Film cameras
Ricoh Diacord User manual
User manual for Ricoh Diacord. 37 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 Diacord
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 37
- File size
- 4.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
@ Corrying strop connection
@ Film winding knob
@ Depth-of-ffeld scote
@ Film odvonce button
@ Exposure counter window
@ Film exposure index scote
window
@ Exposure mefer needle
@ Exposure meter scole
@ Film exposure index selector
slide button
@ Finder lens
@ Toking lens
@ M-F-X Synchronizqtion lever
l - @ Shutter speed selector leverView original page 2Page 3 · Read text
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Mike Butkus DigitallyDN:email=mike@butkus.org,Date:cn=Mike2025.03.25signedButkus,by12:31:19Mikeo, ou=Butkus.org,Butkusc=US-04'00'
@ DUO-LEVER Focusing @ Toke-up spool knob
@ Shutter button protector ring @ Cordless f losh contoct
@ Combined nome plote ond @ Accessory shoe
light window cover @ Self-timer button
@ Light window (Selenium pho- @ Light volue selector lever
tocell) @ Flosh terminol
@ Shutter releose button @ Tripod bushing
@ Shutter cocking lever @ Bock cover locking disc
@ Mo gnifier for critico I focus- @ Bock cover lock tob
ing @ Film pressure plote
@ Froming operture for direct @ 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
Venmo @mike-butkus-camera Ph. 2083 PayPal Name Lynn@butkus.org www.PayPal.me/lynnbutkusView original page 5
Page 7 · Read text
6 Moke doubly sure the roll is 7 Corefully pull out obout 6 in.
properly engq ged ot both of the film ond slip the end
ends. The slightest deviotion into the longer of the two
will homper smooth winding slots in the empty spoot. Here
ond result in foilure. Fig. 6. be especiolly coreful thot the
tip of the film is not put in
crooked or otherwise out of
olignment. Fig.7.
Turn the film winding knob As soon os the film hos been
until the number "1" qppeors loo ded, turn the exposure
ond the knob outomoticolly meter slide b utton until the
comes to o stop. Now it is ASA number of your film op-
reody for toking photogrophs. peo rs on the film exposure
Fig. 10. index scole. Fig. I l. (Refer to
! o | | pose 7lView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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8 ls you slowly wind the film 9 Th"n close the bock cover.
o film stort mork (n morks The reverse order of opening
or <-- ---) mork) will op- the comero is used to close
peor. Now, line up the film it. Moke sure the locking disc
stort morks with the A mork is turned fully ond firmly in
on both sides of the comero ploce. This completes the lood-
os shown in Fig. 8. ing of the comero. Fig. 9.
After you hove token one After the lost picture, o e mork
picture, press the film odvonce oppeqrs ond the film winding
button, releose it ond wind knob co n be turned continu-
until the next number oppeors ously until the remoinin! film
ond the knob outomoticolly hos been completely rolled up
to o stop. Fig. 12. on the toke-up spool. Fig. 1 3.
| 2.or"s | 3View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
CAUTION
When winding the film nevetr lurn fhe film winding knob
while CONITNUOUSI.y pressing the film odvonce button
becouse this will domage lhe geors inside ond result in o
breokdown. After pressing if once releose it, then turn the
film odvonce knob to wind the film.
FIIM EXPOSURE INDEX
Note: When you purchose film, whether it is
blqck ond white or color ftlm, the film exposure
index of the film is olwoys cleorly specified
on the box or in the enclosed instructions.
For exomple, for the commonly colled X film
the exposure index is 50, for XX 100 ond
2OO tor XXX. As the film exposure index
becomes foster you must use q corresponding
lower exposure (Shuiter ond f stop) . Therefore,
to moke proper exposures it is importont thqt
you olwoys keep in mind the type of film you
hove in your cctmero (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 seoled tightly
with tope. Fold the tip of the poper strip
inword ond iope the seol over it. This will
moke the film more convenient to hondle in
the dorkroom. And, it is olso sofer to olwoys
wrqp the exposed film with light-proof poper
such os tin foil.
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;b; -iiAS*View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
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Regordless of how good o comero you hove, through
co reless exposure o much o nticipoted subiect will turn out
o disoppointing white or block. In photogrophy there is
nothing more importont thon proper exposure. Up till now,
moy people hove been toking photogrophs with only o
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 fo use on exposure meter which
determines the exposure scientificolly.
The DlAcoRD L hos o built-in direct-reoding type expo
sure meter of the lotest type. Therefore, even o novice con
become proficient in photogrophy mony times fqster 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 setenium photocetl.
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 etectric current).
When this electric current is tronsmitted to 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 on 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 exisf
but the principle of o light meter is os exploined obove.
8View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
HOW TO UsE THE EXPOSUREMETER
In the reflected light type fhe rule is to meosure light
by pointing it toword ihe subiect from comero position'
But,'when lhotogrophing people ogoinst o bright bock'
ground, you should get close enough to the- subiect so
you obtoin o true reoding of only the reflected light
"on from the subiect.
's',
-"'Q il v*fi o distont view, such os expon' Also, when photogrophing
,iu"'r""n"ry, if youi comero is tilting upword too high
it will meosure- the light from the sky qnd the more
importont frees or buildings will become underexposed'
S", meosure by tilting the cqmero slightly downword
t-o*ora the ground. When photogrophing into o light
,our"" be Joreful not to ollow direcf light to enter the
light window of the exposure meter.
.l':[
rvh_
- 9 -View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
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EXPOSURE
AND
LIGHT VALUE
In order fo toke c photogroph it is necessory for
o certoin qmount of light to poss through thc lens
ond reoch the film. This is termed on exposure.
We hove olreody exploined the greot importonce
of proper exposure. Up till now, it wos necessory
to sef 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 defermine the exposure,
oll thot is required is to tronsfer this light vclue
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.
Furthermore;on the DIACORD L moximum versotility is
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 MXL exposure scole hos odopted
' 1 , 2 , 5 ,t h e 1 0 , 2 5 , 5 0 , 1 0 0 , 2 5 0 , 5 0 0 s e r i e s o n d
is not in multiple series. But, the scole intervols,
other thon 500, ore in olignment ond the chonges
in exposure time ond f stop ore mode completely
outomoticolly.
- 1 0 -
d.i".i*: ,"*h;View original page 12Page 14 · Read text
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HOW TO USE THE LIGHT VATUE
Pleose look of the exposure window on
the top of the finder lens. The number
closesl to you is the shutter speed scole,
the middle red number the light volue
scole ond the outside white number the
f stop.
1) Mqke sure thot you motch the
film exposure index of the film in
your comero with the number which
oppeors on the film exposure in-
dex window of your exposure
meter. (Refer to pqge 5 for method
of motching numbers). Now, point
your comero toword the subiect
you intend to photogroph. In out-
door photogrophy, where it is usuql-
ly bright, leove the combined nome
plote ond light window cover closed.
As shown in figure, while slightly
pulling the meter knob turn the
meter knob counter-clockwise until
you motch up the "CLOSED" morkV
with the red mork. According to the
brightness of the subiect, the red
needle of the meter ot the side of
the comero will move ond eventuol-
ly come to q stop of o certoin
point. The number indicoted ot
this point is the proper exposure
light volue. (Fig. 1).
1 2 -View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
2l In indoor or dork ploces, if
there is no movement of the meter
needle, open the light window
cover to increose the omount of
light striking the light window
which roises 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" mork V with the red
mork. (Fig. 2l
3
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 comero. To close the
www.butkus.us light window cover, press the
opposite side of fhe cover until
it cotches. (Fig. 3 ond 4l..
- 1 3 -View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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5
4l After you hove determined the
proper exposure, move the light
vo lue selector lever while wctch-
ing the exposure window ond
motch up the yellow pointer with
the number token f rom the meter
r e o d i n g . ( F i g . 5 )
) lf the number to ken f rom the
meter reoding does not oppeor
in the exposure window move the
light vo lue selector lever ond the
shutter speed selector tever to-
gether until you find it. tn Fig. 7
the light volue is set ot 12. you
con toke o photogroph with this
volue but in order to bring out
the best quolities of your subiect,
moke the necessory odiustments
within limits requiring no chonge
in the light volue. (More obout
this relotion is exploined in the
toble on Poge I l ). This is done
by moving the shutter speed setec_
tor lever. At this point DO NOT
move the light vq lue selector
lever becouse this will throw the
7' proper exposure off bolonce.
1 4View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
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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 portroit, move the
shutter speed selector lever downword fo dim the
bockground. At this point, to determine the limits in
which the subiecf is in shorp focus see the depth-of-
field scqle on your knob. lf you wish to photogroph
sport events or scenery from the window of o troin
requiring fost shutter speeds, 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) ln the obove coses, os long os there is no chonge in
light volue 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 chqnged, within limits
requiring no chonge in the light volue, ond still mointoin
the some exposure.
l 5 -View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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GU//DE FOR BECOM'NG A GOOD
PHOfOGRAPHER
As long os you remember o few simple rutes,
even o novice con become o good photogropher.
lf you follow the rules given below, we ore
confident you will quickly show remorkobles
improvement.
1) Hove you ever hod double exposures ?
To prevent double exposures, ocquire the
hobit of olwoys winding the film immediotely
ofter releosing the shutter.
2l Hove you ever hod the four corners of your
photogroph turn block ?
Lotely, it hos become common proctice to use
o hood under overqge condifions. Buf, there
mqy be some of you who hove hod the four
corners of your mosterpiece turn block becouse
you used o hood of different moke. lt is best
to use on occessory which hos been especiolly
mode. And ogoin, if you ottoch the hood
incorrectly it might cquse you iust os much
trouble. On the DIACORD L ottoch the hood so
thof the words RICOH comes out on top.
3) Are you sure the cose is not covering the
toking lens ?
In the twin lens reflex, the finder lens is in o
different position so even if you con see the
whole subject through the finder lens, octuolly
the cover moy be covering fhe toking lens.
When ropid-shooting, it is best to be on the
sofe side ond remove the front cover whenever
possible.
1 6 - ."--**iIEfKView original page 18Page 20 · Read text
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1) 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 cotches. (Fig. 3). The
frome plote con be returned to
its originol position by moving
the hood slightly bock.
- l B *View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
TAKTNG THE PHOTOGR,APH
To prevent foilure in qn emergehc/r estoblish
o stondord 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 volue. Next, Pull
the shut?er cocking lever to
the righf ond cock the shutter.
(Fig. 1)
2l Focuswith the DUO-LEVER
ond releose the shutter
GENTLY.(Fis. 2l
l e -View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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3) When using the self-timer, AFTER
you hove cocked the shutter, Push3
the self-timer button in the direction
of the orrow ond the shutter will be
releosed outomoticolly. During this
sfep, DO NOT TOUCH THE SHUTTER
RELEASE BUTTON becouse this will
result in Premoture releose of the
shutter. Further, ofter the self-timer
button hos been Pushed the shutter
will be releosed in obout I 1 seconds'
(Fig. 3)
4l When you use the occessory re-
leose, toke off the shutter butfon
protector ring ond ottoch the releose
in. (Fig. 4.1
20View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
DTNG THE CADIIERA
I WAIST.LEVEL POSITION 2 EYE-IEVEI PoSITION
This is the most common posi- This position is used when sight-
tion for o twin lens reftex of ing through the direct view-
this type. To prevent ony finder. When sighting with the
movemenf of the comero, direct view-finder, press the
olwoys hold the corrying strop bock of the comero firmly
tout. ogoinst the foce to keep it
from moving.
2 1View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
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Before toking o photograph, steody the comero ond releose fhe shuffer
GENfly becouse it is importont fo keep fhe comero from moving.
Regordless of how good fhe lens or how good the exposure, moving
fhe comero will spell frouble. Whenever possible, use o tripod.
GROT'ND-I.EVELPOSITION 4 agovr EYE-LEvEIPostnoN
Steody the comero by using This position is convenient in
some orticle like q 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 comero.
22View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
6 HIDDEN SHOOTING Posl'oN ustNc THEcAsE
POSITION When ropid-shooting with com-
This position is used when shoot- ero in cose, merely lower or
ing without the knowledge of remove the f ront 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 other vqriotions so experiment ond devise
your own positions such os for ongle shots.
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