Film cameras
Bronica SQ-a Prism finder User manual
User manual for Bronica SQ-a Prism finder. 24 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Bronica
- Model / document
- Bronica SQ-a Prism finder
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 24
- File size
- 1.4 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
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The AE Prism Finder S has been specially designed for exclusive use with
the Zenza Bronica SO-A camera, and converts the SO-A into a TTL (thru-the-
lens) diaphragm-priority automatic exposure camera, powered by the battery
in the camera body, when it is mounted in place of other f inders.
A bright, distinct laterally-correct and upright image is viewed at the eye-level
through the prism viewfinder, while the shutter speed can be checked prior
to taking the picture by simply depressingthe shutter releasebutton lightly.
Further, the AE Prism Finder S functions at manual mode as well as an
individual exposure meter by sliding the switch.
To obtain best results from the AE Prism Finder S, may we suggestyou to
read this instruction manual carefully, as your pleasure in using the SO-A
camera with the AE Prism Finder S will be even greater if you thoroughly
famif tarizeyourself with its operation before trying it for the f irst time.
I
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Specifications
Magnification 0.75x,with standard 80mm lens
Finder field 52.3 x 52.3mm (94 x94"/"1
Eyepiece diopter Standard magnifier -1.5 diopters; corrections from -4.5 to
+1.5 diopters possibleby exchangingmagnifier
Exposure measuring TTL (thru-the-lens) full aperture exposure measurements; full
area averagereadings,with two silicon photocells
Shuttsrspeed range 8 seconds to 1/500 second, in stagelesssteps on Auto, but in
13 settingson Manual and Off
Exposure meastring range EV4-EV17 (ASA/ISO 100 f ilm)
Film sensitivity range ASA/ISO 25 to 3,2OO
Finder indications Shutter speed setting can be viewed by lightdepression of
shutter release button on camera body in the following color-
distinguished LED display;
Yellow - 8 sec. to 1/30 sec.
Green 1/6O sec. to 1/500 sec.
Red - Over- and Under+xposure warning marks
AUTO/MANUAL switch Sliding snritch type located at right hand side;
AUTO AE circuit automatically controls shutter speed
setting (wiitr an illuminated display indicating the shutter
speed setting);
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MANUAL- AE circuit and body control circuit operate inde-
pendently (with a flickering display indicating the shutter speed
for correct exposure).
Power source snritch ON - The finder operatesat either AUTO or MANUAL.
OFF - Turns off the AE circuit of the finder, but camera can
be operated by the shutter speed being set by the shutter speed
dial when AUTO/MANUAL switch turned to MANUAL.
The camera works at mechanical shutter speed of 1/500 sec.,
when the power source switch turned OFF and AUTO/
MANUAL switch being set on AUTO. No finder indications in
those cases.
Dimensions 72mm wide x 134mm long x 61mm high, excluding rubber
eyecup
Weight 38O grams
o
,dii4t'irr:i.i$tbltfr$&r*'I,4;*.*&.- . *,E"ri** srl+:ML-hView original page 6Page 11 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com 2 | Attachment/Detachmentof the AE Prism Finder S A . To detach the f inder B. Before attaching the or the f inder cover on AE Prism Finder S, first, the camera body, simPlY wipe the contacts on both depress the finder release the camera body and the button, while, at the same f inder, with a soft cloth, to time, sliding the finder or obtain optimum contact. the finder cover backwards where it can be taken off . @View original page 11
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C. To attach the AE Prism D. The shutter dial circuit E. To detach the AE Prism
Finder S, simply align the in the camera body is Finder S, simply f ollow
front end of the finder automatically switched off , instructions in "A".
with the finder frame (the when the AE Prism Finder
shiny square frame on S is set at AUTO for
top), as illustrated. automatic exposure opera-
Then, gently lower the tions, upon attachment of
f inder and, when well- the AE Prism Finder S.
seated, slide forurard until Therefore, the shutter
it locks into place. speed dial on the body can
be set to any speed, as it
will have no effect on the
exposure setting.
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www.orphancameras.com 3 lBatteryChecking 4 I Artornatic ExposureOperations Simply depress the battery The shutter speed is con- A. Turn the power source check button on the trolled in stageless steps switch to "ON" by sliding camera body and a battery from 8 seconds to 1/500 it forward.check redcolored LED will second,when the AE Prismlight up in the central Finder S is set for auto-front area of the AE Prism matic exposure operations.Finder S, if the batterY is loaded properly in the camera and if there is suff i- cient power for oPerations. (See " Loading the Bat- tery" and "Battery Check- ing" of the camera instruc- tion manual.) @View original page 13
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B. Turn the AUTO/ C. Rotate the aperture D. For shutter speed con-
MANUAL switch to AUTO ring of the attached lens f irmation, depress the
by sliding it forward. and set the requ ired F I shutter release button
number opposite the white lightly. The correct shutter
index dot. speed will be displayed
along the top of screen
* | ntermediate aperture set- area by LED illumination.
tings are not possible,
when the AE Prism Finder
S is attached.
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5 I ManualExposureOperations
As the redcolored triangu- The AE Prism Finder S A. Turn the power source
lar mark indicates under- can be used for manual switch to "ON" by sliding
or over-exposure, rotate exposure operations, in the it forward.
the aperture ring until a following cases:-
suitable shutter speed is a. For using a predeter-
displayed by LED illumi- mined shutter speed
nation along the top of setti ng .
screen area. b. For f lash photography.
c. For time exposures.
d. For specialeffect shots.
e. For using as an indi-
vidual exposure meter.
f . For m irror lock- up pho-
@ tography.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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B. Turn the AUTO/ C. Rotate the aperture D. For shutter speed con-
MANUAL switch to ring of the attached lens firmation, depress shutter
MANUAL by sliding it and set the required F / releasebutton lightly. The
backward. number opposite the white correct shutter speed will
index dot. be displayed along the top
of screen area by flicker- *lntermediate aperture set- i n g L E D .
tings are not possible,
when the AE Prism Finder
S is attached.
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Pointers on Picture-Taking s
* Use the camera on a solid tripod or
otherwise steady it, if the displayed shut-
ter speed is a slow one, i.e., 1/30 second
or slower.
* The displayed setting is a very close ap-
proximation of the actual shutter speed"
* Cover the finder with a black cloth to
prevent light entering through the eye-
piece, when not looking through the
f inder during auto-exposure operations.
* Battery consumption is very great when
auto€xposure operations are made with
E. Then, transfer the the lens covered by its cap or under ex-
f lickerdisplayed sh utter * Savetremelybatterydark conditions.power, by turning the power speed to the shutterspeed
dial on the camerabody. source switch oF F between shots or when
not using the camera.
* Use the AE Prism Finder S on Manual for
flash photography, since there are dangers
of very slow shutter speeds on auto-
expo$Jre which could result in over-
exposures.
* Use the AE Prism Finder S on Manual for
mirror lock-up photography.
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* Since the AE Prism Finder S has been central front. Wait for this signal, espe-
designed for exclusive use with Se-A cially at slow shutter speeds, before
camera, the finder will not function with turning the f ilm winding crank, otherwise
SQ camera. subsequent one frame will not be exposed * The following table shows the shutter normally .
funetions and finder indications in rela- * Do not press the depth of field preview
tion to the power source switch as well lever when using the AE Prism Finder S as the AUTO/MANUAL switch, either on AUTO or MANUAL, since * Always confirm that the shutter opera- the shot will be over-exposed by the
tion is completed, i.e., look for the shut- difference between the selected aperture
ter signal LED-flash in the finder of its and full aperture.
WNuALswitch AUTO M A N U A L Powerror."ffi
Shutter Automatic control Shutter speed operates by shutter
O N gpggg dial on camera body.
F inder indication LE D illumi nation Fl ickering LE D
Mechanicalshutter Shutter speed operates by shutter Shutter
O F F speed of 1/500 sec. speed dial on camera body.
F inder indication No indication No indication
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7 | Exposure Compensation
Exposure compensation of A. To compensate toward B. To compensate toward
the indicated exposure set- over€xposure, rotate the under-exposure,rotate the
ting is possibleby utilizing ASA/lSO film speed dial ASA/ISO film speed dial
ASA/ISO film speed dial to clockwise direction. to anti-clockwisedirection.
on film back. lf , with ASA/ISO 100 film, lf, with ASA/ISO 100 film,
compensation by 1 EV is compensation by 1 EV is
required, set ASA/ISO film required, set ASA/ISO film
speed dial at 50 to the speed dial at 200 to the
index. EV can be changed index. EV can be changed
by 1/3 EV at click stops by 1/3 EV at click stops
on ASA/lSO f ilm speed on ASA/lSO f ilm speed
d i a l . d i a l .
@View original page 19Page 21 · Read text
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Optical Path Drawing
Meter Sensitivity Pattern
Exposure Measuring Plane Exposure Measuring Sensitivity Pattern
Two silicon photocells (light receptor cells) Since the AE Prism Finder S has a full
are located in the position illustrated. aperture exposure measuring system, it has
Since they are attached parallel to each the sensitivity pattern illustrated no matter
other, the meter sensitivity pattern is that what the aperture setting. In the above
shown to the right. pattern, the numbers indicate the ratio of
sensitivity for the zones. Thus, if the sen-
sitivity of the innermost "1O" zone is con-
sidered to be 100, the outermost "5" zone
is 50%.
@
k . - . . - . . * . " * J ; -. ,, , *r-l!-. . ..,:!rirlii*qi. .,.,i.**A;Sf':l*;,** ..i:*#1i,,View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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g Exchangingthe Magnifier I
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1) The standard magnifier 2l To exchange magnifier, 3) To attach the replace-
suppliedwith theAE Prism first, detach the eyecup. ment magnifier, simply
Finder S has a power of Then, unscrew the set- place the bottom edge of
-1 .5 diopters. When found screw on the magnifier the frame into position and
unsuitable, however, it can frame and it will be possi- then screw in the setscrew
be exchanged for one of ble to remove the magni- at the top of the frame.
six optional magnifiers f ier together with the
with powers of -4.5, -3.5, frame. 4) Finally, replacethe eye-
-2.5, -0.5, +O.5 and +1.5 cup.
diopters.
@View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
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t 0 I Careand Storage
r Cleaning of the magnif ier and prism over-heated, u nder the above circum-
should be restricted to blowing with the stances, let them return to the ambient
blower brush, after wh ich lens cleaning temperature level before using them.
tissue and liquid should be used to lightly r Wipe and clean the accessory very care-
wipe the surfaces. fully after using it in wet weather or
Do not use sil icon-coated cloth, ds it at the seashore.
will prone harmful to the coating. I lf the accessory has been exposed to
o However, use the siliconcoated cloth, or salty air (or water), wipe the exterior
a soft cloth, to clean the exterior of the carefully with a wellJwrung damp cloth
accessory and never use solvents, such as (using f resh waterl . Then, dry w ith a
lens cleaning liquid, alcohol or thinner, soft, dry cloth. And, have the accessory
for th is purpose. inspected at the authorized repair station,
r Do not leave the accessory for a long if necessary.
time in extremely hot locations, such as r Store the accessory in a tin{ined con-
summer beach or €r parked in the sun, tainer, with plenty of desiccant, such as
as the accessory may be affected, leading silica gel, if it is not being used for some
to improper exposure measurements and time. And, store in a cool, dry and well-
even to damage. ventilated (but not windy) location, free
Should the camera and accessory become of naphthalene and/or camphor.
@View original page 23From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.