Polaroid Spectra 2 User manual

This book contains operating instructions
for the Polaroid Spectra 2 camera
(see p. 2.)The text refers to pictures
on these fold-out pages.
•Get in close to subject (p. 20)•Add foreground interest (p. 20)
16 17

•Use color in pictures (p. 20) •Keep background simple (p. 20)
14 15

•Distant background: too dark (p. 10) •Close background: good picture (p. 10)
12 13
•Flash off: facial shadows (p. 8) •Add foreground interest (p. 20)
10 11

IMPORTANT
SAFEGUARDS
As with any battery-operated equipment, observe
these basic safety precautions:
1
FOLLOW ALL OFTHESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2
CLOSELY SUPERVISE CAMERAWHEN IT IS
BEING USED BY OR NEAR CHILDREN.
3
DO NOT USE CAMERA IF IT HAS BEEN
DROPPED OR DAMAGED - UNTIL IT HAS
BEEN EXAMINED AT AN AUTHORIZED
POLAROID SERVICE CENTER.
4
TO AVOID ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARDS,
DO NOT DISASSEMBLE CAMERA. SERVICE
OR REPAIRWORK MUST BE DONE ONLY BY
AN AUTHORIZED POLAROID SERVICE
CENTER. INCORRECT REASSEMBLY CAN
CAUSE ELECTRICAL SHOCKWHEN CAMERA
IS USED AGAIN. DO NOT IMMERSE IN
WATER OR OTHER FLUIDS.
PLEASE KEEPTHESE
INSTRUCTIONS

The camera
The camera 2
The control panel 3
Using the camera Open the camera 4
Check the control panel 4
Load the film 4
Position your subject 4
Take the picture 5
To remove an empty film pack 5
Features
The autofocus system 6
The viewfinder displays 7
The programmed flash 8
The recharge indicator 8
Flash range 9
The exposure control 9
Guide to better pictures
Lens care 13
Picture care 13
Film care 13
For information and help 14
Warranty 15
Troubleshooting guide 16
Picture-taking tips 20
Camera, film specifications 21
Contents
?

4
Open the camera
Place both hands under the camera as shown. Slide the
release latch back. The camera will open automatically.
To close the camera (picture 4):When you have finished
using the camera, close it to protect the lens. Hold the
camera as shown. Slide the release latch back. Push both
sides of the cover down until it locks.
Check the
control panel
When you want the camera to be fully automatic , be sure
all the switches are in a row as shown in picture 2.
Note: When the switches are not in the automatic mode,
there is a red mark (or green symbol for the self-timer) vis-
ible on the panel.
Load the film
Use only Polaroid Spectra color film. Other Polaroid films
cannot be used with this camera.
Push the film door release
down
.The film door will open.
Hold the film pack by its edges only and slide it all the way
into the camera.
Position your
subject
You can take the most pleasing pictures of people,
both
indoors and outdoors,
when they are
3 to 5 feet (0.9m to
1.5m) away.
Indoors:
Your subject should be within the
2 to 15 foot (0.6m
to 4.6m)
flash range. For best results, your subject should
also be near a light-colored background.
Outdoors:
Your subject should be at least
2 feet (0.6m)
away
from the camera.
Using the camera
1
2
3
4
(pictures 3, 4)
(pictures 5, 6)

Using the camera 5
Take the picture
Slide your left hand through the hand strap and hold
the camera as you would a pair of binoculars.
For horizontal pictures, hold the camera as shown in
picture 7. For vertical pictures, position the camera with
the flash on top as shown in picture 8 to get the best
results.
To remove an empty
film pack
After you take the tenth picture, the picture counter
sets to zero and three chimes sound to remind you to
remove the empty film pack.
Push the film door release down to open the film door.
Pull the blue tab to remove the film pack.
When the camera contains an empty film pack:
•You wilI hear three chimes when you open the camera
•You will hear three chimes and then see a flashing zero
in the viewfinder when you press and hold the shutter
button
halfway
5
(pictures 7, 8)
(pictures 5 & 9)

6
The autofocus system
As you press the shutter button, your camera sends
sound waves - within 10 thousandths of a second - to the
central part of the scene (approximate area circled in
white, see illustration).
The sound waves are used to measure the distance to
the person or object (in the central part of the scene) that
is closest to the camera.
A built-in computer then uses this measurement to pro-
vide the correct lens setting, so be sure that:
• The sound waves must have a clear path to your subject. If
an object (candlestick, centerpiece, etc.1 prevents the
sound waves from reaching your subject, the lens will
focus on that object, and your subject will not be clear
and in focus.
•When photographing more than one person, place
everyone the same distance from the camera.
•When taking a picture through glass, turn off the auto-
focus system.
Features

Features 7
The viewfinder displays
When you have a film pack in the camera and press the
shutter button
halfway
, a display appears in the viewfinder
to help you take the best possible picture.
When you see a
number in the viewfinder
, it tells you the
distance to your subject (in feet or meters).This number
will help you follow the distance recommendations
throughout this book.
When you see a
green “good picture” symbo l, the condi-
tions are right for taking a good picture. Press the shutter
button the rest of the way.
When you see a flashing yellow “caution”symbol and hear a
warning tone
, you should correct a problem before taking
the picture.The distance reading will help you identify the
problem.When you see:
The number 1: Your subject is too close. Release the shutter
button and stand at least 2 feet (.6m) from subject.
A number from 16 to 20: Your subject is beyond the flash
range. Release the shutter button and move closer to your
subject to keep within the 2 to 15 foot (0.6m to 4.6m) flash
range.
A number from 2 to 15: The flash is off.
Slide the flash switch up to turn the flash
back on.
Note: Distance readings do not appear when your subject
is beyond 20 feet (6.2m).
The good picture symbol

8 Features
The programmed flash
Every time you take a picture, indoors or outdoors , your
camera blends light from the scene with just enough
flash to provide the right lighting for the best possible
picture.
In the sample outdoor scene, photographed without
flash (picture 10), bright sunlight has created harsh facial
shadows.
Your camera blends sunlight with just the right amount
of flash to soften shadows and reveal facial details (pic-
ture 11).
The recharge
indicator
The Polaroid Spectra features a rapid recharge flash with
recharge times usually less than a second. The green
light on the control panel will come on and the flash will
automatically begin to charge every time you:
•Load film into the camera
•Take a picture
•Press the shutter button halfway
•Open the camera
When the green light comes on, the flash is ready to fire.
The light will stay on for 20 to 30 seconds.
If you want to take a picture after the green light has
gone off, lightly press and release the shutter button to
turn the green light back on.
(pictures 10, 11)

Features 9
Flash range
Indoors: Your subject should be 2 to 15 feet (0.6m
to 4.6m) from the camera.
Outdoors: Your subject should be at least 2 feet
(0.6m) away.
The exposure control Use the picture control when you want to retake a
picture to make it lighter or darker.
When retaking a picture to make it lighter:
Slide the control all the way up (a).
When retaking a picture to make it darker:
Slide the control all the way down (b).
Any partial adjustments will not affect your exposure.
The control must be adjusted all the way in either
direction.
After you have finished taking the picture, do not forget
to return the control to the normal position (c) .
Special situations
Pictures taken of people in highly reflective beach or
snow scenes often turn out too dark. You may want to
set the control all the way up to the lighten setting (a)
before taking this type of picture.
alighten
bdarken
ccenter

10 Features
Backgrounds too dark?
If the background of a flash picture is too dark but your
subject is well illuminated (picture 12), the background is
too far away.
Moving the control to the lighten setting will not correct
this problem, so be sure the exposure control is in the
normal position.
Retake the picture, placing your subject near a background
and keeping both within the 2 to 15 foot (0.6m to 4.6m)
flash range (picture 13).
(pictures 12, 13)

13
Lens care It is important to avoid touching the lens.To remove dust
or fingerprints, breathe on the lens and wipe it gently
with a clean, soft facial tissue. Do not use silicone-treated
eyeglass tissues.
Picture care The development process takes place inside the film;
therefore, developing Spectra pictures can be stacked.
During the first 60 seconds of development, handle the
picture gently. Fanning or bending the picture will disturb
the development process.Wind can also affect develop-
ment as the picture exits the camera.You can delay eject-
ing the picture by holding the shutter button down until
you can protect the picture from the wind. Hold the devel-
oping picture by its wide white border.
Note: Keep the developing picture away from hot sur-
faces like the hood of a car.
Film care For best results, use Spectra film between 55°F (13°C) and
95°F (35°C). See film box for more details.
Guide to better pictures

14 Guide to better pictures
For information and help If you are unable to get good pictures, review this instruc-
tion book. Picture problems are often due to incorrect use
of the camera. lf you need further help, and before you
return your camera for repair, please see your dealer or
contact the nearest Polaroid office. If you write, please
explain the nature of the problem and, if possible, enclose
sample pictures. Include your return address.
U.S.A.
Polaroid Customer Care Center
201 Burlington Road
Bedford, Massachusetts 01731
Representatives available weekdays
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time:
Tel: [phone] TDD: 1-800-448-6708
México
Polaroid de México
Paseo de la Reforma No. 195
Col. Cuahtémoc
06500 Mexico, D.F.
Tel: [phone]
Canada
Polaroid Canada, Inc.
350 Carlingview Drive
Rexdale, Ontario M9W 5G6
Tel: [phone]
Toll free: 800-268-6970