Film cameras
LEICA User manual
User manual for LEICA. 58 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Leica
- Model / document
- LEICA
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 58
- File size
- 7.9 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 8 · Read text
O rHE FILMTYPEtNDtcAToR on the winding knob is set to the type ond speed of film used ond o new odiustment mode whenever the comero is looded with different negotivemoteriol. Filmspeedsore shown in ASA qnd Weston ExposureIndex Numbers. To set the film type indicotor,lift the milled edge of the winding knob. For block-ond- white film turn it in the directionof the engrovedorrow ond lel it drop inlo ploce ot the correctseiting.The letteringwill then be in white on block. For colourfilm lift the millededge ond turn os for os requiredogoinstthe directionof fhe orrow. The lettersASA ond Wesion ore lhen in white on red, which showsthot the comero is loodedwith colourfilm. The speedfigure itselfis olwoyswhite on block. The winding knob is olso ovoiloble with o film type indicolor for DIN ond ASA speed volues'View original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
SETTING THESPEEDDIALS O FASTSHUTTER.SPEEDDIAL
The engrqved figures ore the denominotors
The old foshioned invito-
tion by the portroit photo- of the f rqctionsof o seccnd they represent,
g ropher the to "wotch e. g. 50 indicofes l/so sec., lC00 signifies given ploce birdie" hos
to the quiet click of the l/rooosec. ond so on. The speed is set ofter LEICA shutter.
Modern lensesond emul- winding the shutter by roising the diql
sions hove reduced ex- ond turning it until the desired figure posure minutes timesfrom
to froctions of o second. folls oppcsite the orrow. lt is then ollow-
T h e L E I C AM o d e l l l l f h o s ed to spring bock into its seoting. When
two shutter speed diols:
the moin diol on the top set to "B" (bulb or brief time) the shutter
ond the slowspeeddiol on
the front of the comerq. remoins open os long os pressure on the
releqse button is mointoined. When the
shutter is rewound the diol returns to
the position occupied before releose. The
After windino shuf- diql need not, therefore, be odiusted
ler, lifr mdin- speed
diol, turn it until lhe unless o different speed is required.
desired speed is op-
posile the orrow crnd
ollow lhe diol lo When exposures longer thon l/zssec. oredrop info its cofch.
Af l/rooosec. fhe diol required the slow shutter-speeddiol is
will nol drop bock
guife so deeply. www.butkus.us brought into plqy os indicoted overleof.
6View original page 9Page 11 · Read text
SETTING SHUTTERSPEEDS- Sumffioer:
Short Instqntqneous Exposures: fo releose slow-speed diol,
from llzs to l/rooosec. press spring cofch lowords
l. Set slow-speed diol to 25. lhe comerd wilh lhe lhumb- 2. Wind shuiter, lift fost-speed
diol ond turn to oppropriote noil os shown.
setting.
Slow lnstqntoneous Exposures:
t/zs sec. to I sec.
l. Wind shutter ond set top
speed diol to 25-1 |
2. Set slow-speeddiol.
Brief Time (Bulb) Exposures:
l. Set slow-speed diql to 25.
2. Wind shutterqnd set
top diol to B. The shutter
will remoin open so
long qs pressure is
mointoined on the
releose.
Time Exposures:
l. Wind shutterqnd set
top speeddiol to 25 -1.
2. Set slow-speed diol
t o T
The shulteropenswhen
pressureis opplied to
fhe releose button ond remoins
open until the slow-speeddiol
is turned slightly bqck. www.butkus.usView original page 11Page 12 · Read text
THE STANDARD LEN S OF THE LEICA
purposes.
TheSUMMITARfl2 is of the somefocollength
Both ELMARond SUMMITARore fitted with
collopsiblemounts,the borrelslidinginto the
comero body when not in use.The lens is
drown out ond lockedin positionby o slight
clockwiseturn, o nd returned to its collopsed
positionby reversingthe movements. A bluish sheen chorocferises lhe "coofed" or
"bloomed" LEICA lenses. Ihe cooting, by
reducing surfoce reflecfion, minimises loss of
Routine Prqctice z 1. Drqw ouf ! lock! Iight ond morkedly improves fhe brillionce
2. Unlock! Push bock! ond confrosf of the picture.View original page 12Page 15 · Read text
LENSAPERTURE O FocusrNcTHELENS
ond All LEICAlenseshoving o focusinglever
EXPOSURETIME ore outomoticolly locked ot the infinity (- ) position. To releosethe lever for
focusing on neorer subiects press the
E x o m p l e : knob of the end of the lever.
Assuming on exposure time of
l/roo sec. is correct for o d io-
phrogm setting of f/5.6, the ex- DON'I FORGEI:
posure time must be doubled, EIMAR 50 mm. ond SUM Mll.,AR50 mm.
i. e. increosed to l/so sec., if the lenses hove collopsible mounts. fhe lens
diophrogm is stopped down to borrel musl be drown out ond locked
f/8, other conditions being equol. before focusing. (See page 9.)
On the other hond, if the stop
were opened up to fl4, only holf
of the exposure ot t15.6 would
be needed, viz. llzoosec. Slight O DTsTANcEscALEdifferencesin the exposuretimes
used,especiollysomewhotlonger Normolly, octuol distoncesdo not inter-
times, ore of no signifionce in est LEICA photogrophers os focusing is
proctice ond ore covered by the effectedby the rongefinder.Thedistoncelqtitude of modern films. For best
scole, fherefore, is of importonce onlyresultsin photogrophy, of course,
correct exposure times should when referring to the depth of field
olwoys be oimed ot. scole describedon poge 15.
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12View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
GENERALRULESFORSTOPPINGDOWN
l. Obiects most shorply defined ore those ot fhe
distonce ot which the lens is focused. Therefore,ol-
woys focus corefully on the centre of interestof the
subiect.
2. Snopshofs: Stop down to f15.6ond focus on prin-
cipol obiect.Thedepth of fieldwillusuollybe sufficient.
fhe Second lndex line
3. Long distonce views without foreground interest: morked R on disfonce scole
Set lens to infinity ond stop down fo f 15.6or f/8. is used for infra-red-phofo- grophy. First focus accurolely
on fhe objecf in lhe usuol
4. Londscopeswith foreground: Stop down so thot way, lhen odjust the lens
the depth of field scole indicoteso ronge extending mount until index line R re-
gislers wifh the dislonce in-
from the foreground distonce to infinity. dicoted by the rongefinder
selling. Exceplions: When
5. Portroits: Use full lens operture ond focus occu- working wilh wide-ongle len-
rotely on the eyes. The sitter should be shorply de- ses, no speciol odiuslmenl is reguired.
fined ond the bockgroundsubduedby being diffused.
t 3View original page 16Page 18 · Read text
22 -B
@ DEPTHoF FrELDscALE
An obiect is most shorplv defined in o photoorooh when
it lies cit the distonceon'which the lensis focuseil.Definitionwould groduolly deteriorote if the obiect were movei *10
neorer the comero until o pointwould be reochedwhen de-
finition would be quite unsotisfoctory.Similorly,definition
would deteriorote,qlthough not so ropidly, if the obiect
were moved owoy from the comero. The distoncebetween
lhe neorestplone ond ihe furthest plone of which obiectsore sufficientlyshorply defined is known os the "depth of *.J5
field" (often erroneouslycolled "depth of focus"). lt vories
with the distonce focused upon ond the operture of the
lens. The neorer the principol obiect ond ihe loroer thestop of the lens the shbllow6rthe cjepthof field ond'there- tl il -25
fore the more criticol must focusing be.
A scole on LEICA lens mounts enobles the depth of field ;50
to be reod ot eoch operture ond eoch distoncesdttingdown -to 3.5 feei. Obiects of distoncesbetween those indiciited on B 100
the scole will be sufficientlyshorply defined. as
11
Exompfe z With o slondord focol length of 50 mm., when
lhe disfonce scole is set ot 25 feel ond ,he lens aperlure
al f13.5, the depth of field exfends from 20 feef lo 4O feet.
Wilh the lens sfopped down lo f15.6 it will extend from 16 feet fo obouf 60 feet. At fllt oll obiecfs beyond 12 feet *;r0)o)9f'.. will be in focus.
t 5
,.#View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
VlEWFINDER ond RANGEFINDER:
O rwrN EYEPTEcE
This co rries the eyepiecesof both viewfinder
ond rongefinderso thot only o slightmovement
of the heod is necessorywhen chongingfrom
one to the other.
Correction lenses cqn be fitted to the twin eyepiece,
enobling users with defective eyesight to operote fhe
LEICAwithout glosses.Such lensesore mode to f he user's
opticion's prescription. Y'EWF'NDER
@ vTEWFTNDER
Ploce fhe eye close to fhe twin eyepiece.
The built-inviewfinderindicotesthe view em- Core should be foken fo look squorely
broced by the stondord 50 mm. lenses.When lhrough the cenlre of eoch eyepiece.
lensesof other focol lengths ore in use,the
universolviewfinder,which fits into the occes-
sory shoe (17),must be brought into use.
The viewfinder of the LEICA lf is detochoble since this comerq often serves
speciol purposes,i.e. scientificphotogrophy, where other methods of obser-
vqtion ore qdvontogeous (micro-ottochment,reflexwww.butkus.ushousing etc.).
t 6View original page 19Page 21 · Read text
@ couPLEDRANGEFTNDER
In minioturepho-
tog ro phy occu-
rote focusing is
essentiolfor per- fhot obiect. All interchongeobleLEICAlenses
fect defi nition up to 13.5cm. focol length ore outomoticolly
ond shorp en- coupled with the rongefinderwhen screwed
lorgements. into the comero body.
Only LEICA lf differs in thot it hqs on ottqchqbleronge-
Formervisuolex- finder without provisionfor coupling lenses(A conversion
ominotionunder i n t o m o d e l sl l f o r l l l f i s p o s s i b l e ) .
the block cloth is now replocedby
the movementof o singlefinger.
The rongefinder
coupledwith the
LEICAlens meo-
suresf hedistonce
ond of the some
time focusesthe
lens occurotely
on thot distonce. Out of focus Correct focus
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t 8View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
How the Coupled
Rongefinder Works: ,
As the lens is focused, lhe bockword ond
forword movemenl is communicoted by
o lever lo lhe rongefinder, lhe precision
of which resembles |hot of o high-grode
microscope.
ADJUSTMENT
OF RANGEFIN DERTELESCOPE
The occurocyof the LEICA rongefinder
is ougmented by o built-in telescope ,
hoving o mognificotionof 1.5.By meons
of the smoll lever (14) it moy be fo- lorger(8) until circulorthe two field.imogesAdiustcoincide.the Thelenslensbyisleverthen
cused on distont obiects. lt will olso occurotely focused on the selectedobiect. Unless
compensofefor slight eyesight defects the smoll field oppeors exoctly in the centre of
(between -2 ond +.|.5 dioptres). thecorrect.lorger,Beoringthe linethisofin sightmind iswillsidewoysquicklyondenoblein-
fo demonslrofe lhe operolion of lhe rangefinder: the LEICA user to focus ropidly ond occurotely.
Sight, through the rongefinder, on obiect obout
l2 to l5 feet owoy, the lens being set to "infinity". When working ot short distonces it is odvisoble
Cover the left hond rongefinder window with the to focus the lens by scole on lhe oppropriote
middle finger of the left hond. Look centrolly distonce qnd correct slighi difference by op-
pr.oochingor receding from the subiect until theinto the rongefinder eyepiece. The obiect will be
seen in o smoll circulor field. Adiust lever (14) rongefinder imoges merge,
until the greotest possible shorpnessis obtoined. To enhonce the colour differentiotion of the
When the finger is removed from the window o rongefinder imoges o smoll oronge filter in
double imoge of the obiect will be seen in o mount con be fitted to the left window (13).
1 9
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H O L D I N G t h e L E I C A :
Grip the LEICAwith the right hond
so thqt the rounded end of the bose-
plote rests in the polm. The index
finger should rest lightlyon the shut-
ter-releose button. lt is importont
thot the comerois cupped in the bose
of the polm counteroctingthe pres-
sure of the finger on the releose.The
#ltr i+ ii6t* # other end of the comerq is gripped
in the left hond,with the index finger
on the focusing lever. Hold the co-
mero steodilyogoinst the heqd with
the twin eyepiece immediotelyin
front of the eye. Presslhe elbowsto
the chestqnd stondwith the feet well
seporoted.
Presslhe releose button gently but
firmly,toking core not to ierk. Apply
pressure with the forefinger only
ond mointoinpressureuntiltheshut-
www.butkus.uster hos completedits run.
20View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
THEWRONG WAY:
The comero is not held firmly ond
moy give woy to the pressureon the
releosebutton when not cupped in
the bose of the polm. The resultwlll
olmostcertoinlybe o blurredpicture.
In odditionto the methodof holding
the LEICAdescribedon poge 20, ex-
periencedusershold their breoth ot
the moment of releose.
Some enthusiostsboost thot they ore
oble to hold the comero steody for
o whole second. However, it is ol-
woys sofer to set the comero on o
firm support when using exposure
times of the slow speed diol, i. e.
shu tter speeds between 1| zs o nd
I second.
21View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
VERTICAL PICTURES :
Grip the LEICAwith the right hond
with the thumb on the releosebutton
ond the fingersexertingcounterpres-
sure. The upper end of the comero
is grosped with the left hond, one
finger of which operotesthe focusing
lever. The top of the comero should
rest ogoinstthe foreheod. Thusheld,
the comero con be operotedwithout
ierking.
Slow-speed, hond-held snopshols
ore not ditricult . . .
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22View original page 25Page 26 · Read text
THESECONDMETHOD of toking verticol pictures,populor when chonging from horizontol to verticol positionor vice verso. Grip the LEICAos describedon poge 20, then tu rn to the verticol position. if ingenuity is colled upon.View original page 26
Page 29 · Read text
FILM CARTRIDGES,SPOOLS,CASSETTES
The principolmqnufocturerssupply35 mm.perforoted
film os used in the LEICAin vorious degreesof sensi-
tivity etc. ond issuethe following:
1. Doylight looding Cortridges which ore simply inserted in the
comerq in doylight in the some woy os LEICA film cqssettes.
They should not be loqded q second time.
2. Doylight looding Spools which consist of o stondqrd length
of film with opqque poper leqders ond wound on q centre spool.
Directionsfor use ore supplied with the spools.
3. Dorkroom looding Spools which contoin reody-trimmedlengths
of film which require to be loqded into the LEICA cossette in
the dork-room.
.|0,
4. Bulk Supply. This is ovoilqble in lengths of 5, l5 metres
ond upwords. In the dorkroom the required length is cut off,
looded into the LEICA cqssette ond trimmed (see poge 30t. .|.6
The LEICA film cossette holds m. (opprox. 51lt feet) of film,
sufficientfor 36 exposures.
The Ever-Reody Cqse:
Ihe IEICA is best kept ond corried in the Cqution z When using o new cose ond
ever-reody cose. fo remove fhe LEICA when toking verticol piclures core should
from lhe cose, loosenwww.butkus.usthe boftom screw. be lqken thof the hinged porlion does
nol swing in front of fhe lens.
26View original page 29Page 30 · Read text
LOADING the LEICA
The foct thot exposuresqs short os t/soo
or r/looosec.con produce successfulpic-
tu res is sufficientindicotion of how min-
ute on omountof light moy offecto film.
LEICA cossettesond doylight looding
cortridges o re light-tight but even so,
they should never be exposedto direct
sunlight.Alwoys lood ond unloqd the
comero in the shodow of the body in
the obsenceof other lig ht protection.
Before opening the LEICA moke sure
thot the film hqs been rewound into its
cossette.lf there is ony doubt obout the
comero being looded, pull out the re-
winding knob (.|5)ond turn it in the direc-
tion of the orrow. lf resistonceis felt the
comero is looded ond the film should
be wound bock into the film cossette.
27View original page 30Page 31 · Read text
TO IOAD THE LEICA:
l. Beforeinsertingo new film cossette, turningto "OPEN"qnd liftthe bqseplote.
set reversinglever (.|6)to A (Advonce). (Somemodelsore morked"AUF" (open)
tt/l)"Wind ond releosethe shutterto moke ond (close).)
surethot it is in order.Wind the shutter 3. Removethe toke-upspool from the
ogoin but do not releoseit. comero.
2. Open the comero by roising the 4. Ploce the LEICA on the to ble os
lockinghondle on the boseploteqnd shown in the illustrotion. I
3393
TAKE.UPSPOOI. FILM-CASSETTE
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28View original page 31Page 32 · Read text
TOADINGTHE TEICA
5. Holdthetqke-upspoolin thelefthond
ond the loodedfilm cossettein the right.
Both knurledheodsshouldpoint down-
words (see illustrotion).Inserttrimmed
endof thefilmundertheclompingspring
of the toke-upspool os for os it will go.
The perforqtededge of the film should
obut the spoolflonge.
6. Drow the trimmedleoderstrip from
the film cossetteslot until two (but no r r t l l t I I I I l r f r t t I l 3 l t E ! l l
more)perforotionson the trimmededge
of f he film o re visible.(Seeillustrotion
poge 30) The curvedmork on the outer
shellof the LEICAcossetteindicotesthe I
correctpositionof the film. >lItI
29View original page 32Page 33 · Read text
TOADING THE TEICA
fhe sofely spring of the stond-
srd LEICA film cosseffe should
olways lie in fhis corner.
With properly trimmed film no
mo re |hon two pe rf orolions
should be visible on th e trimmed
edge.
7. Introducef he toke-upspool ond film cqssetteinto
comerosimultoneously,knurledheods pointingup-
words.Thetrimmedfilm will then enterthe slotolong Check the path of fhe film by
the bock of the comero.lf the cosseltewill not drop this diog rom, fhe em ulsion side
right down, turn the rewindingknob (15)slightly. musf fqce fhe lens.
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30View original page 33Page 34 · Read text
TOADING
THE TEICA
8. Hook the boseploteover the pin, closeit ond turn the lockinghondleto "CLOSE"
(or ZU). The comerois now light-tight.
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