Miranda Sensomat User manual

MIRANDA
a
SENSOMAT
THROUGH-THE-LENS EXPOSURE DETERMINATION

Congratulations. You have just become the owner of one
of the finest pieces of photographic equip!Jlent, the Miranda
Sensomat, a camera with very advanced features.
The Miranda Sensomat forms a basic part
of an all-round
camera system, which
is unequaled in versatility. The
Miranda Sensomat has been precision engineered and manu-
factured
to give, with normal care, many years of enjoyment
within the wide scope
of photography, whether just for
snapshots or for advanced technical photography.
To take
full advantage of all features of this camera, we earnestly
suggest you study this manual carefully before loading
your
camera with the first film. Should any questions pertaining to
the operation of your Miranda Sensomat arise, please write to
Consumer Service
c/o your local dealer or directly to Miranda
Camera Co.,
Ltd ., C.P.O. Box 2072 Tokyo

CONTENTS
Name
of parts . .. ......... . ........ . . ... . . ..... . .. ... .. 2
Special features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. 4
Film loading . .
... ........ ... .-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8
Film rewinding .... ... .. . .... . . ... ... . . .. .............. 13
Adjusting the focus ...... ........ . ........... . .......... 14
Setting the lens aperture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15
Setting the shutter speed .. .... ........ .. .. . ... ......... .. . 16
Shutter speed/ASA dial lock
out .. . ......................... 18
Setting the
mm speed ..............................•..... 20
Viewfinder interchanging
..... .......... ........... . ... . . . 21
Exposure control with Auto-Miranda lenses ..................... 25
How to use preset lenses ....... . ... .. ... .... .. .. .. .... . . . . 26
About films . ..... ......... . .......... ... .. ....... ... . 27
Precautions on exposure .... .... ......... . ... ...... . ...... 28
Quick return mirror ..... . ... . ... .. ..... . .......... ... . .. 30
Viewfinders
..... . .... ... .. ....... ... . . . .............. 31
Depth of field ......................................... 32
How to use extension tubes and bellows
................... . ... 34
How to use teleconverters lenses
............ .. ........ ...... 38
How to use microscope adapter
...... . .................... . .40
How to use optical slide duplicator
........................... 41
Lens interchanging
................................. ... .. 42
Lens adapters
........ . ....... .. .. .... .. ..... ...... .... 45
Flash photography
... . .... ... ..... . ............ ......... 46

-- NAME OF PARTS ----------------------------
2
1-----'"
2---
11-----'
~--20
12----~ f ~ - ~ __ - .• ~--.~._--
~--21
,0,...---22
13---
14---t
15------1c--""'''
16 --~-=::: ".!---; ...... ~
17-----~
18--------'
19------'
23
:.4---- 24
!------25
;;B.-------- 26
~-----27
------28
_______ 29
1 Lens positioning mark
2
Front Shutter release button
3 FP flash contact
4 X flash contact
5 Neckstrap eyelet
6 Back cover lock
7 Standard lens
8 Exposure meter release
button
9 Exposure meter activating button
10 46mmcj> screw-in filter ring
11 Film advance lever
12
Shutter speeds dial
13 Shutter speeds reference mark
14 ASA film speeds dial
15 ASA film speeds setting ring
16 Film counter
17 Top shutter release button
18 Lens locking button
19 Diaphragm finger grip
20 Finder release dial

21 Film memory dial
3 22 Film rewind knob
32 23 Collapsible rewind crank
3 24 Camera serial number
25 Removable pentaprism
26 Diaphragm openings dial
27 Depth of field scale
28 Distance reading dial
29 Focusing ring
30 Eyepiece
31 Battery compartment
32 Rewind button
33 Tripod socket
34 Accessory-shoe slot
35 Film chamber
7 36 Film gate
8 37 Film take up spool
3
38 Sprocket wheel
9
36 39 Back cover lock
40 Film pressure plate
41 Film guide rail
3

---- SPECIALFEATURES -----------------------------------------------------
4
AUTO miranda SOmm f1.8
The Superb Auto-Miranda Lens, SOmm f1.8
The Miranda Sensomat
is equiped with a
fully automatic lens, manufactured
in accord-
ance with
the very rigid Miranda Standards. The
lens is composed
of 6 elements in 4 groups,
diaphragm calibrations from
l.8 -16. The mini-
mum focusing distance
is 43 cm or 17 inches.
Angle
of view is 45°.
AUTO miranda
SOmm fl.4
A new high speed 50 mm £1.4 standard
Auto Miranda lens has been developed for use
on the Miranda Sensomat.
It is a gauss type
lens, consisting
of 8 elemen ts in 6 group s,
diaphragm calibrations from 1.4- 16 . minimum
focusing distance
is 43 cm or 17 inch es. Angle
of view is 450. It is advisable to use a lens hood
with this lens to avoid reflection on the front
element.

Partial Average Light Measuring
The CdS meter
of the Miranda Sensomat
measures a fair average
of low lights while
cutting
out the influence of the sky brightness.
As the measuring, area,does not cover the entire
field
of view, it gives an accurate average of the
low lit subjects, an additional prevention against
over-or under exposure. The above diagram in-
dicates the light-measuring area of the exposure
meter in the viewfinder.
Interchangeable Finder System
For a Single Less Reflex system to manifest
its fullest capacity, it
is absolutely a necessity
that its viewfinder be interchangeable, with
other more convenient types for specific
purposes.
If a viewfind e.r is not interchangeable,
it puts immediately limitations to such camera.
The Miranda Sensomat has viewfinders, which
can be interchanged, eyelevel-waistlevel-and
magnification types being among the types
available.
5

6
Exclusive Dual-Purpose Lensmount
The Miranda Sensomat ha s, as a far ad-
vanced feature, a lens
mount which accepts
bayonet-and screw mount lenses and acces-
sories.
As the Miranda mount has moreover, a wide
diameter and an extremely short flange back,
(distance between lens-attaching plane and film
surface) it permits the use of most lenses, made
for
other SLR cameras, using the Miranda
adapters.
Instant Return Mirror
The instant action of the swing-up mirror
almost completely eliminates viewfinder black-
ou
t. Only during the split-second of shutter
action, the mirror moves upwards to allow light
rays to enter the camera for exposure of the
film. Instantly, after the shutter closes, the
mirror returns to it s original position.

Front-and Top Shutter Release
One
of the exclusive features of the Miranda
Sensomat is its dual release system which can
be activated either from top or front
of the
camera.
It is a matter of personal preference of
the photographer which of the two to use. The
top-release bu
tton can be removed and will
provide a socket for use
of cable release or
self- timer.
Auto-Resetting Film Counter
The film counter, which indicates the
number
of pictures taken , will automatically set
itself
to the "S" (start) mark, when the camera
is opened for loading
the film. From there
onwards, the film
counter will move frame by
frame. An added feature
of the Miranda
Sensomat
is the optically enlarged image in the
film counter window, for a clear and brilliant
view.
7

-- FILM LOADING ----------------------------
8
• Always load or unload the film in the shade.
If no shade is available, do it in the shadow
of your own body.
• Whenever po
ssib le , avoid loading and un-
loading in a dusty place
or at the seaside
where strong salty wind may damage the
camera.
• When loading or unloading, take care
not to
touch the shutter curtains.
The 35mm. film
is advanced through rota-
tion
of the sprocket and not by direct winding
of the spool; therefore, the sprocket must
engage
the film 's perforation perfectly. To
check whether the film is advancing properly,
the rewind knob is first turned slightly to take
up any play in the film; then
if the advance
lever is wound
the rewind knob should rotate.
But
if the rewind knob fails to turn, it indicates
that the film is not properly loaded and
requires reloading.
As soon
as you have loaded the camera, be
sure
to adjust the ASA speed indicator (ASA
25-1600) on the shutter speed dial to the ASA
speed
of the film you have loaded. Lift the
shutter speed dial
and rotate it until the
required ASA speed
is opposite the indicator
mark. Setting the ASA speed
is essential to
exposure determination since
the ASA speed
indicator
is cross-coupled to the meter needle in
the viewfinder, along with the speed dial. If the
ASA speed
is not correctly set, the built-in CdS
exposure meter will
not indicate correct ex-
posure settings.

Film Memory Dial
At the base of the rewind knob is a memory
dial,
as a reminder of the type of film loaded in
the camera. Engravings are:
Col..
N. for color-negative film
Col. D. for color daylight reversal film
Col. T. for Tungsten (artificial light) reversal
film.
Black & White _
On
the knurled edge of this dial is a red
mark,
to which the appropriate film type is to
be set.
This serves only
as a utility and has no
influence
on the camera operation.
The fIlm memory dial serves also as a release
lock for
the interchangeable viewfinder system.
Turning the dial
to the right will release the
viewfinder lock.
9

10
1. Open the back cover
Press
lo ck button in the
center
of right edge of back
cover and pull up clip lever at
top at the same time, which
immediately opens the back
cover. When back cover is
opened, counter automatically
returns to
"s" (start) mark.
2. Insert cartridge into film
chamber
Pull up rewind knob and
insert cartridge, taking care
that the projecting end of
cartridge faces down .
3. Push back rewind
knob to
original position
If the knob does not gO 'all
the way down
turn it a little
to the left or right.

4. Position take-up spool slit
Turn the
bottom knurled
flange
of take-up spool with a
finger until slit appears.
5. Insert tip
of film into
spool's film slit
Insert leader
of film, mak-
ing sure
that one perforation is
caught by the claw at the
entrance
of the film slit. Also
see
that the sprocket engages
the film perforation.
6. Turn film advance lever
until perforations
on both
sides of film are engaged by
the sprocket
If one winding fails
to
make sprocket catch the per-
forations
on both sides of the
film, press shutter
button and
wind again.
11

12
7. If film is advancing. pro·
perly, close back cover
U
pon closing, push down
clip lever, which will a
uto-
matically engage the lo ck
button and the back cover
becomes securely locked.
8.
Turn film advance lever
several times
to wind up
the fogged portion of film
Shoot several blanks and
continue winding the film
un til film coun ter indicates
"I
". Then, s li ghtly turn rewind
knob in the direction of a rro w
to take up any slack.
9. When film
counter indi-
cates
"I" it m ea ns film
loading
is completed
Fro m here, film counter
will move frame by frame for
each s
hot to indicate the
numb er of pi ct ures which have
been taken.

-- FILM REWINDING -----------------------------
1. First, the film rewind re-
lease button on the base of
the camera body is pushed
in until a small click
is
heard. This button need
~ot be held during re-
winding. The film is now
free from
the sprocket
which has been advancing
it, and
is ready for rewind-
ing.
2. Flip the rewind crank on
the rewind knob and wind
in the direction
of the
arrow. At
the end of the
roll you will feel the resist-
ance increase and then
suddenly cease. Turn the
rewind crank several more
times
to make certain the
film has been entirely
rewound.
3. Open the back cover by
depressing the lock
button
and pulling up the cover
clip
at the same time. Pull
up the rewind knob and
take
out the film cartridge.
Make certain
that no film
chips
or dust particles are
left in the camera.
13

-- ADJUSTING THE FOCUS --------------------------
14
While looking through the viewfinder, if the focusing
ring
is turned either to the right or left it will, make the
blurred image _ of the subject become clear and sharply
focused.
• The focusing
is very easy as the viewfinder shows in
its center a multi-microprism (collection
of minute
prisms). This gives jagged edges to the image as soon
as It
is out of focus even in the slightest degree. Light
is collected to
the focusing screen by means of a
special system
of fine-grained Fresnel lens and
condenser, which permits bright corner-to-corner
viewing.
Focusing for Infra-Red
Shots
For infra-red shoot-
ing, first set to accurate
focus in the normal
way, then shift
that
distance reading to
match the red "
R"
mark on the aperture
ring
of the lens.
IJ ;
ijl152253 5 10 00 m
I 6 18 10 15 30 ___ feer
-- )))) l UI·'\\\
1&118562.81116
16 II B5.6 4 2.8 2

-- SETTING THE LENS APERTURE
Aperture
Uf'stop
Light
Volume
Ratio
I I' • I
O()OO OO(~O
The lens aperture ring is engraved with
f-stop numbers from 1.4 or 1.8 to
16 , each
equipped with a click-stop.
To set to any
aperture, hold
the two finger grips projecting
from the ape
rtur e ring and turn the ring until
the desired f-stop comes against a red
dot close
to the lens mount.
• Aperture adjustment can be used to ad
ju st
the incoming light volume or
to adjust the
depth of field (refer page 32).
• The larger the ape
rtur e number, the less
light passes through the lens
to reach the
film.-This relationship is such
that whenever
it is changed to the next bigger f-stop
number, it reduces
the volume of incoming
light by one-half,
so if the aperture is closed
down in succession from one bigger f
number
to another, the volume of incoming
light would decrease at the rate
of %, Yo, Ys
and ){, .
• Setting at a
point midway between aperture
readings would give intermediate f-values.
• Aperture adjustment can be done at any
time before
.or after film advance.
15

-- SETTING THE SHUTTER SPEED ------;------------------~
16
0
fl 1
~
To set the shutter speed, the shutter speed
dial
is turned to the left or right until the
desired speed number lines up with the sh
utter
speed indicator. The dial rotates in either
direction.
• The marks "B, 1, 2....
1000" indicate "Bulb,
1 sec.,
Y2 sec .... l/1000 sec." shutter speed
positions.
•
"B" (bulb) is for long exposures with the
shu
tter remaining open as long as the button
is depressed.
• The red
"X" indicates the shutter speed for
synchronization with electronic flash.
• Shutter speed can be freely changed before
or after winding.
• When turning the shutter speed dial, see that
it falls correctly
into click-stop position. If
set to intermediate positions, the shutter
will
not operate at an accurate speed.

()
~
=
Mirror area View finder area
The exposure meter measures the brightness of the subject in a
unique way. The single CdS cell, behind the mirror, in actual fact
is
composed of three separate supersensitive light measuring elements,
positioned in
the upper portion and left and right side of the mirror.
This completely eliminates overexposure,
that could be caused by
the bright light of the sky.
17

-- SHUTTER SPEED/ASA DIAL LOCK OUT ---------------------
18
The exposure meter of the Miranda Sensomat is provided with a
warning system
for over- or underexposure, which could be caused
by either
too bright or too dim light conditions. This warning
system is incorporated in
the s hutter speed/ASA-speed dial, which
will block when attempting usage outside this safety-zone. Ex-
tension
of this range can be obtained by changing the ASA-speed
dial,
but is not advisable when color film is loaded in the camera.
The table
on the next page shows the exact range within which
good results can be obtained.