Film cameras
Kodak Bantam Special User manual
User manual for Kodak Bantam Special. 33 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Kodak
- Model / document
- Kodak Bantam Special
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 33
- File size
- 2.5 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
Picture taking with the
: Kodak
Bantarli Special
Kodak Anastigrnat Ektar Le ns.f.2.0
I1ASTI\'IAN I(OD A K CO [,IP_{NY
Rochestsir" N. Y." U. S. --\..View original page 2Page 3 · Read text
IMPORTANT Ii
This manual shoukl be read thoroughlv, J'before you make any pictures.
the eamera, loading and unloading While paper II keep the protective tobe very eareful
wound tightlv around the film to prevent
light striking it.
Before making an exposure be sure that the
shutter is adjusted properly, for an instan-
taneous or time exposure, whiehever is re-
quired. IJse t,hecorreet stop opening and speed.
The camera must be foeusedand an unexposed
frame of film in position.
The sun must be behind your back or over
the shoulder. If the sun shines directly into
the lens, it u-ill blur and fog the pieture.
Hold t,he camera leuel.
Hold the camera steadywhen making instan-
taneous exposures-held or snapshots. The camera I
should be firmly against the faee and
u'hen pressing the exposure lever, hold the - IIbreath,for the instant. If the camera is moved
during the exlrosure,the picture will be blurred. II
Turn a new frame of film into position im- I*
an exposure.mediately after making This i on the sameprevents making two pietures
frame of film.
Keep the lens and inside of eamera clean. t 1/
Never oil the shutter.
Instructions for making time exposures are
ineluded in this manual.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY,
Rocnnstnn, N. Y.
www.butkus.usView original page 3Page 5 · Read text
TnB CIUERA
l . I.,,ockfor Back 6. Shutter
2 . Button for Opening 7 . Vier,vFinder
the Front
c) 8. Range Finder'o . Standard for Vert,i- 9. Focusing Knob cal Time Ilxposures
1 . Bed 10. Focus Pointet'
5 . I-,,ens 11. Tripod Socket
www.butkus.usView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
t \
,
To Loep rHE
KopAK BexrAM SpBcrAL
the protective paper woundI^aEEP
I \ tightly around the film to pre-
vent light striking it. Load and un-
load the camera in subdued light.
llse Kodak Panatomic Film F828 or
Kodak Super X Panchromatic Film
X828 in this camera. For natural color
film positives, use Kodachrome Filrn
K828 or K828A.
I
F
r a l
Pull out the locking lever 1 to open
the back of the camera.
Place the film in the end opposite
the winding knob 13. The film must be
placed in the camera so that when the
paper is unwound, the green side ofView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
the paper is up and the black side to-
wards the lens.
Thread the paper through the longer
slit in the reel, &Sfar as it will go (see
illustration, pase 3).
Turn the winding knob 13 once or
twice to bind the paper on the reel,
and be sure that the paper is started
straight. (The winding -knob can be
pulled out to beyond the housingof the
camera for easier winding of the film,
as shown in the illustration, page 3.
Before pushing it in, turn it backward
slightly.) Olosethe back of the camera.
Turn the winding knob 13 until it
locks. The first frame of film is now in
position. After making the exposure,
4
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: /
press the button 14 while turning the
winding knob about a half turn; then
release the button L4 and continue
winding until the knob locks. The
winding knob is locked every time a
new frame of film is wound into posi-
tion for exposure. The successive
frames of film will be brought to posi-
tion automatically by the perforations
on the edge of the film. If the slide
16 over the green window on the back
of the camera is pushed back while
winding the film, you can check the
number of exposures that have been
made. The window should be uncov-
ered only for this purpose.
OpBwrNG THE Koner
Press the button 2, page 2, and
draw down the bed 4 until it locks.
THE VIEw FINDER
The finder 7, page 4, shows what will
appear in the picture, but on a much
reduced scale. When composing the
picture, the rear of the finder is brought
as close to the eye as possible with the
camera pressed firmly against the faee,
see the illustrations on pages 6 and 7.
All lines in the subject should
_vertical
5 "View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
Making a Hoi:izontal Picture
t:r^ -#t A
H okl ca?tlerafn'ntly aoa'inst the f a,ce.
appear parallel with the vertical lines
of the front frame of the finder.
FocusING THE KooAK
The Kodak Bantam Special has &
Range Finder which is coupled with
the lens of the camera. Focusing is
www.butkus.usView original page 9Page 11 · Read text
pressthe bed of the cAmey&,as this rvill
disturb the operation of the Range
Finder. Move the f oeusing knob
rvhile looking at some r,'ertical part
of the subject. The selected vertical
line will appear broken. The part seen
in the upper area will be either to the
right or left of the vertical line which
is seen in the lower area. (To include
these two areas, it may be necessary
t o tilt the cameraslightly.) If the upper
line is seento the left of the lower line,
'will ^{ s inr,age wi,ll appeor ,1 s intage appear
u,hen Ranee Finder is uhen Range Finder" is
setf or a distance nearer set fo, a d'istance be-
thu;t, the correct orie. yottrl the correct one,
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h
raise the focusing knob (when holding
the Kodak in the hori zontal position),
until the line is unbroken. If the upper
Iine is seen to the right of the lower
line, push the foeusingknob down until
the line is continuous.
The eyepiece15,page4, is adjustable
for different eye accommodations.Focus
on an object eight feet awaJr; then
turn the eyepiece until the field seen
in the Range Finder is clearest.
After the eyepieceis properly set, oo
further adjusting will be necessary.
Every user of the camerA should
make this adjustment before using
the Range Finder.
TheRangeFind-
er can be usedonly
on still objects.
TheRangeFind-
er can also be used
with the camera
held vertically.
When it is used in
this position,focus
on some horizontal
line in the subject,
moving the focus- As image wiLl uppear
ushenRange Finder is ing knob to the ,,7'
corcectly f ocusecJ. right or left.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Whenthe line is continuous,the Kodak
is in focus. Beforemaking the exposure,
check the composition of the picture in
the view finder 7, page1, but since the
Kodak is focused, do not approach
nearerto or step back from the subject.
The camera has a focusing collar
engravedfor the following distances:3l
3.5-,1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 25, 50 feet, and
infinity. It is unnecessary to "consult
this scalewhen using the Range Finder,
10
www.butkus.usView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
for when the subject is properly focused
with the Range Find€r, the camera is
in focus.
TUB SHUTTER
The shutter is marked for exposures
of 1 secondand l/2, 115, l/I0, L/25,
L /50, | 1100, I,250, and I / 500 seeond,
es well as Time and "Bulb" Exposures.
E /-'>
Revolve the knurled collar F on the
front of the shutter until the figure
representing the time of exposure
desiredis at the white pointer A.
Before an exposure from 1 to I / 500
secondcan be made, the shutter must
be set by pressing the lever tr in the
direction of the arrow. The exposureis
then made by pressing the exposure
lever C, or by the cable release(if one
1 1
-t-'View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
,-
is serewed into the opening D). It is
not advisable to change the speed of
the shutter from I /250 to | /500 or
vice versa after the shutter has beenset.
Time and "Bulb" Exposures do not
require setting the shutter.
To make a Time Exposure. the letter ((T" engraved on the shutter must be
at the white pointer A, page 11, and
the exposure lever C (or cable release)
pressedtwice, once to open the shutter,
and again to closeit.
For "Bulb" Exposures, the letter ((8" engraved on the shutter must be
at the white pointer A, page 11, and
the exposure lever C (or cable release),
presseddown; the shutter remains open
as long as the lever C (or cable release)
is held down.
Exposures of intermediate speeds
can be made from 1 second to I/L00
(exceptbetween L/70 and L/25) by set-
ting the shutter between the exposure
numbers on the shutter; thus an expo-
sure of | /7 5 secondis made by turning
the knurled collar so that the white
pointer A is midway between I/50 and
1/100. kitermediate exposurescannot
be made between 1/100 and L/250 or
between l/25O and L/500 second.
L2
\ www.butkus.usView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
n,
Automatic exposures of I second,
l/2, L/5, or l/10 secondmust not be
made with the camera held in the
hands; a tripod or other firm support
must be used for exposures slower
than 1/25 second.
Important: Neuer oil the shutter.
Cable Release: A cable release
(No. 5) can be used with this Kodak
if desired, but it should be removed
before closing the camera.
To attach the cable release,,remove the screwfrom the opening D, page-release.11, i
and replace it with the cable
After using the cable release,detach it
replace the screw in the opening. Lld
The screw may be loosened and tight-
ened with a thin coin.
A cable release (No. 5) can be ob-
tained from a Kodak dealer.
Srop OpBNrNcs
Stop openings regulate the amount llof light passingthrough the lens. These
openings are enlarged or redueed by _
moving the lever B, see page J.1.
A knowledge of the comparative-
values of the slop openings is neces-
sary for correctly timing exposures.
13View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
The stop openings are marked f .2.0,
2.8, 4, 5.6,8, 11, and 16.
The largest stop opening is/.2.0. This
opening allows approximately twice
as mueh tight. to enter the camera'as
f .2.8. Each smaller opening (larger i
number) admits half the light of the i
preceding larger stop opening. Thus, 1
if the correct exposure is L/100 second I
af f .5.6, then for the sma4er stop opet- $
ings the exposure should be apprg{- |
mately:/.8 and L/ 50; and/.ll and | /25.
The exposure for the average 9ut-
door subject, when the sun is shining,
is /.5.6 and L/100 second.If the day is .
hazy or slightly cloudy, use the next
larger opening, that is /.4- and I/190
second. In this way you will give twice
the normal exposure. If the daY is
exeeptionally brilliant, use the next
smaller stop, that is f .8 and I / L00 2 'important second. The thr)ngto remem- fl
ber is the aueregeerposure of f.5.6 and I
1/ 100 second.When the light conditio-ns f
differ from the average, change the I
aperture, keeping in mind the basic
eiposure /.5.6 and 1/100 second. See
the exposure guide on the back cover.
(For Kodachrome Film follow the guide
ineluded with the film.)
l4
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SxepsgoTs oF IxoooR SponTS
Snapshot exposLlrescAIl be madetof
boxing and wrestling matches, swim
meets,ete., provided there is sufficient
illtrmination. An exposLlreof f .2.0 ancl
I/50 second.was made with Kodak
Super X Panchromatic Film for the
picture illustrated above.
DBprH oF Focus
Depth of focus is the distance from
the nearest to the farthest objects that
will appear sharp in the negative or
print. It depends upon the distance
betweenthe subject and lens, the focal
length of the lens, and the size of the
stop ppenitg used; thg smaller the^stop
opening,the greater the depth of focus
or range of sharpness.View original page 18Page 20 · Read text
Seethe table on page 16 for the depth
of focus or range of sharpness of the
Kodak Bantam Special.
HoLD KooAK LBvBT,
The Kodak should be held level if it
is desired to have the vertical lines of
the subject parallel with the sides of
the picture. Unusual effects can be ob-
tained by tilting the Kodak. t'rf
*t Horp KooAK SrBeDy
lv, \ When making instantaneous expo-
{+'. sures or snapshots, hold the Kodak firmly against the face, see pages O and
Ig when pressingthe exposurelever, - 7, ?nd
hold the breath for the instant. If the
Kodak is moved during the exposure, the picture will be blurred. t
CrosrNG THE KooAK
To close the Kodak, first push the
focusing knob 9, page 2, as far as it witt
go_inthe direction of the arrow marked
CLOSE; hold the knob in this position
and then close the bed 4. , i
RBwTovING THE Fltpr a
After the eighth frame of film has
been exposed, the button L4, page 4, fI
17 r
j
,rq
LView original page 20Page 21 · Read text
must be pressed while the winding
knob 13 is being turned. i
Give the winding knob two complete
turns after the end of the paper has
passed the green window; then open
the back of the Kodak in a subdued
light. IJnless the film and protective
paper are completely wound on the
spool before the back of camera is
opened, the self-sealing flanges of thespool will not be automatie. . . t'i I
Remove the spool of film by grasp- I
ing the flange opposite the winding
knob and lifting the spool out of the
cameta.
Important: If the above procedure
is followed, the spool of film, when re-
moved from the camet&t will be fully
wound, and sealedby the special spring
flanges of the spool. There is no need
to secure the paper with a sticker or
rubber band.
Important: Film should be devel-
oped as soon as possibleafter exposure.
The quality of the image on all sensi-
tized products is retained by prorhpt
development after exposure.
Remove the empty spool and Place
it in the winding end of the camet&,
fitting the hole in the end of the spool
18
www.butkus.usView original page 21Page 22 · Read text
o\-er the post of winding knob. The
Kodak is now ready for reloading.
TrvrB ExposuRES-IxpooRS
For time exposuresthe camera must
always be placed on a firm support
like a table, chair, tripod or Optipod;
neuerhold it in the hands. The Kodak
has a tripod socket for making hori-
zontal pictures, using a tripod, an
Optipod or a Kodapod. The screw 11,
page 2, in the tripod socket can be
removedand replacedwith a thin coin.
When making a vertical pictur€, use
the standard 3, page 2, for a support.
To use the standard 3 draw it from the
camera bed as far as it will come, &s
shown in the first illustration; then
turn it as shown in the second illus-
tration and, push it up into the grooue
on the side wall of the bed,.The camera
1 9View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
/)
must not be more than two or three
inches from the edge of the table.
I
)
Place the Kodak in such a Position
that the finder will include the view
desired. The diagram above shows
three positions for the eamera.It should
not'be pointed directly at a window as
the glare of light may blur the picture'
Adjust the shutter for a time expo-
sure as describedon Page 12.
To make the exposure, steadY the
Kodak with one hand and Press the
exposurelever C, page 11, o1 the cable
rel^ease(if the camera is fitted with
Qne), carefully, to open the shutter.
Give the proper time (using a watch if
more than five seeonds). Again press
lever C (or cable release). This closes
the shutter. The Kodak must be steadE
or the picture will be blurred; do not
'it in the hands. hold
www.butkus.usView original page 23Page 24 · Read text
After making an exposure,pressthe
button 14, page 4, and turn the wind-
ing knob about a half turn; then re-
leasethe button and turn the winding
knob until it loeks.
If no more time exposuresare to be
made, adjust the shutter for an in-
stantaneousexposure,seepage l l.
Exposure Table for Interiors
The table on page 22 gives suitable \
.rbxposuresfor various conditions of
when using stop /.b.6.* *light Il ) . With stgpfr?9gr,y"(( one-eighth; : " f .2.8 one-quarter; ,i ,rr,
' (' ((
cqt (( (' /.8 (( twice; I.LL four times;
theu"ooll,*;"*iirn";it}t"liTii.rr.
k' To MaKE A Ponrnerr
The subjectshouldbe seatedin a l, chair partly facing the light with thehI body turned slightly away from, and
t4. turned towards the Kodak,fr {ace
which should be a little higher than an3
ordinary table. The subject should
look at an object level with the lens or
directly at the lens. Compose the pic-
ture in the finder. The best portraits
2LView original page 24From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.