Film cameras
PRAKTICA BCX User manual
User manual for PRAKTICA BCX. 33 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Praktica
- Model / document
- PRAKTICA BCX
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 33
- File size
- 3.1 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
The PRAKTICABCX is o fully outomotic com-
poct retlex comero with infinitely vorioble
electronic shutter speed control within o speed
ronge from 1/1ss6sec. to 40 sec.
Shutter speeds of ony durotion ot B setting ore
electronicolly controlled, too. Through the
electronic diophrogm-volue tronsmission from
the lens into the comero the internol metering
con be mode of open operture so thot the
viewfinder imoge olwoys remoins ot the bright-
est. 1C
All doto which ore of importonce for exposing 1
o r e s i g n o l l e d b y l i g h t - e m i t t i n g d i o d e s o t t h e
right hond edge of the viewfinder, e.g. the
shutter speed to be expected, boundory volues
o n d o u t o m o t i c o n d s e m i - o u t o m o t i c m o d e s ,
resp. Besides this, qlso the preselected dio-
phrogm numerol is reflected into the lower
edge of the viewfinder imoge. For intentionol
over- ond underexposures the outomotic mode
c o n b e m o n u o l l y c o r r e c t e d . B e i n g e q u i p p e d
with the PRAKTICA boyonet, the PRAKTICA
BCX offers o completely new ond ropid lens
connection.
www.butkus.usView original page 2Page 8 · Read text
Opening the comerq bock Pull rewind knob (3) upwords until you feel hord resistonce. The comero bock will jump open. Open the comero bock completely; the f r o m e c o u n t e r ( 7 ) w i l l o u t o m o t i c o l l y j u m p t o zero position. Looding the film Lood the film cortridge in the cortridge chom- ber (28). Jhen dgpress compfetely the rewind knob (3) b y s i m u l t o n e o u s l yt u r n i n g i t . P u s h t h e l e o d i n g edge of the film into the slit (30) of the toke u p s p o o l ( 3 1 ) . The teeth of both the film sprockets (Zg) must engoge the perforotion of the film. Check the correct odvonce of the film by corefully octuot- ing the cocking lever (6).View original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
Closing the comerq bqck
Toke hold of the lotch side of the comero bock
ond press it firmly to the comero body until you
heor its clicking-in.
Preporing for the erposure
The cocking lever (6) hos on idle stroke ond
con be moved into reodiness for oction (better
eose of grosping for ropidly succeeding shots).
Swing the cocking lever oround to its stop,
move it bock ogoin, ond depress shutter releose
knob (20).
Attention ! As with the outomotic setting o long
exposure time moy be formed during which the
cocking lever connot be octuoted, we recom-
mend to set o short monuol shutter speed.
Repeot cocking once more until the outomotic
www.butkus.usView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
frome counter (7) indicotes frome No. 1. Now, the comero is reody for shooting. Setting the film speed L i f t t h e m i l l e d r i n g o f f i l m - s p e e d s e t t i n g k n o b (2) ond rotote it until the speed volue of the film in the comero stonds opposite the relevont m o r k . W h e n l o w e r e d , t h e m i l l e d r i n g c l i c k s i n o g o i n . We recommend to slip the torn-off flop of the film box into the mernory holder (Se1 to hove o n o d d i t i o n o l o i d i n r e m e m b e r i n g t h e t y p e o f t h e l o o d e d f i l m .View original page 10
Page 11 · Read text
Chonging the film
As soon os the shutter hos run down, the frome
counter (7) indicotes the number of fromes ex-
posed on this film.
As soon os this relevont number of fromes hos
been reoched (r,ed mork of frome 20 ond 36,
resp.), then chonge the film.
Depress rewind releose button (36) to its stop,
u nf old rewind cronk (4) o nd rotote it, not too
quickly, in the direction of the orrow (clockwise
direction) until greoter resistonce becomes
noticeoble ond subsequently the cronk turns
quite eosily, which indicotes terminotion of
r e w i n d i n g .
P u l l t h e k n o b u p w o r d s o s f o r o s i t w i l l g o . T h e
comero bock is unlocked ond the cortridge with
the exposed f ilm co n be rem oved f rom the
c o m e r o .
D o n ' t c h o n g e t h e f i l m i n f u l l s u n s h i n e .
www.butkus.usView original page 11Page 13 · Read text
Preselection of the diophrogm numerol
Set the desired diophrogm numerol to opposite
OVER the mork on the lens mount by turning dio-
t@o 50() phrogm setting ring (121. The set diophrogm
250 1 2 5 numerol is reflected into the lower edge of the
60 30 viewfinder imoge.
l 5 t For film speeds of 21 DIN : 100 ASA toke the
1
2
1 s below volues os reference:
2 s L i g h t c o n d i t i o n D i o p h r o g m n u m e r o l a 3
E s S u n s h i n e 8 . . . 1 1UNOIR
C f o u d y w e o t h e r 4 . . . 5 . 6
I n t e r i o r 1 . 8 . . . 2 . 8
www.butkus.usView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
Automotic exposure control, indicotion
Set the shutter speed setting knob (19) to
"AUTOMATIC" o nd switch on the electronic
system by slightly depressing the shutter (20).
The shutter speed selected by the outomotic
system con be checked on the LED disploy in
t h e f i n d e r i m o g e o n d , i f c o n s i d e r e d t o b e
unsuited for the subject, it con be corrected
b y c h o n g i n g t h e p r e s e l e c t e d d i o p h r o g m
www.butkus.us nu mero l.
To eoch speed within the 1/rooosec. to 8 sec.
r o n g e o n e d i s p l o y p o i n t i s o l l o c o t e d , o n d i n -
finitely selected intermediote volues ore indi-
coted by simultoneously glowing two odjocent
LEDs. Shutter speeds between 8 sec. o nd
40 sec. ore signolled by the diodes with permo-
OVER n e n t l i g h t o t " O v e r " , p o s s i n g u n d e r o n d o v e r ,
to(x, s(xt resp. the volues of 1/rooosec. ond 40 sec. resp.
250 r 2 5 w i t h f l o s h i n g l i g h t o t " U N D E R " o n d " O V E R " ,
60 resp. In the lost cose the shutter is olwoys con- 30
l 5 trolled with 1/rooosec. ond 40 sec., resp.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
Releosing the shutter
After hoving checked the shutter speed in the
finder imoge, releose the shutter by depressing
it to its stop. When now the shutter releose but-
ton is set free, the electronics is outomoticolly
switched off. But during long exposure times
this setting free will not influence the pro-
cesses, ond the electronics will be switched off
ofter the shutter hos run down completely.
In cose of o very long exposure time the pro-
c e s s c o n b e i n t e r r u p t e d e o r l i e r ( i . e . i f t h e
shutter hos been releosed through on error);
set the shutter speed setting knob (19) f or o
m o m e n t t o " B " o r " | " .
When on the outomotic mode the comero is
not held before the eye (but fostened on o
tripod), cover the oculor with the protective
cop to ovoid foulty metering due to folse light.
www.butkus.usView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
Storing the metered volue I n s p e c i o l c c s e s , e . g . w h e n i m p o r t o n t p i c t u r e e l e m e n t s o r e p r i m o r i l y m e t e r e d , t h e s e v o l u e s c o n b e s t c r e d b y d e p r e s s i n g f o r o m o m e n t t h e memory key (16) together with the shutter releose. The shutter must be cocked. U n t i l t h e s h u t t e r w i l l b e r e l e o s e d n o o t h e r m e t e r i n g i s n e c e s s o r y ;t h e s h u t t e r w i l l f o r m o s h u t t e r s p e e d o c c o r d i n g t o t h e v o l u e w h i c h h o d been stored. By setting free the shutter ond thus by switch- ing off the electronic system, olso the stored v o l u e , w h i c h i s n o l o n g e r r e q u i r e d , c o l l b e e r o s e d w i t h o u t r e l e o s i n g l h e s h u t t e r o g o i n .View original page 16
Page 17 · Read text
Correction
The shutter speed determined by the outo-
motics con be intentionolly influenced with
k n o b ( 1 4 ) .
Such correction will be necessory for subjects
which differ highly from stondord, e.g. o dork
subject before o light bockground (+ 1 , + 2)
or o light subject before o dork bockground
(- 1, -2).
For this purpose, depress releose button (15)
ond rotote knob (14) in the desired direction.
As compored with the originol position, the
exposure time is lengthened by 1 ond 2 speed 'to volues, resp. (corresponding 1 ond 2 dio-
phrogm numerols, resp.) when setting to + 1
ond + 2, resp. And exposure time is shortened
when setting to - 1 ond - 2, resp. Click stops
ore provided in holf increments.
www.butkus.usView original page 17Page 18 · Read text
At the boundories of the film speed ronge, i.e.
of 12 DIN ond 36 DlN, olso correction over 2
steps will be possible (corresponding to 6 DIN
o nd 42 Dl N, resp.) .
The ronge of shutter speeds connot be ex-
ponded to beyond the volues of 1/rooosec. ond
40 sec. by such correction.
Attention ! After hoving mode such o correction,
r e t u r n t h e k n o b t o i t s o r i g i n o l p o s i t i o n!
Fixed shutter speeds
For working without outomotic shutter speed
setting but with the fixed shutter speeds of
1 sec. . . .lltsss s€c., B, ond flosh speeds, set
the shutter speed setting knob (19) to the
desired speed. Speed checking in the viewfinder
i m o g e i s p o s s i b l e i n t h i s c o s e , t o o . W h e n t h e
s h u t t e r r e l e o s e i s s l i q h t l y d e p r e s s e d , t h e L E D
ollocoted to the set shutter speed floshes, ond
simultoneously onother LED informs, by con-
www.butkus.us tinuous glowing, obout the optimum shutter
speed, the prevoiling light conditions, the film
speed, ond the preselected diophrogm numer-
ol. (lntermediote volues ore indicoted by flosh-
ing of two odjocent LEDs.)View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
When you chonge the setting for diophrogm
numerol or shutter speeds, you con bring obout
OVER o c o m p e n s o t i o n : t h e f l o s h i n g s i g n o l o p -
lffx) p r o o c h e s t h e p e r m o n e n t s i g n o l o n d f i n o l l y
500 250 vonishes on correct setting.For the flosh speed
r 2 5 ond B settings the disploy is switched off. 60
30 The flosh speed is mechonicolly controlled
while oll other shutter speeds incl. B settings
ore electronicolly, i.e. you need o bottery
(except of flosh settings).
The outomotic stopping down mode for the
lenses remcins operotive.
www.butkus.usView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
Flosh exposules Synchronizotioncon be with flosh lomps or electronicfloshes. Insert the flosh unit into the hot shoe (18): f losh units provided with centre contoct ore so electricollyconnected with the comero, while f or units without centre contocto plug must be plugged into the flosh socket(13). As both the connectionshove seporote elec- tricol circuits, two flosh units con be used simu ltoneously. For electronicflosh units, set the shutterspeed setting knob (19) to | . As the shutterspeed- o bout llgo sec.-is f ormed mechonicolly, you con olso work without bottery. On desire, ony longer shutter speeds con be set. Hove in mind the referencenumbersgiven for the flosh units ond toke them into considero- tion when diophrogm or distonce ore deter- mined.View original page 20
Page 22 · Read text
lnserting the lens Insert the lens so thot the red morks on lens ond comero stond opposite one onother. Force t h e l e n s o g o i n s t t h e c o m e r o b o d y , t u r n i t i n c l o c k w i s e d i r e c t i o n u n t i l y o u h e o r t h o t t h e r e t o i n i n g p i n c l i c k si n . Adopter Automotic exposure setting os well os setting of fixed shutter speeds ond monuol compenso- tion ore possible for lenses with PRAKTICA threod ottoched by meons of on odopter. The mode of outomotic operotion is to be switched to working-operture metering in this cose. When inserting or removing the odopter, pro- ceed os hos been described for lenses. Lenses with PRAKTICA threod ore screwed into the odopter by turning them in clockwisedirec- t i o n t o t h e i r s t o p . T h e r e i s o n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y : m o i n t o i n t h e o s - s e m b l y o f o d o p t e r o n d t h r e o d e d l e n s o n d remove the lens only from the boyonet.View original page 22
Page 24 · Read text
Focusing Focusing is possible by meons of the novel triple wedge rongefindersystemon the trun- coted m icroprism screen or the g round-g loss f ield. T r i p l e r o n g e f i n d e r w e d g e This wedge system ollows high precision in focusing through its distinct stoggering of ver- tico I ond horizontol contours. T r u n c o t e d m i c r o p r i s m s c r e e n Focusing is correct when the picture on the microprism screen is cleor ond not fuzzy. G r o u n d g l o s s f i e l d Of porticulor odvontoge for mocro ond micro photogrophy os well os for lenses with o smolt relotive operture (diophrogm numerol obove 4). Tf" gro.und-glossfield must show o cleor imoge of good definition.View original page 24
Page 25 · Read text
Depth-of-field indicotion
The timits of the depth-of-field ronge for the
chosen diophrogm numerol con be token from
the depth-of -f ield sco le (25) of the lens.
E x o m p l e : D i s t o n c e 3 m
D i o p h r o g m n u m e r o l 8
Depth of field from obout 2 m to 5 m.
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Stopping-down key
The depth of field con olso be checked in the
f i n d e r i m o q e . F o r t h i s test slide the stoPPing-
down key (8) upwords.
lnfrqred photogrcphy
Slight correction in focusing is necessory jot
infiored photogrophy: Set the distonce volue
determined by focusing to opposite the in-
frored mork (orrow) on the lens.
www.butkus.usView original page 25Page 27 · Read text
Chonging the bottery
To reploce o used-up bottery, turn the locking
knob (32) of the lid (38) in counter-clockwise
direction until the lid con be opened. Remove
the bottery.
Cleon the contocts in the bottery chomber ond
thot of the new bottery with o dry cloth.
Force the new bottery with its plus pole ogoinst
t h e e l o s t i c c o n t o c t ( c p . t h e p o l o r i t y s y m b o l s i n
the lid of the bottery chomber) ond tilt it into
the bottery chomber. Shut the lid ond lock it
b y t u r n i n g t h e l o c k i n g k n o b i n c l o c k w i s ed i r e c -
t i o n .
www.butkus.usView original page 27Page 29 · Read text
Self timer
Cock the shutter, swing the cocking lever (6) of
the self tim,er down to its stop, set exposure
volues ond distonc€, releose the self timer by
depressing the releose button (10) in the
fulcrum of the lever. Deloy period obout 8 sec.
Don't cock the shutter when the self timer runs
down !
www.butkus.usView original page 29Page 31 · Read text
Oculor cop
Attoched to the finder oculor.
P r o t e c t st h e o c u l o r o g o i n s t d o m o g e s o n d k e e p s
out extroneous lig ht.
Adopter
For ottoching lenses with M 42 x 1 threod.
Extension rings ond bellows ottqchment
F o r e x t e n s i o n l e n g t h e n i n g i n c o s e o f m o c r o
photogrophy. 1 set of extension rings comprises
o n e r i n g o f 1 2 . 5 m m o n d o n e o I 2 5 m m .
Extension lengthening through bellows ottoch-
m e n t b y 3 5 m m t o 1 4 0 m m
Slide copying ottqchment (under preporotion)
T o m o k e c o p i e s o f o v o i l o b l e f i l m s .
Eye cup with mount for correciion lenses
To be ottoched to the finder oculor.
Protects ogoinst disturbing light when checking
t h e f i n d e r i m o g e . C o r r e c t i o n l e n s e s c o n b e
m ou nted.
Focusing telescope
To be ottoched to the finder oculor.
For exoct f ocusing of 2.7x enlorgement; diopter
odjustment for eye deficiency.
Angle finder
To be ottoched to the finder oculor.
A d j u s t o b l e f o r o n y v i e w i n g d i r e c t i o n ; d i o p t e r
odjustment for eye deficiency.
www.butkus.usView original page 31Page 32 · Read text
Universof tripod
F o r u n i v e r s o l u s e t h e t r i p o d w i t h t h e c o m e r o
c o n b e t i l t e d o n d s w i v e l f e dt o o l l d i r e c t i o n s .
Microscope odopter (under preporotion)
To connect comero ond microscope.
Motor drive (under preporotion)
For electromotive drive of the film of o picture
frequency up to 2 tromes/second.
Coble releose
Used for long shutter speeds with the oid of o
t r i p o d , t o r e l e o s e t h e s h u t t e r w i t h o u t b l u r r i n g
t h e i m o g e .
Lens hood
E l i m i n o t e sd i s t u r b i n g l i g h t , e . g . i n c o u n t e r l i g h t
photog ro phy. W e r e q u e s t y o u k i n d l y t o f o l l o w t h e s e I n s t r u c -
t i o n s f o r U s e c o r e f u l l y . W e c o n o c c e p t n oFilters l i o b i l i t y f o r o n y d o m o g e w h i c h m o y b e c o u s e d
T o o b t o i n s p e c i o l p h o t o g r o p h i c e f f e c t s ( e . g . b y i m p r o p e r h o n d l i n g o f t h e c o m e r c .
UV filters, polorizotion filiers, ond other typJs Further development of the PRAKTICABCX
of filters for photogrophic purposes). m o y l e o d t o s l i g h t m o d i f i c o t i o n o f t h e d e t c i l s
Evereody cose g i v e n i n t h i s b o o k l e t .
P r o t e c t st h e c o m e r o o g o i n s t i m p o c t o n d d u s t .View original page 32From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
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