Film cameras
Sears auto 500 User manual
User manual for Sears auto 500. 14 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Sears
- Model / document
- Sears auto 500
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 14
- File size
- 0.7 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
Back to main camera manual page IMPORTANT Before using the camera, put silver oxide battery in the compartment on the bottom of the camera. The Sears AUTO 500 is a single lens reflex camera, however, the lens is not interchangeable. Therefore, any attempt to turn the lens forcibly may result in serious lens/camera damage. CONTENTS Specifications...... 2 Description of parts ...... 3 8. Infra-red photography ...... 11 1. How to insert battery...... 5 9. Depth-of-field ...... 11View original page 2
Page 3 · Read text
2. Loading thefilm ...... 6 10. Holding the camera ...... 12
3. Setfilm speed ...... 7 11. Flash photography ...... 13
4. Automatic exposure photography ...... 8 12. Non-automatic operation ...... 14
5. Exposure meter ...... 9 13. Time exposure photography ...... 14
6. Focusing ...... 10 14. Rewinding the film . ...... 15
7. Composing the picture ....... 10 Accessories ...... 16
Helpful hints ...... 17
SPECIFICATIONS
TYPE: 35mm Single Lens Reflex with built-in behind the lens light meter
FILM AND THREADING SIZE: 35mm (20 or 36 exposures) 24 x 36mm
LENS: Sears/Sekor f/2.8-48mm, 3 elements in 3 groups, angle 48°, filter size 52mm
SHUTTER: Between the lens shutter
SPEED: 1/15 - 1/500 Second, and B (bulb)
EXPOSURE CONTROL: Highly sensitive CdS meter located on the back of the mirror. Accurately measures light intensity. By preselecting a
shutter speed and turning the diaphragm ring to "A" (Automatic), the meter provides fully automatic exposure. Can also be operated manually.
Operating range: EV 7 to EV 17 with an ASA 100 film.
ASA RANGE: 10 to 400: DIN 11 to 27
FINDER: Pentaprism finder with rangefinder spot (split-image) for instant focusing. Aperture scale visible in the viewfinder, a needle indicates theView original page 3Page 5 · Read text
11. Diaphragm ring 12. Shutter speed ring 13. Depth-of-field scale 14. I Index dot 15. Infra-red mark 16. Film chamber 17. Viewfinder 18. Film sprockets 19. Take-up spool 20. Pressure plate 21. Back cover lock 22. Tripod socket 23. Battery compartment cover 24 Film speed setting lever (ASA/DIN) 25. Film rewind release buttonView original page 5
Page 6 · Read text
1. How to Insert Battery
To open battery cover, use a coin in slot on base of camera body, turning it counter-
clockwise. Then insert battery, with negative (-) side down.
The battery will last approximately one year, depending upon the frequency of use.
For replacement, we recommend the Eveready S-76 or equivalent. When you are not
using the camera for an extended period of time, remove the battery.
2. Loading the Film
Do not load in bright light. Open back cover of camera by sliding back cover lock. Pull up the
rewind crank knob, and put the film cartridge into the film chamber. Return the rewind crank to its
former position. Draw out film leader and insert into take-up spool. If the slit is not in proper
position to insert the film leader, turn the take-up spool.
Turn the rapid film advance lever, and make sure that both sprockets properly engage film
perforations. Take up film slack by turning rewind crank in direction of arrow until film is taut.
Close and lock back cover.
The letter "S" appears opposite the mark in the exposure counter window. Advance film a single
stroke and depress shutter button after each stroke. Continue this until the figure "1" appears
opposite the mark. The camera is now ready for the first picture.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
Each time the film is advanced, the rewind crank will turn slightly. This assures proper film
action in the camera.
The shutter is automatically wound when film is advanced: the next frame can only be
advanced after the shutter is released.
3. Set Film Speed
Press the ASA film speed setting lever and move it until it is lined up with the desired ASA
number. The ASA scale has click stops for accurate setting.
between
(12) (20) (32) (40) (80) (125) (160) (250) (320)
dots
ASA
10 16 25 (50) 64 100 200 400
numbers
DIN 11 13 15 19 21 24 27View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
4. Automatic Exposure Photography
A) Turn the diaphragm ring (11) until A (Automatic) is aligned with the index
dot (14).
B) Turn the shutter speed ring (12) until the desired shutter speed is aligned
with the index dot.
A shutter speed of 1/125th of a second is recommended for most
photographic requirements; however, you may need a higher shutter speed for
fast moving objects or unusually bright surroundings. Where less light is
available, use a slower shutter speed.
Do not attempt to turn the shutter speed ring while the shutter release button
is depressed.
C) The exposure meter pointer can be seen in the viewfinder on the right side.
When the pointer is between the upper and lower warning marks, the picture
will be properly exposed at the aperture indicated.
If the meter pointer is at the warning mark at the top of the viewfinder, move the shutter speed ring to a slower speed. When it is at the lower warning
mark, move the shutter speed ring to a higher speed.
5. Exposure Meter
One of the most advanced features of your Sears AUTO 500 camera is a built-in, behind the lens spot meter (covering about 10% of the picture area).
The unique advantage of a spot meter (and the reason it is used by most professional photographers) is that you can expose for the most important
subject in your picture. The meter is not affected by unimportant large, bright areas such as sky, beach or snow.
In using this system, it is not necessary to figure exposure factors, regardless of auxiliary lenses or filters used.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
6. Focusing
The rangefinder spot (split-image) located in the center of the viewfinder offers fast, critical
focusing.
While looking in the viewfinder, turn the focusing ring in either direction until the two vertical
lines across the image inside the small circle are aligned into one straight line. (When holding the
camera vertically, turn the focusing ring until the two horizontal lines are aligned into one
straight line).
For subjects with irregular outlines, such as a wooded hillside, the entire ground glass area of the
viewfinder may be used for focusing.
7. Composing the Picture
The Sears AUTO 500 camera is a single lens reflex. You view and take the picture through the
same lens. What you see in the viewfinder, you see on the film.
8. Infra-red Photography
Infra-red rays focus slightly behind the film plane normally used for ordinary light rays. This,
therefore, requires a modification of normal focusing procedures. First, focus in a normal manner.
Then move the focusing ring from the index dot to the infra-red mark (15) on the depth-of-field
scale ring.
9. Depth-of -field
A depth-of-field scale(13)tells you how much of your picture will be in focus at different taking
apertures. By using a smaller lens opening you can increase the area between the farthest and
nearest point that will remain in focus.
For example, with the aperture set at f/11 and focused at 15 feet, the depth-of-field ring (13)
indicates your subject will be in focus from 7 feet to infinity.View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
10. Holding the Camera
Holding the camera steady is very important in obtaining sharp photographs. Lightly support the
bottom of the camera with the palm of the left hand; adjust the position of the camera so that the
thumb and forefinger of the left hand can reach the focusing ring. Place the palm of the right hand
against the end of the camera body. Then the forefinger of the right hand will automatically be
near the shutter release button, and the thumb will be on the film advance lever. Bring the
viewfinder window to the level of the eyes and rest against the forehead. This will help steady the
camera.
For vertical-format pictures, the camera should be held with the film advance lever down. The
shutter release button and the film advance lever are operated with one's thumb. Press the right
elbow as close to the body as possible when holding the camera.
11. Flash Photography
For flash photography, be sure to use a clip-on-type, cordless flash unit.
By attaching the flash unit to the camera accessory shoe, both contacts provided for the unit and shoe are directly connected.
For flash photography, the aperture is set manually, determined by dividing the guide number of the electronic flash unit or the flash bulbs by
distance to the subject.
Aperture = Guide Number . Distance
The guide number appears in the instruction manual or on the package containing the flash unit or flash bulbs. By referring to a conversion table, the
aperture can be easily determined.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
The AUTO 500 camera is equipped with an X-contact flash synchro circuit.
When using electronic flash, synchronization is obtainable at any shutter speed; when using flash bulbs, it is necessary to follow instructions for the
bulbs and to select a shutter speed within the range of the speeds at which flash synchronization can be obtained with the X-contact connected.
12. Non-automatic Operation
When manual operation of the camera is desired, the diaphragm ring (11) should be turned until the desired aperture is aligned with the index dot.
This method is used for both flash and time-exposure photography. Film advance and other operations are the same as in the case of automatic
exposure photography.
The exposure pointer in the viewfinder now functions independently and is used in setting the correct aperture. However, this pointer has no
relationship to time exposure photography.
13. Time Exposure Photography
Set shutter speed ring on B (bulb) by depressing bulb setting lever (9). The shutter will remain
open as long as the shutter release button is depressed, depending on the length of exposure
desired.
When making time exposures, use a tripod or rest the camera on a steady supporting base. For
extremely long exposures, a cable release with locking mechanism is recommended.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
12. Rewinding the Film
Rewind the film into its original cartridge as fol lows: push the film rewind release button (25) of
the camera.
Then turn the film rewind crank (7) in the direction of the arrow. Stop rewinding when you feel
the tension on the rewind crank lessen as the leader end of the film slips off the take-up spool.
Avoid direct sunlight when unloading your film.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Accessories
Filters: Screw-in type, 52mm diameter.
Conversion Lenses: (1 set: Telephoto and wide-angle lenses)
These conversion lenses can be used by screwing them into the filter threads on the camera lens. When
these lenses are attached to the camera lens, the focal length and the angle of view are converted as
follows:
Focal length Angle of view
Telephoto lens 70mm 35 °
Wide-angle lens 38mm 58°
The telephoto lens is useful for portraits, landscapes, and sports photography, producing a larger image
size at a given distance. The wide-angle lens is practically indispensable when shooting in cramped
quarters or interiors, such as architectural shots, street scenes, landscapes, and large groups of people
indoors.
Precautions
When attaching or removing a filter or a conversion lens, be sure to grasp the distance scale ring on the lens barrel, to avoid accidental damage to the
shutter mechanism.
Focusing with Conversion Lenses
While looking through the viewfinder as when ordinarily photographing an object, focus by turning the focusing ring of the camera lens. In this case,
reading of the lens distance scale differs from the actual photographing distance.
Actual distances can be calculated by using the following equations.
Actual distance for telephoto lens = Camera distance scale reading x 2.07
Actual distance for wide angle lens = Camera distance scale reading x 0.65.View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
Helpful Hints Storage: (When the camera will not be used for a long period of time.) · Store without winding the shutter. This relieves spring tension. · Remove battery. · Store the camera where it will not be subject to extremes in temperature. High temperatures of over100°F, and low temperatures of less than freezing, moisture and salty atmosphere are injurious to any camera. When the camera does not function properly, do not lubricate or attempt home repairs. If service is necessary, return camera to your nearest Sears retail store or catalog order store.View original page 14
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