Ilford Craftsman BOOKLET Product booklet

ILFORD  Craftsman


              THE ILFORD CRAFTSMAN CAMERA  is  of  the
                     brilliant reflex finder type.  It can be used with
                    either 20or Z20 films and takes 12 pictures this size
                               It  is a solidly made camera of shock-resistant
                      plastic having the exterior grained to give the ap-
                  pearance  of  leather  panels.   It  is  of  pleasing
                 appearance and simple to operate, and whilst in
                   the low/medium price range has features usually
                  only to be found in higher priced cameras/
                    For the beginner there is no better camera with
                which to start photography, nor one to/give more
                    consistently good results with the minimum  of
                    trouble. The Craftsman can be set for taking por-
                        traits, groups  or landscape view?; and with the
                     reflex type of viewfinder the subject can be easily
                 and accurately arranged.
                    This booklet  tells how  to use  the Craftsman
               Camera and  it should be read carefully with the
                camera at hand. If this is done the method of op-
                   erating will quickly become  familiar, and  after
                   loading with an Ilford Selochrome Film, either 20
                    or Z20  size, the camera  is  all set to make out-
                   standingly good pictures.





                                                  Actual   size   of  the  picture
                                        made  with   the   Craftsman
                                               camera,   i.e., 2¼  in.  square

                                             1

using  the camera


The  user should become thoroughly acquainted
 with the movements of the camera before loading
 a film into it, and it is strongly recommended that
 the  following  notes  should  be  read  with  the
camera  in the hand  or in  conjunction with the
 illustrated specification on the opposite page.

                  Viewfinder
The viewfinder, which  is  of the  brilliant  reflex
type,  has  a  self-erecting  shield,  the  cover and
sides  of which keep  off extraneous  light which
might otherwise dull the image in the finder. The
image is obtained by means of the top lens (finder
lens) on the front of the camera. It will be seen the
right way up in the finder and of the actual size
it will be in the final print. It is well to remember,
however, that although everything in the subject
appears  to be perfectly sharp when seen  in the
viewfinder, the lens must be focused to approxi-
mately the  correct distance  of the  subject from
the camera (see under Lens).
                         Lens
The  lens  comprises two  components cemented
together and is arranged for working at two aper-
tures, f/9 and   f/18.  The aperture  is  set as  re-
quired by turning the knob on the  'stop' control
until the arrow points to the aperture number to
be used. Focusing is done by rotating the lens and
setting  the  pointer on  the  lens mount  to  the
required distance. Reference to the camera front
(see  illustration  opposite),  will show  that  the
focusing range  is from 4  feet  to  infinity. The


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Viewfinder:
 The  picture   is  seen   in  the  view-
finder  the  right  way  up  and  of the
 actual  size   it  will  be  in  the  final
print

actual markings are 4-5 feet, 5-7 feet, 7-10 feet,
 and  20   feet-infinity.  Whilst   this  allows  of
 considerable latitude  it is always advisable to be
 as accurate as possible in judging distance from
 subject to camera.
                         Shutter
The shutter is of the 'Everset' type and is placed
behind  the  lens.  It  has  three  settings,  l/25th
 second,  l/75th second, and  'B'  (brief time expo-
 sure). The shutter is set by turning the knob on
 the shutter control until the arrow  points to the
 appropriate exposure time. The 'B' setting is, of
 course, used only for brief time exposures. When
 so  set the shutter  is opened when the exposing
lever is pushed down and will close only when the
lever is released.
  The shutter  is operated by pushing down the
headed lever on the right when the camera is held
in the taking position.
         Opening  the camera
To open the camera release the spring clip on the
front base and grasping the hinged back between
thumb and finger,  pull gently downwards. The
base and back will swing open and the camera is
then ready  for loading.  See  top  illustration on
facing page.
         Loading  the  camera
When a new camera is opened  it will be seen to
contain a 'take-up' spool at the wind-on end, ad-
jacent to the hinged flap. The new film is inserted
at the other end between two spring-loaded bear-
ings. When this has been done, but not before,
break and remove the film sealing paper, making
sure that it does not fall into the camera, pull out
the film backing paper so that  it passes over the


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spindles and on to the 'take-up' spool into which
the tapered end of the backing paper is inserted
 (see lower illustration on previous page). Always
insert the backing paper into the widest slot. After
inserting the backing paper give the large knurled
knob a couple of turns to lock the paper on to the
spool, and make sure that the backing paper  is
placed centrally between the sides of the camera
and is running freely over the spindles.
  Now close the back of the camera making sure
to close the spring clip.
   Before  winding  on  the  film  for  the   first
exposure  turn the  small knurled button  at the
back  of the camera  (top  illustration  on  facing
page)  anti-clockwise  to remove  the safety blind
from behind the red window. Then wind on the
film until the Fig. 1 on the backing paper is visible
through  the  red  window.  After  turning  the
knurled button again, but this time clockwise to
replace the safety blind,  the camera is ready for
use.

             Setting  the  camera
Although reference has been made  previously to
focusing, shutter speeds, and apertures (or stops) it
may be well to amplify the notes already given to
ensure that the user of the Craftsman camera is
thoroughly conversant with the various controls.
Those which govern  focusing,  speed of shutter,
and lens aperture are all placed on the front of the
camera,  see  centre  and  lower  illustrations  on
facing page.
  The  focusing mount,  illustration  left  centre,
focuses the subject on the film,  ft is calibrated in
feet and must be  set  to the correct distance  of
subject from camera before each exposure is made.
This is done by rotating the lens mount until the
pointer is opposite the required distance.  For near
distances  it is advisable, until the user is able to
estimate  distances  fairly accurately,  to pace out
the distance from  subject to camera in order to


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Operating   the   safety   blind:
   The    safety   blind   which   prevents
   fogging   through   the   red   window
     is  withdrawn  by  turning  the  small
   knurled  knob   anti-clockwise.    It    is
   replaced  by  turning  the  knob  in  the
   reverse   direction





 The   three  operations for   setting
 the  camera:
Focusing    (illustrated     left-centre);
shutter    control     (illustrated    right-
centre);   stop  control  (bottom    illus-
tration)

ensure critically sharp pictures. There is perhaps
nothing more  annoying  than  to  get  a  'fuzzy'
picture due  to  inaccurate focusing,  particularly
when with a very little care  it could have been
avoided.  Therefore, before making an exposure,  .
get the subject completely in the viewfinder, step
out  or estimate  the  distance  and then  set  the
focusing mount accordingly.
  The shutter control, right-centre illustration on
previous page, has three settings, B, 25, and 75.
B is for brief time exposures where the camera is
placed on a tripod or some other immovable ob-
ject. It is useful for portraits taken in dimly light-
ed rooms or interiors where the lighting  is in-
sufficient to enable instantaneous exposures to be
given. When giving  brief time exposures  press
down the  shutter  release  lever, keeping  it de-
pressed  for  as  long  a  time  as  the  exposure
requires.
  When the camera is to be held in the hand for
still subjects, set the knob at 25. For action photo-
graphs 75 should be used to arrest the movement
of the  subject.
  The aperture control, lower illustration on pre-
vious page, is provided to make allowances for the
brightness of the scene.  It will be seen that there
are two stop settings, 9 and 18, and generally for
most outdoor work in bright light the stop should
be set at 18 except on very dull days and for close
up portraits—when stop 9 should be used.  It will
be helpful, however, to refer to the exposure guide
on page 14 in determining the correct stop to use
for particular  subjects.

           Taking  the  picture
Before taking  a photograph  place  the carrying
strap round the neck and  let the camera hang
down low on the chest. Open the viewfinder by
lifting the small knob with the thumb or finger
nail, and compose the picture in the viewfinder.
After setting the focusing mount to the correct


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distance and  the  stop  and  shutter  controls  to
their  appropriate numbers  the  shutter  release
lever is pressed down very gently and the picture
is taken.
   In making the exposure take care not to jerk
the camera or the picture will show movement—
only the slightest pressure on the shutter release
need be exerted. To prepare for the next exposure
remove the blind from the red window by turning
the button on the back of the camera as described
on page 6 and wind on the film until the figure 2
appears through the window. Replace the blind
and the camera is ready for the next exposure, of
course,   after  the  shutter,  stop  and  focusing
controls have been set.

        Unloading   the  camera
When the last exposure No. 12 has been made, un-
cover the red window and wind on the film until
the backing paper disappears from view—give a
few more turns to make sure that the film is com-
pletely wrapped and then open the camera as pre-
viously described. Before removing the film, fold
over the end of the backing paper and seal it with
the adhesive paper strip attached. It is now safe to
remove  the  film,  after which  the empty  spool
should be transferred to the wind-on end  to be
ready for a new film to be inserted.
             Using    flash-bulbs
The Craftsman has a built-in mechanism for  fir-
ing flash-bulbs to enable photographs to be taken
at night either indoors or out. On the side of the
camera  a small 2-pin  socket  is provided which
is connected to a pair of contacts inside the camera
which are closed as the shutter is released. When
using flash-bulbs the shutter should be set at 25.
Note.—This device  is intended  for use  with ex-
pendable battery-fired flash-bulbs.  It must not be
used with electronic flash outfits.


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Use  ILFORD   Selochrome   in  your
Craftsman  camera   in  either  20  or
Z20  size

general instructions




Always keep the camera clean and free from dust
inside and out. Make sure that no pieces of paper                      *
which may have become detached from the film-
sealing  strip remain  inside.  Dust on  the  lens
should be removed with a sable hair brush and
finger marks polished off with Ilford Lens Clean-
ing Tissue.
  Never try to take the camera to pieces.  It has
been  carefully adjusted to give sharp negatives.
In case of trouble take the camera to your photo-
graphic dealer for him to get it put right.
  The body  of the camera  is made  of shock-
resistant material and will stand up to all normal
handling but may break  if dropped. Give  it the
same care as a watch or clock, and don't drop it if
you can help  it. When at the seaside keep  it  off
the sands. Sand getting into the shutter will pre-
vent  it from working.
  Keep the camera in a dry place. It should never
be allowed to become damp.
  Do not jerk the camera when exposing or the
picture will be blurred. A gentle downward pres-
sure of the exposing lever is all that is necessary.
  Never let the sun shine on the lens when mak-
ing an exposure or lens flare may appear in the
picture. The sun should be shining on the subject,
not on the lens.
   After making an exposure wind on to the next
number immediately. The camera will then be
ready for the next subject and double exposures
will not occur,


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for  the  Craftsman





  Actual  size pictures  made  with  the
  ILFORD    Craftsman   camera


                                 13

exposure   guide




Before exposing, the shutter and stop controls must
be  set. These as previously described determine
the amount of light passing through the lens on to
the film. The numbers to which they are set vary
according to the type of subject, the lighting con-
ditions and the speed of the film being used.

  To assist the user of the Craftsman Camera to
select the appropriate shutter and stop numbers the
following exposure guide will be helpful:

        Using  Selochrome   film

                                     Lighting  conditions
               Subject                                       Bright     Overcast
                                        sunlight       sky

   Beach scenes and landscapes      75—18    75—9

    Portraits outdoors at 4—5 feet     75— 9    25—9

   Groups outdoors at 10-20 feet     25—18    25—9


   In  mid-winter  in  fairly good  light use  Ilford HP3  Roll
Film and the same shutter control and stop numbers as above.





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Enlargement  jrom  a   Selochrome
negative  made  with  an  ILFORD
Craftsman   camera

ILFORD   roll   films




The user of the Ilford Craftsman Camera is recom-
mended to make Ilford Selochrome his standard
film.  It will do very successfully all the work he
would  normally  do  out-of-doors  even  on  the
dullest days in summer.

   Ilford  Selochrome   is  a  high  speed,  ortho-
chromatic film with plenty of latitude  to mini-
mise the risk of failure through under- or over-
exposure.  It is a real general purpose film and is
particularly suitable for  all outdoor subjects such
as beach scenes, landscapes, family groups, and
informal  portraits.

   In  winter  time,  for photography  indoors by
artificial lighting (photofloods) and for sports pic-
tures where the subject is moving rapidly Ilford
HP3 should be used. This is a high speed pan-
chromatic  film, which  is  unrivalled  for  giving
fully exposed results with the minimum exposure
and under unfavourable lighting conditions.

  Whichever Ilford film  is used the size can be
either 20 or Z20.  Both sizes  fit the Ilford Crafts-
 man Camera.





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Enlargement  from  a   Selochrome
negative  made  with  an  ILFORD
Craftsman   camera

ILFORD LIMITED  • ILFORD  • L O N D O N





          ICCG49/PLH     Printed  in England




                   www.orphancameras.com