Dacora Super Dignette Translated User manual

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                      Translated via OCR then Google translate
                      This takes about 2 hours to translate
                      each page, past pictures and convert
                      to a PDF.





We congratulate you on your new Super-dignette. With it, you have acquired a camera that, in
terms of technical advancement and design features, belongs to the top performance group of
35mm cameras. Thanks to large-scale production and extreme rationalization in
manufacturing, it was possible to build such a "great" camera at this surprisingly low price. We
are convinced that you will have much enjoyment with your new DACORA-SUPER-dignette and
wish you many happy photographic moments.

Sincerely, DACORA CAMERA WORKS REUTLINGEN

Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
                                                                    DN: cn=Mike Butkus, o,             Mike                ou=Butkus.org,
                                                                          email=mike@butkus.org, c=US
                                                                               Date: 2026.01.09 13:59:22              Butkus            -05'00'





1 Frame finder with center marking          10 Shutter button
2 Shutter release button                   11 Film advance lever
3 Self-timer                             12 Film type indicator
4 Shutter speed setting                    13 Accessory shoe
5 Aperture setting controls                 14 Frame counter
6 Focus ring                             15 Rewind button
7 Flash contact                           16 Rewind lock button
8 Lens                                  17 Film speed setting
9 Depth of field ring                       18 Combined viewing options for light
                                           metering system in the control window and
                                              viewfinder display

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Film insertion

Unpacking and inserting a new 35mm film cartridge should be done in the shade or in subdued
light. The back cover opens by sliding the release button. The rewind knob (15) is pulled out
until the spool driver disappears into the top of the camera. Now the 35mm film cartridge is
inserted into the film chamber and the rewind knob is pressed in while rotating it until it
engages the spool core. Then the film leader is pulled across the light trap and inserted into
the slot of the take-up spool. Before closing the camera, it is essential to ensure:

a) the take-up spool must have properly engaged the film! To achieve this, the spool must be
rotated slightly.

b) The teeth of the film transport sprocket must engage the perforations of the film (see
illustration); only then can the camera be closed.
The film speed of the inserted film must now be set on your camera's shutter. To do this, press
the detent button of the ring (4) and set the number in DIN on the DIN scale using the index
triangle.

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                                      Frame counter dial After inserting the film,Film Reminder Dial To avoid errors when
choosing the aperture or exposure time, the     the frame counter is set to the starting
film's sensitivity can be set on the film           position. This is done by rotating the frame
reminder dial when the film is loaded. NT      counter dial to the right with your thumb. For
(yellow) = Negative color film for daylight     a film with 20 exposures, set it to 23, and for a
NK (red) = Negative color film for artificial     film with 36 exposures, set it to "A". The
light K (red) = Color reversal film for artificial  frame counter dial shows the number of
light T (yellow) = Color reversal film for       exposures remaining.
daylight Pos. (black) = Black and white
reversal film Neg. (black) = Black and white
negative film


Film advance and double exposure prevention
Two blank frames are advanced quickly using the rapid winding lever until it reaches the stop.
On the third winding motion, the first picture can be taken. The rewind knob rotates as the
film advances. The rapid winding lever advances the film by one frame each time it is swung
out to its stop. The shutter is cocked simultaneously with the film advance. The rapid winding
lever cannot be operated twice in a row. The camera has a double exposure and blank frame
prevention mechanism, so taking two exposures on the same frame or advancing an
unexposed frame is impossible.

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Exposure Control
The coupled exposure meter represents an unusual simplification of the shooting process.
Both rotating rings, the one for the shutter speed (4) and the one for the aperture (5), are
directly coupled to the exposure meter. The transfer of the measured values from the
exposure meter to the shutter and the lens in the previously known manner is eliminated.
Under normal lighting conditions, you first set the exposure ring to a common medium
exposure time, e.g., 1/60 or 1/125. The innovative combined observation capability of the
exposure indicator needles allows you to observe the needle plane either in the control
window (18) or in the viewfinder. In the viewfinder, the needle plane is observed directly
below the upper edge of the window. This option offers the advantage that the camera's
position already corresponds to the shooting position. The exposure indicator needles are now
brought into alignment by rotating the aperture ring (5). When both needles are aligned, the
correct exposure setting has been achieved. If, by rotating the aperture ring with the pre-
selected shutter speed, the alignment of both needles cannot be achieved, the shutter speed
ring (4) must be rotated to one of the next values. Shots with an exposure time longer than
1/30 sec. should not be taken handheld.

Distance setting
To set the distance, rotate ring (6) until the desired number is opposite the mark. Distances up
to 4 meters should ideally be measured or paced out.

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Depth of field
Every lens does not focus sharply on the northern part it is precisely focused on, but rather on
certain areas in front of and behind that plane. This phenomenon is described by the term
depth of field and depends on the aperture and the focused distance. A depth-of-field scale is
located on the shutter.

To the left and right of the distance setting mark, identical aperture values are arranged
symmetrically. One can estimate the depth of field on the distance scale by transferring the
aperture value to the left and right of the depth of field scale onto the distance scale. The
example shows a distance setting of approx. 3.2 m. The depth of field at aperture 11 ranges
from 2.2 m to 7 m.

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Taking the Picture
All the steps taken with the camera so far have been in preparation for taking the pictures
themselves. Now, hold the camera firmly in front of your eye with both hands and aim at the
subject in the viewfinder until the subject is framed as desired. The bright frame viewfinder (1)
with its built-in frame lines makes it easy to compose the shot correctly. The superimposed
crosshairs are helpful for sports photography and similar subjects. For close-ups under 1.5 m,
the correct image section shifts downwards between the two superimposed bars on the left
and right in the viewfinder to compensate for parallax. To take the picture, press the shutter
release button (2) smoothly. The optically aligned position of the shutter release and its
smooth lever mechanism allow for shake-free shutter release.

After each shot, pull the film advance lever all the way to the stop. This will
1. advance the film,
2. cock the shutter,
3. engage the film transport lock, and
4. advance the frame counter by one number.

Snapshot setting
To be ready to shoot quickly when unexpected opportunities arise, without the subjects falling
outside the depth of field, set the focusing ring (6) to the mark at 4 meters. If the lighting
conditions allow for at least an aperture of f/8, this setting provides a depth of field from 2.5
to 8 meters.
On the penultimate page, the section on synchronization naturally describes the Vario-LK,
Pronto-LK, and Prontor-SLK shutters. After a Super-Dignette with a Pronto-LK shutter is shown
on page 1, the following two illustrations show the Vario-LK and the Prontor-SLK shutters of
the other two Super-Dignette models. The rest of the design and features are the same for all
three types.





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Unloading the Camera
Once all 20 or 36 exposures have been taken, the film must be rewound into the cassette. To
do this, press the release button (16) on the bottom of the "DACORA-SUPER-dignette" and
turn the rewind knob until a clearly audible sound (tearing of the perforation at the attached
spool slot) indicates that the entire film has been rewound. Only then may the back cover of
the DACORA-SUPER-dignette be opened. The rewind knob is pulled out as far as it will go,
allowing the film cassette to be removed from the camera.

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                                                Self-timer
                                             The Pronto LK and Prontor SLK models
                                                   are equipped with a self-timer
                                              mechanism. On the Pronto LK (see
                                                              illustration on the front), the small red
                                                        lever on the shutter is cocked before
                                                       taking the picture. After releasing the
                                                         shutter, the self-timer runs for
                                                  approximately 7 seconds before the
                                                      shutter fires. On the Prontor SLK, after
                                                  advancing the film, the
                                                     synchronization lever (3) is set to
                                                  Green-V, and after releasing the
                                                         shutter, the same process occurs as
                                                  with the Pronto.

Synchronization
All Dignette models have a synchronized flash contact. The Varia and Pronto models have X-
synchronization and allow all shutter speeds when using an electronic flash unit, and 1/100
sec. when using flashbulbs. The Prontor SVS shutter is fully synchronized and therefore also
has M-synchronization (3), which allows the use of all M-class flashbulbs. Furthermore, the
standardized connector (7) allows the use of all commercially available flash units.

Accessory Shoe
The accessory shoe (16) is provided for attaching accessories such as flash units, rangefinders,
etc.

The 3 shutter types of the dignette-LK series
On page 1, the dignette with the Pronto-LK shutter is shown. The other two types, with Vario-
LK shutter and Prontor-SLK shutter, are not described separately. All 3 types have the same
basic design.


Filters and accessories

We would like to point out that the use of various filters and attachment lenses is possible,
which, after some practice with the DAC JRA-dignette, allows you to expand the shooting area
and significantly improve the quality of the images with special effects. Your photo dealer will
be happy to provide you with information on this and other questions.