Wards AM 550 & 450 User manual

r





    t-,
              'i r:i            'r )'                    on your choice of one of Wards fine 35mm Rangefinder Elec-
                                              tric Eye Cameras.  lt is designed to make picture taking easy
                               and fun, You can expect excellent results on your very first
                                         try-i{ you take a few minutes getting acquainted with your
                              new camera, As you read these ins.tructions, keep the camera
                              handy and prdctice each operation as it appears in this
                                 Owner's Guide. Familiarize yourself with each feature before
                                you load the first roll of film.
                                 You will be delighted with the electric eye accuracy and ease
                                            of operation, For the more advanced photographer who wants
                                     creative control, the camera can, of course, be adjusted
                                       manually.

SPECIAT FEATURES tIF YIIUR WARDS CAMERA
                         Modelam 450-40mm Hexarf/2.8lens-4 elements in 3 groups
                             Model am 550-47mm Hexarf/1.9 lens-S elements in 5 groups
                             improved amber coati ng.
                              copaf sVA manual shutter speeds B'1'2' 4' 8' 15' 30' 60' 125'
                                   ts0, 500, equidistant scale. Full flash synchronization with X
                           and M settings. Self-timer delayed shutter release'
                              Side illuminated bright frame-O'65x magnification' Aperture
                                  scale and warning riarls in viewfinder' Aperture size visable
                              inviewfinder.Modeam450haspara||axcorrectionindicator.
                             Model am 550 has automatic parallax compensation'
                          combined with viewfinder for single operation. super'im'
                             poseO double image focusing screen' Effective triangulation
                              base 22.8 mm.

www.butkus.us
  EXPOSURE      A sulrcrsensitivc narrow l)c.irn CcjS (caci mium sulphiclc) cx-
     METER         posurc nrctcr rs coultled to aLrtomatic apcrture mcchanism.
                Two rartclc (lrigh low) covcragc anglcs: 34 horizontal, 28
                            vcrtrcal. Powcr sourcc: Mcrcury ce ll battery.
   MANUAL        By turninc.l tlre apertur-c rlng; from "AUTO" to apcrture sizc
  EXPOSURE          scale and sclecting.J dcsircd shuttcr sgte cd the camcra can be
                      opcrated nranually.
RAPID WIND          Single stroke lever advarccs   f ilnrs and cocks shuttcr. pre ve.ts
      LEVER           cjouble cxposures.

    REWIND         Whcrr rewind button on bottom of camera is depressed, the
   BUTTON           film can be rewound in its magazine.

  OPTIONAL         Camera takcs filtcr adaptcr ring No.4g. Adapter ring accom-
    FILTERS         modatcs scries 7 color correction  filtcrs, mountcd and un-
                     mou n le o.

r                                         rt 4
                                            A
   INSERTING                T  OR REPLACING                                             a-
  THE MERCURY
   BATTERY CELL
      When the apcrture irrdicator visible irrside
        the vicwfinder becomes sluggish in actton
         or fails to rnovc, the rrercury battery cell is
          woril oul .t'rd nrust bc rclllaccd.
       With lornral use, thc scrvicc lifc of the
          nrcrcury battery cellshould be about a year'
          Unlike other dry batte ries, the voltage of the
        mercury baticry ccll remains corrstarrt and
        does not drop off until it is exhausted.

           10

www.butkus.us
 RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT                      IMPORTANT
 BATTERY CELL
                                          When carrying camera out-   1,3       volt such                  Eveready             as
              pX-13,                 E 625, Mallory".^""',                   doors, keep range shift at H.   RM.625R,                    or                GE No. 625,
                                                                                                                                      lf the range shift lever is kept
                                                        at L (low brightness), the
TO INSERT OR REMOVE CELL                          bright light encountered
                                                       maycauseexcessivedrainof   1. Use a coin to unscrew the batterv ceil
   cover on the bottom of the camera.                        the cell.
   2. Insert a new battery cell with the positive
    ( t ) end facing the battery cell cover.
   3. Replace battery cell cover. lf camera is
   not being used for any length of time, it is
   advisable to remove battery cell and store  it
   in a cool dry place.

                                                                                                                                   t1

7 SIMPLE STEPS FtlR ELECTRIC EYE PHOTOGRAPHY





    1. Set the aperture ring to "AUTO."

    2. Set the ASA film speed lever to the ASA
   number of the film you are using. (See film
    instruction sheet for exact ASA speed,)

    3. Set the Electric Eye range shift lever to
   "H" (high) for daylight outdoor pictures or
    to "L" (low) for indoor pictures.

    12

www.butkus.us




4. Select the desired shutter speed on the
shutter speed scale. For average pictures,
set shutter speed at 1/125 second. For high
speed action such as sports photography,
set a short shutter speed of 1/2ffi to 1/500.

5. Look through the viewfinder. You will see
a small yellow focusing rectangle in the
center of the viewfinder. By turning the
focusing lever, you can adjust the rectangle
so that you see a single, not a double image.
When the image appears as one, you are in
correct focus.

                                              13

6. lf the Electric Eye lndicator is in the yellow
portion of the viewfinder aperture scale, you    WHEN A SUBJECT IS OUT OF FOCUS.
have sufficient light for a correct exposure.
lf the indicator is in either the left or right
background area, turn shutter speed ring
until indicator is in yellow area. A tripod or
other solid base support should be used with
shutter speeds of 1/3O second or slower.

7. Hold the camera steady and gently de-
press the shutter release button.                             WHEN A SUBJECT IS IN FOCUS.

14

www.butkus.us
LOADII{G TIIE CAMERA

  LOAD CAMERA IN SUBDUED
  LIGHT ONLY
   1. To open the camera back, lift the rewind
  crank, then lift up on rewind knoo.
   2, Place a 35mm film magazine (20 or 36 ex-
  posures) in the recess under the rewind
  knob. Push in rewind knob while turning
   slightly right and left to lock in magazine.
  3. Pull out enough  f ilm to insert the end in
  the slot in the take-up spool. See that the

                                                        Ii-)   f);    i  rrl  :,^^    i"


                                                                                                                      15

film perforations cn(Jagc tlrc s1,.rocl'.ct':
the sprocket rollcr.

4. Advance thc railticl  'r, irr'.i  lr ,''i'r. Tirtr  tilttr
                                                                                                                                rlshould be taki-'rl  tt l,' orl ill'   '.,1f'r -il i) 'sirr)i

5. Dcpress thc shttticr rclc.l:('iluitr.,tr  iltrci
advancc thc rapid wirrcl lcv,,r rirl.titl. Cotr-
tinue to do this urttil tho ptltfi't",rl  -'rr'j of lirt'
upper edge of the filnr ('rr(Jil.l! lir,. sllrocl<ct
teeth.

FILM COUNTER


  The film counter advances one frame every
   time the rapid wind lever is advanced tndi-
   cating the number of  f rames that have been
   exposed,

  NOTE:                               55t)  When the camera back is opened, the film
   counter will automatically return to the start
   mark (small triangle).

   While the camera is open, the film counter
    will not move even if the rapid wind lever is
   ad va nced.

   18

www.butkus.us
    FILM SPEED (ASA) SETTING


         Alter loading film, always set the  f ilm speed
       (ASA) lever to the speed rating (ASA) of tne
         film you are using.

        To set the  f ilm speed, depress the film speed
          lever and turn to the required ASA number.
---err         7\ASA) lNDlcATloN SCALE     ,,L','v,Nrrsptr;n--_

  '10
                                           400
 ASA 32, 64 160 and 250 are indicated by dots                   a

RAPID WI}III LEVER


                        The rapid wind lever cocks the shutter for each exposure and
                           advances the film to the next frame.

                      When you advance the rapid wind lever all the way to the right
                                      until  it stops, the  f ilm counter advances one  f rame to indicate
                            the number of pictures taken and cocks the shutter mechan-
                            ism for the next picture.

UNTIIADING THE CAMERA


  UNLOAD CAMERA IN SUBDUED         the sprocket allowing the rapid wind lever
  LIGHT ONLY                                    to complete its stroke.
   Film has been completely exposed normally   To rewind the lilm, depress the rewind but-
  when the film counter reaches the red nu-   ton on the bottom of the camera. Raise the
  meral 20 (or 36).                             rewind crank and turn in direction of arrow
                                                             until you feel a change of tension as the  f ilm
   Before camera back is opened the film must   leaves the take-up spindle. Turn rewind
  be rewound into its magazine. lf the rapid   crank several extra turns to make certain
  wind lever cannot complete its stroke at the   lilm is completely in its magazine,
  end of a roll of film-do not force. Forcing
  may tear  f ilm from magazine preventing nor-   Open camera back by lifting up on rewind
  mal rewind. Merely depress the rewind but-   knob and remove the exposed film magazine.
   ton on the bottom of the camera to disengage   Have film processed as soon as possible.

   22

APERTURE SCALE 11{ I,IEWFII{IIER


  You may safely take pictures as long as   change the shutter speed setting.
   yellow can be seen on either side of the   When shooting a dark subject in low light,  if
    ind icator.                                           after shifiing the range shift lever to "1" and
                                               reducing the shutter speed to the minimum
     lf the indicator is in the red zone, change    practical level, the indicator  still remains in
   shutter speed. lt may be necessary to move   the red zone at the 1,9 end of the aperture
   the Range Shift lever to "L" to change the   scale, the light is insufficient for Electric
    light sensitivity to move the indicator out of   Eye (automatic) photography, This seldom
   the red zone, When the range is shifted  it   happens because the exposure meter is ex-
   takes about three seconds for the indicator   tremely sensitive, and with the range shift
   to steady. Be sure to allow enough time.        lever at "1" when using film of ASA 100
                                                   rating ii is possible to measure brightness
     lf the indicator is in one of the red zones,    as low as EV 3 (exposure value), lt is possible

    24

www.butkus.us
                                                   to rely on automatic exposure control indoors
                                    and in twilight,
     Je 2s 4r 5u             I ll16
                             When a subject is so bright that despite
    GOOD EXPOSURE                    shifting to "H" and setting shutter speed
                                                to 1/500 second, the indicator remains in the
                                       red zone at the 16 end of the scale, use a
                                              neutral density (ND) fitter to reduce bright-
                                                                                  Generally,   ln2845uB          II  16               ness, This is a rare occurrence.                                         excessive brightness of this degree is ser-
                               dom encountered.
SET SLOWER SHUTTER SPEED

                                IMPORTANT:
                                                                                lf meter indicator will not move, check to see
    ln 2E'4 5u Bxll 16                          if plastic meter window cover is removed.  lf
                                             this is not at fault, Mercury batterv cell is
SET HIGHER SHUTTER SPEED            either dead or installed upside down,

                                                                                                     25

lens moves forward, while allowance is also
PARALLAX CORRECTIOI{      made for axis difference. The viewfinder
                                           frame matches the limits of the actual photo-
                                           graph throughout the focusing range.
                                                                                                                   I
  MODEL am 550 only                  MODEL am 450 only
                                               At distances of 4.5 feet, desired subject mat-  Because the viewfinder and the camera lens                                                   ter to be photographed should not extend  are on different opticalaxes, framing at short                                            above bright line correction marks.  ranges would be incorrect  if no compensa-
   tion was made. In your am 550, the optical
  frame automatically changes position with
   shift of focus to eliminate this error. When
   the focusing lever is pushed down to shorten                                               \/I  the range, the frame becomes smaller while             CORRECTION
  apparently shifting toward the lower right       MARKS   corner. This automatic adjustment matches                                             I
  the narrowing of the picture angle as the

   26

www.butkus.us
      LEI{S H(ltlD
 I                                      Your camera has a built-in lens hood. The lens hood prevents
                                      extraneous light and reflections from entering or striking the V                                         lens from the side causing flare. See page 19 for illustration
                                      of hood in extended position. Use of lens hood is recom-
                                 mended at all times, especially with flash.
;,
     USING A TRIPOD AIID A CABTE RETEASE
                            When using a slow shutter speed  it is advisable to mount the
                                    camera on a tripod and use a cable release to trip the shutter.
                                To mount the camera on a tripod, screw the tripod into the
                            ASA socket on the bottom of the camera.
                                 Screw a cable release into the socket on the shutter release I                                                   b utton,
 I

ILASH PICTURES


                                 SYNCHROFLASH ADJ USTMENT
  Flash oictures in black and white or color   POSITION "M"
  can easily be taken when suflicient light is   Set the Synchroflash Adjustment to "M"
   not available for short exposures or in special   when using class M flashbulbs such as AG-1,
  cases where the flash is used to supplement    AG-18, M2, M2B, M3, M3B, 5, 5B, 25 and 25B.
  available light. The built-in synchronization
  coordinates flash firing with shutter opening    POSITION "X''
  using bulbs or an electronic flash,            Set the synchroflash adjustment to "X"
                                   when using an electronic (strobe) flash,
  Mount the flash unit on the accessory clip   When using class M flashbulbs in the "X"
  on top of your camera and attach the con-    position (for self-timer functions) shutter
  necting cord to the synchroflash socket on   speed must not exceed 1/30 second (see
  the  f ront of the camera.                           chart).

   28

,                                            www.butkus.us
 I   SETTII{G SHUTTER SPEED OR
  APERTURE MAI{UALIY

ri{     SHUTTER SPEED                   APERTURE SIZE
      A fast sh utter speed (2SO or 500) is needed to   When aperture size is critical because you
       stop a fast moving object, A slow shutter   want either a large depth or intentional fuz-
       speed (30,15) may be desired for intentionar    zing of the background, sight your subject
         blurring of the subject to give an impressron    through the viewfinder, then while watching
       of motion. Taste will dictate the shutter   the viewfinder aperture scale, turn the shut-
       speed best for your purpose, Set the shutter    ter speed ring until the indicator shows the
      speed you desire and sight your subject   aperture value desired,
       through the viewfinder. lf the yellow zone
                                                                                      44 for      shows on both sides of the indicator, with                               I See page
                                                                                                          Fietd       the aperture ring set at ,,AUTO", you can              NOTE   I Depth of
        take a well exposed picture.                                                I  exOlanation.

                                                                                                                             31