Film cameras
Polaroid Spectra System User manual
User manual for Polaroid Spectra System. 39 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Polaroid
- Model / document
- Polaroid Spectra System
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 39
- File size
- 2.5 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 4 · Read text
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The camera's advanced computer circuitry
Over30 complexfocusingand Confirms thatthe flash is ready Directsthe photocelltomeasure
exposuredecisionsaremade, to fire the lightfromthe scene.
wrthin50 thousandthsof a
second,to giveyou the best
possiblepicture.everytime
As you touchthe shutterbutton,
yourcamera'sadvancedcom- Usesthe distanceand lightputercrrcuttry: Directsthe sonarrangefinder measurementsto blendlightfrom
to send soundwavesto your the scenewrthjustenoughf lash
subJect Transmitsthe distanceand light
readrngsto the viewfinderdisplay.
Monitorsthe positionof the
controlpanelswitches W))))))Selectstheoptimallenssetting,
Measuresthe timeit takesthe aperture,and shutterspeed
qnt rnd tn roar-h I \/nry v u r rr reru u rhiontj v v ( qenr.lr r u fora sharp,beautifullyexposed
the echoto returnto calculatethe picture.$EgEEH#M
precisedistanceto yoursubjectView original page 4Page 6 · Read text
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Spectra System film PolaroidSpectraSystemfilm producesthe mostbrilliantcolorsin
instantphotography.Thisfilmwas developedjustfor SpectraSystem
camerasand is the onlyfilmthatcan be used in yourcamera.
Eachf ilm pack providesten picturesand containsa fresh batterythat
powers all camera functions.
A new dye moleculemakescolors . . . and moredetailcan be seenin the
noticeablybrighter shadowedareas.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
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The largerrectangularformatallows . . . a n d h o r i z o n t a l l y .
youto includemorein the picture,both
verticallv.. .
A filmexpirationdate appearson the bottomof everyfilm box.Thisdate
is yourassurancethatyou are buyingfreshfilm.
Toloadfilm intothe camera,see page 26.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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Theautofocussystem As you pressthe shutterbutton,yourcamerasendssoundwaves- 'lO within thousandthsof a second-tothe centraloartof the scene
(approximateareacircledin white).
The soundwavesare usedto measurethe distanceto the personor
object(in the centralpart of the scene)thatis closestto the camera.
A built-incomputerthenusesthis measurementto providethe correct
lenssetting,so be sure that:
a The sound waves have a clear path to your subject. lf an object
(candlestick,centerpiece,etc.)preventsthe soundwavesfrom
reachingyoursubject,the lenswillfocuson thatobject,and your
subjectwillbe unsharp.
o Whenphotographingmorethanone person,everyoneis at the same
distance from the camera.
Whentakinga picturethroughglass,youturnoff the autofocussystem
See oaoe 19View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
See page 19
12 www.orphancameras.com
The Quintic lens system Threepatented,computer-designedlenselementscombineto forman '125mm extremelycompactyet powerful lenswiththesespecial
f eatures:
. Uniquelycurvedlenssurfacesproducesharppicturesfrom2feel ( 6m)
to infinity
. Thereis virtuallyno opticaldistortion,improvingpicturequality.
. The lenstransmitslightmoreevenlyto the f ilm
. A longerfocallengthmakesyoursubjectfillmoreof the pictureareaView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
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Theviewfinderdisplays Whenyou havea filmpack in the cameraand pressthe shutterbutton
halfway,a displayappearsin the viewfinderto helpyoutakethe best
oossibleoicture.
Whenyou see a number in the viewfinder,it tellsyouthe distanceto
yoursubject(infeetor meters).Thisnumberwillhelpyoufollowthe
distancerecommendationsthroughoutthisbook.
Whenyou see a green "good picture" symbol:
Theconditionsare rightfor takinga good picture.Pressthe shutter
buttonthe rest of the way.View original page 10Page 12 · Read text
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The programmed flash Everytime you take a picture,indoors or outdoors, yourcamera
blendslightfromthe scenewithjustenoughflashto providethe right
lightingfor the best possiblepicture.
Hereis an exampleof whatthisf ill-flashsystemcan do:
In thisoutdoorscene,photographedwith- Yourcamerablendssunlightwithjustthe
out flash, brightsunlighthas created rightamountof f lashto softenshadows
harshfacialshadows. and revealfacialdetailsView original page 12Page 13 · Read text
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The rapid-recharge Not all of the energyneededto fullychargeyourcamera'sflashis used
system everytimeyoutakea picture.Forexample,whenyoursubjectis close,
lessflashis neededso lessenergyis usedthanwhenyoursubject
is fartheraway.Polaroid'snew SpectraSystemthyristorflashallowsthis
energyto be saved,resultingin fasterrechargetimes-usuallyless
than a second.
Rechargeindicators
The red lighton the controlpanelwillcomeon and the flashwillauto-
maticallybeginto chargeeverytimeyou:
. Loadfilm intothe camera . Takea picture
. Pressthe shutterbuttonhalfway . Openthe camera
Whenthe greenlightcomeson, the flashis readyto fire.The lightwill
stayon tor 20 to 30 seconds.
lf you wantto takea pictureafterthe greenlighthas goneoff, lightly
pressand releasethe shutterbuttonto turnthe greenlightback on. ffi
Flash range Indoors
Yoursubjectshouldbe 2 to 15feet (.6mto 4.6m)fromthe camera.
Outdoors
Yoursubjectshouldbe at least 2teet (.6m)away.
17View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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The self-timer The self-timerletsyou get intoyourpicture
Tousethisfeature,placethe cameraon a tripodor othersteadysup-
port lf you attachthe camerato a table tripod,be surethe camerais
positionedoverone of the tripod'slegsfor propersupport
Frameyourpicturein the viewfinderand pressthe shutterbutton
halfwayto be sureyou get the green"goodpicture"symbol Then
releasethe shutterbutton.
Slidethe self-timerswitchall the way down (a).Younow have
12seconds to get intoyourpicture
Duringthe first10 seconds,the camerawill beep and youwillsee a
f lashingred light(b) on the f rontof the camera.
Two seconds beforethe cameratakesthe picture,the red lightwillstay
on and the beepswillbecomea steadysignalto remindyou to holdstill
and smile.
After the camerahas takenthe picture,it willnot ejectthe f ilm untilyou
slidethe self-timerswitchup (c).Do not close the camerabeforeyou
slidethe switchup.
lf you wantto stopthe 12-secondcountdown,slidethe switchup (c) to
turnoff the timer,
18View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
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scene through gtass autofocusandflashsystemsby slidingbothswitchesdown,as shown.
Whenyou turnoff the autofocussystem,the lenssetsfor distantscenes
(.15feetto infinity),requiringthe pictureto be takenin a specialway:
. Be surethe sceneis at least 15feet (4.6m)f romthe cameraand in
daylight.
. Framethe picturein the viewfinderand pressthe shutterbutton
haltway(youwill not see a distancereadingbecausethe autofocus
systemis off).
. Whenyou see the green"goodpicture"symbol,takethe picture'
lf you see the f lashingyellow"caution"symboland heara warningtone,
thereis not enoughlightto takea good picture.
lmportant:Whenyou havefinishedtakingthe picture,turnon the auto-
focusand flashsystemsby slidingboth switchesup.
19View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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Theexposure Use the exposurecontrolwhen you wantto retake a pictureto make it
control lighteror darker.
Whenretakinga pictureto makeit lighter:
Slidethe controlall the way up (a).
Whenretakinga pictureto makeit darker:
Slidethe controlallthe way down (b).
Afteryou havefinishedtakingthe picture,do notforgetto
returnthe controlto the center position (c).
a b c
Lighten Darken Center
Special situations
Picturestakenof peoplein highlyreflectivebeachor snowscenesoften
turn out too dark. Youmay wantto setthe controlallthe way up to the
Lighten setting(a) beforetakingthistype of picture.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
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lf the backgroundof a flash pictureis too dark but yoursubjectis well
illuminated(a),the backgroundis too far away.Movingthe controlto the
Lighten settingwillnot correctthis problem,so be sure:
The exposurecontrolis in the center position.Thenretakethe picture,
placingyoursubjectnear a backgroundand keepingbothwithinthe
2 to 15foot (.6mto 4.6m)flashrange(b).
a The backgroundis too far f romthe subiect. b The backgroundis closeto the subjectand
bothare withinthe flashranoe.View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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Open the camera
Placeboth handsunderthe cameraas shown.Slidethe releaselatch1 back. The camerawillopen automaticallvView original page 18Page 19 · Read text
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Check the control panel switches
Whenyouwantthe camerato be fully automatic,be sureallthe
switchesare in a row as shown
Foran explanationof whateach switchdoes,see page 9
Feet or meters selector
Audio signalswitch
Self-timerswitch
Sonar autofocus override
Exposure control
Programmedflash
overrideView original page 19Page 21 · Read text
26 www.orphancameras.com
F, .,,, *.. *-
As soon as you closethe film door,the battery in the film pack will
power the cameraand youwillsee:
. The filmcovereject
. The picturecountersetto 10
. A greenlightindicatingthe flashis readyto fire.
ffififfi
Positionyour subiect
Youcan takethe mostpleasingpicturesof people,both indoors and
outdoors,whentheyare3 to 5 feet (.9mto 1 5m) away.The distance
readingin the vrewfinderwillhelpyoustaywithinthisrange
Indoors:Yoursubjectshouldbe withinthe 2 to 15foot ( 6m to 4.6m)
flashrange.Forbest results,yoursubjectshouldalsobe neara light-
coloredbackground.
Outdoors:Yoursubiectshouldbe at least 2 feet (.6m)fromthe
camera.
27View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com Takethe picture Slideyourleft handthroughthe handstrapand holdthe cameraas you woulda pairof binoculars. Forhorizontalpictures,holdthe cameraas shownin illustration(a).For verticalpictures,positionthe camerawiththe flash on top as shownin illustration(b) to get the best result.View original page 22
Page 23 · Read text
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halfway.Youshouldsee the followingviewfinderdisplay:
A green"goodpicture"symbol
tellingyouto pressthe shutter
buttonthe rest of tire way to take
The distanceto the picture.Whenyou releasethe
yoursubject,for button,the camerawilleiectthe
example,5 feet orcture.
lf you see a f lashingyellow"caution"symboland heara warningtone
when you pressthe shutterbuttonhalfway,see page 15.
lf you have pressedthe shutterbuttonhalfway and want to changeyour
oosition,releasethe shutterbuttonand thenmakethe change.
After you havetakenthe picture,the red lighton the controlpanelwill
comeon whilethe flashautomaticallyrecharges.The rechargetime is
usuallyless than a second.Whenthe greenlightcomeson, you can rffi takeanotherpicture EU
Handlethe prcturegentlyduringthe first 60 secondsof development.
Fanningor bendingthe picturewilldisturbthe developmentprocess.
.Distance readingsdo not appearwhenyoursubjectis beyond
29 20 feet(6.2m)View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
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To remove After you havetakenthe tenth picture, three chimes will soundto
an emptyfilm pack remindyouto removethe emptyfilmpack.
Pushthe filmdoor releasedown to open the filmdoor.Pullthe bluetab
to removethe film oack.
Whenthe cameracontainsan emptyfilm pack:
Youwill hearthree chimes when you open the camera.
Youwill hearthree chimes and then see a flashing zero in the view-
finderwhen you pressand hold the shutterbuttonhalfway.View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
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To close the camera Whenyou havefinishedusingthe camera,closeit to protectthe lens
Holdthe cameraas shown.Slidethe releaselatchback. Pushboth
sidesof the coverdown unttlit locks.View original page 25Page 26 · Read text
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Color Srncevibrant,bold colorsarevividlyreproducedon SpectraSystem
f ilm,lookfor colorwhenf ramingthe scenein the viewfinder,Ot use
colorfulprops(a).
An awarenessof contrastingcolorsin the worldaroundyou can
improvethe visualimpactof yourphotographsThe brightlycolored
planeagainstthe darkbackgroundis an exampleof a strikingcombi-
nationof color(b).View original page 26From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.