Ilford Sportoman User manual

CAMERA DETAILS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Film-speedreminderdisc
Locking catch
Rewind knob
Exposurecounter
Filmwindlever
Shutter speed settingring
Aperturesettinglever
Focusingring
3epth-of-field scale
Viewfinder
Shutter release
Rewind releasebutton
Accessoryshoe
Flashcontact

ILFORD Camera
The Ilford Sportsman isa soundly mate and attractivelystyled 35mm.
miniature camera which has beendesigned for quick,easy operation. It
will take first-class pictures in bothcolour and black-and-white.
Before taking any pictureswithyour Ilford Sportsman, be sure to read
this instructionbook carefully andto practiseusing the camerawithout
film.In thisway, you willquickly lean, tousethe Sportsman confidently
so thatwhen you eventually load it with filmyou will be quitecertain of
getting goodpicturesright from the start.
EveryIlford Sportsman is carefully constructed, thoroughly tested
and guaranteed forone year from the date of purchase. So don't forget
to complete the guaranteeform and post itto IlfordLimited,Ilford,
Essex, withoutdelay.
The Ilford Sportsman,whichtakes 35mm.filmin standardcassettes and
gives a picturesize of24x 36 mm., isfitted with a rapid film windlever(5).
The camera is equippedwith a three-element anastigmat lens,having a
focal length of 45 mm.anda maximumaperture off/3^5. The lens is coated
and givesexcellentresults on both colou; and black-and-white films.
A singlemovement ofthefilm windlever (5) performsthree operations;
the filmis advanced, the shutter issetandthe exposurecounter is adjusted
to show the number of exposuresstillavailable. Thefilm wind andthe
shutter release are interlocked so that double exposures arenot normally
3

Opening the camera
Loading the camera

possible andthefilm cannot be wourni on without an exposurehaving
beenmade.
The largeshutterreleasebutton (11) is conveniently placed onthe front
ofthe camera so that when itis gently pressed there isno risk of camera
shake. The centre of this button will accept a cable release. The Vario
shutter has threespeeds, 1/25, 1/50 and 1/200 sec., and also a "B" setting
for brieftimeexposures. The shutter is synchronised forflash (14) and
has "X" typesynchronisation.This nvans thatelectronic flash units may
be used atall shutterspeeds and '"lashbulbs ata shutterspeed of
1/25 sec.
The viewfinder (10) isofthe optica' direct-vision type andis used at
eye level. Thefinder gives a brilliantimagewith the picture area shown
by a bright line. The centre of the picturearea is indicated bya cross. Two
marks atthe side ofthe brightline frame indicate thetopofthe picture
areawhen the camera is beingused for close-uppictures ata distance
of about 6 feet or closer. A similar amount will alsoappear inthe negative
atthe bottom ofthe picturealthough this isnot marked onthefinder.
OPENING THE CAMERA
The back ofthe camera is opened by sliding the smallbutton onthe
lockingcatch (2) towards the base ofthe camera.Thisbutton isonthe
left-hand side ofthe camera asitis held ready for use.
LOADING THE CAMERA
The camerashouldalways be loaded and unloaded inthe shade, outof
direct sunshine.After the camera b;<~t has been opened, the rewind
knob (3) should be pulled outtothe maximum extent andthe cassette of
film placed inthe camera. The free endofthefilm whichprojects from
the cassetteshouldextendacross thefilm track inthe direction ofthe
take-up spool.Pushback the rewindknobgently and turnuntil it engages -
with the core ofthe cassette.Thenoperate the lever windonce, butdo
not release the shutter,
•

Setting the exposure
counter
Setting the film speed
reminder disc

The leading endofthefilmcan then he taken across the film track and
slippedinto the slit ofthe take-upspool. Ifthe take-upspool isnotin
the correct position andthe slitcannot be seen, the spool canbe rotated
with the thumb onthe lower milled-edg:; flange. Makesurethat the small
projection atthe lower endofthe slit inthe take-upspool is engaging a
perforation inthefilm.
Nextturn the take-up spoolwith the thumb so that the tongue ofthe
film winds onto it; continuedoingthisuntil the full widthpart ofthefilm
is justprotruding from the mouth ofte cassette. The cameraback can
then be closed.
Now release the shutter (11) and operate thefilm windlever (5) three
times.This will bring the thirdframe onthe full widthpart ofthefilm
into position and clear film which may possiblyhavebeenfogged in
loading. The camera isnow ready to take thefirst picture by pressing
the shutterrelease.
The rewindknob (3) shouldturnanti-clockwisewhen thefilm wind
is operated and thisindicatesthat thefilmis passingthrough the camera
in the proper way.
The exposurecounter (4) should next besetto20or36, depending on
whether a 20 exposure or36 exposure fassette offilmwas loaded. The
exposurecounterindicates the number of exposuresremaining inthe
cassette. Thefilm-speed reminderdisc (1)onthetopofthe rewindknob
should lastly besetto indicate the type offilminthe camera.
EXPOSURE AND FOCUSINi CONTROLS
The lens is focused by rotating the focusing ring (8) until the distance of
the principalsubject,measured in feet, liesagainst the diamond-shaped
index mark onthe front plate ofthe shutter. The aperture markings
on eitherside of thisindexshow the zone of sharpnesswhichextends
on eitherside ofthe focuseddistance, a-; different lensapertures.
The shutterspeed issetby rotating the milledouterring (6)onthe lens
panel so that the desiredshutterspeed,cither 1/25,1/50, or 1/200 sec., lies

against the samewhiteindexmark asis used forthe focusing scale. The
"B" setting ofthe shutter is used for brief timeexposures andthe shutter
will remain open so long asthe shutter release button is held depressed
or pressure is maintained onthe cablerelease. The cameramust be
mounted ona tripod or other firm supportwhen the"B" setting is
used.
The aperturesetting is controlled bythe smalllever (7) which is visible
onthetopofthe lens mounting, the knife-edge ofthe lever isset against
the desiredlensaperturemarking.
TAKING THE PICTURE
After the lens has beenfocused, the shutterspeed setandthe correct
aperturechosen, the subject is viewedthrough the optical viewfinder.
Hold the camera firmly withbothhands and thengentlysqueeze the
shutter release with the forefinger ofthe right hand. When using a shutter
speed of 1/25 sec., take upasfirma stance as possible, leaningagainst a
solid objectsuch asa wall, or somesimilarsupport.
In setting the focusing scale, distances upto12 feetshould be estimated
or measuredaccurately, but greaterdistances canbe estimatedapproxi-
mately.
The correct aperture and shutter speeds canbe estimated from the
exposure tablesprovided on page 11 of thisinstructionbooklet, ora
photo-electric or other exposure meter maybe used.
After the exposure has beenmade, thefilm-wind levershould be opera-
ted immediately so that the camera isat onceready fora furtherexposure.
The lever should always be moved firmlyand smoothly totheendof
its travel.This is importantbecause ifthe full movement isnot made,
the shutterwill notbesetandno exposurewill be madewhen the shutter
release is pressed. The windlever should notbe allowed to returnfreely
under the pressure ofits spring but should be controlled bythe thumb,
so that it moves back smoothly and gently toits position ready forthe
nextoperation.
8

TAKING OUTTHE FILM
When you haveexposed allthe20or36 exposures onthefilm,it must be
completely rewound into the cassette before the camera back is opened.
Thefilmis rewound by depressing the rewind releasebutton (12) inthe base-
plate ofthe camera andatthe sametimeturning the rewindknob ina
clockwise direction as shown bythe anow. Rewindingshould be con-
tinued with the rewindreleasebuttonhelddepresseduntil thefilm pulls
away from the take-upspool. Ifthefitewas properlyattached tothe
take-up spoolwhen the camera was loaded,someresistance will be felt
at this point. When thefilmhas beencompletelyrewound the camera
back canbe opened andthe cassetteremoved from the camera.
SNAPSHOT SETTINGS
Onan average sunny dayin summer and with a medium-speed film such
as IlfordFP3, the camera canbesetso that itis ready foruseatall times
without further adjustment. The apertureshould beset to/711 andthe
shutterspeed to 1/50 sec.; the focusing scaleshouldthen besetto14 feet.
It will be seenthat the depth offie'd extends from about 7 feet to
infinity andthe Sportsman canbe usedsimply asa snapshot camera.
FLASHSYNCHRONISATION
A small flashgun, such asthe Ilford Sportslite, canbefitted into the
accessoryshoe(13) onthetopofthe cameraabove the viewflnder.
The synchronisinglead oftheflashgunfe connected tothe camera bythe
standard 3 mm. contact atthe base of ihe lenspanel.Makesurethat
the connecter is pushed firmly home before using the camera.
The Varie shutter has"X" synchronisation so thateitherelectronic
flash units or expendable flashbulbsmay be used.Electronic flash units may
be used atany shutterspeed from 1/25 sec. to 1/200 sec. and expendable
flashbulbsata shutterspeed of 1/25sec.
9

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FILM
The IlfordSportsman is so simple to use thatcolourpictures are just as
easy to take as black and white.Makesuccess doubly certain by using
Ilford 35mm.films, which are made ina range to suiteverysubject
and everyexposurecondition.
ILFORD Colour Film D
The ideal filmfor making glowing colourtransparencies ofany subject by
daylight.
ILFORD Colour Film F
The colour film that is balanced foruse with clear flashbulbs.
ILFORD PanF
The almostgrainless,thin-emulsion filmfor negatives of unmatched
definition and enlarging quality.
ILFORD FP3
Thefine grain film withbalancedcolourresponse and amplespeed for
general use.
ILFORD HP3
The high-speed film that is famous forits superball-roundperformance.
ILFORD HPS
An extremelyfast film,for successful photography byany light.
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ILFORD • ESSEX