Film cameras
Cosina Hi-Lite EC User manual
User manual for Cosina Hi-Lite EC. 18 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
18 pagesEnglish1.3 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Cosina
- Model / document
- Cosina Hi-Lite EC
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 18
- File size
- 1.3 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 2 · Read text
Specifications
Type: Fully Automatic exposure control type 35mm SLR with TTL electronic system.
Film: 35mm roll film with 20 or 36 exposures.
Picture size: 24 x 36mm.
Standard Lens: Auto Cosinon MC 55mm f/1.4 or MC 50mm f/1.8 in straight helical action with fully
automatic aperture.
Distance Scale: 00 - 0.5m.
Shutter: Copal EF-394 electrically controlled focal plane shutter
Auto electronic shutter: 2 - 1/2000 sec. (continuous with no stages)
Manual shutter: B. 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125(x) 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 - 1/2000 sec.
Finder: Pentaprism finder with fresnel lens and cross
microprism, magnification 0.9X, field of view approx. 95%,
eyesight-0.8 diopter.
Focusing: Image on focusing plate blown up with distance
scale for viewing.
Mirror: Quick return type.
Film wind: With wind lever (in an arc of 180° with a play of
20°)
Film counter: Automatic re-setting exposure counter.
Film rewind: Crank type.
Lens Interchange: thread mount (42¢mm P = 1mm.)View original page 2Page 4 · Read text
12. Film Type Reminder 19. Focusing/Aperture Index Mark 13. Film-in-Camera Indicator 20. Focusing Ring 14. Back Cover Lock/Film Rewind Knob 21. Automatic Aperture Release Lever 15. Self-timer 22. Film Rewind Crank 16. Aperture Release Button 23. Film Chamber 17. Aperture Ring 24. Accessory Set Window 18. Depth-of-Field Scale 25. Finder Eyepiece 26. Tripod Socket 32. Battery Compartment 27. Film Advance Sprocket 33. Battery 28. Film Rewind Button 34. Battery Compartment Cover 29. Film Take-up Spool 35. X Sync. Terminal 30. Film Speed Conversion Table 36. FP Sync. Terminal 31. Back CoverView original page 4
Page 5 · Read text
Battery
The battery, compartment is situated on the left-hand
side of the finder. Turn the cover with something like a
coin counter-clockwise and take it off. Insert the battery
which comes in as accessory, the minus side down, and
put the cover back into the original position. Make sure
that the plus and minus poles are in the right positions.
When your camera will not be used for a long span of
time, take the battery cell out of the chamber.
Otherwise, there will be cases in which the contact
points are damaged by the leakage.
Battery Check Button
While looking through the finder,
depress the battery checker button. As
long as the meter needle is found to be
swinging in the dented part on the left-
hand side of "30" or above this part, the
battery cell is usable. If the needle is
found to have come down below this
part, the battery cell must be replaced
with a new one.View original page 5Page 7 · Read text
Film Type Reminder
When a roll of film has been loaded in your camera, set the
film indicator, and this will make it easy for you to recall
what type of film is in your camera.
Turn the notched ring under the film rewind knob, and
bring the letters written on it in line with the " * " mark on
the left-hand side.
REVERSAL - Color film for slides
COLOR * Negative color film
COLOR (bulb) - Color film of tungsten type
PANCHRO - Black-and-white film, infrared film
Film-in-Camera Indicator
A red indicator mark appears when the camera has been
loaded with film. It does not appear when the camera is not
loaded with film. Before you start shooting pictures, make
sure that you check the film-in-camera indicator.
Aperture DeterminationView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC incorporates an automatic exposure
shutter in which preference is given to aperture
determination. Set the aperture first, and the shutter speed
will be accurately determined according to the selected
aperture value, film speed and lighting condition of your
subject.
For example: Set the shutter dial to "AUTO". if you set the
aperture to f/2.8 for indoor shooting or f/11 for outdoor
shooting, it will be possible for you to take a picture on the
instant, as the range within which the electric eye system
works is so broad that it reacts to the brightness of
practically every subject.
Focusing
While looking through the finder, turn the focusing ring
so that your subject is clearly visible. When the image of
your subject does no longer "flicker" in the small round
center of the finder, it means that your subject is focused.
In the event that the lens is stopped down for metering
purposes and the inside of the finder looks dim, press the
aperture release button.View original page 8Page 10 · Read text
Aperture Release Button
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC is so designed that
when the shutter button has been depressed
one step, the lens is stopped down and a
further depression of the shutter button will
release the shutter. When your finger is
detached as the shutter button has been
depressed one step, the lens will be locked and
remain stopped down. Depress the aperture
release button near the self timer, and the lens
aperture will be opened.
Film Rewind
1. Push down the film rewind button on the bottom of your
camera.
2. Flip up the film rewind crank and turn it m the direction
indicated by the arrow mark, and the film will be rewound
into the cartridge.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
3. Fully pull out the film rewind knob to open
the back cover and take out the film.
Exposure / Over-exposure Correct Exposure Under-exposure
When the meter needle The correct exposure may When the meter needle
stops in the red part above be secured as long as the points to a red figure or the
"RED PART" as indicated meter swings within a lower red part, open theView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
in the figure, stop down range of 1 to 2000 as lens till it comes into
the lens so that the needle indicated in the figure, but correct position. When
comes under "RED when pictures are to be pictures are to be taken
PART". taken with the meter with the meter needle
needle pointing to any of pointing to a red value, use
the red readings under a tripod so that your camera
"30", it is advisable to use may not be accidentally
a tripod, instead of holding shaken.
your camera in your
hands.
Depth of Field
When the lens is focused on a subject, there is an area
around it which is also in focus. This area is called a
depth of field.
The depth of field is numerically indicated with
taking distance values and a depth-of-field scale. For
example, when a 55mm lens is used and pictures are
to be taken of a subject five meters from the lens with
its aperture set at f/4, the area between about 4.5 and
7 meters from the lens will be clearly photographed.
The more the lens is stopped down, the larger the
depth of field is.
Automatic Aperture Release LeverView original page 12Page 13 · Read text
"M" (Manual)
For use in special types of
photography (such as with
bellows).
"A" (Auto)
The Cosine Hi-Lite EC is
normally used while being
set to "Auto".
Manual Shutter
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC is equipped with a
manual shutter which enables you to
optionally determine the exposure time so
as to produce special exposure effects, in
addition to the electronic shutter with
which the exposure is automatically
determined for photographing. Change the
shutter speed to one of the values of B. 1 -
1/2000 sec., and your camera will be set to
manual.
For stop-down metering
Here, determine a shutter speed first. For example, when you wish to take pictures at 1/250 sec., set the shutter
speed at 1/250 sec. first. Next, look into the finder and turn the aperture ring till the meter needle points to
"250".
The correct exposure is assured for your subject as long as the meter needle is brought in line with "250".
When you wish to take high- or low-key pictures, determine the correct exposure in the aforementioned manner.
With this correct aperture reading serving as the basis, deliberately set the aperture ring to another reading,
depending on the tone of picture you have in mind.
For example, when the correct aperture is f/5.6, set the ring to f/4, and you will be able to obtain a picture over-
exposed by 1 EV. If the ring is set to f/8, the picture will under-exposed by 1EV.View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
Synchro Flash Photography
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC is equipped with an X
terminal for a strobo and an FP terminal for FP
flash bulbs. The accessory shoe of this camera
is a cord-less hot shoe exclusively for X
synchro.
1. Strobo
Connect the cord of the strobo unit with the X
terminal and set the shutter dial to the X mark
(1/125 sec.).
If your strobe unit is equipped with a hot shoe,
connect it with the accessory shoe of your
camera.
2. Flash gun
When flash bulbs are used, connect the cord
with the FP terminal.
3. Exposure Determination for Flash Photography
The using directions of strobes and flash bulbs carry their respective guide numbers and indicate indices for the
determination of correct exposure, depending on the speed of film and shutter speed to be used for
photographing.
Bulb-to-subject distance x f-stop value = guide number. From this equation, the correct exposure value is
obtained by dividing the guide number with the distance (from the subject to the lighting source).View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
Long-time Exposure
When the shutter is set to "B" (bulb), it will
remain open, as long as the shutter button is
pressed down. Bulb shutter is used for exposure
of more than 1 second.
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC is equipped with an
exclusive shutter lock. Depress the shutter button
turn the lock lever from the blue to the red marks,
and the shutter will be locked.
When the lock lever has been returned to the
original position, the shutter will be closed. Note
that the unnecessarily repeated use of this lock
will result in the run-down of the battery.
Use of Cable Release
When the shutter is to be released at slow speed,
use a tripod and a cable release. The cable release
is screwed in on the socket of the shutter button.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
Finder Cape
When your eye is detached from the finder eyepiece in
taking pictures with a tripod and a self-timer or when slow
shutter speeds are used with your camera set to auto as small
apertures have to be used as in the case of close-up and
copying work, use the finder eyepiece cap to fully prevent
light from straying into the eyepiece.
Self-timer
1. When the self-timer has been flipped down as indicated in the
photograph, the self timer is charged.
2. As the shutter button is depressed, the shutter will be released in about
10 seconds.
3. When the self-timer is used in bright lighting conditions, it is advisable
to use the finder cap.
Interchangeable Lenses
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC takes lenses of the thread mount.
Interchanging is quite simple and any lenses of this type are
usable.
When the lens is dismounted, grip the base of the lens
barrel and keep turning the lens counterclockwise until it
comes off the lens mount.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
Note: Interchange lenses with your camera handled as indicated
in the photograph. Do not touch the mirror visible in the camera
body when the lens has been dismounted.
Index for Infra-red Ray Photography
The red index on the right side of the focusing
index mark is used when taking a picture on an
infra-red ray film Focus the camera on your
subject in the ordinary manner and set the
distance reading to this red index.
Film Plane MarkView original page 17Page 18 · Read text
The red mark on the camera top indicates the position of the film plane. In close-up photography, it is advisable to measure the distance from this mark to the subject in order to secure the most accurate focus.View original page 18
Related documents and language editions
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.