Film cameras
Konica Autoreflex A3 User manual
User manual for Konica Autoreflex A3. 41 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Konica
- Model / document
- Konica Autoreflex A3
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 41
- File size
- 4.3 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
CONTENTS
Using your Konica Autoreflex-A3: Seven Basic Steps 3
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE.. . I Operating Controls 4
Your new Konico camera reflects the latest ad- Major Specifications 6
vances in photographic engineering and is designed Inserting Batteries 8
to give you dependoble, trouble-free use. Operatton Changing Lenses........... 9
r's probobly somewhat different from cameros Film Loading l 0
which you have previously owned. For this reason, Shutter Speedsand Lens Apertures ....... 1 3
it is strongly recommended that you shoot a "test" Automatic and Non-Automatic Operation ........ l 5
roll of film, hove this roll processed, and exarnine "Control Center" Viewfinder I 6
the pictures before exposing additional rolls. The Using Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) 1 8
processed "test" roll will verify that you are using Under/Over-Exposure Safeguards ...... 20
your new equipment correctly, and allow you to Semi-Automatic Operation 2 I
make any necessary changes in operuting patterns; Hints for Unusual Exposure Situations 23
additionally, it witt confirm thot all camera func- Holding Your Camera 24
tions are operating perfectly. In the event yoa are Focusing 25
leaving on a trip (or some equally tmportant event) Depth-of-Field Contr ol 26
shortly, yaur Konico dealer c&n recommend the Depth-of-Field Tables 27
fastest way of having your first rolt processed...so Film Rewind and Unloadine 28
that you can be certain that all subsequent rolls Flash Photography 29
will be as good-or better! Time Exposures 30
Filters 3 l
Konica Accessories 3 2
Konica Interchaneeable Lenses 3 8
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USINGYOUR
KONICAAUTOREFLEX-A3: mz
SEVEN BASIC STEPS w
1. Insert the two 1.35 Volt mercury photographic batteries 2c)
supplied with your camera into the compartment at u,
bottom of camera. (This supplies power to the cds meter.) {m
!(t)
2. Load camera. Konica's "Insta-Grip" take-up spool assures
trouble-free operation.
3. Set ASA rating required for your film speed.
4. Move Aperture Control Ring to "AE" position ("EE" on
some Lenses).
5. Select desired shutter speed. (For most shots, l/125th is
recommended.)
6. Focus and compose picture in viewfinder.
7. Shoot...as long as the needle in the finder is in the
"white" area, you pictures will be perfectly exposed-
automatically !View original page 4Page 7 · Read text
MAJORSPECIFICATIONSOF KONICAAUTOREFLEX.A3
Camera Type: 35mm TTL (Through-the-Lens metering) Shutter Speeds: Convenient top-mounted selector for all
AEC (Automatic Exposure Control) SLR (Single-Lens-Re- speedsfrom 1 secondto l/l000th secondplus "B" (for time
flex) exposures)
Film: Standard35mm 20 or 36-exposurecassettes
Flash Synchronization: Electronic flash synchronizationat
all speedsto and including lll2lth second.PositivePC flash
Format: 24x36mm cord terminal. Optional Konica AccessoryClip 3 attachesto
cameraeyepiece.
StandardLens0ptions:
Konica HexanonAR 50mm f ll.7 (6 elements,5 groups) Viewing System: Parallax-FreeSingle Lens Reflex System.
Konica HexanonAR 50mm f ll.4 (7 elements,6 groups) Coated, eye-level pentaprism shows upright, unreversed
Konica HexanonAR 57mm tll,2 (7 elements,6 groups) image;apparentmagnification0.78X with 50mm lens.
Minimum FocusingDistance: 17.4" fromfilm plane FocusingScreen: StandardKonicaMicrodiaprismscreen.
LensMount: Konica Bayonet(47mm diameter) In-Finder Readouts: "Control-Center" viewfinder shows
vital data at a glance: exact lens aperturebeing set automa-
tically; maximum aperture of lens; under/over-exposure
Flange/Film0istance: 40.5mm ranges; match-needleindicator for semi-automaticoperation.
Aperture Control System: Automatically sets correct f/stop Reflex Mirror: Oversize, coated mirror prevents image cutoff
(or fractional f/stop) with all Konica Automatic Hexanon in finder even with bellows extensions at I :1 magnification.
lenses Mirror design permits automatic operation even with extreme
wide-angle lenses. Instant-return mirror action prevents image
blackout after exposure.
Shutter: Metallic, vertical-scanningCopal Square-S
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INSERTINGBATTERIES
\,,1
Open Battery Compartment (32; by turning the cover To obtain longest service from your batteries, always cover
counter-clockwise as shown. Remove batteries from pro- the lens when your camera is not being used. If the lens cap
tective packing (handle them by the edges to keep the has been lost, you may obtain a replacement Konica Lens
surfaces clean). If the batteries appeat to have a thin deposit Cap from your dealer.
of dust on them, wipe clean with a dry cloth.
When needle movement becomes extremely sluggish or stops
Insert the two batteries into the compartment, with "+" sides altogether, replace your batteries with a fresh set. Normal life
facing up. (For your convenienc€, * and - indicators are of PX-675 mercury batteries all one year in normal use.
marked in the compartment.)
Prolonged heat and moisture may reduce battery life. Always
After the batteries are in the chamber, replace cover. keep your camera (and any spare batteries) in a cool, dry
place. And, when obtaining new batteries, make certain they
are photographic type 1.35 Volt PX-675(Mallory PX-675,
Everready EPX-675, or exact equivalent). Many other
batteries are similar in appearance, but the difference in
voltage and construction may cause incorrect exposures.
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FILM LOADING
"rC.*
Loading your Konica Autoreflex-A3 is exceptionally fast, Press down Camera Back Lock (23), and swing the back
accurate, and foolproof, because of Konica's Insta-Grip Load open.
take-up spool...another Konica innovation. Here's how:
Slide the film cassetteinto the CassetteChamber (25) as 2 shown above.
1 0 www.orphancameras.comView original page 11Page 13 · Read text
6 Presstransportthe leverShutteruntilReleasethe NumberButtonI appears(1) and inoperatethe centerthe To CheckFilmAdvance
of the Film Counter (2). It's easy to make sure your camera is loaded correctly. While
operating the transport lever, watch the Film Transport
Indicator (17) to see if it rotates. If it does, you know that
film is going through properly;if it doesn't it's not.
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,,CONTROL CENTER''VIEWFINDER
As long as the Meter Needle (41) is in the white area between between fl2 and- f12.8. Here, your camera is preventing
the upper (40) and lower (43) red bands, shoot...your picture incorrect exposure by actually showing you that, with this
will be perfectly exposed! film/lens/shutter-speed combination, f 12.4 is the widest lens
opening at wtrich your camera will automatically operate. As
The upper red band (40) also shows you the maximum always, your photograph will be perfectly exposed, so long as
aperture of the lens in use; in the illustration on the opposite the Meter Indicator Needle (41) does not go into the
page, an f/1.7 lens is on the camera, so the band rests red-band. Thus, with your Konica Autoreflex-A3 you need
between f ll.4 and f 12. When you mount a faster or slower never worry about whether or not you're operating within
lens on the camera, this band will more up or down to show your meter's "coupling range" - You are, and will obtain a
the new maximum aperture (and, simultaneously, the new perfectly-exposed photograph autonatically, so long as the
underexposure zone.) meter needle is out of the red!
"Your Konica's sensitive through-the-lens meter automatically
determines correct exposure over an exceptionally wide range
of lighting conditions...with ASA 100 film, from a subject so Konica's Control-Center viewfinder also shows you:
dimly-lit it requires an exposure of ll2 second at fll.l to a
scene almost 50,000 times brtghter - so bright it requires an r) Underexposure Indicator for f/l.2 Lens (38);
exposure of 1/l000th second at fll6l Within this basic 2) Complete Aperture Scale (42); and
"range" of meter sensitivity, the red band (40) in the 3) Match-Needle Index Mark for stop-down metering with
viewfinder remains at a position corresponding to the uncoupled lenses or accessories(39).
maximum aperture of your lens (f/1.7 in the illustration).
Under certain conditions, the red band (40) will drop below
the maximum-aperture position. For example, with an fll.7
lens and ASA 100 film, selecting a shutter speed of one
second will cause the red band to drop down to a position
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UNDER/OVER.EXPOSURE SAFEGUARDS
ill.7 t11.4 fl1.2
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If the meter needle goes to the upper red band (shown above WhentheAutomaticExposureis Not Used. . . .
for the three standed Lenses), choose a slower shutter speed.
If, at the slowest shutter speed (1 second), the needle's still in For full manual operation, just dial the desired lens aperture
the red zone, there's not enough light to get a perfectly- on the aperture ring (t15.6 is shown above). The meter
exposed picture. (Naturally, when using speeds of 1/30 needle will continue to indicate therecommended f/stop, but
second or slower, use a tripod or brace the camera on a firm the camera will actually shoot at the aperture you've set.
support if at all possible, and trip the shutter with a cable
release.)
If the needle goes down to the lower red band (as shown in
the fourth example above), there's too much light; choose a
faster shutter speed.
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SEMI.AUTOMATIC OPERATIONWITHUNC0UPLEDLENSES/ACCESSORIES:REMINDERS
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When using the stop-down metering system with uncoupled UsingPresetLenses. . . .
lenses or accessories,keep in mind that the f/stop scale in the
viewfinder no longer applies; neither do the under or Lenses of this type do not automatically close down to the
over-exposure warning bands. If the needle's above the Index desired aperture; you turn the aperture control ring by hand
Mark (39) as shown (above, left) there's not enough light; if to select the desired f/stop. Still, you can speed up operation
it's below this mark (above, right)there's too much light. considerably by setting both control rings of these lenses to
Solution: change lens aperture and/or shutter speed until the the smallesf f/stop (f122 in the example shown above), then
needle lines up with the Index Mark. turning them together until the meter needle lines up with
the Index Mark in the viewfinder. As soon as it lines up,
In full-aperture metering with Konica Automatic Hexanon you're ready to shoot . . .
stray light which may enter the eyepiece and reach the meter
cells hav virtually no effect on exposures. In stop-down
metering with uncoupled lenses or accessories,however, such
light can have the effect of incorrectly influencing the
meter's reading. Whenever you're using the stop-down meter-
ing system, be sure to place your eye as close as possible to
the eyepiece, to prevent stray light from entering. (A Konica
Rubber Eyecup, available from your dealer, helps here.)
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HOLDINGYOUR CAMERA
o Holdthe Camerasecurely- comfortablyf or yourhand
one secret for getting ultra-sharp pictures is to prevent Vertical shots add veriety to a series of pictures. They are
accidental camera movement. To do this it is suggested that especially desirable when making head and shoulder portraits
you hold the camera frrmly, as shown in the picture above, and architectural shots. Hold the .camera as shown above.
crading the body of the Autoreflex-A3 against the face. This position prevents accidentally pushing the lens release
Depress the shutter release button firmly but gently. Do not button.
punch the shutter release button but squeeze the exposure 'Jar-free" off smoothly for operation.
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FOCUSING rdgJTg.EAB o'Tl
(44) Focusing Screen C)c2z
6)
2
2.8
4
5 6
a
1 1
1 6
(45) Fine Ground Glass Area
OUT OF FOCUS I N F O C U S
With Microdiaprism Focusing Screen: Turn the Focus- With Microdiaprism. . . when using 35mm (or shorter)
ing Ring (6) of the lens until the image within the center of wide-angle lenses, and lenses slower than f14.5, or any lens
the viewfinder (44) is sharpest and clearest. (When you're out used with substantial bellows extension, the grid-like pattern
of focus, this central atea - composed of hundreds of in the center of the viewfinder may remain visible regardless
microscopic prisms - appears quite hazy and unsharp.) of focusing ring adjustment. (This phenomenon is caused by
the angles at which light rays enter the focusing screen, and
Under almost all conditions, this precision focusing screen does not indicate any defect in your camera or lens.)
works easily and with great accuracy. However, under certain Solution: focus by concentrating on the circular doughnut-
conditions problems can develop: here's what they are ... and shaped Fine Ground Glass Areas (45) around the Microdia-
how to overcome them. prism. Most people find this easiest to do by starting out with
the lens deliberately thrown out of focus, then turning the
focusing ring very swiftly until the point of greatest apparent
sharpness is reached. If you turn the focusing ring very
slowly, your eye will find it more difficult to determine the
point of greatest sharpness.
2 5View original page 26Page 27 · Read text
DEPTH.OF.FIELD CONTROL
Depth-of-Field is the distance between the nearest and Depth-of-Field for f/l 6
farthest objects in the scene that will be sharp in the finished
picture. In practical terms this means that when you bring an
object into sharp focus, objects behind and in front of this
will be rendered more or less sharply as well. For more
Depth-of-Field, use a smaller f/stop (for example, f/11
instead of f/5.6). For less Depth-of-Field, use a larger f/stop
(for example, f 14.0 instead of f/8).
UsingDepth-of-FieldScaleon Lens: (46) Distance
Scale On the Depth-of-Field Scale, f/stop markings identical to Index Mark (47) lnfrared Film those on tlre Manual Aperture Scale (7), are repeated to the Compensation
(4) Depth-of-Field Scale Mark right and left of the Distance Scale lndex Mark (46). The
Depth-of-Field for any focused distance will be found
between any two identical f/stop markings on the Depth-of- Infrared Film Compensation Mark: Infrared rays come
Field Scale. Thus, if the lens is focused at 15 feet and the to a different focus than visible light rays. When shooting
picture is to be made at ff 16, rcfening to fll6 on both sides infrared film with the appropriate filter, focus as usual. Then
of the scale tells us that the Depth-of-Field extends from bring the distance figure opposite the Distance Scale Index
Infinity to about 8 feet. For maximum Depth-of-Field, Mark (46) into line with the Infrared Film Compensation
including Infinity, set the Infinity mark at the f/stop in use, Mark (47).
on the right hand side of the scale.
Film Plane Mark: For certain highly specialized appli-
cations, it is sometimes desirable to place your subject at a
specihc distance from the film (focal) plane. Should you wish
to do this, measure the distance from the center-of-interest of
the subject (the part you'll focus on) to the Film Plane Mark
"<>" (16) atop the camera body.
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TIME EXPOSURES
FlashSynchronizationfor KONICA Autoreflex- A3
----.-
Shutter
N ('r con- f{oeeo ---- @ N F @ or q)o o)o N('r olo oo ooo tact I Bulb
Electronic X X X Flash o o o o o o o o o
X Class M o o o o o o X X X X X
Class MF (flashcube) o o o o o o X X X X X
O- Synchronized x - Not synchronized
Determining'EXposurefor FlashPictures When the shutter speed dial is set at "B", the shutter will remain open as long as the shutter release is held down. As a IIt
Manual settings are required for flash shooting. The AEC result, exposures longer than one second - as long, in fact, as
system is not applicable. Exposures are usually calculated on several hours may be taken at night, or in dimly- lit places
the basis of "Flash Guide Numbers" furnished by the makers where there is no moving subject. If an exposure of more
of flashbulbs (and flashcubes) or electronic flash units. To than several seconds is desired, attach a Konica Cable Release
find the correct f/stop to use, the guide number is divided by (available from your dealer) to the Shutter Release Button
the flash-to-subject distance. Thus if the guide number is lL0 (1). Set the shutter speed dial to "8". Press down the cable
and the subject is 10 feet away: release "plunger", and hold it down for as long an exposure
time as is desired. When the cable release plunger is released, 1 1 0 = flll the shutter closes. 10-
If in doubt, refer to the table above as to which shutter Manual diaphragm settings must be made when the Copal
speeds are useable with a specific type of flash illumination. Square-S shutter is set at "B". The AEC (AE) setting on the
Guide numbers for flashbulbs are generally printed on the lens is not used. Instead the lens is set manualJryat the desired
package. Electronic flash guide numbers are generally fur- f/stop.
nished by the maker of the unit. Guide numbers are exactly
that - they can serve as guides but all other existing light will It is necessary that you use a tripod or other support for..B"
affect your exposures to some extent and you should make time exposures and all other exposures longer than l/30th
allowance in your settings for intermediate f/stops which also second. Use of a cable release will minimize jarring the
click into place. cameta.
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TgTgEAts c)
o ExtensionRingSet3 o AutoHelicoid o X-20ElectronicFlash omSix-piece set allows 14 different ex- Automatic, continuously-variable fo- Exceptionally compact electronic flash u,
tensions from 1Omm - 88mm; magni- cusing mount enables 105mm f/4 Auto for cordless or cord-type operation. c/)ofication to 1.88X (almost twice actual Macro Hexanon AR lens to focus from Guide Number 64 with ASA 801125
size) with standard lens. Supplied with Infinity to 23". Retains full AE (EE) film permits shooting distances to 40 2m5mm camera and body mounting rings, and automatic diaphragm coupling. feet with f ll.7 lens. Up to 400 flashes a
8mm, 16mm, and 24mm screw-in ex- May also be used with 105mm lens and with four standard AA Alkaline batte-
tension rings, and 30mm reverse Konica Auto Bellows for semi-auto- nes.
adapter for 5 5 mm thread lenses. matic operation with magnifications
N{anual diaphragm control; stop-down greater than 1.28X.
(match-needle) metering. Converts to
automatic diaphragm control with ac-
cessory Auto-Ring 2 and double cable
release. Does not accept Macrostand or
Slide Copie- ).
o CubeFlash
o AccessoryClip3 With PC cord contact. Built-in test
For use with cord-type flash-guns. May circuit with indicator light that shows
be left on camera at all times. when cube is rcady to fire. With
exposure guide table and case. Use at
1/30th second or slower with A,3.
33View original page 34Page 35 · Read text
ACCESSORIES
o AutoBellowswith DoubleCableRelease o SlideCopier2
Maintains automatic diaphragm operation. Extension Range 47 mm I 70mm, Attaches to Auto Bellows or Standard
magnifications from 0.9X - 3.5X with standard lens. Entire front standard reverses Bellows 3, allows same-sizeor cropped
without accessories, retains automatic diaphragm coupling in reversed position. duplicates of standard 24 x 36mm or
Geared front and rear focusing controls with positive locks. Main focusing rail smaller transparencies. Accepts mount-
permits moving entire assembly over 1l4mm range for focusing at predetermined ed slides or uncut strips, rolls. 18mm
magnifications ratios. Focusing rail may be used laterally, for sideways movement horizontal, I 2mm vertical shift. Re-
of entire assembly over 114mm range. Locking depth-of-field preview control. quire special Slide Copier Reverse
European and American-style tripod Ring; auxiliary Reversal Ring to re-
sockets. Cable release supplied simul- verse-mount lens on bellows.
taneously activates lens diaphragm, o body shutter release. Used with stop- MacroStand
down (match-needle) For use with Konica Auto Bellows:
metering. Accepts ac- Positions subject absolutely parallel
cessory Macro Stand, with camera and lens. Rotating (75mm
Slide Copier 2. diameter) specimen "stage" has hold-
down spring clamps to secure subject t . r y t \
, t in desire position. Stage has 1 8% grey
reflectance factor for correct exposure
readings irrespective of subject size,
coloration (exposure readings taken o directly from stage). Used at magnifi- SlideCopierReverseRing
cations from 0.9X - 2.3X with stand- This ring is required for photography
ard lens. Superb tool for photography with the slide copier and used together
of stamps, coins, insects, any small with a lens reversal ring. The Slide
easily-moved subject. Copier Reverse Ring is usable at the
magnification ratios of 1.4X to 4X with
a standard lens (50mm f ll.7).
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