Film cameras
Ricoh A Diacord User manual
User manual for Ricoh A Diacord. 36 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Ricoh
- Model / document
- Ricoh A Diacord
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 36
- File size
- 4.8 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
t .
O Corrying strop connection
@ Film winding knob
@ Depth-of-field scole
@ Film odvonce button
@ Exposure counter window I
@ Film exposure index sccle
window
@ Exposure meter needle
@ Exposure meter scole
@ Film exposure index selector I
slide button
@ Finder lens
@ Toking lens
@ M-F-X Synchronizotionlever
@ Shutterspeed selector leverView original page 2Page 3 · Read text
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Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
email=mike@butkus.org, c=US Mike Butkus DN:org,Date:cn=Mike Butkus, o, ou=Butkus. 2025.03.25 12:23:47 -04'00'
@ DUO-LEVER Focusing @ Toke-up spool knob
@ Shutter button protecfor ring @ Cordless flosh contoct
@ Combined nome plote ond @ Accessory shoe
lighi window cover @ Self-timer button
Lighi window (Selenium pho- @ Light volue selector lever
tocell) @ Flosh terminol
@ Shutter releose button @ Tripod bushing
@ Shutter cocking lever @ Bock cover locking disc
@ Mognifier for criticol focus- @ Bock cover lock tob
ing @ Film pressure plote
Froming operture for direcf @ Cortridge positioning cliP
view-finding @ Lever for outomotic zero'
@ Focusing hood setting of film counter
@ Froming operture front plote @ Film Stort mork
@ Exposure window
2View original page 3Page 5 · Read text
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As this loosens the lock, open
Rotote the locking disc in the the bock cover by roising uP
direction of the orrow. Fis.1. this lock. Fig. 2.
The empty spool con be eosilY Breok the film roll seol, being
put in the toke-uP chomber bY coreful not to qllow the film
pulling the knob os shown in roll to become unwound. With
Fig. 4. the block side of the film
focing inword, ploce the film
inside while pulling the knob
os shown in Fig. 5.
4View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
6 Mqke doubly sure the roll is 7 Corefully pull out qbout 6 in.
properly engoged ot both of the film qnd slip the end
ends. The slightest deviotion into the longer of the two
will homper smooth winding slots in the empty spool. Here
ond result in foilure. Fig. 6- be especiolly coreful thot the
tip of the film is not put in
croo-ked or otherwise out of
olignment. Fig. 7.
Turn the film winding knob As soon os the film hos been
r'1" until the number <rppeors looded, turn the exposure
ond the knob outomqticollY meter slide button until the
comes to q stop. Now it is ASA number of your film qp-
reody for toking photogroPhs. peqrs on the film exposure
Fig. t 0. index scole. Fig. I 1. (Refer to
pose z) | |View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
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8 As you slowly wind the film 9 Th.n close the bock cover.
o film stort mork (A morks The reverse order of opening
or 1-- --> mork) will op- the cqmerq is used to close
peor. Now, line up the film it. Moke sure the locking disc
stort mqrks with the A mork is turned fully ond firmly in
on both sides of the comerq ploce. This completes the loqd-
os shown in Fig. 8. ing of the cqmero. Fig. 9.
After you hove tqken one After the lost picture, o O mqrk .
picture, press the film odvonce oppeors ond the film winding
button, releqse it qnd wind knob con be turned continu-
until the next number oppe<lrs ously until the remoinin! film
qnd the knob outomoticolly hos been completelyrolled up
to <l stop. Fig. 12. on the toke-up spool. Fig. 13. g , rcomes tView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
When winding lhe film never lurn the film winding knob
while CONfTNUOUSI'y pressing the film qdvonce button
becouse this witl domoge lhe geors inside ond resulf in o
breokdown. After pressing if once releqse it, then turn the
film qdvonce knob to wind the film.
FIIM EXPOSURE INDEX
Note: When you purchose film, whether it is
block ond white or color film, the film exposure
index of the film is olwoys cleorly specified
on the box or in the enclcsed instructions'
For exomple, for the commonly colled X film
the exposure index is 50, for XX 100 ond
200 for XXX. As the film exposure index
becomes foster you must use o corresponding
lower exposure (shutter ond f stop). Therefore,
to mqke proPer exposures it is importont thot
you olwoys keep in mind the type of film you
hove in your comero (The exposure index) '
Unlooding is done, under subdued light, in
reverse order of looding film. After the roll
hos been token out the roll is seqled tightly
with tope. Fold the tip of the poper strip
inword ond tope the seol over it. This will
moke the film more convenient to hondle in
the dorkroom. And, it is olso sofer to olwoys
wrop the exposed film with light-proof Poper
such os tin foil.
- 7 -View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
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Regordless of how good o comero you hove, through
coreless exposure o much onticipoted subiect will turn out
o disoppointing white or block. In phofogrophy there is
nothing more importont thon proper exposure. Up till now,
moy people hove been toking photogrophs with only oIt rough guess of the exposure bosed on their senses or
exposure tobles. Only through proper exposure con you
truly oppreciote the result of o good photogroph. To fulfil
this requirement it is best to use qn exposure meter which
determines the exposure scientificolly.
' The DIACORD L hos o built-in direct-reqding type expo
sure meter of the lotest type. Therefore, even q novice con
become proficient in photogrophy mony times foster thon
with comeros which do not hove o built-in exposure meter.
Especiolly in color photogrophy, it shows off its greotest
versotility.
PRINCIPTESOF THE EXPOSUREMETER
The light window behind the nome plote is o selenium photocell.
When light strikes this light window on electric current is generoted
occording to the strength of the light. (ln other words, the selenium
photocell octs os o converter ond converts light into electric current).
When ihis electric current is tronsmitted fo the golvonometer, the
needle inside the exposure meter, of the side of the comero, moves
ond indicotes the brightness of the subiect on its light scole. This is
how qn exposure meter meosures the proper setting. Further, the
numbers which oppeor on the DIACORD L light scole indicote light
volues. Slight differences in respective methods or meons moy exist
but the principle of o light meter is os exploined obove.
8 -View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
HOW TO USETHE EXPOSUREMETER
In the reflected light type the rule is to meosure light
by pointing it toword the subiect from comero position'
But,'when lhotogtophing people ogoinst o bright bock-
. ground, you should gef close enough to the- subiect so
iou con obtoin o true reoding of only the reflected light
, from the subiect.
Also, when photogrophing o distont view, such os expon'
sive scenery, if your comerd is tilting upword too high
it will meosure the light from the sky ond the more
importont trees or buildings will become underexposed'
S"l meosure by tilting the comero slightly downword
toword the ground. When photogrophing info o light
source be clreful not to ollow direct light to enter the
light window of the exposure meter.
.\6\
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9 -View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
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EXPOSURE
AND
L'GHT VALUE
In order to tcke o photogroph it is necessory for
o certoin omount of light to poss through thc lens l ond reoch the film. This is termed on exposure'I We hove olreody exploined the greot importonce
of proper exposure. Up till now, it wos necessory
to set the shutter speed ond f stop seporotely'
However, o light volue expresses with one number
the necessory relotionship between the shutter speed
ond f stop for correct exposure under o given
light source. Therefore, to determine the exposure,
oll thot is required is to tronsfer this light volue
to the exposure window for the proper exposure'
This light volue system wos first odopted in Jopon
on the RICHO 500 followed by the DIACORD L
ond hos immensely simplified the determining of
exposure.
isiI Furthermore;on the DIACORD L moximum versotility
ossured with o BUILT-IN exposure meter. The ronge
of the light volue scole on the DIACORD L is from 4
to 17 with exposure becoming double for eoch
decreose in number.
The SEIKOSHA MXt exposure scole hos odofted
'1, 'lO, 25,50, I00, 250, 500 series ond 2, 5, IIl the
i ' otheris not thonin multiple500, oreseries.in olignmentBut, the ondscolethe intervols,chonges
in exposure time ond f stop ore mode completely
outomoticolly.
- 1 0 -IView original page 11Page 14 · Read text
2l In indoor or dork ploces, if
there is no movement of the meter
needle, open the light window
cover fo increqse the omount of
light striking the light window
which rqises the sensitivity of the
meter. In the some monner os
before, while slightly Pulling the
meter knob, turn the knob clock-
wise until you motch uP the
"OPENED" mqrk V with the red
mqrk. (Fig. 2l
3) The light window cover con be
opened by pressing the extend-
ed stem ot the upper left-hond
corner of the light window cover
focing the cqmero. To close the
light window cover, press the
opposite side of the cover until
it cotches. (Fig. 3 ond 4l..
l 3 -View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
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5
4l After you hove determined the
proper exposure, move the light
volue selector lever while wqtch_
ing the exposure window ond
motch up the yellow pointer with
the number tqken from the meter
reodins. (Fig. 5)
65) lf lhe number fqken from the
meter reoding does not qppeor
in the exposure window move the
light volue selector lever ond the
shutter speed selector lever to-
gether until you find it. In Fig.7
the light vqlue is set ot 12. you
con tqke o photogroph with this
vqlue but in order to bring out
the best quolities of your subiect,
mqke the necessory odiusfments
within limits requiring no chonge
in the light volue. (More qbout
fhis relqtion is exploined in the
toble on Poge ll). This is done
by moving fhe shutter speed selec-
tor lever. At this point DO NOT
move the light votue selector
lever becquse fhis will throw the
7 proper exposure off bqlonce.
1 4 *View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
8 .'"'r,
4l when you wqnt both foreground ond bockground in
shorp focus such os group photogrophs move the shutter
speed selector lever upword' When you wont iust the
foreground in shorp focus, such os o portrqit' move the
shutter speed selector lever downword to dim the
bockground. At this point. to determine the limits in
which the subiect is in shorp focus see the depth-of -
field scole on your knob. lf you wish fo photogroph
sport events or scenery f rom the win dow of o troin
requiring fost shutter sp..dr, move the shutter speed
selector lever downword ond motch up the red line
with the proper shutter speed. lf you wont to show
the feeling of motion of moving obiects' move the shutter
speed selector lever upword. Moke sure you occurotely
olign the shutter speed scole. settings between the
numbers on the shutter speed scole will NOT give you
on intermediote shutter sPeed'
5) In the obove coses, os long os there is no chonge in
light vqlue the exposure remoins the some' Therefore'
os long os you once motch up the light volue, the depth-
of-field ond shutter speed con be chonged, within limits
requiring no chonge in the light volue, ond still mointoin
the some exposure'
l 5 - -View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
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GUTDEFOR BECOfiIING A GOOD
PHOTOGRAPFIER
As long os you remember o few simple rules,
even o novice con become q good photogropher.
lf you follow the rules given below, we ore
confident you will quickly show remorkobles
imp rovement.
1) Hove you ever hod double exposures ?
To prevent double exposures, ocquire the
hobit of olwcys winding the film immediotely
ofter releosing the shutter.
2l Hove you ever hod the four corners of your
photogroph turn block ?
Lotely, it hqs become common procfice to use
o hood under overo ge conditions. Buf, there
moy be some of you who hove hod the four
corners of your mosterpiece turn block becouse
you used cl hood of different moke. lt is best
to use on occessory which hos been especiolly
mo de. And ogoin, if you ottoch the hood
incorrectly it might couse you iust os much
trouble. On the DIACORD L ottoch the hood so
thqt the words RICOH comes out on top.
3) Are you sure the cqse is not covering the
toking lens ?
In the twin lens reflex, the finder lens is in <l
differenf position so even if you cc:n see the
whole subiect through the finder lens, octuolly
the cover moy be covering the toking lens.
When ropid-shooting, it is best to be on the
sqfe side ond remove the front cover whenever
possible.
1 6View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
HOW TO FOCUS
The DIACORD L hos o unique DUO-
LEVER for focusing which will enoble you,
with c: little proctice, to focus without the
focusing hood. However, when you ore
not pressed for time it is better to use
the focusing hood for hoirline focusing.
Focusing is done f rom the bockground
toword the foreground. In tqking subiects
with o deep depth-of-field, such os group photogrophy, o diust focus iust short of I
center. This is becouse when fhe subiect
is in good focus the width of the depth-
of-field becomes wider ot the bock thon
in front of center.
t 7 -View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
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I ) While looking into the focus-
ing hood move the DUO-LEVER
with synchronized movements of
both thumbs ploced on both
ends of the lever. The subiect
is in focus where it oppeors the
shorpest. (Fig. 1)
2 2l For hoirline focusing, use the
wiCe-field mognifier. Just push
the top port of the direct view-
finder frome plote with your
finger tips ond it will outomot-
icolly swing into position. (Fig.2)
3) When using the direct view-
finder frome, press the direct
view-finder frome plote down
flot until it cofches. (Fig.3). The
frome plote con be returned to
its originol position by moving
the hood slightly bqck.
F I B _View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
TAKTNG THE PHOTOGRAP'f
To prevent fqilure in qn emergency, estoblish
o stondqrd procedure of toking photogrophs
ond toke no chonces in losing o good shot.
I ) Meosure the proPer ex-
. posure with your exPosure
meter ond while wotching
the exposure window motch
up the light vqlue. Next, Pull
the shutter cocking lever fo
the right ond cock the shutter.
(Fig. 1)
2l Focuswith the DUO-LEVER
ond releose the shutter
www.butkus.us GENTLY. (Fig. 2)
- - l eView original page 20Page 21 · Read text
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3) When using the self'timer, AFTER
3 you hove cocked the shutter, Push
the self-timer button in the direction
of the qrrow ond the shutter will be
releosed outomoticolly. During this
step, DO NOT TOUCHTHESHUTTER
RELEASEBUTTONbecquse this will
result in premoture releose of the
shulter. Further, qfter the self-timer
button hos been Pushed the shutter
will be releosed in obout l l seconds'
(Fig. 3)
4l When you use the occessory re-
leose, toke off the shulter button
prolector ring ond ottoch the releose
in. (Fig. 4.)
- 2 0 -View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
DING THE CA MERA
I WAIST-LEVEL POStTtoN 2 EYE-LEVEI POStTtoN
This is the most common posi- This position is used when sight-
tion for cl twin lens ref lex of ing through the direct view_
this type. To prevent qny finder. When sighting with the
movemenf of the comero, direct view-finder, press the
olwoys hold the corrying strop b ock of the co mero firmly
touf. ogoinst the f oce to keep it
from moving.
2 1View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
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Before toking o phofograph, sfeody fhe comero ond releose fhe shuffer
GENfl.y becouse it is importont fo keep fhe comero from moving.
Regordless of how good fhe lens or how good fhe exposure, moving
fhe comero wilt spert lrouble. Whenever possible, use o tripod.
F.r
(
3 GR@tNtD-t"EvE[PosxrloN 4 anove EYE-LEvEIPoslnoN
Stecrdy the comero by using This position is convenient in
some orticle like o motch box. shooting over the heods of o
crowd such os of photo meets. -
Here olso, keep the corrying
strops tout-to prevent move-
ment of the cqmero.
- 2 2 -View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
HIDDEN SFIOOTING POSITION USING THE CASE
POS!TrON When ropid-shooting with com-
This position is used when shoot- ero in cose, merely lower or
ing without the knowledge of remove the front cdse cover.
the subiect. There ore other woys of mok-
ing effective use of the cose so
experiment ond use the' method
best fitted to the siutqtion.
The bosic comero positions hove been exploined obove
but there ore ofher voriotions so experiment ond devise
your own positions such os for ongle shots.
- 2 3View original page 24Related documents and language editions
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