Supre-MACY MB23 folding camera User manual

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 IN6TRUCTIONS
       f'O R IHE USE OF
SupnE-MAcY
 FOTDING CAMERA


     MODET MB23
     w[H  f 6.3 ttNs


      frlhlt".tvf,-"            tNc.
     NEW YORK

FOR COMPLETE

SATISFACTION WITH

YOUR SUPRE-MACY
 CAMERA USE
  MACY M-620                                      dr
MULTICHROME FILM

         OR

MACY S-62O SUPER

    SENSITIVE

PANCHROMATIC FILM

                                          '{F"

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Yep, this was from Macy's department
store in NY !
 #
    J*nrurtio*t
      FOR THE
     USE OF THE
 SUPRE-MACY
    CAMERA


                        a

    HE Macy Supre-Macy Camera has been
      so scientifically designed that exception_
   ally fine results are easily obtained without
   special knowledge. All information necessary
   is contained in this booklet to enable you to
  secure too/o satisfactory snapshots from your
  Supre-Macy Camera.
    Therefore, before making any exposures
  with the camera, take the time to carefully
  read this booklet from cover to cover. Study
  the illustrations; learn the function of each
  adjustment. With the camera before you, fol_
  Iow each step of the various operations until
  the explanation is perfectly clear.

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  CHECK OVER TIIE GA'UIERA WITT{
  FIG. I BEFORE YOU
                release button. Press in to open#  r. Opening
      camera.
   a. Platform. Pull down after'releasing catch
       (r) until side-arm braces (s) lock.
   3. Side-arm braces. See that braces lock and
      hold platform rigid.
   4. Closing release button. Similar button is
     on opposite side of camera. With the cam-
     era held between the thumb and middle
      finger of the left hand, press the release
     buttons on both sides simultaneously.
     With the right hand, move platform up-
     ward until securely closed as indicated by
      clicking of latch.
   5. Vertical footrest..ll   6. Focusing scale for various distances.
   7. Diaphragm adjustment lever for control-
      ling amount of light entering lens.
   8. Shutter adjustment lever for varying shut-
      ter speeds.
   9. Finger release for operating shutter. Press
     downward to make exposure.
  ro. Socket for addition of cable release for
      operating shutter. A cable release for this
     camera is available if desired.
  rr. Direct View Finder, for full-size oi half-
      size pictures.
  rz. Brilliant finder. Turn for horizontal pic-
     tures. Return to vertical position before
      closing camera. Swing mask marked "16"
     upward to obtain range of view for full-
      sized pictures,
  r3. Bellows.
  r4. Winding key for advancing film.
  r5. Tripod sockets (only one shown-other on
     front of platforrn). Remove screws to
      insert threaded screw on tripod head.
  r6. Release catch for opening back.

TO OPEN THE CAMERA
  To open the camera, hold it in the palm of
 the left hand and press the opening release
 button (r, Fig. r) with the left thumb. With
 the right hand, pull down the platform (z)
 until the side-arm braces are locked firmlv in
 place.

TO CTOSE THE CATYIERA
  Be certain, first, that the half-size mask on
 the brilliant finder (rz) is down and that the
 finder is in a vertical position.
  To close the camera, grasp it in the palm of
 the left hand and simultaneously press the
 two closing release buttons (a) with the thumb
 and middle finger. With the right hand then
 move the platform upward until it is securely
 closed as indicated by a clicking of the latch.
  Repeat the operation of opening and closing
the camera until you can do it  easily and
deftly. Never force the camera at any point.
 If any obstruction is encountered, stop at once
and determine what is in the way.

FOCUSTNG
  The focusing scale will be found on the top
outer edge of the lens barrel, and will be
identified by the series of figures running from
5 to Infinity. See illustration of lens mount-
ing, Fig. a.  If the object to be photographed
is ro feet away, revolve the lens barrel until
the figure ro is opposite the indicating arrow.
Distances from the lens to all objects from 5
to 50 feet should be estimated as accurately
as possible and set on the barrel.  . For subjects
at a distance of roo feet or greater, the barrel
should be set at INF or Infinitv.

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  To use as a fixed focus camera, set the lens
 barrel at 15 feet, and all indices on the fig-
 ures in red on the top shutter plate. Thus
 everything from lYz tt.to Inf. will be in focus.
 Sharper pictures will result, however, if the
 lens is focused according to the index.





                      Fi!. z
              Lens Mounting

THE SHUTTER
  The shutter is the mechanism which actu-
ally makes the exposure when taking a picture.
Simply expressed, it does nothing more than
uncover the lens for a very short period of
time so that light from the object photo-
graphed may pass through the lens and project
an image upon the film.  I{owever,  it does
this uncovering job with a very high degree of
accuracy and with a suitable range in speed.
Thus the portion of light admitted through
the lens may be a very small one, such as that

when the shutter is operated at one hundredth
 of a second, or a larger portion such as that
when the shutter is operated at a twenty-fifth
 of a second.
TO REGUI.AIE THE SHUTTER SPEED
  Along the top of the lens mounting (Fig. z,
page Z) is a row of figures and letters-T, B,
 roo, 50 and 25. T means time, B means Bulb,
and roo, 5o and a5 indicate t/roo, r/5o and
 r,/25 second respectively.
  To set the shutter for any of these speeds,
 move the pointer (8, Fig. r) to a position di-
 rectly over the desired figure. In the shutter
 illustration, Fig. z, the shutter is set f.or r/25
 second, the standard snapshot speed, and
 shown in red on the dial.
   Irr addition to these figures on the front
 plate of the shutter, identically corresponding
 figures will be found on the top of the shutter
as an aid in changing the settings without
moving the camera from the waist-level posi-
tion when focused on a subject.
  The shutter is operated, or "tripped," by
the finger release (g, Fig. r) or by a cable
release if such has been added. Care must be
taken when the release is pressed down in
making an exposure not to jar or move the
camera.  If the camera is moved, a blurred
picture will result. Holding the opened cam-
era in the palm of the left hand, its back held
firmly against the body for support, practice
the shutter operation until you are certain
exposures can be made without moving the
camera.                                     _ts  V/hen the shutter is set f.or r/zil, r/ 5o or
x/too second, a single pressure on the release
lever trips the shutter, opening and closing  it.
When the shutter is set for B or Bulb (a term

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 surviving from the days when the shutter was
 operated by a rubber bulb), it stays open as
 long as the lever remains depressed, and
 closes as soon as the pressure is released. Bulb
 is used for comparatively short time expo-
 sures, as for example, when light conditions
 do not permit the use of an instantaneous ex-
 posure. Since it  is impossible to hold the
 camera perfectly still in the hand for any
 length of tir.ne, the instrument must be used
 on a tripod or other firm support when Bulb
 exposures are made. This is true of all expo-
 sures longer than r,/a5 second.
  When the shutter is set for T or Time, one
 downward pressure opens the shutter, follow-
 ing which a second pressure is necessary to
 close it.  In other words, the lens remains
 open the full time, however long, between the
 two operations of the lever. T is used for
 interior work and longer time exposures, such
 as may be counted with the second hand of a
 watch. Bulb or Time exposures should never
 be made of moving objects. The addition of
a cable release is especially valuable for time
exposures to prevent danger of moving the
camera.

THE DIAPHRAGII
  The diaphragm is an adjustable circular
opening within the elements of the  lens
which controls the amount of light passing
through the lens. When the diaphragm  is
adjusted so that the full aperture of the lens
is utilized,  it is said to be ,,wide open." When
the diaphragm is adjusted to  its smallest
opening,  it is said to be ,,stopped down."
  This diaphragm is operated by means of
the lever, (2, Fig. r), also shown on Fig. a
set under the numeral 16. This lever is con-
nected with a pointer on the opposite side of

the shutter which moves along a similar row
of figures on the flange at the top of the
shutter. Thus, the diaphragm setting may also
be read from above while holding the camera
at waist level.
  In order to view the operation of this dia-
phragm, set the shutter speed on Time and
press down once on the finger release. Then,
with the shutter open, move the diaphragm
lever at the bottom of the shutter back and
forth slowly, and you will be able to observe
the change in the size of the opening as the
Iever moves.
  The stops or settings indicated along the
bottom of the shutter face plate and along the
top flange are standard openings in the Focal
or "f System," and are of known exposure
value regardless of the size or make of cam-
era. They are referred to as f :6.3,  f :8, f :rr,
f :16, f :zz,  f ;gz.
PROPER EXPOSURE
  In Fig. z the stop indicator is set for open-
ing  f :16. With speed t/25 second this is the
standard stop for average sunshine. For twice
as much exposure at the same speed, move the
pointer to  f :rr, and for twice as much again,
move it to  f :8. In other words, the lower the
number, the larger the opening, and of course,
the larger openings let through more light,
giving greater exposure within the same shut-
ter speed.
  Proper exposure of your negatives depends
on several factors; the time of day; whether
the sun is shining or the sky is dull or cloudy,
and whether the subject to be photographed  is
bright, such as an open landscape, or quite
dark, such as a view in shaded woods.
  In general, close-ups require a greater expo-
sure than distant scenes; winter conditions
necessitate longer exposures than bright sum-
                       IO

ti                               www.butkus.us
     mer days. Pictures taken with extremely in-
      tense light such as sunlit beaches and brilliant
    snow scenes will require less exposure than
    normal. Ifowever, the following table will
      offer a general guide on which you will be
     able to base the proper setting of your shutter
    when using Macy Multichrome roll film.

               EXPOSURE TABTE

      STOP          f :6.j     I:8       I:tt        f :t6l I:zz
        Dull,
       cloudy             r/25  |         f,                 I|t
       Cloudy
        bright                    r/ 5o I r/zs
       Bright
       sunshine          t/roo I  x/5o  ,/zsl  '
       Intense
       sunshine                                    l r/too  r/5olt/z
     * Under these lipht conditions it  is recom-
    mended that short Bulb exposures be made.
                           Fi€. s
      Greater detail will result in your negatives
   when a smaller diaphragm opening is used.
    With the camera focused at Infinity and the
    diaphragm set at  f :8, everything f.rorn zz/2
     feet to Infinity will be sharp and in focus.
   When the camera is focused at Infinity and
     the diaphragm set at f:16, everything from r3
     feet to Infinity will be in focus. Thus it  is
    seen that the depth of focus, or the range of
     distance over which the picture is sharp and
    in focus has been increased by reducing the
    opening of the diaphragm. For your con-
    venience a table of focal-depths at various
    diaphragm settings appears on next page.
                                               II

DEPTH-OF-FOCUS TAB1E
Ior MBz3 Supre-Macy Carnera with I: 6.j lens

  Dis-
 tance     l:6.3       f:8         I:rt        I:t6
 in tt.
   Inf  .   z7 -Inf.  zzi-Inf.  rZ],-Inf   .  13 -Inf.
   5o      a r I -Inf.   r8i-Inf.  r5 -Inf.    r r l-Inf.
   25    i5 -78    r3 ]-Inf.  rr  -Inf.   9l-Inf.
   r5       rosr-z 5  ro -3o1,     9-5r        715-Inf..
   I2   g -r7\   g+-20      7 J:-27     6l-68
   IO   8 -tgl       ll.t-tS  7 -fil   6 -gt]
   8        6j -ro       6,rL-rr      6-n!,,      J   -L    I!
    6          J-     I     J-  -  -1t!    4+- 8    +L-to
    J      ++- 6   4-6    4-6!:    4-7Jt

THE FINDERS
  The MBz3 Supre-Macy camera is equipped
with both the brilliant finder for locating the
subject with the camera held at waist level,
and the direct view finder for holding the
camera directly to the eye.
  The brilliant finder requires little explana-
tion. When making 16 exposures to the roll it
is used with the small mask marked 16 down.
When IuL|-size exposures are bein{ tnade, the
mask must be raised upward and to the Itont
in order to utilize the entire finder.
  When making full-size exposures in the ver-
tical position, read the finder as shown in Fig.
4, and when taking pictures in the horizontal
position, swing the finder go degrees to the
left and read it as shown in Fig. 5, disregard-
ing the portions indicated in the cuts by white
space.
  Always remember to lower the mask and re-
turn the finder to the vertical position before

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        FiE. +                    FiE. s
closing the camera. Otherwise' they will be-
come jammed and possibly thrown out of
alignment.
  The direct view finder, (rr, Fig. r), located
on the side of the camera, ffioY also be used
for both full-size and half-size pictures. It  is
of special value for spotting the subject
quickly when taking pictures in crowds or
where an obstacle prevents holding the cam-
era at waist level.
  To open this finder, place the nail of the
forefinger of the left hand in the slot on the
front edge of the finder and pull backward.
The front and rear elements will spring nat-
urally into place. Grasped at the base with
the left hand, the camera is then held before
the left eye.
   If taking a full-size picture, the view seen
with the entire outline of the front sight will
be included in the film. When half-size pic-
tures are taken, only that portion within the
center bars will be included. To close the
direct view finder, swing the front element
back against the side. of the camera, and then
close the rear element over it until it clicks
into place.
  Incidentally, re{ardin{ both of these finders,
it must be understood that in the exposure oi
                           r3

halI-size pictures, when the camera is in the
vertical position, horizontal half-size pictures
are taken, and vice vetsa. This point will be
better understood when the mask for reducing
the film size is described at a later point.
IHE FOOTREST AND TRIPOD SOCKETS
 The vertical footrest (S, Fig. r) is for taking
Time or Bulb exposures when a tripod is not
available. The footrest is easily extended by
pulling  it out at right angles to the platform,
after which the camera may be set upon a
table, ledge, or railing for support.
  In order to use the tripod sockets (r5, Fig.
r)  it is necessary to first remove the plug-
screws. This may be done with a small coin,
after which the tripod is screwed securely into
place. The screws should be replaced after
removal of the tripod in order to protect the
interior of the camera against dust or other
foreign matter which might prove injurious to
the shutter mechanism.
  The vertical tripod socket is located in the
center of the camera platform; the horizontal
socket is on the camera side plate below the
film winding key.
  The vertical footrest or a tripod should al-
ways be used for exposures longer tlran t/25
second rather than attempting to hold the
camera in the hands.
LOADING THE GATIERA
  To load the camera, it is first necessary to
open the back which is held by a catch (16,
Fig. r) at the top under the handle.
  In order to release this catch, hcjld the cam-
era in the left hand, platform side in and
handle to the top. Thcn lay the fingers of the
                      t4

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 right hand across the camera handle and exert
 an upward pressure upon the under front edge
 of the long metal catch (Fig. 6). When this
 catch has been released. continue with a back-
 ward pressure to swing the hinged camera
 back downward.





                      Fie. 6

  Repeat the operations of opening and clos-
ing the back until you can operate the catch
easily and deftly.
THE IIASK FOR HAIF-SIZE PIGTURES
  Before loading the camera it is essential for
you to determine the size of pictures desired
for the particular roll being loaded. You have
the choice with the same roll of film, between
Ioading the camera for 8 full-size pictures or
for 16 half-size pictures.
  Uporr opening the camera back for the first
time you will notice a black rectangular frame
(r, Fig. 7) between the film rollers (2, Fig. 7).
This frame or mask determines the size of the
                       r5

exposure made on the film. When it is in
place, the picture size is reduced by half, and
16 exposures to the roll are obtained. Whe..t
the frame is lifted out and entirely removed
from the camera, 8 full-size exposures are ob-
tained from one roll.
  Due to the fact that the film is stretched on
top of this mask, decision as to the picture size
should be made before the camera is loaded,
for it is necessary to continue this size picture
until after the roll has been fully exposed.
  Upon the removal of the mask for full-size
pictures, care should be taken to place the
metal frame where it will not become lost or
bent. However, a new mask can always be
bought from R. H. Macy Co.





                     FiA. z
                      r6

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       INSERTING THE FIIM
       With the back open you are now ready to
       load the camera with film. Note that the fresh
         roll goes into the lower chamber at the oppo-
        site end of the camera from the winding key.
      In the chamber at the key end, you will find
     an empty metal spool. It is onto this spool  I
       that the film is wound as used, so that when
a       all exposures are taken it  is this top spool
      which is removed frotr the camera for fin-
        ishing.
           It should be remarked at this point that the
       small, compact size of your Supre-Macy Cam_
     era requires film wound on the new small
      metal spool, having size designations such as
     M6zo, 56zo, 6zo, and pBeo. Be sure to ask
       for the thin rnetal spool, as this camera will
      not accommodate film wotind on the ordinarv
       Iarger wooden film spool.
      To load the film into the camera, first swing
     up the spool carrier for the lower or empty
     chamber until it is at right angles to the cam_
     era. Holding the two ends of this carrier
       slightly apart (being careful not to bend them
     permanently out of position), drop the fresh
      spool into place, taking care that it is inserted
      right end around. In other words, be certain
      that the pointed end of the paper will come
     from the top and not the bottom of the roll,
     and that only the red side of the paper will
      show, the black side being toward the lens.
        After being certain that the two pins set in
     the carrier ends are engaged in the spool end_
      holes, swing the carrier and film down into
     place in the chamber. Break the sticker
     which seals the roll and carry the end of the
    paper across the back of the camera, and
     across the black metal mask if  it is being
     used. Permit the paper to pass over the two
                             r7

metal rollers (never attempt to thread the
fihn under these rollers) and tlrread  the
pointed end into the slot in the empty spool
as shown in Fig. 8.





                      Fi4. 8

  Be very certain that the paper is centered
on the upper spool in order that  it  will wind
evenly. Now give the winding key a few
 turns, suffrcient to bind the paper and assure
 its firm grasp by the upper spool' Close the
 back of the camera by swinging  it upward
 into place until a click indicates that  it  is
 locked securely. Never open the back of the
'camera from this point until the roll has been
 completely exposed.
   Swing open the No. r Peephole cover (Fig.
 9), and continue turning the  winding key
 slowly until the figure r appears in this lower
 peephole. An indicating hand and row of dots
 will be seen shortly before this  first  figure
                           r8

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  appears in place. The camera is now ready
  for the first picture.
  When using panchromatic film, which  is
  sensitive to red light, be sure to keep the red
 windows covered at  all times except when
 winding the film.
     If eight full-size exposures are being taken
 and the masking frame has been entirely re-
 moved from the camera, only the No. r or
 lower peephole is used throughout. In which
 case, immediately after taking the first pic-.
 ture, wind again until figure 2 appears in the
 lower peephole, and so on until the roll has
 been completely exposed, after which continue
 to turn the key until the red paper is com-
 pletely wound off onto the spool at the key
 end of the camera.
  Where sixteen half-size exposures are de-
 sired and the masking frame has been left in
 the camera, both the No. r and No. z peep-
 holes are used. The first exposure is made
 with the figure r at the lower window. After
 a picture has been made with the film in this
 position, the winding key is then turned very
 slowly (only about one full turn of the key
 is necessary2 until the
 figure r appears at the
upper or No. 2 peep-
 hole. For the third ex-
posure the figure z is
at the lower window,
for the fourth  it   is
moved to the upper,
and so on until  all
sixteen exposures have
been made. In other
words, one exposure is
made with each of the
eight numbers at each                                  Fi9. cwindow.
                      r9

UNIOADING
 When the film has been completely wound
onto the key spool, open and swing down the
back of the camera. Pull out the winding key
until the upper spool carrier is free to be
moved upward from the chamber.
  Fold under the pointed end of the red pa-
per, and seal the spool with the sticker which
wiil be found at the loose end. This is to pre-
vent unrolling and fogging of the film after it
has been removed from the spool carrier.
  With the fingers, separate the ends of the
spool carrier slightly and remove the exposed
roll from the camera. It  is now ready to be
developed and printed. Transfer the emptl'
spool to the upper chamber, remembering to
push the winding key back into place. The
camera is now ready for ,the insertion of a
fresh roll of film in the manner already de-
scribed.
CAUTTONS
  Your Supre-Macy Camera may be loaded
or unloaded in daylight. However, these op-
erations should be done in a subdued light;
never in direct sunlight.
  Before loading the camera' make certain
that the shutter is closed.
  In starting the red paper at the time of
Ioading a fresh roll, always see that it is even,
fitting the spool neatly. Otherwise, it is likely
to climb up one end of the spool, causing the
protective paper to tear and possibly fogging
the film.
  Also, always make it a practice to wind to
the next number immediately after taking a
picture. In this way, when you start to use it,
the camera is always ready for the next pic-
ture with no possibility that another exposure
wili be made on top of one already taken,
thus spoiling both exposures.

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        I                               www.butkus.us
       fn making exposures, always hold the cam-
      era level. Otherwise, your finished prints will
   I    show an undesirable slanting of the subject
     and background. Hold the camera perfectly
         still when making the exposure.
       Keep the lens of your Supre-Macy Camera
     clean. A dirty lens or rain or mist on the
        fr,ont lens will cause fogged or cloudy pictures.
    To clean the lens, use a soft linen or cotton
      cloth. With the bellows closed, back opened,
    and the camera unloaded, it is also well to
      occasionally clean the rear element of the lens.
-t    Do not let the sun shine directly on the lens
    when taking a picture. This produces a
     "Flare" of light on the film which shows in
     the finished picture.  If  photographing  to-
     wards the source of light, hold your hand or
     hat above the lens as a shade, but sufficiently
     high to prevent its being included in  the
       picture.
        Select your background carefully. A good
      subject can be spoiled by such backgrounds as
     telephone poles, clapboard houses, etc. Keep
     your backgrounds simple. A background of
      foliage is usually unobtrusive and pleasing.


      The foregoing instructions explain the me-
     chanical operation of your Supre-Macy Cam-
     era. These should be thoroughly understood
     before attempting to take pictures.
     Do not be content, holvever, with the mas-
      tery of these simple details. Photography of-
      fers marvelous possibilites to the camera user
    who really attempts to obtain the maximum
     results possible with his equipment. Your
    Supre-Macy Camera is a fine instrument.
    Learn to use it most effectively.
                                   2l