FIRST MIKROMA II User manual

DESCRIPTION OF THE CAMERA
           The  MIKROMA   is  a  miniature-size  photographic  camera   for  50  exposures
          11.5x14.7 mm or 10x14.7 mm  in size on 16-mm sub-standard film.  It can be used with
        advantage for photographing on reversal colour film, by means of which  col',)ur slides
          (diapositives) suitable either for direct observing through a magnifier or for projecting
          by means of a slide projector can be obtained.
           The operation of the camera  is very easy.
           The mechanism of the camera ensures perfect results since the film cannot be ad-
        vanced to the next frame unless an exposure has taken place: moreover, double expo-
~.         sures cannot be made on the same frame. By a single movement of the control lever
          the  film   is advanced and the  shutter cocked, the counter  indicating the exposure
         number. The shutter release  is located on the top side of the camera; a flexible wire
          release can be screwed on to the release nipple.
           The shutter can be set either to various snapshots from  '/5 to  '/400 soc or to time
         exposures ("B"). In addition, the shutter  is equipped with a flashlight synchronizer the,
         connecting cable of which can be inserted  into the conventional socket situated on
          the top side of the camera.
           The  lens  is a MIRAR  f/3.5, F =  20 mm three-glass coated anasti'Jmat. Focusing
         range: from 0.5 m to  infinity.
           The viewfinder  is of the optical type.
           Both horizontal and vertical pictures can be made with the camera.
           The film can be inserted in loaded magazines into the camera  in daylight.
           Dimensions of camera: 75x43x40 mm.
          Weight of camera: 230 grams.

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Photographic material and picture dimensions
  For photographing with the MIKROMA a 16-mm black-and-white or colour sub-
standard film with single-side perforation (the so-called "sound film") or double-side
perforation (the so-called  "silent film")  is used.
  The picture frame of the MIKROMA  is 11.5x14.7 mm  in  size. When using a single-
side per:foration film, the whole frame area can be utilized; when, however, a double-
side  perforation  film   is employed,  only a  10.5x14.7 mm area can be used  for the
exposure.

Loading  the  magazine
  The camera  is supplied with two magazines: a wind-off magazine without a spool
for non-exposed film and a wind-up magazine with a spool upon which the exposed
film  is wound-up during photographing.
  The film must be loaded into the magazine without a spool.  If 50 exposures are to
be made, a film 90 cm  in length should be loaded into the magazine; the magazine
can be loaded, however, with  shorter films as required according  to the following
table:

   Required  number                                     50   45   40   35   30   25   20   15   10   of  exposures
  Length of loaded                                     90   81   74   66   58   51   43   35   28   film  in cm

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Loading of magazine should be carried out  in complete darkness;  this procedure
is facilitated by using the wind-up rod supplied with every camera. From a  film  roll
the required length  is cut-off, one end of the film band being inserted into the slot
of the wind-up rod (see Fig.  I).
  The dull side of the  film  is turned  inwards. the sprocket holes of the single-side
perforation being situated adjacent to the front side of the wind-up rod (see Fig.  11).
The wind-up rod  is turned  in clockwise direction.
  The front side diameter of the wind-up rod corresponds approximately to the dia-
meter of a wound-up film band 90 cm  in length; hence the film length can be mea-
sured by winding up the film on the rod  until the wound-up film corresponds to the
front side diameter of wind-up rod. Only then should the film be cut  off.
  About 3cm  of film  is allowed  to  project from the spool. Then the wind-up  rod
with the wound-up  film  is put into the open magazine to that the free end of the-
film  is led through the longitudinal opening of the magazine (see Fig.  III). After the
wind-up rod has been released, the film  in the magazine  is loosened, thus enabling',
the wind-up rod to be easily removed. Next the  lid of the magazine  is closed where~
upon the magazine can be brought into daylight. Fig. IV shows the magazine properly
loaded with a single-side perforation  film.
   This procedure  is very easy even when  carried out  in complete darkness and  is
easily mastered with some exercise.
    If a number of magazines are loaded  "in  stock",  it  is advantageous to keep the
loaded magazines  in cases made  of  plastics. thus protecting the .film against dust
and  illumination.

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Inse.ting the  film  into the camera

  Pdor to inserting the magazines  into the camera the beginning  of the  film band
should be fixed to the spool of the wind-up magazine. Open this magazine, take out
the spool, insert the beginning of the film band under the spool spring and by slightly
pulling  in backward direction,  fix the sprocket holes to the spool claws. When using
a single-side perforation  film, only one sprocket hole should be fixed  to the spool
claw (see Fig. V). Then the spool with the fixed end of the film  is put into the wind-up
magazine, the latter being closed by means of the lid (see Fig. VI).
  Next shift the knob of the lock (see Fig. VII-1) situated on the base of the camera
so that the mark "0" becomes visible. Then the camera  lid (see  Fig. VII-2) can be
removed according  to  Fig.  VIII. While holding the camera  with  the fingers  of the
left hand, pull off the  lid with the right hand  in the direction indicated by the arrow.
  Put the magazines with the film  into the opened camera according  to  Fig. IX so  0
that the magazine containing the film  is inserted into the  left hand and the wind-up
magazine into the right hand portion of the camera, taking care that the magazine
is set up on the wind-up axle with a groove. This groove must snap  into the lateral
carrying pin  in the hollow spool axle of the wind-up magazine. To enable this to be
effected,  pull  the  control  lever (see  Fig.  IX-4)  to the  right,  exerting  at the same
time a slight pressure against the wind-up magazine. The claw actuating the advance
of the film must snap into one of the sprocket holes.
  After the magazines with the  film have been  inserted  correctly  into the camera,
adjust the camera  lid and turn the knob of the lock so that the mark "a"  is no longer
visible.

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Venmo @mike-butkus-camera  Ph. 2083
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Setting the exposure counter  to zero

   Press the left-hand thumb against the milled protrusion (see Fig. X-5) and shift the
control  lever to the right as  far as possible. Then allow  it to move back and press
down the release (see  Fig. X-6).
   This should be repeated twice or three times. While shifting the control  lever for
the last'time, hold the retracted lever setting, at the same time, the exposure counter
(see Fig. X-7) to zero by turning  it to the left (in the direction indicated by the arroW
 in Fig. X),  i. e., the zero of the counter  is set opposite the red dot (see Fig. X-8).

Setting the stop·number

  The lens  is equipped with an  iris diaphragm adjustable by means of a milled  ring.
(see Fig. XI-9). The ring  is marked with a dot which can be set by turning the ring.
against any of the stop numbers  (f): 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. The higher the number set"
the more the lens  is stopped down, allowing  less  light to  pass. When  setting  the·
diaphragm to the stop number f/3.5 the lens  is fully open; on the other hand, when
stopping down the lens to f/16  a small amount of light only  is allowed to pass. The
stop numbers have been chosen so that stopping down to the next higher number
entails halving the amount of light and doubling the exposure. This dependence does
not apply between the numbers 3.5 and  4.
    If a double exposure time  is chosen, the diaphragm  ring should be turned  to the
next lower stop number and vice versa: when choosing a shorter exposure time, turn
the ring to the next higher number.
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Examples:
(a)  With the lens stopped to f/5.6 a certain amount of light passes through the lens.
       If the lens  is stopped to the next higher number f/8. the amount of light  is halved.
    whereas with the lens stopped to f/4 the amount of light is doubled.
(b) A landscape  is photographed with the lens stopped to  f/8.  If a yellow  filter  in-
     volvjng an  exposure  prolongation  of  2x. is employed,  a  stop number  of  f/5.6
    must be set.
                             Mike Butkus                     Digitally                                                                                                                                                                                             DN:email=mike@butkus.org,Date:cn=Mike2024.06.18signedButkus,by12:59:27Mikeo=ButkusButkusc=US-04'00'camera manuals, ou=butkus.org,
Setting  the  exposure  time
  The timing  ring (see  Fig. XI-10)  is marked with numbers indicating the exposure
times:  B.  '/5.  '/10.  '/25,  '/50.  '/100.  '/200 and  11400 sec. The ring can be turned  in either
direction,  thus enabling any desired exposure time  to be  set against the  red  dot-
(see  Fig.  XI-11).                                                                                                                                   .
  For taking off-hand snapshots  it  is not recommended to use exposure times longer·
than  1/50 sec. otherwise there  is a  risk of obtaining blurred pictures. Only advanced
photographers shoud take off-hand snapshots using a  '/25 sec or  still longer exposure
time.  If  it appears necessary to use exposure times of as long as  '/10 and  '/5· sec.
the MIKROMA should be put on a firm support. e. g. a table. or attached to a tripod
by means of a tripod nut (see Fig. VII-3). The tripod nut  is fitted with a W  '/4" thread.
    If the timing knob  is set to "B", the shutter  - after the release has been pressed
down  - remains open as long as the release  is kept depressed.  It closes only when
the release  is loosened. The exposure time can be chosen at will.  It  is recommended
to use  a wire release screwed in to the release nipple.

                                             b

Focusing the image
            By turning  the milled focusing  ring  (see  Fig.  XI-12) the complete  lens  is moved
              In the direction of the optical  axis, thus enabling the photographed object  to be
           focused.
           The focusing  ring  is marked with figures indicating the distances  in metres (or  in
              feet). The position of the lens for photographing a removed bbject (from 8.5 m to
              infinity)  is marked with the sign  "00" or the  letters "INF"  (infinity). The positions of
           the individual distances are slightly locked by means of an internal click-stop.
            The dis.tance between the photographed object and the lens can be determined by
           estimation  or by measurement  (e.  g. by means  of a  range-finder), the ascertained
           distance being set against the red dot (see Fig. XI-13) on the focusing ring.
            By setting the figure 4 of the focusing ring against the red dot the object  is focused
           at a distance of 4 m from the lens.

          Photographing proper
              After the object has been properly focused, the exposure time and the stop numberI        set, the exposure can be effected. When setting the counter the shutter was cocked by
          moving the control lever as a result of which the camera  is ready for shooting.
            Take the camera with both hands as shown  in  Fig.  XII, put  it with the back side
            of the viewfinder close to the eye and bring the photographed object into the field
            of view of the viewfinder.
            Then lightly press down the release smoothly with the righthand forefinger.
            The camera can be used  for taking both vertical  - see  Fig.  XII  - and  horizontal
           shots  - see  Fig.  XIII.

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After the exposure has been  effected, the release  is interlocked thus preventing
 a further exposure from being made accidentally upon the same film frame. To enable
 a further exposure to be made the control lever should be moved; as a result, the film
 band  is advanced by one frame, the shutter being cocked simultaneously. As long as
- no further exposure  is made,   it  is impossible to move the control  lever. Hence an
 advance of the film without an exposure  is eliminated.
   The camera should be prepared  for the next exposure immediately  prior to the
 exposure- itself; avoid keeping the camera with the shutter cocked  for a  long time
 since the loaded spring  is uselessly exposed to wear and fatique;  in addition, acci-
 dental depressing  of the release  -  e.  g. when  putting the camera  into the case  -
 may  easily  occur.
   With every shifting movement of the control  lever the exposure counter  is turned
 automatically by one· number, thus indicating the number of exposed shots.

 Flashlight  exposures

   The top side of the camera incorporates a socket for connection of the flashlight
 (see  Fig. XI-14). Both normal incandescent flashlight bulbs and electronic flashlight
 tubes can be used. The cable plug of the flashlight lamp should be  inserted  into
 the  socket.
  On depresing the release the flashlight  is put in operation automatically while the
 shutter  of  the camera   is  open.
   For use with incandescent flashlight bulbs exposure times  of  1/5,1110  or  1125 sec
 should be employed, whereas when using the electronic flashlight tubes any exposure
 time within a range of from  1/5 to  1/400 sec  is suitable.

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Removing the exposed film from the camera
  After the whole film has been exposed  - which can best be checked by the number
of exposed shots  -  open the camera  in the way already explained and take out the
magazine with the exposed  film. This  is done similarly to loading of the film  in day-
light,  preferably, however,  in the shade and  not  in  bright sunshine. The magazine
with the film  is put into the case.

Depth  of  focus
  With every lens not only objects situated  in the focusing  plane, but also objects
located  in either side  Clf this plane, appear sharp on the negative, this phenomenon
 being called "depth  of focus". The more the  lens  is stopped down, the  larger  ist
the depth  of  focus. Supposing  the  lens has been focused  correctly on the photo-
graphed object and stopped down adequately, object at various distances will appear
equally sharp on the negative.                                                                                                        .
  The depth  of focus  is  indicated by the enclosed  table where the corresponding
values can be found  for various distances and stop numbers.  In addition, the table
enables both the distance to which the lens should be focused to be determined and
the stop number to be set in order to obtain sharp images of object situated within
a certain area. The table has been computed for a maximum unsharpness  (i.  e. "dis-
persion ring") of O.015,.mm.
Examples:
  The lens  is focused on an object at a distance of 2 metres and stopped at  f/8.
The table indicates that all objects between 1.32 to 4.23 m will appear equally sharp.

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Supposing  it  is required  that  all the objects between 3 to 10 m from  the  lens
should appear sharp on the negative,  it will be seen  in the table that the lens should
be focused at 3.5 m and stopped at f/5.6.

Depth of Focus Table for the MIRAR f/3.5, F =  20 mm Lens (see opposite page)
  The table has been computed for a maximum unsharpness  (i.  e. "dispersion ring")
of 0.015'mm. The distances are measured from the front element of the lens.

Maintenance
  A photographic camera  is a  precIsion apparatus which should be handled with
proper  care.  It should be protected against  dust,  moisture. chemical  evaporations.
impacts and high temperatures (above  50°).
  Before inserting a new film the interior of the camera should be thoroughly wiped.
free of  all dust by means  of a  hair brush.  If the  oute'r surface of the  lens or that.
of the viewfinder are found to be soiled, they should be cleaned carefully with a piece
of clean,  soft washed  linen,  e.  g. a  fine, non-starched  handkerchief. Sometimes  it
appears necessary to moisten the  lens surface  slightly by exhaling  air. The optical
surfaces should be cleaned from dust by means of a soft hair brush.
  The camera should be carried preferably in a leather case or a bag (see further on).

Developing a black-and-white film
  On account of the small dimensions of the negative and the high degree of enlar-
gement required, the utmost care should be devoted to the development of the film.
 This  is carried out  in a developing tank by means of a fine-grain developer.  It  is

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recommended  to use ready-made developers of the Atomal type or prepare a  fine-
grain compensating developer according to the following  prescription:
           Distilled or boiled water.                            700 cu. cm
        Non-aqueous sodium sulphite                          65 grams
         Phenylendiamine ortho                                  8 grams
         Metol         . ..   ..                           8 grams
                , Crystalline potassium  bisulphite                          7 grams
  Each of the above mentioned chemicals should be dissolved separately in a suitable
quantity of water under constant, moderate  stirring. The water may be tepid. The
metol and the phenylendiamine orthro are dissolved only after the two solutions have
been poured together. To this solution of the developing chemicals the sodium  sul-
phite solution and, finally, the potassium bisulphite solution are added. The resulting
solution should be  stirred  until the  liquid appears  perfectly  clear, where upon the
solution  is supplemented to 700 cu. cm and filtered,  if necessary. The developing time'
is 12 to 13 minutes at a developer temperature of 18°C. The exposure time should be'
prolonged 3 times; this means that the film sensitivity will be reduced approximately.  .
by  4/10 ODIN.

Further treatment  of negatives

  The developed negatives should be handled with the utmost care. Even the slightest
impurities or scratches appear on the enlargements on an increased scale and have
to be labouriously retouched.
  Properly developed negatives can be enlarged up to a  size of 30x40 cm. For the
best enlarging results a lens of a focal length F =  35 mm should be used.

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Photographing on reversal colour film

            Exposed reversal colour films are usually sent to laboratories for developing. After
           developing positive colour picture films are obtained which  -  after being cut to indi-
            v1dual  slides  -  should be  inserted  into slide frames. These colour  pictures can be
           observed by means of a magnifier or projected by means of a slide projector.

         ACCESSORIES OF THE MIKROMA CAMERA

              (1)  Eveready case (Fig. XIV). A leather case with a strap for carrying round the neck.
              The camera  is fixed to the case by means of a screw.
              (2)  Magazines. Magazines with and without a spool (Fig. XV).
              (3)  Magazine case. A case made of plastics for holding magazines loaded with  filr:n.
              (4)  Colour filters (Fig. XVI). To enable the colour shades seen by the human eye toJ            be transferred correctly to the neutral grey-white scale of a sensitive black-anc;l-
               white material colour  filters are used. These  filters are made from optical glass
                 tinted  in the material, accurately ground and polished. They are fixed  in metal
              mounts fitted with M 16 thread for screwing on the lens.
           A  list of available  filters,  their applicability and exposure prolongation  (i.  e. the
           so-called prolongation factors) can be found  in the following table. The prolongation
            factors are only approximate and cannot be quoted accurately since they depend
         upon the sensitivity of the material  in question, the colour of light, etc. Their reliability
           should be checked by practical experience.

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