Voigtlander Baby Bessa 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 User manual

Dear Voigtliinder-Friendt                                   ll
  Some Amateur photographers think reading an- In-      fil
   struction-booklet is quite unnecessary. They like to
  go snap-shooting imnrediately, and only turn to the
   instructions supplied, if something has gone wrong.       t
   This method won't lead to good pictures, but rather
   do damage to the camera.
  You, dear Amateur, can clo lletter. Do not forget, a         i
   camera is a Precision instrument. Read the instruc-
   tions first, we have worked it out carefully and with
   consideration. Try out its manipuration in peace. It
   is easy to get good pictures with the Bessa, but you         tr
  have first to know how to set about it.  It will pay
  you to spend a bit of time on it, in return you will get
   undivided pleasure out of your varuable camera.
                                                                                    I
          Watof]tlOklicaqaeth.Acfa.Bro.m.i.rv;.q

In the illustration on foregoing page the numbers lndicate:
'      (() Press-button to open ca,mera front.
      (2) Struts.
     (3) Pivoting arm on which the camera can be rested.
      (4) Tripod bush.
      (5) Lock to fasten camera back.
     (6) Shutter setting lever.                                                                                              rl                                  i
      (7) Flash contact.
     (S) Front plate with depth of focus scalre.
       (9)' D,ista,nce scale ora lens rim.
     fl0) Exposure time setting ring,
    (11) Delayed action release.
     {LZ) Closing key for camera front.
    (13) Release trigger.
     (I4) Film winding knob.



     4

The numbers in opposite illustratlon indicate
                (5) Camera back-lock.
                      Shutter setting lever,q              (6)
                (7) Flash contact.
                    (9)' Distance scale on lens-mount.
              (1O) Setting ring for Exposure time.
               (13) Release Trigger.
               (14) Film transport knob.
               (15) Pan window knob.
               (16) Film window.
               (17) Finder back-sight.
               (18) Finder lens.
               (19) Cable release nipple.
               (20) Aperture lever.

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To start with try the mqnipulations described in Chapter I
and 2, best several times, without inserting a film.
f. To open and close camera front
On depressing knob (1) the camera front will open up.
Grip it on either edge and pull it downwards until the
two struts (2) engage. Avoid violent or onesided pull.              i
To close the camera. press closing key (12) backwards,            i                                                                                                                                                                 fThis will release the struts and the camera front can be
folded back.                                                                                                                                  I                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I
II. To take the picture                                                                                                          .l   I
Let us start with the most important settings:                  1                                                                                                                                          1t
        Distance    Aperture    Exposure time.                                {I                   -             -All scales for these settings may be found on the lens
mount and shutter cover plate and can be read off from
above at a glance.

(1) DTSTANCE
The lens mount (9) carries the distance scale. The
distance between camera and subject   which one hasfound by either guessing or measuring -  is set by revol-ving the lens mount until the corresponding-   distance ligure
comes to lie to the left of the focussing mark or opposite
the trianEle marking  \i on the front plate (8) (according
to the equiprnent of the camera with Compur-Rapid or
Prontor S shutter). The marking oo means   'f infinity" that
indicates any distance further away than 10r0ft. (30m.).
6

The Zone focussing,.which  is as valuable for the beginner
as for the advanced worker can be employed almost
regularly in outdoor photography under favourable light
conditions. One has the advantage to be quickly-ready
to shoot without having to measure, or to set the exact
working distance.

(2) APERTURE
The aperture is set by moving the lever (20) over the aper-
ture scale (21) (Illustration No. II). It influences both the
exposure time and depth of focus. On choosing a smaller
aperture, generally termed "stopping down" the exposure
time has to be doubled on going from one aperture
number to the next higher one. Example: If at aperture
f 4.5 rlso sec. is correct, at  f 5.6 rfzssec., at aperture f 8
1/1g sec., etc., is required.
Only between f 3.5 and f 4 and between f 4 and f 4.5 the
difference is negligible (Bessa 2LlE"X2r,lt" with Color-
Skopar t 3.5/7 5)  .
    . You should remember that as the aperture of a lens
   becomes smaller, the aperture number becomes larger.

{3) DEPTH OF FOCUS
The depth of focus is the distance   from foreground tobackground   which is portrayed -in full definition. Thelarger aperture-  the smaller will be the field of depth from
foreground to background, the smaller the aperture the
greater this depth.
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www.butkus.usOutside the field of depth of focus the definition gradually
deteriorates both towards the camera and the background.
By stopping down (choosing a smaller aperture) the depth
of focus can be considerably increased. Exception: As
soon as the depth of focus to the furthest point reaches
"infinity" everything to the farthest distance will be
sharp and further stopping down will not increase the
depth of focus to the background.
The Bessa 2rtf4"X2rf4" is fitted with a depth of focus
calculator, either on the large knob to .the right of the
view finder'(Illustration No. III) or it is engraved into the





                     m
fron[ plate (B) (see Il'lustration IV). In either case when
setting the distance the depth of focus for any aperture
nray be directly read off.
This holds good for contact printing and moderate
enlargement only. For big enlargements if is advisable
tc set distance as accurately as possible as even depth of

focus indicates a latitude within which the definition is
somewhat less to both foreground and background that
it is at the distance one has actually focused at.
On the large knob below the distance markings the
aperture figures are vertically arranged in th'e centre
field. Frorn each pair of figures a light or dark pair of
lines project to the ri'ght and left. On the outer rotating
disc the distance figures are given, which indicate the
depth of focus. Example (See Illustration  III): setting the
distance to 15 ft. (5 m.), and an aperture of f I the depth
of focus extends from 1O ft. (3.3 m.) to 30 ft. (10 m.). On
arranging the depth of focus scale on the front plate, in
place of the light and dark pairs of lines, one has in
every case twice the same apertures figure, once to the
left, and once to the right, opposite the marking \/.  Both
distance setting and reading off of the depth of focus is
done in the same way as above.
If a certain Zone, for example: from B ft. (2.5 m.) to oo
should be portrayed sharply, the outer disc of the large
knob or the lens mount (9) has to be turned until both
distance settings (B ft. and oo) come to lie opposite two
identical aperture figures. In our exampl,e (see Illu-
stration II) this is given at aperture f 16. At the same
time the lens is automatically set to the correct distance,
namely 15 ft. (5 m.).
(4) EXPOSURE TIME
The exposure time depends on the light reflected by the
subject, the speed of the film and the aperture employed.
It is advisdd to get an Exposure Table or Exposure Meter
to help you to determine the correct exposure time.
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www.butkus.usThe exposure time (shutter speed) is set by turning of the
ring (r1'0) on the shutter scale (22) (Iltustration II).
The figure,s on the shutter speed scale represent fractions
of seconds with the exception of I (:    '1 second). If r'equi-
red in-between speeds may be obtained, f'or example:
t/zr sec. by setting between 5,0 and 1O0. Exception: Do
not set between 10 and 25, and between higher speeds
than 1/roo second.
The shutter has to be set before each exposure by means
of the lever 6, also on setting to Bl In the latter instance
the shutter opens on depressing the release trigger (!3)

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                                     IV
and remains open as long as the trigger re,mains de-
pressed. For long time exposures the release trigger after
depressing it in B position is pushed {by giving-in slightly
in an upward direction) d,eep into the camera front plate.

                                                          TL

Now the shutter remains open until the release trigger is
pushed downwards and  released. The nipple 19 (Illu-
stration IV) will accept a cable release.
On Prontor-S as in all other Prontor shutters a sychronised
flash attachment may be used. The flash contact (7) is
connected to a flash-bulb holder and taking the picture
is done in the usual way. All shutter speeds from 1 second
to l,lzs second may be released with the flash attachment.
Further all Prontor shutters have a built-in delayed action
release. If you would like to appear in the picture
yourself, all you have to do is to fix the camera to a
solid tripod or place it at the edge of a table, set the
shutter in the usual way and push the small lever (11)
with the red marking' on it to the left as far as it will go.
On pressing the release trigger (13) you witrl have about
1O to 12 seConds to place yourself into the picture before
the shutter releases itself. The delayed action release
will not work when the shutter is set to B.

(5) FINDER, RELEASE AND HOTDING OF CAMERA
When the top frame of the finder (18) is unfolded the
backsight (17) will erect itself by means of a spring. To
define the subject through the finder, it is essential that
the eye should be held close to and in the centre of the
lens of the backsight. All 4 edges of the finder lens
should be well in sight. Only in this way is one sure of
getting the section seen in the finder accurately on the
film. The release trigger has been fixed to the camera
front plate to reduce the danger of camera shake. The
release has to be depressed lightly dnd evenly, under no
t2

circumstances must it be pressed hard or jerkily. It will
be found best, to inhale, hold your breath and release
gently. In this way it is possible with a steady hand to
expose up to rls second without tripod. For time ex-
posures the use of a tripod is recommended. A bush to
accept the tripod screw is let into the bottom plate of the
camera (Illustration I, 4).
The camera may be placed on a table, wall or any other
flat surface, if no tripod is available. Before doing this,
 it is essential to swing the support arm 3 at right angles
tc the camera body. After having taken the picture, the arm
has to be. swung back to its position in line with the
camera body, as it form.s at the same time a safeguard
against accidental opening of the back of camera.
III. Loading the Camera
The camera will take any 3rlq"Xzrlt" Rollfilm which will
give 12 exposures 2lla"X2rlE". We advise that the
camera is loaded and unloaded in either subdued day-
 light, or in the shade of one's own body. Avoid changing
in direct sunlight as the film may get fogged.
1. Turn lever (3) at right angles to camera body, this                         iI
   action will permit the lock-buttons to be depressed.               i
                                                                                                                                                                                               I  Now                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               .i        press both ends of the lock and swing camera                             :II   back open.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                !
2. If the empty spool should be found in the lower spool                          Iltl   chamber, it has to be transferred to the upper one.
  To do this, swing spool holder outwa'rds and remove
   empty spool.
3. Pull out film transport knob ((4) and fix in this position
  by giving it a quarter of a turn. Grip upper spool
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  24





   holder on its handle (2'3) and swing it outwards. Insert
  empty spool with its circular opening into the pro-
  jecting stud (24). Push spoolholder back into film
  chamber and turn film transport knob slightly until its
   crossbar engages in the slit of the empty spool and
  turns it,
4, Insert futt .backfilm into the swung out lower spool holder,  push this       into the film chamber and break the
   sealing paper of the film. The coloured side of the
   film backing paper has to point outwards.
5. Draw the backing paper over fiimglide rollers and film
   aperture and insert its pointed end into the wide slot
                                                     15

of the empty film spool (Illustration VII). The backing
  paper must not rub the side flanges of the empty
  spooi. If necessary push backing paper into correct
   position.
16

www.butkus.us                                                              the                                            should hear                                so one        Close                      on doing      6.            camera                     back,I                                                                                            (3)                                          arm                               Push                (5)                                        the pivoting                           position.        lock                  click into
       back in line with the camera, so that it will fit under
        the camera back-lock as shown in Illustration  I'
      7. Turn the pan-cover (15) on the back of the camera
          until the cross disappears,fro,m  the red film window (16).
       Wind film transport knob until after a hand and 4 dots,
        the number 1 appears in the film window. Close the
         film window and you are ready for the first exposure,
        For the second and all successive exposures, You have
         to wind the film transport knob until the nextnumber2
       up to 12 appears in the opened film window.
      Make it a habit of winding 'on the iilm immediately
        after each exposure, this will prevent double ex-
         posures.
     IV. Unloading of the Film
      After having taken the 12th picture, wind film transport
     knob until the backing paper disappears from the fiLm
    window. One can feel this position, as turning of theI     knob will become much easier. OnIy now, should the
     camera back be opened   as already described, the filmI      transport knob pulled out,-  the upper spool holder swung
      ou[ and the full film-spool be removed. In doing so hoid
      film spool tightly to avoid it unrolling, Fold the paper
     end and seal it with the gummed paper strip, attached to
      the end of backing paper.
     V. Supplementary lenses for Close-up photography
    The Voigtliinder Focar lenses open up the interesting
       field of close-up photography. They allow the user to
                                                               L7

photograph small objects such as flowers, butterflies,
small animals, postage stamps, etc. Book-pages and small
pictures can be reproduced easily with their help.
The Focar lenses are simply pushed over the            l"rrr.
With Focar lens l, one can go as close"u*"rias !, Stlz,,(44rlz cm.) ancl with Focar lenl Z, even to                                                                        ,0, lPl;,,(31 cm.) from the subject.
When focussing with Focar lenses one has to work
exactly in accordance with the table. The distance must
be carefully measured from the subject to the front of theFocar lens.

Focussing table with Focar lenses

 Distance  The Definition lies with   Distance  The Definition    I ies with
   and     Focarl                                   and     Focarl  I Focar2                           I Focar2  Settine                               ot        Setting             at                           I
   oo       2'     -17 irtt  I  l'   57lz"    9'    1.2'  '/1" I l'  3"
                                                                     231t"   tJ'        2', 67,2"     l,   5t l+"     8'         ltl l'  ll3'4" l  l'  6J'       2'  61 4"      l'  5"      7'      I I' ll"     I l'   Lr.t"
     i_'      2'  51/,r"      l'     4:tf +,,    6'      I I'10"    I l,   2,,
  20'       2'  $a.rtt      l'    4r,r4,,     5'         l  l'  63/r" l  l'    lt 2"
  l5'        z', 23 4"     l'  4"                                               l'    ltl|"
                   13,4"      l'                                331{'    A',    I l'  7,'   I l,    3ll,  l2'\/     2'2', l1lz"                                I',  31lz"
  l0'       z', l"          l'   3rl+"    3'      I l'  5rlz" | 0' llr,/4"

Photographs taken with Focar lenseswww.butkus.usat full aperture
    show a slight loss of definition particularly in the corners
     of the picture.
    The definition is improved at aperture  f 5.6 and bectmes
     completely normal at aperture  f 11 and smaller.
    The exposure time is unchanged when using the Focar
     into account the corresponding longer exposure  tirnes.It    lenses, but by using a smaller aperture, one has to take
   When working with Focar lenses it will be noticed that
    the image seen in the view-find,er will appear slightly
     displaced to that on the film, the displacement is towards
    the camera and amounts to about rlc of. finder field at        l' 5rlz" (44Ilz cm.) and about rla at U ll3lt"  (31 cm.)
                                                             \   distance.
    VI. Yellow filter
  A yellow filter is to be recommended for outdoor photo-
    graphy, and in particular for outdoor portraits. Sky and
    clouds will reproduce with considerably better gradation.
   Yellow filter is quite indispensable for snow pictures.
    Your photographic dealer will supply you the Voigtliinder
    Yellow filter to fit your camera exactly. These filters are
    optically worked and spectroscopically tested. The
    quality of the lens remains unimpaired when using these
    high grade filtes. For use they are simply pushed over
    the lens mounts.
   For both orthochromatic and panchromatic film the G 1
     filter is recommended to get a true colour rendering,
   cloud effects, haze reduction, etc. For more dramatic
                                                         19

effects, over emphasis of clouds, distances, the deeper
G 2 filter should be chosen.
On using a yellow filter the exposure time has. to be
 increased as follows:
              Filter G 1 about Irlz-2 times,
              Filter G2 about 3                           -4times
                                                                             1,/roo sec. Example: If the exposure time without filter is
with the G 2 filter it will be 4X1lroo      1/z; sec.One will find it easier to adjust the exposure-       increase by
opening up the aperture in place of choosing a Ionger
time, fhis means:
            Filter G I requires 1 stop wide open,
            Filter G 2 requires 2 stop wide open.
                                                                             1,/ro sec.Example: If the exposure time without filter was
 at f.l\, with a G 1 filter it will be still 1/ro sec. but the
 stop is set at t/5.6.
The modern Rollfilm with its speed of.2Vo Sch. has a wide
lattitude in exposure so that one does not need to be too
careful. Remember the basic rule: Rather expose gener-
ously and never too short.

VII. Cleaning lenses with AR-Layers
Looking at the lens at an angle it will be observed that
there is a bluish-violet reflection from the surface. This
signifies that the lens is coated, that means, it has been
treated with anti-reflection films.
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www.butkus.us     These AR-films avoid reflections when taking pictures
      against the light or reduce them considerably,- at the
     6ame time they increase the brilliancy of the photograph
     and the light transmission of the lens.
     While uncoated I'enses require a very careful treatment,
      those with AR layers should only be cleaned with
     even greater caution. These AR films are very hard, but
     they are unimaginably thin (1/ro.ooomm.). It is best to
      clean them with a soft hairbrush or a soft, clean piece of
      cloth. Fat or oil-stains may be removed by tbuching
     them with pure alcohol or ether.


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