Argus SHOWMASTER 822 User manual

. argus
- SHOWMASTER &
SUPER EIGHT MOVIE CAMERA / with instant cartridge iodides

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Minor changes in the appearance of your camera
may not be included in these illustrations.

——~
an
With the purchase of your Argus Showmaster 822 Super Eight,
you have joined an entirely new generation of movie makers
who enjoy a completely different system of filming and showing
home movies. Everything in the system ... your camera, your
projector, the film, splicer, editor, even the improved quality
and larger size of the picture on the screen...is a new achieve-
ment in modern photographic technology, never possible until
now. You can forget everything you ever knew or heard about
8mm movies before, and start enjoying a brand-new kind of fun!
The heart of the new system is the Super 8 instant-loading film
cartridge. It is designed to take all the fuss and bother (and al!
the chances for mistakes) out of your movie-making hobby.
Each cartridge contains enough film for fifty continuous feet
of filming, threaded in its own transport mechanism, ready to
shoot the instant you insert it in your automatic camera.
There are no spools to fumble with, no threading procedures,
no winding, no reloading at the half-way point, no film-speed
dials to adjust, no filters to install or remove, no exposure fac-
tors to calculate—in short, no bother or worries at all! The

cartridge
and
the
new
automatic
systems
built
into
your
cam-
era
do
everything
for
you—nothing
is
left
for
you
to
do
except
have
fun
making
movies.
You
never
even
touch
the
film!
The
first
time
you
take
the
camera
out
of
its
box,
there
are
a
few
things
to
get
ready
before
you
start
filming:
4
'nstall
batteries
to
power
your
camera's
electric
drive.
@
Install
the
small
battery
that
powers
your
camera’s
auto-
matic
electric-eye
exposure
control.
& Insert an instant-loading film cartridge.
.-.
and
you
are
ready
for
the
first
scene.
However,
we
suggest
you
read
through
all
of
these
instructions
before
you
load-up
and
start
shooting.
After
the
batteries
have
been
installed
and
the
film
cartridge
is
in
place,
setting
the
camera’s
Automatic-Manual
Control
to
AUTO
and
unlocking
the
Trigger
Release
are
all
you
ever
have
to
do
to
get
ready
for
filming!
When
you
have
exposed
all
of
the
film,
open
the
camera,
remove
the
cartridge
and
send
it
off
for
processing,
insert
another
cartridge
and
continue
shooting!
3
RETRACTED
POSITION
LOCK BUTTON
EXTENDED POSITION
TRIPOD SOCKET

Now let’s look closely at how all this automatic fun is built
into your new camera...
PISTOL GRIP
Your Showmaster 822 features a retractable PISTOL GRIP
which folds back against the base of the camera for easy stor-
age when not in use. To extend the grip, grasp the bottom of
the camera in the cup of your right hand, depress the pistol
grip LOCK BUTTON with your thumb and swing the grip down
and forward until it locks. Reversing this procedure, (pressing
the button and swinging the grip back and upwards) locks it
against the bottom of the camera again. With this grip in the
retracted position, the camera can be mounted on a tripod,
using the TRIPOD SOCKET provided.
INSTALLING DRIVE BATTERIES
With the pistol grip extended, open the DRIVE BATTERY COM-
PARTMENT by lifting the back cover of the pistol! grip at the
tip end. Install four size “AA” penlight batteries according to
the positive-negative diagram inside the compartment (see
illustration). These batteries supply power to run the camera’s
\
DRIVE
BATTERY
COMPARTMENT
A
4

drive
motor.
Press
the
TRIGGER
RELEASE
briefly
to
see
that
|
power
is being
supplied
properly.
If
motor
does
not
run,
check
; ; aie -
battery installation for correct position and contact.
Your Argus dealer can supply you with several types of bat-
teries. Some are high-energy types which provide much longer
life. Any of the following kinds are suitable and will provide
approximately the life shown, depending on their age, tempera-
ture conditions and other variables which effect battery life.
up to 5 cartridges
up to 8 cartridges
MANGANESE-ALKALINE up to 25 cartridges
MERCURY up to 36 cartridges
|
TRIGGER
Weak
batteries
will
slow
the
camera’s
filming
speed
and
cause
1 RELEASE
action to be greatly exaggerated on the screen. It is a good idea
to frequently check the energy remaining in your batteries and
|
replace
them
with
a
fresh
set
at
the
first
sign
of
weakness.

BATTERY TEST
When the batteries are first installed and every time you use
the camera, depress the BATTERY TEST button on the left side
of the camera and note the position of the ENERGY LEVEL
INDICATOR. If it appears anywhere in the white zone, the bat-
teries
are
still
good.
If
the
indicator
appears
in
the
red
zone,
your
batteries
are
too
weak
to
operate
the
camera
properly
and
should be replaced.
ELECTRIC-EYE BATTERY
Your camera is equipped with a cadmium-sulfide (CdS) electric
eye and a battery-powered automatic exposure control system.
Since it has its own power source, the system does not depend
on converted light-energy to power the lens-setting mechanism.
This enables you to keep on filming with automatic exposure
control in low-light situations where ordinary automatic cam-
eras cannot function. It also greatly extends the range of pos-
sible film speeds (from ASA 25 to ASA 250) which the automatic
exposure system will accommodate.
TEST BUTTON
ENERGY
LEVEL
INDICATOR

The system is powered by a 1.35-volt mercury battery. (One is
supplied with your camera in a slot in the plastic packing.) To
install the battery, first press the FILM COMPARTMENT COVER
RELEASE to the rear to open the cover. The electric-eye BAT- {
TERY COMPARTMENT is located on the inner wall of the cam- .
era body. Press the BATTERY COVER slightly inward and turn
it to the OPEN position, indicated by the dot, and lift it up and
out. Insert the battery in the compartment positive (+) side
facing up. Replace the cover by reversing the removal proce-
BATTERY COVER dure, placing the dot on the cover opposite OPEN and pressing
BATTERY COMPARTMENT in slightly while turning to CLOSE.
LENS OPENING INDICATOR
Instead of weakening slowly, this kind of battery generally fails
WARNING ZONE
almost immediately when it becomes exhausted. To check your
battery’s condition, look through the DataScope viewfinder
while the camera is pointed toward any brightly lighted scene. r
(Be sure the camera is set on AUTO.) If the battery is still good,
the electric-eye mechanism will respond rapidly, showing a
movement of the LENS-OPENING INDICATOR away from the
red WARNING ZONE, when you depress the trigger release
slightly downward (not far enough to run the camera’s motor).
ee

eee
a
ee
If
the
battery
is
exhausted,
the
indicator
will
not
move
off
of
,
the
red
zone,
and
a
fresh
battery
should
be
installed.
Your
Argus
dealer
can
supply
you
with
the
proper
replacement
type
(MALLORY
PX-13,
EVEREADY
EPX-13
BURGESS
HPX-13,
or
equivalent).
The
electric-eye
exposure
control
takes
power
from
the
battery
only
when
the
trigger
release
is
depressed,
other-
;
AUTOMATIC
wise
the
circuit
is
automatically
off
to
conserve
power.
-MARIUAL
CONTROL
_...
located
on
the
left
side
of
the
camera,
must
be
set
to
AUTO
whenever
you
want
to
use
the
automatic
exposure
control
system.
When
set
on
AUTO,
the
camera’s
lens
opening
will
automatically
increase
and
decrease,
while
you
are
filming,
continually
adjusting
for
correct
exposure
in
al!
suitable
light
conditions.
“Suitable”
conditions
exist
whenever
the
lens-
opening
indicator
swings
out
of
the
red
warning
zone
into
the
Clear
area
marked
with
lens-opening
numbers
in
the
DataScope
viewfinder.
If
the
indicator
stays
in
the
red
zone,
there
is
insuf-
ficient
light
for
correct
exposure
and
you
should
stop
filming.
The
lens
opening
being
set
by
the
electric-eye
(f/1.8
to
£/22)
is
always
visible
in
the
DataScope
viewfinder
when
the
trigger
8

AUTO-MANUAL CONTROL
TURN UP TO AUTO...
TURN DOWN FOR MANUAL
SETTINGS AND CLAMP.
release is depressed. You can use this feature as a light meter
to determine the proper lens setting for unusual conditions
where the electric-eye may provide an undesirable exposure.
For instance, if your principal subject is an extremely dark one
and in an extremely light background, or if your subject is
strongly backlighted, you may elect to use a manual setting.
With the automatic-manual control set on AUTO, hold the cam-
era aimed at your subject at close range (so as to exclude the
contrasting background from view) and note the lens-opening
setting in the viewfinder as you press slightly downward on the
trigger release (not far enough to run the motor). Then return
to your shooting position and move the control toward MANUAL
until the desired setting is “fixed” in the viewfinder. Now shoot
the scene at this MANUAL setting.
Be sure to return the control to AUTO when you want to resume
automatic exposure. Moving the dial off AUTO, through MAN-
UAL, until the word CLAMP appears (as far as it will turn)
locks the delicate electric-eye mechanism against damage by

sudden
jolts
or
vibration.
The
control
should
be
set
on
CLAMP
whenever
the
camera
is
stored
or
shipped
for
any
reason.
Remember,
whenever
you
want
automatically
exposed
movies,
you
must
keep
this
control
set
on
AUTO.
Check
frequently
to
see
that
it
has
not
been
unintentionally
moved
between
scenes,
and
be
alert
for
free
movement
of
the
lens-opening
indicator
in
the
clear
zone
of
the
viewfinder
while
filming.
SHOOTING
Your
Showmaster
822
is
equipped
with
three
methods
of
run-
ning
the
camera
to
make
movies.
The
TRIGGER
RELEASE
is
used
for
most
pictures
while
the
camera
is
hand-held,
using
the
built-in
pistol
grip.
A
slight
downward
pull
with
your
index
finger
will
turn
on
the
electric-eye
exposure
control:
continuing
to
depress
the
trigger
release
starts
the
drive
motor
running.
A
slight
upward
movment
of
the
trigger
release,
while
it
is
fully
depressed,
locks
it
in
the
RUN
position.
With
the
camera
mounted
on
a
tripod
and
the
release
locked
on
RUN,
you
can
get
in
the
picture
yourself!
To
stop
the
camera,
just
press
the
release
slightly
downward
again
and
let
it
return
forward.
TRIGGER RELEASE
PRESS IN AND UP TO. LOCK
ON CONTINUOUS RUN

A SAFETY LOCK is provided to prevent running the camera
accidentally. On the underside of the trigger release, you'll find
a small lever which locks the release when moved to the side,
unlocks it when moved to the center again. Keep the release
locked whenever the camera is unattended.
A remote control cord is supplied with your camera and at-
taches in the REMOTE CONTROL SOCKET near the rear of the
panel on the left side of the camera. After the remote control
is installed, depress the trigger release all the way and Iock it
in the depressed or RUN position by pushing it slightly upward.
Locking the trigger in this way will not run the camera. Filming
is then started by sliding the remote contro! switch to ON.
A cable release (available from your Argus dealer) can be at-
tached in the CABLE RELEASE SOCKET provided on the right
side of the camera. Any ASA American-thread release will fit.
The cable release, when depressed, starts the camera’s drive
motor and permits a single frame at a time to be exposed for
making titles, animated sequences, or time-lapse movies.
11
REMOTE CONTROL SOCKET

CABLE RELEASE SOCKET
FOR SINGLE FRAMES ONLY
NOTE:
The
camera
motor
will
continue
to
run
as
long
as
the
cable
release
is
depressed,
but
the
shutter
is
activated
to
ex-
pose
only
one
frame
each
time
you
depress
and
release
the
cable
plunger.
(Do
not
confuse
the
motor’s
running
by
holding
in
the
cable
release
plunger
with
the
actual
continuous
run
ac-
complished
with
the
remote
control
cord.)
Both
remote
control
and
single-frame
filming
should
be
done
on
a
tripod.
INSERTING
THE
FILM
CARTRIDGE
The
remarkable
Super
8
cartridge
is
the
key
to
all
of
the
effort-
less,
trouble-free,
no-worry
features
which
Argus
has
built
into
your
camera.
It
contains
a
continuous
50-foot
run
of
film.
The
film
is
already
threaded
in
its
own
transport
system,
with
posi-
tion
guides,
pressure
pad,
and
take-up
sprocket
built
into
the
cartridge.
A
tiny
portion
of
film
is
exposed
at
the
front
edge
of
the
cartridge,
ready
to
engage
automatically
with
your
camera’s
drive
and
shutter
mechanism.
All
of
the
usual
spools,
film
gates,
guide
spindles,
pressure
pads,
threading
diagrams,
loose
ends,
and
slack,
which
used
to
42

COVER RELEASE
CARTRIDGE
LOCATING
PIN
complicate
home
movie
making
are
eliminated.
Instead,
you
simply
open
the
camera
by
pressing
the
COVER
RELEASE
toward
the
rear,
place
the
cartridge
in
position
at
the
LOCAT-
ING
PIN,
label-side
up,
press
it
down,
and
close
the
cover.
That’s
all!
You’re
ready
to
shoot
after
only
a
one-second
press
of
the
trigger
to
take
up
the
exposed
leader.
In
this
simple
insertion
procedure,
several
vital
settings
are
automatically
made
in
your
camera
without
your
touching
a
single
lever
or
dial.
The
camera’s
FOOTAGE
COUNTER
is
automatically
reset
to
30
and
will
indicate
the
number
of
feet
remaining
to
be
exposed
in
the
cartridge.
When
the
counter
reaches
0,
stop
taking
pic-
tures,
but
continue
to
run
the
camera
for
a
few
seconds.
to
wind
the
film
through
the
cartridge
to
the
end.
(The
motor
will
seem
to
speed-up
slightly
when
the
end
of
the
film
is
reached.)
The
FILM
SPEED
for
the
type
of
film
in
your
cartridge
is
automatically
set
in
your
camera’s
electric-eye
exposure
sys-
tem
as
soon
as
you
close
the
cover.
A
special
FILM
SPEED
SENSOR,
built
into
the
camera,
detects
the
length
of
a
notch
in

FOOTAGE COUNTER
FILTER SENSOR
FILM SPEED SENSOR
your film cartridge which varies according to the speed of the
film. The notch length (short for slow films, longer for faster
films) determines the electric-eye adjustment for automatically
controlled, perfect exposure. You not only don’t have to worry
about “setting” the camera, you needn’t even be aware of it!
A TYPE-A FILTER will either be in position or removed from
position inside your camera automatically as soon as you insert
the cartridge. A special FILTER SENSOR, built into your cam-
era, detects the presence or absence of another notch in the
edge of the film cartridge depending on whether your film is
for daylight or for artificial light. Daylight film cartridges will
have no notch, and the sensor will be depressed as the cart-
ridge is inserted, displacing the filter.
Type-A film cartridges will be notched, allowing the sensor to
remain extended, keeping the filter in place—compensating
for daylight exposure of what is really “indoor” film.
However, as soon as you attach your movie light to the socket
on top of your camera, another built-in sensor automatically
14

FILTER SENSOR IN
MOVIE LIGHT SOCKET
MANUAL FILTER CONTROL
FOCUSING RING
UNIVERSAL FOCUS POSITION
displaces the filter, no longer needed for Type-A film exposed
by artificial light. In this way, Type-A film can be used indoors
with movie lights, or outdoors in daylight, with color compen-
sation automatically provided.
NOTE: A MANUAL FILTER CONTROL, located on the top edge
of the camera near the front, is provided for displacing the
filter for INDOOR light conditions with Type-A film when using
a bottom-mounting movie light, or when filming with other
types of artificial light without a movie light. The manual filter
control is inoperative when using daylight-type color film or
when
a
top-mounting
movie
light
is
in
place.
Be
sure
to
keep
the manual filter contro! set to OUTDOOR whenever you expose
Type-A
film
in
daylight.
A
portion
of
the
cartridge
label
showing
the
type
of
film
in
the
camera
is
visible
ee
the
window
in the film compartment cover.
FOCUSING THE LENS
Your camera’s Cintagon lens can be critically focused on sub-
jects as close as four feet, or at any distance up to infinity. If
you prefer, set the lens at the UNIVERSAL FOCUS position

(triangle on the focusing ring and in the DataScope viewfinder)
and leave it there for all but extremely close-up shots. The
range of sharpness at the universal setting is adequate for pic-
tures of most scenes you are likely to shoot. But remember to
set the lens carefully for close-ups.
Turn the FOCUSING RING until your subject is seen clearly
in the viewfinder before you begin filming. The focus setting
of the lens is always visible at the bottom of the DataScope
viewfinder. The FOCUS POINTER moves from NEAR through
the complete range to FAR as you turn the focusing ring. The
pointer is particularly useful when you want to “follow-focus”
on subjects moving toward or away from the camera as you
shoot. Rehearsal of follow-focus shots is recommended.
The viewfinder can be adjusted to individual eyesight. First
focus the lens, then rotate eyepiece until the image is clear.
VIEWING AND ZOOMING
Your camera’s zoom lens is a single lens which does the work
of several. Your scenes can be framed as though you had
VIEWFINDER POINTER
AT UNIVERSAL FOCUS
POSITION
ADJUSTABLE VIEWFINDER
EYEPIECE

backed away from your subject, or as though you had moved MANUAL ZOOM CONTROL
in for a close-up—all without your taking a single step. The
zooming effect is always visible in the viewfinder (as shown in
the illustrations for different lens positions).
To preview the best lens position for your scene before you
begin filming, move the MANUAL ZOOM CONTROL from wide
angle (WIDE) to telephoto (TELE) and back, until you see the
desired effect in the viewfinder.
TELEPHOTO
NORMAL

Your camera’s electric zoom controls operate only while the
trigger release is pressed and the motor is running. Hold the
camera with your left hand over the top and fingers placed on
each of the electric controls. While filming, squeeze the WIDE
button inward to shift the lens to wide angle; squeeze the
TELE button to shift the lens to telephoto.
Before you begin a “zoom scene,” be sure the lens is pre-set
to the position from which you intend to begin the zoom action.
SLOW MOTION
The center button (SLOW) operates only while the trigger re-
lease is depressed and the camera is running, and changes the
camera’s filming speed to provide slow-motion movies. The
button is marked with ridges to enable you to “feel” it with
your finger tip and avoid pressing it accidentally when you
mean to use one of the zoom controls.
When you wish to record the action in slow motion, simply
squeeze in the SLOW button while filming. The camera’s speed
will increase, photographing the scene on twice the normal
length of film. When the film is projected at normal speed, the
ELECTRIC CONTROLS:
WIDE ANGLE ZOOM
SLOW MOTION
TELEPHOTO ZOOM
+8

TIPS FOR
BETTER
MOVIES
action will then appear twice as long on the screen and will
seem to be slowed down.
Always hold the camera as steady as possible when taking
movies. Any slight wavering of the camera will be very obvious
when your movies are projected. Use a tripod when possible.
Take pictures with the sun behind you whenever possible. The
electric eye can “read” the scene and set the lens more
accurately if this rule is followed.
“Panning” is the term used when the camera is moved hori-
zontally or vertically when making movies. This should be done
slowly and carefully to avoid unwanted effects such as jerking
movements and blurring of the picture. When panning scenic
pictures, filming in slow motion will greatly improve the
smoothness of the projected pictures.
Plan your movies in advance to add a feeling of continuity to
them. Try filming your movies in a story sequence instead of
a series of unrelated scenes.