Ensign Ranger II User manual

FEATURES OF THE ENSIGN RANGER SPECIAL

The instructions contained in the accompanying booklet apply to the Ensign Ranger Special, but the following
additional features should be noted.

Masks are provided in the back of the camera so that two sizes of picture may be taken on a 120 or 620 roll
film. When both masks are folded back inside the film chambers, the camera will take eight pictures 2 1/4 x 3
1/4, in. and the ruby window marked 8 should be used when winding on after each exposure.

If both masks are moved across the picture frame at the back of the camera, thus reducing the size o the
aperture, twelve pictures 2 in square may he taken and the rub window marked 12 should he used

The appropriate field of view to each of these picture sizes is show in the Albada viewfinder. The centre square
should be employee when taking 2-,' in. square picture and the larger rectangle when core posing 2 1/4 x 3 1/4,
in. views.

The lens on the Ranger_ Special has a maximum aperture of f/4. and it is fitted with a four-speed shutter. The
release is built into the body adjacent to the film winding knob.

ENSIGN RANGER II CAMERA -





1. Catch holding camera back in position.
2. Spring knob.
3. Film winding knob.
4. Button for opening camera.
5. Pointer for aperture sizes (see Fig. 6).
6. Aperture setting lever.
7. Shutter front plate with speedmarkings and aperture scale.
8. Rotating lens cell.
9. Outer milled ring.
10. Shutter setting lever.
11. Shutter release.
12. Socket for synchroflash plug (see Fig. 6).
13. View Finder. Picture sizes:
Eight 34 x 24in. pictures on standard size 20 or 62 roll film.




Recommended films:

ENSIGN ULTRACHROME -fast and highly orthochromatic.

ENSIGN FINE GRAIN PAN-a panchromatic film of very fine grain and medium speed.

LOADING THE CAMERA WITH FILM





Opening the Camera back:
Slide the catch 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow and swing outwards the hinged
camera back (Fig. I).

Inserting the Film

Place the full spool of film (size 20 or 62) in the lower chamber, while drawing the
spring knob 2 outwards. Release knob when the spool is in its correct position. The
tapered end of the paper must point towards the take-up spool chamber containing the
empty spool on which the exposed film is wound (Fig. 2).

If an empty take-up spool is not already in position at the winding end of the camera, it
should be fitted by pressing the end of the spool with the round hole against the spring
stud, at the same time withdrawing the winder knob 3, which is returned to its original
position when the spool is in place (care being taken that the winding key engages the
slit end of the spool.

Remove the gummed label which holds the paper leader in place; pull the
latter across the rollers and insert the end in the wide slot of the empty spool.




                                      Give one or two turns to the film winding knob 3 in a
                                          clockwise direction to draw the paper leader taut. In
                                        doing this see that the paper leader is nicely centered
                                       between the spool flanges. Any tendency to wind
                                        crooked must be corrected before proceeding further
                                                (Fig. 3).

                                        Close the back of the camera, making sure it is securely
                                            fastened by the catch. Open the slide until it is clear of
                                             the ruby window and turn the winding knob 3 until first,
                                          a warning hand, and then a figure 1, appear in the ruby
                                           observation window (Fig. 4).

                                        Close the ruby window by means of the slide. This is
                                      most important when using panchromatic film.

MAKING THE EXPOSURE




                             Opening the Camera Front
                                    Pressure on the button 4 will cause the
                                       front of the camera to spring open
                                      automatically, bringing the lens and
                                       shutter into working position. The
                                camera should be tilted in a slightly
                              downwards position to ensure that the
                                     spring mechanism is not retarded by
                                      gravity (Fig. 5).




Lens Apertures
The aperture of the lens is controlled by the setting of the aperture pointer 5 on to one or other of the " f "
numbers marked on the shutter front plate 7. The pointer is operated by the aperture setting lever 6. A higher
number on the scale denotes a smaller aperture, needs a longer exposure time, and increases the depth of focus,
e.g., f/ll is smaller than f/6.3 (Fig. 6).


                                        Focusing
                                     The scale of focusing distances is given on the rotating
                                                  front lens cell 8 (Fig. 6). The figure corresponding to the
                                               distance at which the subject is estimated to be from the
                                        camera should be set against the pin, situated on the
                                                 shutter front plate. This pin also acts as a stop to prevent
                                               the lens being rotated past the infinity position.

                                   The Shutter
                                     The shutter speed numbers on the front of the shutter 7
                                               represent fractions of a second, while the letters B and T
                                              stand for " Brief " and "Time" respectively (Fig. 6).

                                          For instantaneous exposures turn the outer milled ring 9
                                           so that the red index mark is brought opposite the
                                              required speed. Set the shutter by pulling over the lever
                                       10 until it stops. The shutter is operated by means of the
                                                 release plunger 11 which must be pressed right down
                                                     until the shutter operation is completed.


For short-time exposures bring the red index mark opposite the letter B and pull over the setting lever 10. The
shutter opens by pressing the release knob 11 and closes as soon as the pressure ceases.

When long-time exposures are required turn the ring 9 until the red index mark is brought opposite the letter T.
After the shutter lever 10 has been set by sliding it along in its groove, the shutter is operated as follows:

(a) To open the shutter, press in the head of the release 11, then remove the pressure.

(b) Immediately the required exposure has been given the shutter is closed by a further pressure on the head of
the release plunger.





                             The View Finder

                               The camera is provided with a direct vision frame
                                         finder for eyelevel sighting
                                           (Fig. 7).





Holding the Camera when Picture Taking





It is impossible to give hard and fast rules for holding the camera when making an exposure.
The important point is that it must be held firmly and without vibration of any kind, as
movement will spoil the sharpness of the picture.

The illustrations show the recommended ways of holding the camera for upright and horizontal
pictures.

For short-time exposures and exposures of
  long duration a firm stand or rigid tripod
  should be used. The camera has two bushes
   for screwing it to a tripod, and the baseboard
   is provided with a folding leg for certain time
  exposure work.





CLOSING THE CAMERA
The camera is closed by pressing on the hinges of
the struts with the two thumbs. The thumbs may
then be removed to raise and close the baseboard
(Fig. 10).


UNLOADING THE FILM
When the last exposure has been made, wind off the
whole length of the film. By looking through the
ruby observation window it will be seen when the
paper is completely wound on to the take-up spool.





Slide the catch and open the camera back.

Pull back the film winder knob 3 and take out the spool
(Fig. 11).

Fasten the end of the exposed spool by sticking down the
cover paper with the gummed "exposed" label provided.

Transfer the empty spool to the opposite spool chamber.
Press the end of the spool with the round hole against the
spring stud and allow the other end with the slit to fit the
projection of the winder knob 3.

Turn the winder knob 3 until it engages the spool and turns
the spool with it. The camera is then ready for reloading.

EXPOSURE TABLE
The following table gives a rough idea of the exposures and stops for various subjects, using the popular
medium speed films, such as the Ensign Ultrachrome, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in bright sunshine during April,
May, June, July, August and September. For more detailed information, an exposure guide or meter is
recommended.

f/6.3               f/8         f/ll           f/16          f/22          f/32

Open Seascapes
and Cloud       1/100   1/50
Studies

Open
Landscapes
with light        1/100   1/50        1/25
foreground
Beach Scenes

Average
Landscapes
with objects in
Foreground.     1/100   1/50        1/25        1/10*
Figures in
Open.
River Scenes

Heavy
Foreground,
buildings or
                1/100   1/50         1/25        1/10*       1/5*
trees occupying
greater portion
of picture

Portraits or
Groups taken    1/100   1/50        1/25        1/10*       1/5*        1/2*
out of doors

Very dark, near
                1/50    1/25        1/10*       1/5*        1/2*       1*
objects

In other conditions the exposures are multiplied as follows : -

In October, November, December, January, February and March .... 2

Light clouds over whole sky but able to cast visible shadow 2

Heavy clouds over whole sky .... .... . 4

With Super-Speed Film .... .... ....

Note: Bear in mind that modern roll films, while of greater speed, also resist the effect of over exposure. When
in doubt, a longer exposure should, therefore, be given.

* Recommended for use with Camera on tripod.

DEPTH OF FOCUS FOR ENSIGN RANGER II CAMERA





Ensign ROLL FILM


                           Ensign roll film is at present available either in
                           Ultrachrome -a fast highly orthochromatic film which
                           adds greatly to the scope and speed of all your picture
                           making-or Fine Grain Panchromatic-a film to give you
                               correct rendering of all subjects in monochrome. Ensign
                           Panchromatic films always give splendid enlargements
                           because of their extremely fine grain. Ensign roll films are
                       made in sizes to fit all the popular roll film cameras.





                        BAR-GAS contact paper

                                     Printing at home, using BarGas paper, is the easiest
                              method of producing bright professional looking
                                      pictures from all your negatives.

                               Bar-Gas is available in handy packets of 25 and
                              100 sheets to suit all standard negative sizes. Your
                                     dealer can supply.