Sears Tower #83 Stereo User manual

Copyrighl 1955 Sears, Roebuck and Co,


nd ing camera featu res:    Ii                                                    t.;
 r  fast, color-corrected f:3.5 coated                             Irjt',
   matched lenses                                   ito focusing from 3 feet to infinity
o shutter soeeds from 1 to 1/300 second
   also takes time exoosures
 .  synchronized for photo  f lash bulbs and
   speed lig hts
 .  built-in self timer permits photographer to
 +get into picture
 o double-exposure prevention                l',                                                      r{:



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Note: Keep this page open for handy reference
to keyed camera parts which are frequently
mentioned in the following pages.

Top and Back View:.(Refer to Fig. 1)

    Camera body lock lever
     Film rewind knob
     Accessory clip for  f lash gun, range  f inder, etc. @oo
     Lens opening (f/stop) scale with lever
     Focusing ring with distance scale (also@0  includes modified focusing scale)
     Shutter speed indicator windowo
     Film counter dial
     Shutter release button (with cable release@o  socket)
     Shutter cocking lever
     Film winding knoboo
@  Eye-level view finder eyepiece

    Front and Bottom: (Refer to Fig. 2)

     Self timer (shutter delay) lever
     Shutter speed rings
    Matched lenses
     Eye-level view finder window
    Tripod socket
     Flash contact socketoooo0o      www.butkus.us

fis. 3                                            tig.4


               Lower film rewind knob (b). Occasionally, you    o             may have to turn knob slightly until  it engages
                with slotted end of film cartridge.
                    Pull tapered end of film across back of camera.    o                  Insert tip of tapered film end into slot of wind-
                ing spool.
             Turn film winding knob (k) in direction of      t   arrow until sprocket wheel engages in film
                  perforations.
              Should film winding knob (k) stop and lock       I   before film perforations engage in sprocket
               wheel, cock shutter by pulling lever (j) toward
              back of camera and releasing  it., (See Fig. 4).
            Then press shutter release button (h).
             Wind film again until its perforations engage    o  the sprocket wheel.

take pictures


 You have purchased a stereo camera with
 many excellent features.. Tak'e advantage of
 them and obtdin best picture-taking results
 by getting fully acquainted with your TOWER
 83 stereo camera.


 'Ining correct exposures:


 Correct exposure is determined by using the
 proper combination of two camera settings:
  lens opening (f,/stop) and shutter speed. The
 proper combination  of those two settings de-
 pends upon subject, amount of light and type
  of film used.

Your TOWER 83 stereo camera offers two
              ways for determining correct exposures:  (1)
              You rnay use the Sears-developed simplified
               exposure guide which appears on the too
                    front of your camera. (2) you may follow the
                   regular procedure for determining  correct ex-
                 posures by using specific f/stop and shutter
               speed numbers.
                       In using the simplified exposure guide (Fig.S.)
            on the middle camera barrel, just match
                   shutter speed color with color of existing light
                 condition                         heading (e.g., ,,DULL", ',HAZy', or                ,'BRIGHT").This                                              is done by moving top mid-
                 dle lever (d) to existing light condition head_
                   ing (e.g. "BRIGHT"). Then turn large notched

fis.5                               fig.6





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ring (p), around lenses, until matching color
(e.9., red "50") is centered in top window  (f).
lens op.ening. Your TOWER 83 stereo
camera has six lens openings on its scale (d):
f:3,5; f:4; f:5.6; f:8; f:11; and f:16. Those lens
openings determine the amount of light enter-
ing the camera through its lenses to the film.
The lowbr the f/stop number, the larger the
lens opening and the greater the amount of
light that reaches the camera's film. (See
Fis. 6).
  f:3.5  f:4   f:5.6  f:8   f:11   f:16
To adjust lens opening, turn lever on scale
(d) until  it is next to the desired lens opening
(f/stop) number.


                        Fo,{kbs.

shutter speed This refers to a specified
                   length of time that your film is exposed to
                        light. The following Table (Fig. 7) lists your
                  camera's shutter speed settings and when to
                  use specific shutter speeds.


     fig. 7            shutter speed guide
 Speeds      Types of Lighting             ypes of Pictures
Time (B),    Very poor light             Architecture, still life, etc.
1,'1/2,1/5,    indoors or outdoors        (Always use tripod or other
     1 /10       at night.                     firm support).
            Poor Light.                Action very slow.
           Wtren t;i;s speed-         speeilishi siops fast
                lights,                        action.
             Flash bidtlri,i with         flain pi'.iries of ail types
             No. 5, 25 flash bulbs.        of subjects.
   1/50     Recommended Setting       All people, animals arrcf
              for most pictures.          scenes where movement
            (Use when in doubt).          is normal.
   1'/1ffi      Subject in good light.       Lniloren ptaytng, aou
                                          walking, etc.
  1/300     Good light, extra www.butkus.us Fast moving people, cars,
               bright.                       horbes, etc.; fast athletic
                                            events.

era steady and level;
                                                     (h) ress shutter release

 Avoiding camera movement helps prevent
 blurred pictures. Holding the camera level
 assures you of obtaining better stereo results.

efi lm

 Always wind film immediately  after taking a
 picture. Do this, by turning knob (k) in direc'
 tion of arrow until it stops. Then you'll always
 be ready for taking next picture.

  r device

 This device permits photographer to get into
  picture. Merely cock self timer by pulling
  lever (n) up, press shutter release button (h),
 and get into picture. This cocked lever (n) al'
 lows a 7-second time delay before shutter is
 automatically tripped. (Camera should be
 mounted on a tripod or other firm support for
 this type of exposure).

hints for taking stereo
    (3-d) pictu res:

    Pictures that show examples of distance and
   depth give you the best results in stereo
    viewing,
 o The sky photdgraphs flat, so avoid too much
   sky in the background
 o Take pictures with more foreground than
   background. Foreground objects help create
   the effect of distance in stereo pictures.
 o When the main subject'(such as a building
   or a mountain) is in the pictur€, include ob-
    jects or people in the immedlate foreground
   between the main subject and camera. (This
    gives prominence to the main subjebt in two
   ways. One, your main subject will look far
   away by extreme depth contrast. Two, your
   mhin subject will have the proper look oT size
   in comparison with foreground objects or
    people).
 o Arroid flat surfaces, such as level areas of
   land or still water. Flat surfaces photograph
    flat in stereo.
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note:
For best time exposu re resu lts, use an
exposure meter. Avoiding camera and sub-
ject movement during a time exposure is very
important. Using a cable release helps elimi'
nate unnecessary movement. Just insert and
screw it into shutter release button (h). Pose
your subjects in comfortable positions so they
will not accidentally move during the exposure.


 tog raphy



The TOWER 83 stereo camera's flash-syn-
chronized shutter mechanism permits using
flash bulbs or speedlights. Flash lighting
helps you get sharp, clear outdoor or indoor
pictures with color or black and white film.

E Rwhen using   f lash bulbs ' You r TCW
83 stereo camera is equipped with acces-
sory clip (c) io fit all shoe-type flash units.
Standard bracket-type    f lash units can be
mounted in tripod socket (s). Your camera
is equipped with European-type connectors.
No. 9?65 Flash Unit is recomrnended.  Plug
flash gun-camera connector cord into fiash
contact socket (t) on front of camera" For best
synchronization, use No. 5 or No. 25 fiash
bulbs at 1,/25 second with the lens opening
recornmended on flash bulb cartons.
when using a speedlight'  lt  is recom-
mended that you use No. 9745 Speedlight for
action pictures at fast shutter speeds. Plug
speedlight-camera  connector cord into flash
contact socket (t) on front of camera.
                                                t'*& t tdS                            *P*rl"*





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Consult following Flash Guide (Fig. 8)
                           for recommended shutter speeds when
                       using color films:



     fig.8                flash guide

Shutter Speeds             Flash Bulbs              Electronic Flas
                   Class M         Class F
                  No. 5, 25, etc,


     1/50
        1 /100
        1 /300



                   You also may refer to settings recom-
                  mended by flash bulb manufacturers
                           orto exposure information included with
                         the film you are using.

e)         ant accessory (see Fis.



           Owning a camera case (No.8382) protects and
            makes  it convenient to take your camera with
             you, wherever you go. This case is the ever-
             ready type. lt permits you to use the camera,
           and make all adjustments, without removing
           camera from case.




fig. 9