Minolta AF-C User manual

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NAMES OF PARTS                                  www.butkus.us
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Your Minolta AF-C features automatic focusing and automatic exposure in a
convenient, compact size. lts special sliding shield guards against dust and
fingerprints, and serves as a power switch, locking the shutter when closed.
   Push down the sliding shield and the camera is ready to use. Simply compose your
subject in the viewfinder, and the camera focuses the lens using a precise infrared
beam and sets aperture and shutter speed automatically at the push of a button. For
creative control, the focus-hold feature allows prefocusing for your subject, then
recomposing the scene as you desire. LEDs in the viewfinder willconfirm if you are
at a proper focusing distance or warn you if the light level is too low for a hand-held
exposure. There is also a self-timer with a 10-sec. delay so you can get into your own
p ictu res.
   The AF-C has its own set of exclusive compact accessories. The Electroflash C
couples with the camera's shutter speed, lens aperture, and autofocus system for
precise flash exposures. The Ouartz Data Back C can imprint date or time in the
corner of your photographs.
   Please read this manual all the way through for best results and longest service life
from you new AF-C. Keep  it for later reference as needed.
   Throughout the text you will find a series of numbers and letters. Each of these
refers to a picture on the fold-out pages.

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NAMES OF PARTS
O Frame counter                     (D Autofocus windows
 €) Safe Load Siqnal                  (D CdS cell
@ Shutter-releaie button            (D Minolta 35mm f/2.8 lens
@ Sliding shield           @ Pressure plate
O Self-timer LED         @ f itm advancer
@ Sett-timer switch         @ Viewfinder eyepiece
O Strap lug                        (D Rewind key
@ Film*peed window        @ Take-up spool
I  Film*peed dial         @ ritm sprocket
@ Film+ewind crank        @ Contact terminals for
0) Back-cover release knob              Ouartz Data Back C
@ Flashmatic pin                  @ Rewi nd-release button
(D Flasn socket           @ Battery-chamber cover
(E Ftash contact pins        @ Tripod socket

BEFORE TAKING PICTURES

Batteries
   The autofocus system, auto-exposure system, and indicator lights are powered by
any of the following:
o two 3v lithium batteries (CR-1/3N or equivalent)
o four 1.55v silver-oxide cells (SR44, Eveready EPX-76, 5-76, or equiv.)
o four 1 .5v alkaline-manganese  cells lLR44, Eveready 4-76, or equiv.)
CAUTION
o To avoid battery leakage or bursting, do not mix battery types or old batteries
   with new ones.
WARNING: Keep batteries away from young children.
Installing batteries
1. Open the battery-chamber cover by sliding it in the direction of the arrow and
    lifting  it up (a-1).
2. Wipe the terminals with a clean, dry cloth. Holding the batteries by their edges,
    insert them with their plus (+) and minus (-) ends positioned as indicated by
   the diagram inside the chamber {bl.
3. Close the cover by pressing  it down in the direction of the arrow and letting it
   snap back into its closed position (a-2).

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CAUTION
o  lf the batteries are reversed, the camera will not operate and battery leakage or
    bursting may occur.
Checking batteries
   The camera's batteries should be checked immediately after being installed and
from time to time thereafter, especially before starting on trips or taking important
pictu res.
  To check battery power, push down the sliding shield (cl and rotate the film
advancer until it stops. Cover the CdS cell with your hand and press the shutter-
release button partway down (d).  lf the red low-light warning LED comes on, the
batteries are serviceable.
  When the battery power falls below a satisfactory level, the shutter-release button
will automatically lock to prevent improperly exposed photographs. ln this case,
replace the batteries with  f resh ones.

NOTE
o  lf the camera is not to be used for more than two weeks, it is advisable to remove
    the batteries.

Loading and advancing film
  You can use any standard 35mm film cartridge in your AF-C. To properly load
film in your camera:
1. Pull up on the back-cover release knob until the back cover springs open (e-1).
2. Leaving the knob pulled out, position a 35mm film cartridge into the chamber
   with the projecting spool down (e-2). Then push the knob all the way in, rotating
      it slightly  if necessary (e-31.
3. Slowly turn the film advancer until one of the light grey film retainers on the
   spool is fully open. Insert the film leader all the way in and under the light grey
   film retainer (f), then slowly wind the film advancer until the perforations of the
   bottom edge of the film are engaged with sprocket teeth (s).
4. Close the back cover.
5. Making sure the sliding shield is pushed down, advance the film and release the
   shutter until the figure "l"  appears in the center of the frame counter. lf the film
     is loaded correctly, an orange signal will appear in the right side of the Safe Load
   Signal window. lf  it does not appear, open the camera back and repeat the above
   loading procedure. As you take pictures, the edge of the orange signal will move
    to the left to indicate that the film is advancing properly.

www.butkus.us II     NOTE
          Load and unload film in subdued light, never in direct sunlight.-    o
         Setting film speed
          gain titm'on the market has an exposure-index number to indicate its sensitivity
       to light. To obtain correct exposure with the automatic exposure system of your        camera, you must set the camera for the film in use. To set it, turn the film-speed
         dial until the ASA/lSO number indication of the film you are using is aligned with
        the index in the  f ilm-speed window (h).
          The  f ilm-sPeed scale is:
         25 . .50.. 100.  . 200.  . 400          Dots denote ASA/ISO speeds of 32, 40, 64,80, 125, 160, 250, and 320,
             respectivelY,  f rom left to right.
         DIN system equivalents for this scale are:
          25 .. 50. . 100.  . 200.  . 400
          15..18..  21 ..24..27

HOW TO TAKE PICTURES
Sliding shield
_. Push the sliding shield down to its open position until it catches with a click (c).This turns on the camera's power and readies the camera for operation.
NOTES
o When the camera is not in use, push the sliding shield up to its closed position.
   This locks the shutter-release button to prevent accidental shots and protects the
    lens and windows from dust and damage.
 .   lf--the sliding shield is between the open and closed positions, the main switch  is
    off and the shutter-release button is locked.
Viewfinder
   As you look through the viewfinder (k) of your AF-C, you will see the following:
        I.   Framing gu ide
         il.  Autofocus zone
        III. Yellow proper-focus LED
      IV. Red low-light warning LED

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Automatic focusing   For the camera to focus correctly, the subiect or area of the scene you want to be
in focus should be centered in the viewfinder within the autofocus zone marks'                                                                     focus                                                                                correctly                                           may not                                                zon-e,                                               the.camera                              autofocus                    falls outside theii  VoriiuOject                                                                 page                                                                                           10).                                                          on                                                 hold (explained                                              focus                                     use the                              shoutd    the desired suojectlnJyoufor
    After composing your subject or scene, slightly d-epress the shutter-release button'
ffre Vef fow fiop"r-io"rs LEtj will light in the viewfinder to indicate that the camerahas measured the subject-to-cameri distance and will set the focus automatically
when the shutter-release button is pressed all the way down. lf the yellow proper-
focus LED does not light, you are too close to the subject for the camera to focus
piop.rfV.  lf this frapdens,' increase the camera-to-subject  distance, releasing and
itigfrtty'p."ssing  the shuttei-release button until the yellow proper-focus LED lights'

CAUTIONS
   Under certain conditions the autofocus mechanism may not function properly;
they are as follows:
 o When there is an extremely bright light source or reflecting light around the
    autofocus zone

o When the subject is highly lustrous or reflective, such as the surface of water,
      polished metal, or mirrors
   r When the subject is unsubstantial or highly unreflective, such as flame, hair, or
      black objects
  o When there is glass in front of the subject
      In the above cases, focus on another subject the same distance away and use the
  focus hold. Then recompose the scene and take the picture.

  NOTES
  o Keep the autofocus windows clean and free of obstructions because this could
     cause incorrect measuring of the focus distance.
  o Press the shutter-release button down in a smooth motion. Pressing the button
1   too quickly could cause blurred pictures.
II
I
III'

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   Focus hold
      Sometimes the conditions or the desired composition of a scene will not allow
    placing the subject within the autofocus zone of the viewfinder. This may cause the
   subject or nlost important area of the scene to be out of focus. Wth the camera's
    focus-hold feature, you can prefocus on a specif ic subject or area before you take the
    picture, then recompose as desired.
     To use focus hold:
   1. Aim the camera so that the autofocus zone covers the main subject or area you
      want to be in focus (l-11.
   2. Slightly depress the shutter-release button until the yellow proper-focus LED
      comes on (l-1).
   3. While keeping the shutter-release button  sl ightly depressed, recompose the scene
       as desired (l-2) and press the shutter-release button all the way down to take the
        p ictu re.
         lf you want to refocus or change the composition of the scene, you can cancel
   focus hold and prefocus again as many times as you wish by releasing the slightly
   pressed shutter-release button and pressing  it again.
  NOTE
1g o The film must be advanced and the shutter cocked for the focus hold to operate.

Automatic exposure control
   After framing your subject in the viewfinder, depress the shutter-release button
 slightly to check the light level.
     lf the red low-light warning LED does not come on in the lower left corner of the
viewfinder, there is sufficient light for normal hand-held exposures. Hold the camera
 in a comfortable position and press the shutter-release button all the way down to
take the picture.
     lf the red low-lightwarning LED does come on in the viewfinder,  it indicates that
the automatically set shutter speed will be slower than 1/40 sec. and the resulting
photograph may be blurred or underexposed.  In this case, use a tripod or attach the
dedicated flash accessory, the Electroflash C, for flash pictures.
Flash photography
     lf the red low-light warning LED comes on in the viewfinder when the
shutter-release button is slightly pressed, you should use thededicated Electroflash C
(ml if you do not wish to use a tripod and a slow shutter speed.
   The Electroflash C is made exclusively for the AF-C. When attached to the camera
and turned on, the flash couples with the AF-C's flashmatic system, automatically
setting the shutter for X-sync and providing automatic exposure.
   For more detailed information, please refer to the Minolta Electroflash C owner's
manual.
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    Self-timer
     The camera's self-timer delays the release of the shutter for about 10 seconds,
   allowing time for you to get into the picture yourself.
     To operate the self-timer:
   1. After advancing the film, press down the self-timer switch as far as itwill go until
           it catches (il.
   2. Compose your subject in the viewfinder. Depress the shutter-release button all the
     way down to start the self-timer.
     The self-timer LED comes on at the start of operation, then blinks during
   approximately the last 3 seconds before shutter release.

  NOTES
  o When taking a self-portrait using the self-timer and the camera on a tripod, use the
      focus hold to prefocus for the same distance as you plan to stand from the
      camera, then recompose and press the shutter-release button all the way down.
  o The self-timer switch is not cancelable.


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CAUTIONS
 o Never force the self-timer switch or shut the sliding shield after pressing down the
    self-timer switch.
 o Do not press the self-timer switch while advancing the film.
Unloading exposed film
   To remove exposed film:
1. Press the  f ilm rewind-release button on the bottom of the camera.
2' Unfold the film-rewind crank and turn it in the direction of the arrow on the   crank (i) until the orange signal in the Safe Load Signal window disappears. you
   will feel tension on the  fi lm increase, then disappear and the crank wi ll turn
    freely. A few more turns rewinds the film completely into the cartridge.
3. When you are sure the film is fully rewound, pull up on the back-Lover release
   knob to open the back, then remove the film cartridge.





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  NOTES
   o Never open the camera back when there is any orange signal visible in the Safe
      Load Signal window because this could ruin exposed film.
   o Film should be handled and unloaded in subdued light, never in direct sunlight.
   Data imprinting
     The AF-C has an optional accessory, the Ouartz Data Back C (n), which can
    record the year. month  . day or hour.minute in the lower right corner of the picture
   frame. This can help identify and classify your photographs. Detailed information  is
   given in the Minolta Ouartz Data Back C owner's manual.





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  TECHNICAL DETAILS
   Type: Ultra-compact autofocus 35mm camera with programmed automatic exposure
   control and sliding  f ront shield
   Lens: Minolta 35mm  f 12.8,6 elements in 6 groups, 63o angle of view
   Focusing: lnfrared autofocus type 0.9m (3 ft.) to infinity, with focus hold when
   shu tter-release bu tton  sl ight ly dep ressed  ; focu s-hold  f u nction cancel able
   Exposure system: CdS-cell metering, coupled automatic exposure range EV6 to
  EV '17; film-speed range ASA/ISO 25 to 400
   Aperture-shutter: Between-the-lens electronic type programmed   f or automatic
   exposure from 1/8 sec. at  f 12.8 (EV 6) to 1/430 sec. at f 117 IEV 17); X-sync at
   1/40 sec. or higher with aperture automatically set
   Viewfinder: Bright-frame type with autofocus zone marks, yellow proper-focus LED
  when sublect within autofocus range, red low-light warning LED when shutter speed
     is slower than 1/40 sec.; magnif ication: 0.47X; power: -1D   Self-timer: Electronic for approx. 1Gsec. delay, red LED steady indication from start
   of operation followed by blinking during last 3 sec. before shutter release



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Power source: Two 3v lithium batteries (CR 1/3N or equivalent), four 1.55v
silver-oxide cells (Eveready 5-76, EPX-76 or equivalent), or four 1.5v alkaline-
manganese cells (Eveready 4-76 or equivalent) for automatic exposure system,
autof ocus system, and indicator LEDs
Film advance: Grooved-wheel type with 360" rotation; advancing-type frame
counter; release button for film rewind on camera bottom; Safe Load Signal
indicating   f ilm loading and advancing condition
Dimensions:42x67.5 x 105mm (1-5/8 x2-'l1l16x 4-118 in.)
Weight: 2159 7-9116 oz.l without batteries
Other: Sliding shield guards lens, CdS cell, and autofocus windows, and turns off
power when closed; automatic shutter lock when sliding shield closed or battery
power insufficient; Minolta Easy-Load film-loading system with special firm-grip
take-up spool; detachable back cover; strap included
Accessories: Exclusive Electroflash C, Ouartz Data Back C; deluxe camera case; Mini
Tripod TR-1
Specif ications subject to change without notice

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