Voigtlander Bessamatic CS User manual

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                lnstructions for use

 from tlrc Golden Program

Dear Amateur,   We have prepared this booklet with a great deal of care
                and much deliberation, with ttre hope of making you
                     thoroughly familiar with the BESSAMATIC CS. Perhaps
                   the easiest way you can do this is to read it through
                      attentively first and make yourself at home with the
                    'simple manipulations, before loading your camera with
                      film and taking pictures. You will find an exact pictorial
                     explanation v\iith short explanation on pages 2, 3 and 7.
                The reference numbers are inserted in the text in Q.
                  Something else which you should try to bear in mind:
                     although the BESSAMATIC CS is very robust it is never-
                    theless an optical and mechanical precision instrument,
               and should therefore be treated gently and sensibly.
                  The camera will fully repay careful handling by producing
                       beautiful pictures for many years to come.
             zEtss
          VOIGTLANDER

Loading
and
unloading
the camera              You can use any commercially available film in the
                      BESSAMATIC CS. The cassettes with perforated
                              35 mm film give 36 or 20 oll2 exposures 24x36 mm
                            on black-and-white  film as well as on colour nega-                                 -                                   tive film for colour prints on paper or colour reversal
                                 film for colour slides.
                            Although the cassettes are light-tight,  it is not a
                       good idea to handle them in full sunlight. Always
                               load or unload the camera in the shade    or if there                                                                          -                                  is none, use your own shadow.
                         The film type indicator @ is a constant reminder of
                            the type of film actually in the camera. lt is very
                                easily set by turning the central disc, using the two
                                lugs: White = black-and-white film; blue =  colour
                                 film for daylight, and yellow :  colour film for arti-
                                      ficial light.

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Setting the film speed

Make  it a rule always to set the film speed b e f o r e
loading the camera, as the automatic exposure con-
trol depends entirely on this setting. You will find
the film speed marked in ASA or DIN on the film
carton or in the leaflet accompanying the film.
To set the film speed, first pull out the rewind knob
@ as far as it will go (see p. 6). Then pull the locking
catch @ outside and turn the DIN-ASA disc to the
right or left until the appropriate speed number  is
opposite the red index mark. The dot before 12 ASA
indicates 10 ASA, the dot after 25 indicates 32 ASA.

To open the carnera               @  Film Rewind Knob                                                                  fully pulled out
Simply press the two spring-loaded      @  Eyepiece of viewfinder
latches @ together, and the camera      @  Chamber for film cassette
back opens up.                    @  Film track
                             @  Film Counter Window
                             @  Sprocket wh'eel
                             @  Take-up spool with hook
                                                            for aitaching the film leader
                             @  "Camera loaded"
                                                   check window

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Inserting the film cassette
Pull out the film rewind knob @ as far as
possible (see Fig. lll).
lntroduce the film leader into the slot in
the take-up spool and anchor it u/ith one
sprocket hole to the hook @. Draw the
cassette across the  fi lm track, insert into
the cassette chamber, and push back the
                                     gofilm rewind knob @ as far as it will
(see             lV).      Fig.
                                                          ffi-'-ry*Now      turn         the take-up spool until the fullwidth of the film is lying taut over the   A ,tny                                                  V  Fig. V                                            thesprocket wheel @ and the teeth oftwo sprocket rims engage the two film
perforations (see Fig. V).
Finally close the camera-back; press firmly
into place until you hear the two latches
click inio the locked position. A red field
will then appear in the "camera loaded"
check window @ and indicate that thecamera is loaded with a film.




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Rapid Film Wind
The lever should always be swung round
completely    only then will it return toits initial position.-      This action cocks the
shutter and advances the film, and after
each exposure the film counter will auto-
matically show the number of pictures
already exposed.When the camera has been correctly loaded ffiffiwith film, a redlwhite signal will appear
during the film advance in the "camera
loaded" check window @ in rapid succes-sion.                                      When the film has been correctly loaded, the
                                               rewind knob should turn against-the direction
                                              of the arrow when the rlpid film wind  is
                                                     operated. Owing to different'tensions of films
                                                        in their cassettes, the knob will first turn after
                                              between 3 to 6 exposures.

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                         Pre-setting the shutter speed
                         Turn the automatic exposure knob @ to the lett
                           or right until the required shutter speed clicks into
                              position opposite the A mark. The shutter speed
                          should be chosen according to subject movement
                       and prevaillng light conditions.
                           This turning motion is easy when only the aperture
                                scale @ is moved; the knob is more difficult to actuate
                         when one of the end values of the aperture scale is also
                               opposlte the I  mark, because then the clicked-in shutter
                           speed scale @ must also be moved along.





The black numbers on the shutter speed scale (1lso*1/to second) are the speeds at which
you can normally take pictures without a tripod. The yellow numbers (rlso-l second)
indicate that the camera must be firmly supported on a tripod, tree trunk, etc. to avoid
camera movement during exposure.
At "B' (:  exposure t'me of any desired length) the shutter remains open as long as
the release button is pressed. Here too, a tripod is necessary, as well as a cable
release which can be screwed into the cable release socket @.

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Focussing
The halved central circle is the split-image range-
finder. When turning the focussing ring @, verti-
cal subject lines will be displaced to the left or
right when the camera is held horizontally (see
.Example l), and horizontal lines will be displaced
upwards or downwards when the camera is held
upright.
The lens is accurately focussed when the two
parts of the image register precisely across the
split circle (see Example  ll).
The ground-glass screen located around the split-
image circle should be used for focussing subjects
which have no such pronounced lines suitable for
split-image focussing ring must be turned until the
subject is rendered sharply on the ground-glass
rin g.

Taking the picture
When shooting, depress the release button @ with a
soft and continuous movement    never jerk it! The                                    -    at the instant ofimage in the viewfinder disappears
exposure and returns immediately when ihe rapid wind
lever is actuated,
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lnterchangeable lenses
 lnterchangeable lenses of various speeds
and focal lengths are available for the                                                  lnsertion and removalBESSAMATIC CS   from 35mm. wide-
angle to 350 mm.-telephoto, including     When inserting   a lens, make sure that the
the 1:2.8/36-82 mm. variable focus lens       red dot on the lens mount is opposite the red dotVoigtltinder Zoomar. All lenses are      on the aperture control ring (see illustration). Then
fitted in quick-change bayonet mounts        turn the lens to the right until  it clicks  into
and form an integral optical and mecha-      position,  and it will be firndy mounted on thenical unit.                                              camera.
                              To r e m o v e the lens, depress the catch @, turn
                                          the lens to the left as far as it will go, and pull  it
                                             out of the shutter.

                                    The "pre-selection diaphragm"
                                          allows subject viewing and focussing at   f ull
                                             aperture under all circumstances. Only when the
                                                shutter is released is the diaphragm automatically
                                         stopped down to the value pre-determined by the
                                           automatic aperture control. lmportant: All inter-
                                        changeable lenses can only be adjusted with the
                                              automatic exposure control system to their largest
                                             aperture (lens speed 1: )!
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Aperture and depth of field
The range of the "depth of field" comprises that part of the picture area in front of and behind
the set point of focus which is reproduced on the film with acceptable sharpness. This range
is dependent on the aperture selected by you. At large apertures (e.9. f 2.8 or 4) the depth of field
is limited    at smaller apertures (e.g.f 8 or 11) it is greater.          -

Determining the depth of field
o When using the Color-Lanthar  f 2.8/fi mm., and having already set, the distance, hold the
  oamera so that the focussing scale O    well as the double aperture numbers on the depth  of field scale (on the lens) are visible at".the same time. The depth of field now extends from
  the distance shown above the aperture number on the left of the mark A to the distance above
  the same aperture on the right of the mark A.
o All othef interchangeable lenses with fixed focal length, e.g. the Golor Skopar 1:2.8/50, have
  an automatic depth of field indicator. This consists of two red marks @ which ride over the
  focussing scale and move to a smaller or greater distance from each other when you set the
   aperture. They thus limit on the focussing scale the range of the depth of field.
o The Voigtltinder Zoomar 1:2.8 with infinitely variable focal length from 36 to 82 mm. is accom-
  panied by a depth-of-field table in the form of 'a calculating disc.





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Self-timer
 Place the camera on any firm support (preferably a tripod) and set the self-timer lever@ to "V".
When you now depress the release button, exposure will follow automatically after a delay
period of 8-10 seconds. When the self-timer lever has been set to "V", it cannot be returned
by hand, but only returns to its initial position after the shutter has been rele,asedl

Flash pictures
The camera has X-synchronization.  Connect the flash unit by plugging the synch cord into the
flash socket @. The shortest shutter speed with flashbulbs is 1,/ro s€cord. With electronic flash,
you may set the shutter to any speed, even to i/soo s€cond.
You will find the necessary "guide numbers" for setting the correct aperture recorded on the
flashbulb cartons, or in the leaflets of the bulb or electronic flash unit manufacturers. The correct
aperture is found by dit'riding the appropriate guide number by the distance (in feet) between
the camera with flash unit and the subject
Thus, please, remember: aperture -  guide number : distance.
                 Example: n''0" nuTl"tr,l?                                                Therefore set the aperture to B.                           distance 10 feet




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Close-ups
of small objects and creatures as well as the
copying of pictures and documents can be made
with the supplementary lenses available in various
powers    from 0.25 to 6.5 diopters. With certain
        - is possible to use more than one lenslenses it
and obtain a power of 10 diopters, representing a
reproduction ratio of 1 : 1.85.
For taking photographs, screw or slip the supple-
mentary lenses on the camera lens mount and
focus in the usual manner with the rangefinder or
ground-glass screen.
Stop down to at least 8 to ensure sufficient depth
of field; when copying documents stop down even
to an aperture of 11 or    'l 6. Exposure is practically
unaffected by supplementary lenses. Filters should
be placed in   f ront  of  the supplementary
lenses. When combining supplementary  lenses,
place the one with the highest number of diopters
immediately  in front of the camera lens.                                  A detailed Focussing Table for all supple-
                                                         mentary lenses and for all interchangeable
                                                         lenses with data on achievable scales of
                                                                 reproduction,  depth-of-field ranges, and the
                                                             like is available from your photographic
                                                               dealer or direct from the factory.

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The colour filters yellow, green, and orange can only be used with black-and-white  film, while
the filters UV, SF, and Pol are suitable for colour film as well.
Yellow filter G 1.5x    Gentle filtering effect through slight subduing of blue. ldeal for shots with short
                           exposure (sporting events, snapshots).
Yellow filter G 3x        Universal  filter for landscapes and other outdoor subjects; indispensable  for
                      snow pictures.
Green filter Gr 4 x        Lightens green tones in landscapes. Rec.ommended  for artificial Iight portraiture
                       and for copying of coloured originals.
Orange filter Or 5 x     Strongly cuts blue light for dramatic effects. Reduces atmospheric haze in
                               distant views.
Ultraviolet filter UV    Cuts out ultraviolet radiation in high mountains or near the sea. Eliminates
                            unpleasant blue casts in colour shots.
Skylight filter SF      Acts like a UV filter combined with a weak conversion  filter. lt completely
                           absorbs the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.
Polarizing filter Pol    Reduces or eliminates unwanted reflections from shiny surfaces (glass panes,
                            water) -  not from metal!
As the CdS cell is located behind the lens, it is not generally necessary to apply any filter
factors, the only exception being that it is advisable in the case of relatively dense colour filters
to apply the filter faclor 2x.
Set this factor on the DIN-ASA disk in accordance with the hints given on page 5 by reducing
the adjusted film speed by three DIN values or in the case of ASA setting by three graduation
marks of the DIN scale.

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The most suitable subjects for colour pictures are those containing large coloured areas without
excessive  light contrasts. Persons should be placed in good contrast against a quiet and neutral
background; outdoor portraits give best results when the sun is slightly covered by clouds.
When shooting landscapes try to include a coloured foreground in your picture. ln high mountains
and on the beach a UV haze filter or a sky-light filter helps to avoid a bluish colour c'ast.

      The film speeds (in ASA or DIN) of daylight colour reversal film are generally valid in sunny, fine
        weather; you will need to give more exposure under conditions of poor light and little contrast.
        Attention should therefore be paid to the instructions which acc,om'pany every colour reversal film.
            lf the manufactui-er states, for example, that the aperture should be increased (or the light value
       changed) in the absence of direct sunlight, i. e. under an overcast sky, in diffused light, or in the
       presence of dark or backlit subjects with important shadow details, follow this simple procedure:
        ln case of single exposures increase the aperture by means of the knob @ in accordance with the
        taking conditions (check in the viewf inder).
       For series of exposures under equal lighting conditions, it is advisable to correct the aperture
      by means of the film speed scale.
      The procedure is reduce the film speed setting in case of
                                     t/2f-stop by 2 DIN              1/2 f-stops by 5 DIN
                                  1 f-stop by 3 DIN               2 f-stops by 6 DIN
       After the series has been finished, do not forget to return to the original film speed setting!



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Generally speaking we can say that all that is needed is to point the camera from the taking
position to the subject and bring the pointer to the correct position.
This technique is suitable for all average subjects which do not show excessive lighting contrasts.
ln many cases, however, a more refined method must be adapted, using close-up reading
r of light subjects against a dark background, and vice versa;
o of all persons, in particular posed portraits.
 ln these cases one goes so close to the subject that only the important parts are "read". But
take care that your own shadow or that of the camera does not fall on the part of the subject
you are measuring  !





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Successful results and long life of your BESSAMATIC CS depend largely on proper care and
correct operation.
. Therefore always handle the camera gently and never use force. ln particular protect the
  camera against hard knocks. Don't keep the camera in your car's glove compartment; the
  exposure meter will not appreciate the constant vibration   !
. Clean the lens only with a soft, fluffless cloth. However,  first remove coarse particles of grit
  or sand at the sea-side) with a soft sable brush. Finger marks can be rembved with a piece
  of cotton wool moistened with pure alcohol or ether.
o Clean the interior of the camera periodically with an soft brush and remove any dust or film
   particles, being careful not to press against the mirror I Dust which has accumulated in the
  viewfinder can only be removed by taking out the lens and blowing out with a small blower.





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                       Accessories for close-ups and photomicrography
                         Supplementary lens PL  (portrait) for Super-Dynarex 135                                                                       f : 4.0 m  0.25 dptr. S 40.5 dia.
                         Supplementary lens O for Dynarex 90 and Super-Dynarex 135
                                                                         : 2.0 m  0.5 dptr.  S 40.5 dia.
                         Supplementary lens A         :  1.0 m  1.0 dptr.  S 40.5 dia.
                         Supplementary lens B          : 0.5 m  2.0 dptr. S 40.5 dia.
                         Supplementary lens C       r :: u.J0.3 mm  J.53.5 optr.dptr. SD 40.54u.5 ora.dia.
                        Supplementary lens D        f :  0.15 m  6.5 dptr.  S 40.5 dia.
                        Supplementary lens A        f :  1.0 m    1 .0 dptr. A 54.0 dia.
                        Supplementary lens B        f : 0.5 m  2.0 dptr. A 54.0 dia.
                        Supplementary lens C        f : 0.3 m  3.5 dptr. A 54.0 dia.
                        Supplementary lens D       f :  0.15 m  6.5 dptr. A 54.0 dia.
                        Supplementary lens A *      f :  1.0 m  1.0 dptr. S 95.0 dia.
                        Supplementary lens B'       f : 0.5 m  2.0 dptr. S 95.0 dia.
                                 * These supplementary lenses can be attached to the Zoomar
                          only by means of the adapter 296/95.
                        Reducing ring for filters and supplementary lenses  with
                    A 54 dia. on lens mount S 40.5 dia.
                        Micro viewing member with focussing tube
                        Micro mounting head for microscope
                        Micro intermediate ring for lenses with mount S 40.5 dia
                        Micro intermediate ring for lenses with mount A 54 dia
                          Reprophot, universal copying unit
                        Copying stand
                             Lighting set-up for copying stand





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Ever-ready cases
                       with Color-Lanthar / Color-Skopar  f :  50
                  withSeptonf:50
                       with Skopagon  f :40
                     Special carrying cases for cameras
                       Unit case (see page 25)
                       Unit case 350 (see page 25)
                         Hold-all case (see page 25)
                      Carrying case for camera with Zoomar, incl. two filters
                        supplementary lenses and access,ory adapter 296/95
                        Carrying device in case 90/142, 90/154
                    Leather box for interchangeable  lenses
                   forSkoparexf:35
                         for Skopagon  f :40
                         for Septon f : 50 or Dynarex f :  90
                         for Super-Dynarex  f :  135
                         for Super-Dynarex  f : 200 inql. lens hood and one filter
                         for Super-Dynarex  f :  350
                          for Voigtliinder Zoomar f :  36-82
                    Leather box for accessories
                          for three filters or two supplementary lenses
                     and one lens hood S 40.5 dia.
                          for three filters or two supplementary lenses A 54 dia.
                          for three filters or two supplementary lenses,
                         reducing ring 357/54 and lens hood A 54 dia.
                         for lens hood for Voigtl€inddr Toomar, can be buttoned
                         onto the rear side of the carrying case 90/154

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I'l

   A Guarantee Card      is enclosed with this camera. Kindly check that your
                                dealer duly fills in and stamps this card. Only then
                                      will you be sure that, if the camera should need any
                                   attention within the duration of the guarantee     as                                                                                   -                                 set out on the card     this witl be given by the world-                                                           -,                           wide ZEISS IKON-VOIGTLANDER Service    free of                                                                               -                                 charge.
                         Keep the-guarantee card, even after the expiry date;
                                    in case of loss, you will need to refer to the camera
                          and lens numbers registered on the card.

l-;',sG"L-l
GA/ 10.1603 - 05   Printed in West-Germany       367/e-1A
Subject to changes - Author: W. Kaiser