reflected by the brighter and
darker portions and sets the exposure accordingly. Therefore, you will always get
better results with scenes in whictr bright and darker areas are of about equal im-
portance, and with flat lighting, with the sun behind your bad< or over your shoulder
u'hile you take the picture.
Because the Automatic Control cannot judge what you consider important in a scene,
there may be times when you will get better results by ctranging the ASA setting
of the camera, especially for scenes with great contrast. For bad<-lighted subjects, or
for pictures of people against a bright badrground (light-colored buitding, snow, etc.)
move the ASA setting 3 steps lower. (Example: Kodadrrome X (ASA 64); adjust to ,82,).
In the opposite situation, for a light subject against a dark bad<ground, move the ASA
setting 3 steps higher. (Example: rtodadrrome X (ASA 64); adjust to 't2b').
When you use a filter with black-and-white film, simply divide the normal ASA
number of the film by the filter factor, and change the ASA setting of your camera
to the nearest setting. (Example: Plus-X ASA L60 film with 2x fiiter. Divide 160 by
2: 80. Adjust ASA setting of camera to '80').
lLlways return the ASA SCALE to the normal setting for the film for regular exposures!
How do you Iike your color slides? You don't have to use the ASA settings recommen-
ded by film manufacturers. If you prefer your color slides darker, use a slighly
L higher ASA setting: with a lower ASA setting you will get lighter slides.View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
D I S T A N C E S E T T I N G
Distance setting for sharp pictures is a simple matter with your BALDESSAMAT.
The Color-Coded Distance Zone system of your camera
automatically gives you the proper setting for the type of
picture you want to take. No need to read distance scale
+;,. ffitrlfl numbers it's fast and convenient even if you wearDIS TAN CE glasses. The colors were purposely drosen so that their Z fiXES
first letter agrees with the Zone setting:
SCENE - Sky-blue zor\e; GROUP
TRAIT - Fink zorte; NEAR - Neutral zone.
Zone Setting: Rotate the LENS MOUNT until the desired
zone is opposite the white INDEX.
The Automatie Zone Signal
in the viewfinder (BALDESSAMAT F only) tells
you instantly if the lens is set for SCENE, GROUP,
PORTRAIT or NEAR as extra assurance of sharp
oictures rvhen you are "shooting". Eactr zornename
is fully visible when the lens is set in the middle
of the Color - Coded Zone on the LENS MOUNT;
with the middle setting, your BALDESSAMAT
automatically gives you sharp pictures covering
all objects within the following ranges:
SCENE from 20 ft to Infinity
GROUP 7 f t t o 1 3 f t
PORTRAIT 4Llz ft to 61lzft
NEAR Srla ft to 4rla ft
These ranges apply for pictures of average sub-
jects in sunny or bright daylight.
www.orphancameras.coml 0View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
I}ISTANCE SCALE SETTTNG.
Under heavy overcast sky, in deep shade, and in similar poor light conditions, you wiil
get sharper pictures by setting the lens for the actual camera-to-subject distance:
Rotate the LENS MOUNT until the distance (number of feet on the scale) is opposite
the INDEX. It is also necessary to set the actual distance for flash pictures. (See
page 15)
Rangefinder Focusing with Baldessamat RF.
Instead of a Zone Signal, the viewfinder of the
Baldessamat RF has a critical rangefinder in its center
circle. Aim the center circle at the subject while looking
throught the viewfinder; rotate the LENS MOUNT to
the left or right until the two images in the .snfr:r circle
merge into one. The lens is now sharply focusecl on the
sub j ect.
www.butkus.us
l lView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
T A K I N G P I C T U R E S
S-t-e-a-d-V does it! Hold the camera steady,
with the viewfinder close to your eye. Have
your finger "at the ready" on the shutter
RELEASE, but be careful not to obstruct the
exposure meter window or lens. When you are
ready to take the picture, squeeze- don't iab -
the RELEASE all the way down.
shows you if the lens is properly set for SCENE'
GROUP, PORTRAIT or NtrAR. In the Baldessamat RF,
you can ctrech accurate focus with the rangefinder in the
center circle. The large luminous frame contains the entire
scene or subject that will be in your picture. The Baldessa-
mat F has short lines near the top of the frame whidt
indicate the top edge of a horizontal picture when the
subject is closer than 5 feet" The luminous frame of the
Baldessamat RF automa'l,ically corrects for parallax at any
distance and always shows exactly what will be in your
picture.
www.orphancameras.com12View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
The Built-in Lens Shade.
You will get clearer pictures, especially in I'ery bright \
scenes,if you always use the lens shade. To put the sfride \
in positioh, rotate its knurled rim counter-clockwise as far ]
as it will go. When you replace the camera in its case 7
simply rotate the lens shade clodrwise all the way in.
Filters.
For special effects with bladr-and-white films, and under
certain conditions with color film, a Series 5 filter can be
fitted in front of the lens. Remove the filter retaining ring by
screwing it out counter-clodrwise. Place the filter in front
of the lens and replace the retaining ring. Always open out
the lens shade after a filter has been put in place.
CIIECK LIST FOR DAYLIGIIT PICTURES reEflre
Use this simple deck when you start using your new Wirh only lista littte practice you will follow this sequence naturally.
Make sure the ASA scale is set for the fitm you are using.
Check if the selector ring is set at AUTO.
Set the lens mount for the proper distance zone (or the accurate distance).
Hold the camera-steady, with the viewfinder close to your eye.
the light signal, zone signal, proper framing in the viewfinder. Qhed<
When ready, squeezethe 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 hali turn.
Do not force the transport key beyond the 20 tt' or 36 th exposure (depending on film
Iength), as this may, tear the film from its magazine arid require^unloading of the
camera in complete darkness.
1 3View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
F L A S H
Your BALDESSAMAT has a built-in flash gun for
AG-l bulbs and exclusive retractable Flash-Flector to
give you fine flash pictur:es without fuss and bother.
You'll have fun taking flash pictures at home, at 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 position. Replace the COVER and slide it
to the left until it clidrs into place.
NOTE: When you use an electronlc or other flash unit lnstead
of your built-in f1ash, the battery of your Baldessamat must
be removed.
Flash Bulbs. Use 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 aII the way until seated.
After exposure, eject the used bulb by depressing the
EJECTOR at the side of the camera.
Flash-Flector. Push the ridged 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.com1 4View original page 14From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.