Film cameras
Minox 35PL User manual
User manual for Minox 35PL. 15 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Minox
- Model / document
- Minox 35PL
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 15
- File size
- 0.8 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
Introduction This detailed instruction manual will help you to make the most of your Minox 35 PL. The most important text Sections are printed in bold type. References to parts, controls or camera signals are followed by a numeral in brackets; This is the number of that part in the annotated illustrated on pages 4 and 5. Most handling steps work without a film in the camera So get familiar with your camera by trying it out before actually taking pictures. Many operations of the Minox35PL are controlled electronically. The camera therefore only works with a battery. Despite its small dimensions the Minox 35 PL is a full-frame 24 x 36 mm miniature camera and takes any standard 35mm (No. 135) cartridge. Contents Annotated camera views Front view 4 Flash exposures 18 Rear view 5 The self timer 19 Handling the camera The distance setting 20 The battery 6 Loading the film 21 Inserting the battery 6 Unloading the film 24 Battery check 7 Care of the camera 25 Opening and closing the camera 9 Accessories The viewfinder 9 Special computer flash units Holding it right 10 Minox FC 35 27 Releasing 11 Minox TC 35 28 Advancing the film 12 The ever-ready case 30 The frame counter 13 The belt and wrist pouch 31 Setting the film speed 13 The pocket tripod 32 Daylight exposures 15 Push-on filters Program automation 15 The skylight filter 33View original page 2
Page 5 · Read text
A click on pressing the release does not necessarily indicate correct operation of the electronic shutter. So check
the battery.
Battery check
Open the front cover (16), fully advance the
film transport lever (19) see page12 -and
check as follows:
Fully depress the small rectangular battery
check button (3) between the hot shoe and the
green release button. If the left-hand green
LED (7) in front of the hot shoe lights up, the
battery is OK.
If the green LED (7) fails to light the battery is exhausted or was inserted the wrong way around.
If the green LED (7) goes dim within 2-3 seconds, the battery is nearly exhausted - so replace it as soon as
possible.
The battery check does not indicate how much longer the battery will last. To be on the safe side, replace the
battery once a year by a new one, even if the battery check is still positive.
Apparent early failure of the battery may in fact be due to a poor contact. Remove the battery from the camera,
firmly rub down both contact faces with a rough cloth and replace.
Never keep spent or too old batteries in the camera. Also remove the battery if you do not expect to use the
camera for some time.
Note: The battery used here contains mercury compounds that could pose a health risk. So never throw used
batteries on a fire; also keep them out of the reach of small children. Photo dealers usually accept spent batteries
for disposal.
Opening and closing the camera
To prepare the Minox 35 PL for shooting, fully pull down the front cover (16). After shooting push the cover up
again against the camera body.
Opening the front cover automatically extends the lens (14), closing the cover retracts it.
The closed cover also covers the viewfinder, blocks the release and switches off all electric circuits
With the camera closed you can still advance the film (page 12) or rewind an exposed film (page 24).
The viewfinder
The bright frame in the finder (17) outlines the field of view.
In certain light conditions a red signal appears in the finder below the bright frame at the right. This is the slow-
speed warning signal (page 16).
The closed front cover (16) also blocks the finder view. So when you see nothing through the finder you must
open the cover.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
Holding it right The picture at the left shows a convenient camera hold for horizontal shots, the illustration opposite a suit- l able hold for upright views. To minimize the risk of camera shake hold your 35 PL steady while you shoot. Keep your fingers clear of the lens (14)andoftheCdS cell (15).Preferably press your fingers flat against the front of the camera body. Releasing Once you have framed the view you want in the bright- line finder frame, gently depress the green release button (2). That triggers the shutter to take the picture. On pressing the release, the self timer LED (9) briefly lights up on the camera front. During the exposure the red slow speed warning LED lights up on the camera top (6) and in the finder at the bottom right. This red signal remains lit until the shutter closes - a useful indication during long time exposures with the camera mounted on a tripod.View original page 6
Page 7 · Read text
Advancing the film
Pull the film transport lever (19) -at the top right of
the camera back fully out to the right and forward.
Repeat this.
If you failed to pull the lever fully forward either
time, pull once more. If you have loaded the film
and it is advancing correctly, the knob with the
rewind crank (8) at the top left of the camera also
rotates as you operate the transport lever. So do not
obstruct this knob as you wind.
A light dot on the rewind crank (8) shows up this
movement.
When the whole f ilm is exposed, the transport lever
no longer swings out fully and the release is
blocked. You can advance the film with the front
cover open or closed.
The frame counter
The frame counter (1) - the white window at the far
right of the camera top tells you how many pictures
you have taken on the film.
The frame counter returns to its start position when
you remove the camera back to change the film (see
page 24) or as soon as you then press the release (2).
Setting the film speed
Every film package carries an ASA speed rating
(and often DIN)
To set the automatic exposure program of the 35 PL
for the film speed, turn the dial (23) in the camera
base to the appropriate ASA (or DIN) rating of the
film. The dial engages at every speed setting. The
unmarked dots between the arrowheads indicate
intermediate speeds, for instance 64 and 80 ASA
between 50 and 100 ASA.
ASA speed figures are marked in red, DIN figures in
green. If you have set too high a film speed, your
pictures will be underexposed; too low a speed
setting yields overexposed shots.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
(webmaster: The other dots are setting for the following ASA settings *400, 333, 267, *200, 166, 133, *100,
84, 67, *50, 42, 33, *25)
Daylight exposures
Program automation
For all shots without flash set the white
arrowhead on the lens mount (12) to A
(automatic control).
At this A setting the camera automatically
selects a correct aperture and shutter speed
combination for the subject brightness and film
speed.
The F-stops, for instance 2.8 - 4 5.6 etc. on the
aperture ring (12) are only used for flash shots
(page 18). If you accidentally set the ring to an
aperture figure instead of to A, daylight and
other shots without flash e.g. bright interiors lit
by artificial light - may be wrongly exposed.
The electronic program of the Minox 35 PL yields aperture/speed combinations from f/16 to f/2.8 and
from1/500to4secondsat100ASA(up to 15 seconds at 25 ASA or up to 1 second at 400 ASA).
The slow-speed warning
If the camera is ready to shoot (front cover open,
film advanced) at an exposure time longer than about
1/30 second, a red flashing signal warns of likely
camera shake with hand-held shots.
The red signal flashes clearly on top of the camera
(6) and also in the finder (at the bottom right). There
it appears weaker to avoid glare in the finder image.
The automatic control of the Minox 35 PL can also
generate exposures much longer than 1/30 second.
The red flashing signal is thus not an underexposure
warning but only a recommendation to use a flash
unit (pages 27 to 29) when photographing moving
subjects (e.g. people) indoors. Or -for static subjects-
mount the camera on a tripod (page 32).
The slow-speed warning uses battery power. So close the front cover when you put away your Minox 35 PL.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
The backlight switch
If you push the backlight switch (4) -the small
rectangular button next to the hot shoe - fully
forward, this automatically doubles the exposure.
A red window with 2x in white reminds you that you
have switched on the backlight switch.
Apart from lightening shadows in backlit subjects,
use the backlight switch also for outdoor views
where predominant snow or a bright sky area could
cause the meter to set insufficient exposure.
Flash exposures
The hot shoe of the Minox 35 PL takes any
electronic flash unit with a centre contact in the
foot - as well as the Minox TC 35 and FC 35
computer flash units which are specially matched
to the Minox 35.
Push the black blanking plate out of the hot shoe
towards the rear. Fully push the foot of the flash
unit into the shoe.
This disengages the automatic exposure control
of the Minox 35 PL and sets a fixed shutter speed
of 1/90 second.
Do not take flash shots with the aperture ring (12) set to A (automatic). For flash shots select one of the marked
apertures between f/2.8 and f/16 (including intermediate values) - check the instructions of the flash used.
With some electronic flash units (not with the special Minox flashes) you must operate the film transport of
the35PL immediately after every flash shot. For unless the shutter is tensioned, such flash units either fail to
give a ready signal for the next flash or (more rarely) may automatically trigger the next flash after recycling.
(Th is is not a fault but a f eature of the electronic circuit.)View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
The self timer
Push down the small sliding switch (18) at the
right of the finder eyepiece to uncover a red
window with T (timer) in white. This delays the
shutter release by about12 seconds after you have
pressed the green release button (or released with
a cable release).
A red flashing LED on the camera front (9)
signals that the self timer is running but the
exposure has not yet started. The flashing rate
doubles after 4 seconds and again after 8 seconds
of the delay period.
The distance setting
Estimate the approximate distance to the main subject
and set this on the distance scale (13). In view of the
considerable depth of field of the 35 mm lens a really
accurate setting is only necessary at near distances of
around 3 to 4ft or O.9 to 1 m.
For a useful snapshot zone set the scale to the green
dot between 10 and 20 ft or between 3 and 5 m; in
good light this then covers everything from about 6 to
60 ft or 2 to 20 m.
For landscapes without near foreground set the scale
to oo (infinity).View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
Loading the film
Never load the camera in direct
sunlight- at least do it in the
shade of your body.
Turn the back cover locking lever
(24) in the camera base to
uncover the recessed red dot, then
pull off the beck from below
(illustration a).
Insert the film cartridge in the film chamber (25) to the left of the film track, with the film leader pointing to the
right.
Turn the take-up spool (20) with the r ight thumb to bring the broad slot of the spool core to the top.
Now press the rewind release (21) at the right in the camera base to lock the take-up spool. Push the film leader
underneath the metal sleeve as far as it will go (illustration b), then let go of the rewind release button.
Open the camera's front cover so that you can operate the release button.
Alternately advance the film and
release until:
· The full film width is drawn
with both perforation rows
across the film track and lies flat
against it (arrow in illustration
c), and
· One tooth of the sprocket wheel (at the right below the film gate) engages a perforation hole of the film
(circled in illustration c).
Replace the camera back by pushing it on and lock by turning the back lock in the camera base to cover the red
dot again (illustration d).
Advance the film, release the shutter, advance once more. Check that the rewind crank (8) at the left in the
camera top rotates - watch the light dot The frame counter (1) is now at O.
Set the film speed on the scale in the camera base (page 13).
During shooting you can still check that the film is advancing correctly: Whenever you work the film transport
lever, the rewind crank with the light dot must rotate, too.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
Unloading the film
After the last exposure (No. 36, 24 20 or 12 on the frame
counter, depending on the film length) you must rewind the
film into its cartridge: Unfold the rewind crank end with the
light dot (8, in the camera top at the left), press the rewind
release button (21, in the recess in the camera base at the
right) and let go. Rewind the film by turning the rewind
crank clockwise.
The film is fully rewound when the crank starts turning more
freely.
After rewinding remove the camera back and withdraw the cartridge from the camera.
If the frame counter (1) does not return to its start position on removing the back, release the shutter once.
However the frame counter automatically resets itself during loading at the latest when you have pushed the
film end into the take-up spool and advanced the film and released the shutter before closing the back (see page
22).
Care of the camera
Periodically clean the front lens element, the outer finder window surfaces and the curved window in front of
the CdS cell. Remove any dust with a soft brush, air blower or special lens cleaning tissue -these are obtainable
from photo dealers. Do not use lens cleaning fluids.
Immediately remove fingerprints from the front lens; such marks greatly reduce definition.
When changing film, check that the back of the lens and the camera i nterior are also clean and dust-free.
Accessories
The matched Minox FC 35 computer flash
The Minox FC 35 electronic flash is the smaller of the two
computer flashes designed for the Minox 35 cameras. It is 3 x
5.5 x 7.5 cm (1.2 x 2.2x3in.)1argeandweighs130g(4.6 oz). The
metric guide No. for 100 ASA is 18 (59 in feet).
You have two aperture options with two working ranges of the
computer control: At the "green" setting the flash covers
subjects up to 4.5 m or 15ft.Attheredsettingthelimitis3.2m (10 ft)
but the depth of field is greater, for at any given film speed you
use one stop smaller than with the green setting.
If you switch off the automatic control of the PC 35 you can cover greater distances with high-speed films, e.g.
up to 13 m or 40 ft with 400 ASA.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Recycling time: Approx. 10 seconds. Batteries: 2 size AAA alkaline manganese cells. Capacity approx.60 to 80
flashes per battery set. (Ail data based on DIN 19011 specifications.)
The matched Minox TC 35 computer flash
The TO 35 is the more powerful of the two Minox
35flash units and offers additional features.
The guide No. (in accordance with DIN 19011) is
26 (m) or 95 (ft) at 100 ASA. Three aperture
options with ranges up to 9, 6.5 and 3.25 m (30, 21
and 10 1/2:ft). LED on a scale show available
ranges and working apertures; in manual mode
(range with 400 ASA up to about18 m or60 ft) this
serves as an aperture calculator.
In computer (automatic flash duration control) mode, and especially at near to medium distances, the thyristor
series circuit provides fast recycling (1 to 10 seconds) and a high capacity (about 80 to 500 flashes) per battery
set of 4 size AAA alkaline manganese cells. An economy circuit automatically switches off the unit when not in
use for longer periods, so saving batteries.
A test button and green LED provide a battery check.
For bounce flashing the flash reflector tilts up to 90° in 15° steps. On triggering a test flash, a built-in auto ch
eck control shows by a green or red signal whether the flash power is sufficient for the subject in question.
For storage in its leather case or for carrying in a jacket pocket swing the reflector up; the unit is then no thicker
than the camera. It is 10 cm (3.9 in.) wide, 6.5 cm (2.6 in.) high with the reflector pointing forward or 9.1 cm
(3.6in.) tilt up through 90°. lt weighs 188 9 (6.6 oz with batteries
The ever-ready case
The black leather ever-ready case of the Minox
35PL is closely tailored to the camera so that it is no
bigger than a soft zip pouch. But you can shoot
much faster with it.
An eyelet at the left and right of the ever-ready case
takes the wrist strap supplied, fit it at whichever
side you find more convenient for handling. The 90
cm (3 ft) neck strap -an optional extra accessory -
attaches to both eyelets for carrying the camera
around the neck.
You can remove the top of the Eveready case altogether. If you carry the Minox 35 PL slung around your neck
in the bottom section of the case, with the camera front open and the filter and lens hood in place, you can walk
around and be instantly ready to shoot (see illustration page 33).View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
The belt and wrist pouch
This smart elegant case is a piece of luxury leather
work in top-quality soft burgundy red Naskapi
leather. It is totally unlike any ever-reedy case: It
ideally matches smart leisure wear and you can
carry it either slung around your wrist or fixed to
your belt (up to 4 cm or 1 win. wide). When used as
a belt case, remove the leather wrist strap with its
brass snap hook.
For shooting you remove the Minox 35 PL from the case. The sides are in generously tailored so that the closed
case fits snugly around the Minox, yet you can get into the open case with the fingers to grip the camera easily
and securely from both sides.
The pocket tripod
The Minox pocket tripod is a very handy camera stand
- not much larger than a pencil when closed but very
rigid as stable and wall support - even on rough
surfaces. It can also serve as a chest pod for horizontal
shots with the Minox 35 PL. The Minox pocket tripod
includes a cable release indispensable for tripod shots.
Screw the tripod screw into the bush in the camera
base. Do not screw the camera too tightly onto the
tripod but tighten instead the large milled plate of the
tripod against the camera body.
Screw the cable release into the thread next to the
release button.
Push-on filters with collapsible lens hood and leather case
The Minox 35 PL takes only Minox filters marked
either "Minox 35 GT" or "Minox 35 GT/PL/PE".
Minox filters not so marked are intended for the older
EL and GL models and do not fit the Minox 35 PL.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
The skylight filter This reduces any blue cast liable to arise in color slides taken by brilliant blue-sky light. In daylight the filter also absorbs ultraviolet rays that could with any film - impair definition. The 4 x neutral density filter This reduces the light coming through the lens to one-quarter and is recommended for shots in bright sunlight on high speed film (400 ASA). Technical data Type: Minox 35 PL miniature camera. Minox code Nos.: 10.721 with distance scale in meters 10.722 with distance scale in feet Picture size: 24 x 36 mm. Film: Standard 35 mm cartridge (No.135). Lens: 35 mm Minox Color-Minotar f/2.8, focusing range from infinity to 0.9 m or 3 ft. The lens retracts automatically on closing the front cover. Automatic exposure control: Electronic program control (with aperture ring set to A) from 1/500 second at f/16 to 4 seconds at f/2.8 with 100 ASA. Longest reliable time depends on film speed, e.g.15 seconds with 25 ASA down to 1 second with 400 ASA. Slow-speed warning: With exposure times longer than 1/30 second a red LED blinks on top of the camera; also visible in the finder via a fiber-optical light guide. Backlight switch: Doubles the exposure. Release: Soft release, blocked if front cover is not fully open. Cable release socket: Next to release button in camera top. Self timer: Electronic, approx. 12 seconds delay. Red flashing LED on camera front during delay time; flashing frequency increases in three steps. Viewfinder: Bright-frame direct finder with slow speed warning signal. Frame counter: Counts forward, returns to start position on removing camera back and releasing shutter. Flash contact: Hot shoe, X synchronized, automatic time switching to 1/90 second. Tripod bush: l/4 in. Battery: One Varta V 27 PX, Ucar EPX 27, Duracell PX 27 or equivalent (5.6 volts).; Battery check: Check button, green LED signal. Camera body: Glass fiber-reinforced Makrolon. Size: (Width x height x depth):10x6.1x 3.1 cm (3.9 x 2.4 x 1.2 in.) Weight: Approx.190 9 without or 200 9 with battery (6.7 or 7.1 oz respectively). Made by: MINOX GmbH, Postfach 60 20, D-6300 Giessen 1, West Germany.View original page 15
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