Film cameras
Praktica BC 3 User manual
User manual for Praktica BC 3. 36 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
36 pagesEnglish2.8 MB PDF
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Document details
- Brand
- Praktica
- Model / document
- Praktica BC 3
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 36
- File size
- 2.8 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
With the PRAKTICA BCS you haue bought
a qualitg miniature SLR cam,era zoith fully
automatic shutter speed control in a range
betueen 1/rr.,oos and 40 s. In addition, the ca-
n^Lera's microelectroni,cs make possible pho-
tographg at fired shutter speeds betueen 1/rooo s and 1 s and unlimited shutter speeds
u:ith the B setting. The open-aperture TTL
metering means a reallg bright uieufinder
image as a result of the electronic transmis-
sion of aperture ualues from the lens to the
camera.
17 LEDs at the right-hand edge of the uieus-
finder image prouide information on all im-
portant shot data and operations, such as the
shutter speed to be erpected, undererposltre
and oueretposu,re, autornatic and semi-auto-
matic operating modes as usell. as flash re-
adiness usith dedicated computerised flash
units. ln addition, the preselected aperture
setting is tsisible at the bottom of the uieus-
finder image. Manual corrections can be
made for deliberate ouererposures and un-
dererposures. The PRAKTICA BCS is sui-
table for use uith both normal, electronic
flash units and computerised flash units.
3
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erhed flash unit; indication of tlash read,-
iness in uieutinder
O uieusfinder image shoussdpprox. 95 per
cent of picture sides
o PRAKTICA bagonet (flange focat length
44.4mm, internal diatneter 48.5mm)
a connection for niotor u:inder
a tilm intormotiorz holder on redr of cam-
era
O batterg condition indication in uiewfi,nd-
ET
O pou)er source: 6V primarE battery
O silicon photoelement as light senscr
O metering and control range: 0-17 EV at
21 DIN and aperture 1.4
O dim"ensionso! bodE:
738mm x 87.5n'Ln'Lx 49 mm
O ueight of boda uith,out batterg: 530g
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I
I lZ Focussing rirry
13 Depth-of -Iield scale
| 11 Lens positioning mark
| 15 Lug f or camging strap
16 Releaselock u:ith tnark
77 Connectionfor cable'
release
78 Shutter release
19 Shutter speedfautomatic
I setting knob
20 Hot shoe tuith centre
contact
27 Connection fo,r
computerised flash
22 Centre contact
23 Memorg lock and batterg
checkbutton
24 Lug f or canying strap
25 Erposure conxpensatiott
dial u:itlt. marl$ng
26 Flash nipple
27 Aperture setting ring
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28 Film cartridge
compartment
29 Shutter blodes
30 Eg epiece u;ith acce ssorg
holder
31 Camera back
32 Film take-up-spool
33 Film sprocket
34 Knurled spool base
38
39
35 Contacts f or motor tpinder
36 Cot:er f or batterg cornpartment
37 Battery comportment locking screu)
38 Filtn inf ormation holder
39 Thread for tripod
40 Rerind release
41 Coupling for motor ucinder 40
42 Catch f or motor usinder
43 EgepiececoDer (seepage22)
41
421 1
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a Prepare to shoot o Film change
CarrE on releasing and cocki,ng until the Depress reuind release (40), lold out re-
frame counter (5) indicates frame 7. uind crank (8) and turn in the direction
o Readjust setting knob (19) to automatic. of the arrou). When turning becomes easier the tilm has been completelA re-
O Set fi,lm speed toound. Pull the retuind button (9) all the
Lift and turn setting ring (10) until the uaA up to unlock the back and then re-
correct film speed i,s opposite the mark. n'Louethe tilm cartridge.
o Select aperture c Lens change
Set the desired aperture usi,ng the aper- Press unlocking kea G), turn lens anti.-
ture setting ring (27). cloclttoiseas f ar as it will go and ren'Loue.
o Focus Insert the Lensso that the red markings
Triple uedge: are opposite one another and turn clock-
object is in f ocus rahen its eontours and uise till it locks.
lines flou naturally
Mi,cropri,sm ring:
ushen tocussed correctly the object is
clear and flicker-free
Ground glass ring:
used usith poor lighting (eg lor close-ups);
image should appear clear and sharp.
o Release shutter
Depress shutter release (18) slightlE; the
carnera's automatic sgstem starts to uork
and an LED shows the shutter speed. If
the speed suits the subject, release the
shutter; if not, alter the aperture.
t 3
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.,. .L*-'+:,.;," s-ii-.,=-^ ,View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
lnserting the battery
Pouer tor the light metering, shutter control
ond LED indicators is supplied bg a Mallorg
PX 28 or equiualent 6 uolt siluer oride bat-
terg. ln normal use a Jresh battery has a
lif e of about 2 gears.
To insert the batterg turn the locking screur
(37) in the compartment couer (36) anti-
clockuise until the couer con be opened.
Wipe the contocts in the battery compart-
ment and on the tresh batterg uith a drg
cloth. Press the * pole of the battery agoinst
the sprung contact (pole markings in battery
compartment coDer) and tip the batterg in.
Close and lock coDer.
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Checking the battery
The shutter tnust be cocked. Press shutter
release (18) and then memorg button (23). lf
the LED indication is bright the batterg
still has a suflicient pouoer reserDe. when
the batterg is used up the LED goes out. In
B and f settings it is not possible to check
the battery.
Special attention should be paid to the bat-
tery and contacts. Frequent checks are od-
uisable, cleaning u:hen necessarA. The bat-
terg is sensitiue to lous tem,peratures ond
shutld be suitablg protected. When the ca-
nlera is not being used for lengthy periods
the batterg should be remotsed from the
carneTo.www.orphancameras.comView original page 16Page 17 · Read text
Opening the back
Pull the reusind button (9) up as f ar as it usill
go to unlock the bade. Open the bade corn'
pLeteLA;the frame counter (5) u:ill automati-
cally return to the starting position. Insert
the film cartrid,ge into the cartridge coin-
partment (28). Press the reusind button (9)
back in all the usag, turning it it necessarg.
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Closing the bock
Press the middle of the lock side of the back
against the camera bodg until the lock is
heard to engage.
Preparirtg to shoot
The cocking leuer (6) mag be su.uttg out o
Iittle tag u'ithout starting the uinding pro-
cedure. This readiness position increases
handling reliobilitg uohen taking ropid pic-
ture sequences. S--ing cocking leuer os far
as it uill go, return ond press shutter release
(18). Repeat procedure and continue io do so
until the automatic frome counter (5) ittdi-
cates f rome 7.
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Setting the lilm speed
Pressdown on button marked'ASA' (10) and
turn until the fi)m speedualue used is opposite
the mark.
The knurled ring locks ushen released. The
flap lrom the tilm pack con be put into the
lilm intormation ho'der (38) cs an additional
oid to the memorg.
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Automatic shutter speed control
In automatic mode the PRAKTICA BC3
operates automaticatlg in a stepless shutter
speed range from 1/_rooos to 40 s. The shutter
speed is electronicallg controlled i,n line
uith the lighting conditions, the selected
aperture and the film speed. LEDs at the
edge of the uieufinder indicate the cQn'
trolled shutter speed. Where the shutter
speed range is erceeded this is indicated by
OVER and UNDER. TheTTL metering auto-
maticallg takes into account all factors in-
fluencing the erposure such as focal length
of the lens, filter and ertensions. lf Lenses
u:ith the M 42 r 1 thread are used u:ith
an adapter, Iight metering is automatic at
u'orking aperture.
1 9
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,,.'.;1j,*&;*;.,. -{-r., . c'i..-.. .;'; ,!-1} .,,View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
Aperture selection
The desired aperture is set against the mark
on the lens rnount bg turning the aperture
setting ring (27). The set aperture is displaaed
at the bottom of the oieustinder irnage. As a
guide, the selection of the tollowing ualues
can be recommended for a tilm speed of
20 DIN: 80 ASA:
aperture
sunshine 8-11
clou,d coDer 4-5.6
close-ups not belous8
The choice of aperture can also be made
according to the desired depth-ot-tield (f ore-
ground, mid-ground, backgrou,nd) and bg
taking into account the speed intormation
in the uiewlinder (danger of blurring).
See also the section on depth-of-tield indi'
cation. A smoll aperture lneans a large
depth-of-field, a large aperture a corre-
spondinglg sm aller depth-of -f ield.
20
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43 19 Shutter release After the shutter speeil has been cheeked in
the uieufinder, the shutter is operated bA
fullU depressing the shutter release (18).
When pressure is remooed, from the shutter
release the electronics are automoticallg
su:itched otf . With slous shutter speeds the
remoual of pressure from the shutter release
does not olfect the erposure proeedure. In
this case the electronics are susitdteil ott
only ushen the shutter qcle has been corn-
pleted.
If the cycle needs to be broken off prema-
turely usi,th a uery long shutter speed (eg
after an dccidental shutter release), the
shutter speed settingknob(L9) should brieflA
be turned to B or t . It the carnera is not
held, ot ege leuel iluring autornatic operotion
(eg usith tripod shots), the eyepieee cooer (43)
ushidh cornes usith the earne?a, should be
pushed into the holder (30).
22
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Locking ol metered ualues
lf the subject features ertrente contrasts,
such as
O people 'w^earing dark clothes in sunlit
snou) or
o a light-coloured object in f ront of a d,ark
background,
the erposure ualue can be calculated bE in-
dittidual metering of the most important
element in the picture from close up.
The metered ualue calculated in the close-up
medsu,rementis stored, and the image sec-
tion can be changed u.ithout another shutter
speed being set.
To store the metered ualue tirst depress the
shutter release (18) slightlg to initiate the
metering process and then briellg press the
lnemorA button (23) to lock in the metered
ualue. The shutter must be cocked. No neus
measLrrernentis made before the shutter is
released,ond the shutter speed uill corres-
pond to the locked ualue.
The locked ualue is erased u.:hen pressure is
retnoued from the shutter release and the
electronicsare suitched otf .
23
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Erposure compensation
Another uay of influencing the erposure
indiuiduallg is by using the erposure corl-
pensation dial (25). Such compensation is
necessdrA uhen the character ol the object
oaries greatlg trom the norm, eg u:ith dark
objects in front o! a light background (+1,
*2) and uith bright objects in front of a
uery dark background (-1, -2).
Lift and turn the dial (25) in the desired
direction.
Starting trom the initial position the shutter
speed is reduced by 7 or 2 erposure factors
uhen the knob is set to *1 or 12, respec-
tiuely. The speed is correspondinglg increa-
sed u:hen the knob is set to -7 or -2. The
knob can be set to haU factors. At the bor-
ders of the tilm speed range - 12 DIN and
36 DIN - cornpensation by ttao foctors is
also possible (correspondinglg to 6 DIN and
42 DtN).
Tlte compensation cannot ertend the shutter
speed range begond the speeds of r/1rxx1s and
40 s. Remember to return the button to the
neutral initial position follouing erposure-
colnpensated shots.
24
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All other shutter speeds including B are
electronically controlled. It is also possible
to photograph usith y u:ithout a battery.
Holding the carnera
The illustrations shous the best positions in
ushich to hold the eamera for upright and
horizontal format shofs. Hold, the co,mero
steadilg and tightly and support the elbou:s
against the body. In this uay Aou u:itt
aehiea e blur -f r ee pictur es.
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Flash photographA
ry the auailable light is insufticient f or
hand-held shots (eg indoors) or if the szb-
ject lras to be additionallg "brightened up",
llash should be used. All litting electronic
tlash units can be used, uhether coTnputer-
ised or not. Push the flash unit onto the hot
shoe utith eentre contact (20); the electricol
connection is thus ma,de. In the case of flash
units usithout the centre contact the electri-
cal connection is made uia the flash nipple.
The simultoneous use of tuso flash units is
possible usith the tu:o electricallg separate
eonnections.
For electronic flash usithout computer con- AII other information on automatic speed,s
trol set the shutter speed knob (IS1 to , . on th_edisplag is ertinguished. When-fired
The set shutter speed (around rlsos)is f ormed speeds are ulsed,flash readiness is indicated,
mechanically. in addition to the inforrnation on the rele-
It a dedicated cornputerised flash unit is uant speed on the displag and in , and, Bpushed onto the hot shoe in automatic set- settings.
ting, the electronic flash speed is automati-
callg f ormed ushen flash readiness is
achieued. Flash readiness is indicated'bg o
green LED in, the uieustinder ushen the flash
unit is stuitched on and gentle pressure is
applied to the shutter release.
27
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Changing the lens
Press the unlocking keA (1) and turn the lens
anti-clocku:ise as far as it usill go. Remove
the lens f rom the camera.
lnsert the lens in such a, uaA that the red
rnarkings (1 and 74) on the camera and lens
are opposite each other. Press the lens
against the carnera body and turn clockttsise
until the locking pin is heard to en'gage.
By using the PB'-M42 adaPter
all original lenses usith the M 42 t 7
threod can be connected; lenses of other
makes u:ith the M 42 r 7 thread rnust be
suitable for PRAKTICA carneras and equip-
ped f or metering at usorking aperture. The
PRAKTICA BCT also usorks outomaticalllS
usith screw-thread lenses, the only differ-
ence being that the light metering is made
usith usorking aperhrr e.
28
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Focussing
Focussing is possible using the triple usedge
system, the microprism ring or the ground
glass ring.
1) triple uedge
The 'w^edgesystem allouss highlg accurate 2
foeussing. Optimurrl sharpness is achieued
when the contours and lines flous naturallg. 3
Incorrectlg aligned edges indicate that the
image is out of f ocus.
2) microprism ring
The image is correctlg focussed ushen the
image inside the grid is clear and flicker-
lree.
3) ground glass ring
Especiallg useful in rnacro and micro photo-
graphy and ushen using lenses usith a small
relatiue aperture (greater than 4). The image
must appear clear and sharp in the ground
gloss ring.
29
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D epth- of -t ield indic ation
The limits of the depth of tield f or the selec-
ted, aperture canbe read, off tromthe depth-
ot-tield scale (13) on the lens. Erample:
distance 3 m, aperture 5.6,-depth of field
ranges lrom around 2 m to 5 m.
lnlrared photographg
Intrared photography requires a slight cor-
reetion to the foanssing: match the distance
determined in toeussing usith the inlrared
hark (see arrou) on the lens.
Stopdoton keg
The depth of field can also be judged bg the
ground glass ring in the uieustinder image.
Push the stopd"own keg (4) uptaards. Do not
meter or release ushen stopping doun, as
this usill lead to an incomect erposure.
30
www.orphancameras.comView original page 31From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.