ICA "IDEAL" CAMERAS BOOKLET Product booklet

Instructions
   for using the


  ((IDEAL"
 CAMERAS
          No. lll
          for plates 6,5 ><9 cm
         No.246
          for plates 9 x 12 cm
          and film packs



       9ca
   Company Dresden-A.
                 Germany     ':-Jl__

The
 Ica"Ide al"Carneras

        I D E A L          l l l .      F o r  6 t l r x . 9  c m  p l a t e s
  (approximately 2t[x5   r/.2inches) and 2t ta><Jttu
  inch  film  packs.
        I D E A L  246.      For  9 x. 12 cm  plates
  ( approximately  3 rl2 x  4.et, inches )  and  film
  '''rcks   3rl4 x  4t  r inch  plates and  film packs
 may be used  if  preferred,  by ineans of  kits.


 S=i-'fe   I Ioin- sr    'r-2ITlera

                                                                               ----flSe-rtl       .o uf      ltc  w
                                                - yourself j ust
 a                                   rcI           r read the first
 Dar              nsii  ..ilons ("s  far as ,,General
 Sugg,.-,        L :ti  "e you  load  the  holders
 or  attempt  any  pictures.  Become  familiar
 r,:,tiththe  vcri,\rrs movements and adjustments,
 with   rh:       i:ing  of  the  sh utter  and  the
nnders and  the  operation  of  focusing,  etc.,
 -,:fore loading  or exposing any plates or film,
and   it  is more  than  likery  thai your  actual
progress in picturermaking  will be more rapid,
and that you  will  waste less material.
  Don't  use  force.   In  working  any  of  the
movements of  the camera or  shutter  it is not
necessary to  use  force.  The  mechanism  of
the instrument   is adj usted and  tested so tha t
all  parts work  smoothly  and  easiry.   If  this
doesn't seem to  be  so when you   first take
hold  of the camera, the chances are you  are

not  "taking hold"   in  the  right way.  The
camera is strongly made, but forcing is apt to
cause damage.
  To open the front  of the eamera, presson
the concealed button, under the handle of
 Ideal 1ll, and on the side of the camerajust
below end of handle in the'caseof the ldeal246.
The front  then springs out, and should be
drawn clear down until  it catcheswith a click.
The standard, bearing lens and shutter, is ex,
tended by grasping the two knobs'sg" (page9).
Press the two knobs toward each other and
pull the standard out on  its track until the
front locks.
   Focusing. The  lens  is now  in  position
for photographing objects at a-distance of
100 feet or more, and   if  you  look   ai  thb--_..-.
pointer over the focusing scale, you  will see
that   i                 lb.   letters- "r-f  "   -'hich
ffiiil-Er',r;8ffi---ocu'srrrf*er"*                     ob;."i
nearer than  100 feet  is  accomplished by
turning the focusing screw "z".  This focusing,
screw  is  locked when  the camera is  first
opened, and before  it  can be turned mutf
be released by pulling  out the focusing lock
"!".   This may  also be  accomplished by
pushing  the  fbcusing  scale  itself  toward
the track on which the standard slides. The
focusing screw  is turned  until  the pointer
over scale indicates the number of feet which
the object is distant from the camera,or until
the image as viewed on  the ground  glass
shows the focus to be as desired. The focus,
ing screw can then be locked by pushing in
the focusing lock. When the lens has been
racked out as far at  it  will go, starting from
the  infinity  mark on  the  scale, as before
mentioned,  it may be extended still farther
by pulling outh the focusing lock  '),", then



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grasping the two knobs .,g", under the lens,
     pressing them toward each other and pulling
     out the standard as far as it  will  go, or by
     turning the focusing screw ,.2",'
      The  bellows  extension  of  the  Ideal   is
     sufficient  to  permit  objects being  photoz
    graphed  slightly  larger  than  natural  size.
     In  the  case of  convertible  lenses which
,    admit of the use of  the single combination,
    the bellows extensions is sufficient to admit of
    focusing on  objects only  a few  feet away
    with  the  single combination.  There  is  a
'    pointer on  the  side opposite the focusing
    scale to  facilitate focusing with  the single
    element of  the  convertible  lens.  On  the
     right hand side of the bed of the camera there
     is a mark ever which this pointer rests when
    the single lens is focused for  infinity  (oo).
     The ground-g1ass focusing screen is fittedir**.'.*
    with  a  collapsible hood which opens by
    pressing down on a spring latch at one side.
   The focusing screen is held in  position by
    the back catch and  is released by pressing
     in  on  button  "&".  The plateholder or film
   pack adapter  fits  in  place of  the focusing
   screen and  is held  in position  in the same           'When
   manner.          inserting  either holder  or
    focusing screen, be sure that both sides of the
    holder or screen are secured,
     The shutter. As you look squarely at the
    front of the shutter (page6), you will seea little
    dial "f"  bearingthe letters"T. B. I." (,,2.8.M.")
    signifying respectively,,Time", .,Bulb,, and
    "Instantaneous".  At  the side of the shutter
     is  the  trigger  or  {inger  release ,,A,,, the
   socket ".8", into  which  is screwed the end
    of wire release (also called ,,cable" or ,,antiz
   nous"  release) which may be used inter,
   changeably with  the  trigger.  The  shutter

does not  require  to  be set for  "time"  or
"bulb"  exposures. When  the  letter "T"   is
at the top, opposite white mark on body  of
shutter, one pressureon trigger or wire release
opens the  shutter, and a second pressure
closes it.  When  the  letter "B"   is opposite
the white mark, pressure on either trigger or
cable will open the shutter, which will remain
open as long as the pressure is maintained,
closing again when the pressureis withdrawn
or released. For an instantaneous exposure,
the procedure  is to set the dial al  "^/", press
the  setting lever "C", down  until   it catches,
set the speed dial  "D"   So, that  the  figure
denoting the required exposure is opposite
the notch at top of dial; and make the ex,
posure by a single pressure on either release.
On the speed dial the figure "1" stands for
one second|  "2" means one, half second;
"5" means one,{ifth second, etc. When dial
at  left  of  lens  is  at "I"  or "8"  the setting
lever "C" is locked and cannot be turned down.
'When       setting lever is down, this dial  "I"   is
locked and cannot be turned.       r
   Tfie s/ops. Lens openings are called "stops"
   'diaphragms.or             They  are regulated by  a
lever, one end of which  is at the lower edge
of  the shutter and the  other end of which
is at the top, back of the speed dial.  Either
end of this lever may be moved to regulate
the  lens opening, whichever end may be
reached more conveniently.  The figures on
the top  rim  of  shutter, "6.3", "9",  "L2.5",
etc., or "8", "11", "1a" etc., as the case may
be, are  so  calculated  that  each number,
starting with  the lowest, denotes a stop that
requires half  the exposure of  that  bearing
the next higher number.  For instance,stop 9
 is enough smaller than 6.5 so that  it allows




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E

  only  half  as m u ch  light  to pass through   it
  in a given time-therefore   stop 9 necessitates
 an  exposure  twice as long  as stop  6.j  to
 allow  the sarne amount  of  light  to reach the
  film.   (A.r  exception  to what has just  been
 said  in regard to doubling  the exposure  for
 each successively higher  numbered  stop,  is
 rvhen  the  largest  is 6.8 and  the  next   is g
 Stop 8  requires  only   fifty  per  cent. longer
 exposure than stop 6.8 ).  These are  ,,F" stop
 numbers.  That   is  to  say, th e numbers  are
 denominators  of  fractions  of which  the focal
 length  of the lens is the numerator.  perhaps
 that  is enough  to say about  stops at present.
 They  will  be referred to again later. Lever (.E"
 regulates the stops.
   The  finder.   Th e  wcll  , known   "brilliant"
 gt  reflecting  type  of  finder needs no  special
description or explanation.  when  the camera
is  first opened  the  finder  is in  position  for
making  a vertical view.    It  turns on  a pivot
for  horizontal   views.   Ttrke care  tlmt    it  zb
returned  to  lhc  vrrticar position  b{ore  attempting
to close the camera.
  Ideal No. 246 has also,  i'  addition  to the
reflecting  finder  above  referred  to,  a direct
vision finder, which  consists of a wire frame

at  the  front  and  a peep, sight  at  the back
of  the  camera.  The  u'ire  frame, when  the
camera  is  first opened,  iies  flat against the
front   of  the  shutter.    It   is hinged   at  one
side, and  to  be used  rnust be swung  half
way around  to the position.   At  the rear of
the  camera, oh  the side directly behind  the
u'ire frame as extended,  is the sight.   In use,
the camera is held so that the eve is directly
back of and as close as possible to the peepz
hole.  Then  what   is seen through  the wire
frame  is  the vierv  that  will  be  included   in
the picture.

  The  rising  front.   This  molrement  is  coltz
trolled  by  the  knob   " h" .  Turn   this knob
and  cbserve  that  by  so  doing  the  lens  is
raised or  lowered.  This adjustment  is used
to  eliminate  foreground  or  to include more
of  a  high  object  like  a building   or  a tree,
without   tilting  the  camera.   It   is employed
principally   in  photographing   buildings  and
architectural subjects where  tilting the camera
would  result  in  distortion  of  parallel vertical
lines  in  the  picture.  The  lens  is in normal
position when  a rvhite  dot  on  the  front  of
standard which  bears the  risin g  front  scre\r'
is  directly  opposite  a  sinrilar  rvhite  dot on
the edge  of  the  lens,"board",   in  the  case
of  Ideal 1 I l,  and  a pointer  in  the case of
Ideal No.  246.

  Sldewlse  movement   of  the  fronf   in  the
case of  Ideal No.216    is  g;overned by  the
action  of  the knob   " /r".   In  the  Ideal 111
there  is no screw, the  front  moving  sidewise
merely  by  exerting  pressure.  The   lateral
movement  of the  front  serves in place of the
rising  front  when  the camera  is being used
for horizontal  viervs. In  both models of the                                                  i.
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?tt

                                                   :
                                                                                                    o'.\      g

      Ideal there are white dots on standard which
      are opposite each other when  the lens is in
     normal  position.
              ft  rs importanl  that the lens should be in normar
       positiort, both  verlically and horizontatty, witlt dots,
       or dot and  poinler, ae the case ma!  be, opposite
       eaclt other, before closing. the catnerA.

        Closing the camera.  There are two things
       to  look  out  for  particularly  when  closing
      the  camera.  Compactness  is  a paramount
      virtue  of the Ideal and  this  is possible only
     by placing each part in the smallest possible
     space.  Before  closing  the camera, be sure
      that  the  reflecting  finder  is  in  position  for
      vertical views, and  that the lens is at normal
      irosition  both   vertically  and  horizontally.
     Then,   after  releasing  the  standard  on   its
      slide by disengaging the pawl from  focusing
     screw and  loosening  the  struts  "s",  press
      the two knobs  "gg" , toward  each other and
     push  the  lens standard back into  the bodv

of  the camera as far as  it  will  $o.  Press
down on the bed braces"s" at each side of bed
and the camera will  close readily.   If  it does
not do so, do  not  force it,  but look again
and make sure that  all  parts are  in  their
proper position -   if  they are, there will  be
no  difficulty  in closing the camera.
  Loading  the  plateholders.    Single metal
                                                                                                                                                                                     Iplateholders are provided   for  the  Ideal.
Actual loading  of  plates, of  course, has to

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               4i
be done in a darkroom, but   it  is well  to                I
become familiar  with  the method  of  pro,
eedure in  the  light.  The  plate  is held  in
position in the holder by two projections at
the end opposite that  at which the slide is
withdrawn,  the  projections being moved in
and out by  a sliding knob  at the back of
the holder.  Insert the plate by putting one
end of  it under the flange at the slotted endqr.
of  the holder.  The  other end of the plate
is  then  pressed into  position  against the
springs that bear against the back of  it.  Do
not  allow  the  fingers to  touch the face of
the plate.

   General Suggestions

  What has been said up  to this point has
special referenceto the operation of the Ideal
Camera. These further suggestionsapply not
only  to the Ideal, but generally to  all small
plate cameras.
  Keep    camera    and   /ens    free   from    dusf.
Dirt and dust are enemies of the photographer,
especially dust, and especially to the user of
a small camera. Dust is particularly annoying,                                                                                                                         {r
not to say disastrous to good results, in the
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case of small cameranegatives. For where in
contact prints a few dust marks on the negative
may do no harm, r,l'henan enlargementis made
every dust mark  is enlarged, and makes an
ugly blemish on the print.  Be careful, there,
fore, frequently to dust out the inside of the
camera with a clean, lintless cloth or camels,
hair brush, or both.  The lenses should also
be kept clean, and should be unscrewedfrom
their mounting occasionally,and carefully and
gently wiped  off with  a soft cloth (an  old
but clean linen  handkerchief is good) and
afterward dusted with a camel's,hair brush.
Be very careful not to scratch the lenses.
                   'to  Important      focus   correetly,     It   is  a
good plan to  train one's ability  at focusing
 before depending on  the scale in  actually                       'S7ith
making exposures.       the camera on a
tripod  or other firm support, open the lens
and focus for various distances. Select some
object that you judge to be ten feet from the
camera, set the focus by scale at ten feet, and
then see by  looking  at  the ground  glass
whether your guess was a good one. Do this
for longer and shorter distances,verifying your
judgment with  a tape measure; and after a
little practice of this kind your ability to judge
distances will be greatly improved.
  Using single combination of  lens. Some
lenses admit of the front or rear half of the
lens being used alone at approximately twice
the focal length  of the complete lens. This
results in an image of any particular object
twice as large as that given by the double
lens.  If  the  single lens  is twice the  focal
length ol the doublet,  it  will have only one,
fourth  the speed at  the same actual lens,
opening. For instance, if the lens,opening is
                    1 l

marked F 8 for the doublet, the same opening
becomes F 16 at twice the focal length.
  Use of the fiLm pack.  The pack provides
perhaps the most convenient form of daylight
loading film.  It is certainly more quickly loaded
than roll film, and the changing of film between    .
exposures is at least as quickly effected. Then
above all is the advantage,the pack affords of
ground  glass focusing when  desired -  this
being particularly valuable in such cameras
as the Ideal whose long bellows extension
can be used for close range work only when
the operator can focus on the ground glass.
  Certain characteristicsof film pack must be
borne  in  mind,  however, and certain prez
cautions observed, to get best results. Film
does not and cannot be expected, becauseof
its flexible nature, to present such a perfectly
flat, plane surface as does a glass plate"Jher€,<>*
fore, it. is advisable,when using film pack, to
employ a rather smaller lens opening than
would be used with a plate -  the added depth
thus obtained compensating to a large degree
for any slight unevennessin the film surface.
It  is well, also, not to leave the slide out of
the  film pack holder any longer than neces'
sary, for  this allows more  air  to reach the
film.   If the air is warm and damp, the film
that is exposed to  it will absorb moisture and
swell, thus causing it to bulge out.  This may
be overcome to a certain extent by changing
the film, that is, drawing a new section into
position, just before instead of just after the
€xposure.  If  the  film pack holder  slide  is
withdrawn  before the bellows  is extended,
the suction caused by extending the bellows
is apt to cause the film to bulge.


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Exposure Suggestions
  Right exposure lies at the very foundation
of  all successfulphotography. The following
are exposures for common subjects that will
probably be not  far out  of the way. Thev
are calculated for a lens opening of F l5.i
and should give  fairly  fuil  light  action on
fast film or plates.

            Outdoors
  Intense sunlight, no shadow detail required,
such as open landscapes or  views on the
water, 1,/1ggsecond.
  Bright sunlight, open view, but someshadow
detail required, 1/50second.
  Open view  in  light  that would be called
"clorrdy hright".  or  yi€r&..with  near objects
lighted by sun, but containing more or less
shadow detail which should be plainly shown,
1/roto 1/25second.
  Under trees or on porch, where principal
part  of view  is  in shadow, whether partly
illuminated by direct sunlight or not,  t/s to
1/16second.

             Indoors
  Portrait  near window,  well  lighted  and
using reflector or having light from windows
on two sides, l/s to 1 second.
   Intetior view, well lighted by two or more
windowd, light not shut off by trees or other
objects, 2 to 10 seconds.
  In  the case of  interior views  it  is usually
advisable for the sake of depth (securing both
near and distant objects sharply focussed)to
use a stop not larger than F 16 and lengthen
                                   I 3
                  I

the exposureaccordingly. Rememberthat each
 successivelysmaller stop requires a doubling
 of  the exposure, so that with  F 16 a well
 lighted room would  require an exposure of
 12 secondsto  I minute. Mos.t interiors require
 much longer exposure than that.
   Overexposure isn't nearly so much to be
 feared as underexposure in the great majority
 of subjects.
   Fortunately for the photographer who cannot   ,
 always determine the absolulely  correct ex,
 posure for the particular subject, the plate or
 film provides considerablelatiiude.  If tle right
 exposure for a given subject were, let us say,
one second, probably anything from  half a
second to  four seconds would  give a very
satisfactorv result.

   Camera    should4e
the   amateur   photogra  pher's trouble can be
traced to an unsteadinessof the cameraat the
instant of exposure. This results inevitably in
a blurring  of  the details of the picture.  It
is especially important in  the case of small
negatives from which  enlargements may be
desired, that the camera be very steady when
the exposure is made. The use of the wire
or antinous release is less likely to  jar the
camera than  the  trigger, and  the  reflecting
finder is usually better to use than the direct
vision finder for comparatively slow exposures
with  the camera held  in.the hand.  Steady,
handed people are readily able to make as
slow an exposure as 1/ro or even 1/5 second
without jarring the camera, but  t/zr is about
as slow as most people are sure of without
a firm support for the camera.
  The Compur shutter fitted to Ideal Cameras
is thoroughly  reliable, and can be depended
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upon  for  the very useful slow "snaps" like
i/16second and anything between that andlf 25.
  Use a  tripod whenever you  can. There
is now law against using a hand camera on a
tripod.   It  is really best to use a tripod or
other  firm  support  for  even a very small
camera when   it  is  at  all  possible or  con'
venient. While    it would  not  be advisable
for any photographer  to  attempt to "do"  a
football match with  his camera on a tripod,
yet  it  is undeniably true that the great ma,
jority  of amateur work,  including quick  in,
stantaneous exposures, would be much better
than  it  is  if there were a more general em,
ployment of the tripod.
   fn  conclusion   Instructions  and  sugges'
tions such as the foregoing must necessarily
be brie{  or they are likely  to  defeat their
own object. There are manymatters, therefore,
that have to do with everyday camera work
which are not herein mentioned at  all.  In
closing let us wish you  the best of succe$s
with the Ideal Camera. Success with   it  will
be measured by the care and skill with which
it  is used.





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