Polaroid MiniPortrait 203 User manual

1
Troubleshooting
Guide
PolaroidMiniportrait
Model 203 and Model 403
July1996
Polaroid Corporation
Customer Care Center
Technical Documentation
201 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730

2
Contents
Page
How to troubleshoot.................... 3
•Black Pictures..................................... 3
•Dark Pictures...................................... 5
•Light pictures...................................... 7
•Yellowish/reddish spots in picture...... 9
•Timer Inoperative................................11
•Flash doesn’t fire................................13
•Camera inoperative............................15
TheBankProgram.....................17

3
How to troubleshoot
BLACK PICTURES
Complaint:Black
pictures
Does flash fire? Refer to "Flash Does Not Fire", Pgs. 12
and 13
Are lens caps
removed? Remove lens caps
Return camera for
repair
No
No
Yes
Yes
1
3
4
Is flash set
for 80?
Is film dark
slide removed? Remove dark slide
Set flash for 80
(not 3000)
2
No
Yes
No
5
Yes

4
EXPLANATION:
1If the flash doesn’t fire in situations where there is very low light,
the picture may be black (underexposed with no discernible
image).
2If the film’s dark slide is not removed prior to taking the picture,
light cannot expose the negative.
3If lens caps are not removed, light can not travel through the lens
to expose the negative.
4If the flash is set for 3000 (black & white) instead of 80 (color),
light output is reduced and the picture may be dark..
5If 1 - 4 above did not cause the problem, the camera is defective
and should be returned for repair. The shutter may be faulty (not
opening).

5
How to troubleshoot
DARK PICTURES
Complaint: Dark
Pictures
Is flash set for
100/80? Reset the camera
No
Is flash facing
subject? Rotate strobe head to face the subject
No
Yes
Is f-stop
setting below
f16?
Set f-stop between
f11 and f16
No
Yes
Is flash firing?
Yes
No Refer to "Flash Does
Not Fire"
Return camera for
repair
Yes
1
5
4
3
2

6
EXPLANATION:
1If the flash is set for 3000 (B & W film) instead of 80 (color film),
the flash will not provide enough light to properly expose the
picture.
2If the flash reflector is tilted upward, not enough light will reach
the subject.
3If the aperture is too small, not enough light will reach the
negative during exposure. To increase aperture size, lower the
f-stop number.
4If the flash does not fire, the ambient room lighting will be
insufficient for proper exposure.
5If 1 - 4 above did not cause the problem, the camera is probably
defective and should be returned for repair.

7
How to troubleshoot
LIGHT PICTURES
Complaint: light
pictures
Decrease f-stop
(higher number) Is picture still to light?
Try another film pack Is picture still
too light?
Check portrait head
size
Is head
size too large
and blurry?
Return camera for
repair
Yes
Yes
Film was fogged
No
Aperture opening was
too large
No
1
4
3
2
Camera was too close
to subject
Yes
No

8
EXPLANATION:
1If the picture is too light (overexposed), first try reducing the
aperture size by going to a higher f-stop number. This will allow
less light to reach the negative during exposure resulting in a
darker picture.
2If the picture is still too light, the film may be fogged. Try another
film pack.
3If the problem persists, check to make sure the camera is not too
close to the subject. When the camera is too close, the subject’s
head size will be enlarged and slightly blurry, or out of focus.
4If the problem is not caused by 1 - 4 above, the camera is
probably defective and should be returned for repair. The shutter
may be faulty.

9
How to troubleshoot
YELLOWISH/REDDISH SPOTS IN PICTURE
Complaint:
yellowish/reddish
spots in picture
Are spots
repetitive?
rollers Does problem continue?
Replace the camera's
rollers
Film or operator
problem
1
3
2
Yes
No
Yes

10
EXPLANATION:
1The operator may have handled the film during development.
Never squeeze or bend the film while it is developing. Allow it to
develop undisturbed on a flat surface.
2If the spots are repetitive through all pictures in the pack, the
rollers are dirty. To clean the rollers, first open the film holder -
take care not to dislodge the film pack. Then remove the roller
assembly and clean both rollers with a water-dampened soft, lint-
free cloth. Rotate both rollers during cleaning.
3If the spots are repetitive and cleaning doesn’t solve the problem,
the rollers probably have a burr, or scratch, and should be
replaced.