Film cameras
Voigtlander Bessa F6.3 User manual
User manual for Voigtlander Bessa F6.3. 19 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Voigtländer
- Model / document
- Voigtlander Bessa F6.3
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 19
- File size
- 1.7 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
The movements, in their proper order,
when using the "Bessa", are:
'Ihe camera being loadecl n'ith film, and
1 shorving in the rvindow Before you begin
(1) Open the camera You are doubtless so pleased with yotlr
"Bessat' that you can hardly rn'ait before (2) Set the lens to Landscapes, Groups exposing the first spool of film in order or Portraits to get good photos. You may well think
(3) Set the Shutter to the required that these very first exposures will be
speed good, the few movements of the "Bessa"
(4) Obserre the picture in the brilliant being so simple. But ferr as they are,
or direct-vision fincler they need to be und,erstood., and that
(5) Press the release will be the case if you will carefully read
(6) Turn on the fiim to the next through this littie booklet before putting
number your first fiim into the camera.
Essentials
A camera is essentially nothing more
o||to||to||to||to||to||lo||to||t ||tot||o||to||toilf o||tomtomto than a folding light-tight box, carrying
a lens on the front, and, at the back, E Important Note. The camerashould! the film on which a picture in miniature E not be closed r,vith the sirutter opuo ! of the natural scene is cast by the lens ut T, othenr.ise the release trigger ! 9 (fig. 1). E will be bent ! o'to,to'to,t o.,t o't o't0.f 'to,to'to'to,tof,o,,ro,,,E z
www.orphancameras.comView original page 3Page 5 · Read text
and if set to "Portrait", from 8 to 5 ft.oaused to move along the scale marked
ln the case of \be 4112"x?Lls" Bessa,theseLandscapesI Groups I Portraits. Before regions of sharpness are somewhat diffe-making an exposure, the pointer is set t'Landscapet', rent. At it is from 33 ftto the appropriate word. In the case
from nearly ttPortraitt', ttl-,andscape" to oo (infinity) I at "Group", it is pushed and.o{ ttPortraitt', 30 to 13 ft, and at from 10as far as it will go; for "Group" it is to 7 ft. It is a good plan to fix theseset to the marked middle of the arrow.
ranges of sharpness in the mind in con-The designations Landscape, Group and
nection with suitable objects. The di-Portrait are not to be taken altogether
stances are also engravecl on the scaleliterally. If, for example, a figure or a
above the three \r'ords, so that the figuresbuilding is to be photographed at a d.is-
25,23, 10 and 8 placed between the twotance of about 20 ft, that is at the
stops (33, 30, 13 and 10 in the case ofaverage distance of a group, the pointer
the4llnx?tl) may be used.also for sharpmust of course be set to "Group". fn a focussing when judging d.istancesin ft.like manner, if the subject is a still-life
If it is wished, for example, to obtainstudy or a dog at a distance of TLlzfL,
sharpness more towards the foregroundthe pointer is set to "Portrait". With or the distance, the red pointer is set,the 31/ax?'iE ins Bessa,you should never ttLandscape" along the scale, botweenbe nearer to the subject than 5ft; or ttGrouptt and 01' between ,,Grouptt and7 k, in the case of the Atla.,x ZLf2ins
Bessa. "Portrait". But the mistake should not
be made of thinking that the stop pre- With the 31/1" x?rlr" Bessa everything
vents the lens being focussed,to nearerbeyond 25 ft from the camera is obtained
distances than 5 or 7 feet as these aresharp rvhen the pointer is set to "Land,-
maximum distances at rvhich it is pos-scapett. If set to "Groupt', the region
sible to take close up photos.of sharpness extends from 23 to 10ft;
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Shutter (fig.3) the first finger to the chosen mark on
The shutter serves the purpose of the scale. tlzsLb, keeping the lens covered and of allowing The numbers on the scale d"enote
l/soth and thqsth of a second'.which for the light to act on the roll-film for a
longer or shorter time only during the the sake of greater clearness are written
exposure. The "Bessat' is fitted with a as whole numbers. When making an
instantaneous exposure, the red button
is first set against the nunrber chosen.
On now pressing the trigger 12 (fig. 3)
or the flexible cable release screwed in
at 11, the shutter opens) and closes at
the expiry of the fraction of the seconcl
for which it ]res been set, the exposure
thus taking piaco automaticallY.
The lelter -B on the scale is for uso
u,hen giving short time exposures. The
lerl button is set to B, and the shutter: a 1 6 then opens as soon as the cable release l'ig. ij. Shutter, with three-point focussing,M or the trigger 12 is pressed",remaining
specially reliable shuttel which is operated opon until plessure is withdrawn. The
as follows: exposure may be timed bY counting;
Above the lens will be found the not, however, the single numbers but ttone black scale 13 (fig. 3) engraved rvith the repeated formula little seoondt', tttwo little secondst' and so on. Thus the various times. Behind it is the
nickelled setting disc, bearing a red for three seconds, we repeat clearly but
button, lvhich may be readily set with without pausing: "one little second'",
IView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
ttthree "t\To little seconds", little secondst,. lly setting thc red button to T, theThe triggel or release is pressed at thettone", shutter opens on pressing on the cable and pressure relaxed at the end tttbree lelease or tire trigger 12, and rernainsof little secondstt. Time expo- open until one or the other is pressed,
a second time. This is the setting to be
trsed rvhen it is neoessary to l<eep thr+
shutter open for rninutes at a tirne, as
n'Jren taking nigirt pirotoE4rzrphsor u']ren
rnal<ing exposrlresby flasirlight.
Distance Release
lielf-portraits may be taken rvith the
ttlO.:j lJessa. \\rhen giving exposurc.sof
'lrr, tl,oo and 1/ro6sec, the shutter rnay
be operatt-.cl{rom el consirlerable tlistance
by an ingenious clevice. A pieoe of u'ire
of the shape shorvrr at D fig 3 is insertetl
in the srnall aperture under the wortl
"(iloup", ancl then the shutter can be
I'ig. a. The Bessa, ready for uso tensioned by pressing the trigger 12 or.
fiexible cable without, horvever, opening.
sures rerluire the camera to be firmly 'llhe exposrrre rloes not talie plaee rrntii
supporterl on a tripcd, table etc: if the tht: ri-ire is pulled out, as r)tay be dorre
camera is heid in the hand, the pictures iry aicl of a blaok threacl o{ suitable length.
will be unsharp orn'ing to movement of 'I'he rnost certain plan is {'irst to la,y tirethe, image on the fiim. free errd of tlre threati at the nlirt,ervhere
www.orphancameras.com 1 1View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
the operator will be, then to insert obvious advantage of the photograph.
the wire in the aperture and, last of When stopping down, however, the
ttspeed." all, to set or tension the shutter. For aperture and" therefore the is
success with the distance release, it is reduced, so that a longer exposure must
o{ course essential that the camera be be given. In comparison with the fLrll
{ixed firmly in place. preferably on a aperture of 6.3, the exposure at 11 must
rigid tripod. be three times as long and. at 22 12 times
as 1ong. This is, of course, the drarvback,
Stops but an unavoidable one, to the use of
On the lorver eclge of the focussing the stops, and for this reason the lens
scale (LandscapesI Groups; Portraits) will should. be used. at 6.3 as a rule.
be seen the stop Nos. 6.3, 1-1 and 22,
along rvhich moves the stop lever 16 Finders
(fig'. 3) by which the aperture in the The F 16.3 Bessa is fitted rvith trvo
lens may be reducecl. In the ordinary finders.
way this lever must be set at the No.6.3,
the lens then working at its full aperture. D i r e c t - v i s i o n I l i n d e r ( 8 , F i g . 4 )
It is only for special purposes, e. g. The ditect-vision finclet is attached. on
when photographing subjects which the left-hancl side of the camela back.
include both a very close foreground ft consists of a frame and of a portion
and far distance, that the lens is stopped having a small aperture in it, called the
down, that is to say, the lever 16 Put "sight". By turning up the frame on the
to the No. 1L, or perhaps to 22. BY metal pieces plojecting from the camera
doing this, the region over which sharp- back, it snaps into the upright position.
ness is obtained is extended. towards The sight likewise comes automatically
ancl away from the camera -- to the into place (parallel with the frame) bf'
1 2View original page 8Page 10 · Read text
oblong-way, the brilliant finder requires details of the picture. The magnifier is
to be turned. through an angle of 900, of such small size that, when one part
so that it can still be viewed from above. is thrust within the other, it may be
The very bright but small picture seen conveniently carried in the waistcoat
in the finder may be magnified about pocket.
Fig. 7. The Voigtld,nd.er tr'iuder Magnifier Fig. 8. Releasing the side strute
Closing the Camera3 tirnes by attachment of a Yoigtliinder
Finder Magnifier (l{o. 5 for tire 3r/r" X 2r I l' Before closing thettBessa", always take
Bcssa,No. 2 for the 4Lf4"x21f2" Bessa),ob- care to see that the shutter is closed and
tainable from photographic dea,lers(fig. 7). that the brilliant finder is in its normal
By this means the amount of subject position (for upright pictures), otherwise
is much more plainly seen, and also the injury may be done when closing.
r 7View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
Now take the ca,mera,in the two hands Loading the Bessa
so that the first and middle fingers are Having now become perfectly acquain-
extended over the camera, back, whilst ted with the mechanism, we can proceed.
the lower edge of the body rests on the to the insertion of the roll-film.
two thirtl fingers (fig.8). Gentle pres- Loading, as this operation is briefly
sure of the thumbs on the two side termed, may be done by daylight, as
Fig. 10. Opeuing the film-chamber Fig. 9. Closing the baseboard.
struts will then allow of these being the film itself is protected against the
released from their catches, so that the harmful action of light by several layers
baseboard can be folded over on to the of opaque paper. Nevertheless it is of
camera body. In doing this, the lens-front course well not to load the film in direct
and bellows come automatically into place sunlight, but at any rate in the shadow
(fig.9). of one's body.
1 9
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in simultaneously. Now give the winding
key one or two turns to the right, the ter the hinge in order that tlr'e fresh
flat pin then springing automatically spcol, in unrolling, may turn in tl-re same
into the slot and connecting the rpool direction, i. e. to the right, as the ernpty
with the winding key. spool is turned by the rvincling liey'
Nt,rv t.ear ofl the rvhite arlhesive strip
{rorn t}re fuil spool rvith t}re firtger nail,
Fig. f3. Inserting the empty spool Fig. 14. Attaehiug thc end of rn'rapping paper
The fresh full spool is now laid in the
other film chamber (next to the hinge close tlte canera back iralf-rvt'1', so that
of the camera back), where it is held the spool ttennot spring out, and drzlri'
in place by the springs 18 (fig. 11). It the end ot the rvrepping paper over to
is very important that the taper end of ther upper fihn chartrber. Then irlsert
the red. wrapping paper should projeot the taper end in the long slit ilr the
from the film chamber on the side next cmpty spcol (fig. 1a) trnd rvind" on the
l):il)er' lry ,";iving ahout 1 c,r 11/u turns
2 3
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to tire winding key, the paper being thus the window and the film has thereby
stretched taut between the two spools. been wound an to the upper spool' It'
At the same time make sure that the is not possible to over-wind in doing this'
paper is not askew on the spool, other_ Now turn uP the camera back, as
rvise the film will subsequerrily b..o*u already described in fig. 10 {or loading
jammed. the carnera. I{ext, hold the outer coils
Ail having been properly arranged,
cerefully close the camera back by pres_
sing the trvo halves together and turn
ttre r,vinding key slowly on rintil (after
about 15 rvl:role turns) a, hand appears
in the red window in the back,
foilorved by u series of dots"u^*ruand then
the number L. The camera is now read.y
for the first exposure. tr'or the second.
and further exposures, the winding key
is again turned so as to bring th;
15. R,emoving the exposed spool number 2 and the otliers up to 6 (or g) Fig.
successivelyinto place in the rvindow. of the red" paper in place with the left
hand and, v'itb. the right hand, give a fewUnloading the Camera turns of the winding key until the paper
When, after the last exposure, the is wound fairly firmly. The paper should"
number 6 (or B) is seen in the window not be wound. too tightly, because the
the whole film has been exposed. Then film may become marked by the friction
turn the winding key until the end of of one coil on another. Now give the
the red wrapping strip has passed by in winding key a quarter turn in the reverse
2 4 2 5View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
Holding the Camera r,lirection I th,-^exposed spool r:an therr be The most successful exPosures are readily r.ernovedfrom the spool charnber usually those which are snapped-without ttBessat' (fig. 15). As shorvn in the ch.arving, a lot of consideration. The rvhen doing this, holcl the end" of tl;; camera is made specially for this, but rvrapping pa,I)er.finnly in place rvith the at the same time it is advisable to be- f irst finger so as to prervent the fihn come adept in the rapid and certain use
frtnn becoming lor,se in the spor:rl. Nou, of the few movements by practice with
se(,ul'ethe spool rvith the gurnrnecl str.ip the unloaded camera.
pror,irlr:d 1or the purpose on the encl ,,t When opening the camera and setting
the bancl. All this rnay be clone in the focus, adopt a firm position, for any tlaylight. but of colrrse,u.heneveravoiclabk:, slight wobble of the camera during the
rxit in ililrect sunliglrt, but irr 1]re sliadou, exposure will cause pictures with double of the lrrrtly. outlines. \\'hen taking upright pictures.
\\'hen packing' the exposed {ilm, it is hold the baseboard u'ith the left hand,
I rest (presrrrnirrg that a fresir spool is the thumb on the lens front and the
bering insertetl) to wr.ap it in the, palter fingers on the side of the baseboard
of tlie rle\\- spoll and to put it in the (fig. 16). When taking oblong pictures 'l'ocartrur r;f the latter. prevent conf usion with the aid of the direct-vision finder,
between exposecl antl unexposecl fihns, lay the left hand against the lower part
lrart of the pacliage ol tlre for.rner shoultl of the camera back, whilst supporting
bc nrur.kc,ilin lrencii. the upper part with the Palm of the
right hand. If, however, the brilliant
llhe no\\' emptl' spool in tlre lorver finder is being used. for an oblong
t:lrarnller.of tire canrer.ajg rrt_,\\,rernovecl picture, rest the thumb of the left hand
rnd insr:r,ted irr thc' rrpJ)er.charnber. as on the upper edge of the baseboard,
illrearll.rlirei:tetllrrrler.,,Lr,rrrlinq.,,. 2 7
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supporting the latter belorv with the four The best way to make the exposure
fingers. is rvith the flexible cable, held, in a wide
I,'or holding the camera specially firm, ourve (not tightly stretched), pressing
the back may be pressed against the smoothly on the release, not with a jerk.
head when using the direct-vision finder; Exposures of 1/25sec. and less may be
made with the camera helcl in the hand"
if ordinary care is taken to staud"steadily.
For longer exposures the camera must
be used on a firm support. It is placed
on a table or other flat sur{ace rvith the
aid of the hinged strt.t 10 (fig. 4) provided
in the baseboard for this purpose or is
screu'ed ta a tripocl of the ordinary
pattern. tr-or use rvith the latter, the
"Bessa" is fitted with trvo tripctl hushes,
one in the baseboard for upright picturers
ancl the other on the sicle cf tlLe bcdv
for obiong pictures.
Ir'ig. 16. I{olding the camera for an exposure
How Long to Expose
for upright pictures it is placecl against Correct exposule is a factor of prime
the forehead. and nose (viewing the sight importance in photopraphy, but there
rvith the left eye) or, for oblong pictures, is no occasion to be over-anxious about
against the nose and cheek bone. When it. Suitable development of the film
using the brilliant finder, the camera allows of a considerable latitude in the
back is placed against the chest. time of exposure, provided that it is
2 9View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
made a rule, when in doubt, to expose aperture in fine weather may be seen
for a longer rather than a shorter time. from the tollowing table, and. it is well
The normal times of exposure at full to memorize these few figures as a
basis. In dull weather, and also when
A. Expoaure ln seconds ' r) the light becomes less bright earlier or in fine weather
with stop F 16.3 Iater in the duy, the exposures should'
be 2 to 4 times those given. The three I. Out of doors stops call for exposures in the propor-
Portraits tion of L :3 : L2. Thus, if a second is .i
4 correct with F16.3, the corresponding
ll. Indoors, near window time with FILL will be 3 seconds, and
rr)..ts 12 seconds with F122.
I Light interiors t/2 to I l'or those who would go more closely
cr) Medium lighted into the question of exposure we re-
d
interiors commend. the Yoigtki,nder Exposure
r; In dull weather exposures should be Calculator, which weighs little (less
o 2 to 4 times those given. than ! oz) and is of only postcard size, h In very dull weather exposures should be so that it may be conveniently carried 6 to 8 times those given.
(tt in the breast pocket. The advantage of
B. FlashDght expoaurea this calculator over others is that thereaiL)
at F 16.3 is only one sliding scale to be moved. in
Distance of flash Flash ' powder order to ascertain the correct exposure
from subject grs without any computation. The expos-
l0 to 13 ft. 25 ures indicated are ample: under-expos-
16 to 20 ft. 30 uro need not be feared. 23 to 26 It. 4s
3 1
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Voigtliinder disappointment i{ you choosenot merely
Yellow Filters "a filter" but a reliable Yoigtld,nder:
llany amateurpho- Yellow Filter.
tographsare unplea- Your dealer supplies the Yoigtlii,nder
sing on account of Yellow tr'ilters in special mounts correctly
such defects as baid fitting the lens of the Bessa. As a
skies, black flower.s general rule the filter to use is the
in a meadow scene, Alpha, which increases the exposure
grey fruit blossorns only twice and therefore allows of in-
against a white sky, stantaneous exposures in many cases.
glaringly rvhite eyes or pronounceclfreolr- The Beta filter requires five times the
les in a portrait. exposure and is for use onlY when a
fn order that your photos may rencler specially strong ef{ect is desired.
the coiours of nature in ttreir correcr tone In Conclusion values, you should make it a rule to use
orthc-rchromatic film. tsut make sure We should like You to obtain the ttBessatt camera' As that the colour-sensitivenessis not simpiy best from your
a question of the label. your best plan you proceed,, you will attain this end
is to ask your dealer for his experieice; most surely - at, any rate at first - by
]re rvill recomrnend you the best film entrusting the development and printing
to nse. of your films to your dealer, and we
'Ihe good quaiities of orthochr.omatic recommend. you to do this. Suitable
film can, hou'eyer, obtain their full effect development is the most reliable criterion
only rvhen the blue r.ays of iight are cut of the mastery of the methods of taking
down to some extent by rneans of a photographs; nevertheless the taking -
yeilow filter. You will be savecl from as we must alwaYs remember .- laYs
3 3View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
the foundation for the photographic
picture. If you experience any diffi-
culties, the dealer will gladly give you
the benefit of his advice.
The Yoigtkinder Bessa Camera takes
any make of roil-film, but for the best
results you should always use
ROLL-FILMS
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