VOIGTLANDER BESSA-R2A User manual

BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES
MANUALE D1 ISTRUZIONI
Seit 1756
BESSA-R2A
BESSA-R3A

Congratulations on your selection of Bessa camera. This is a
compact and lightweight rangefinder camera with VM lens
mount.
Quick and accurate focusing is possible; turn the focusing ring
until the doubled images seen at the finder's center converge
to a single image.
Utilizing Auto and Manual exposure metering systems the
camera is equipped with, you can easily get the proper
exposure. You will be aided by LED indicators displayed in the
viewfinder.
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Description of Parts
(1) Shutter Speed Index
(2) Shutter Speed ISO/ Film Speed Ring
(3) AE Release Button
(4) Film Speed Window
(5) Shutter Release Button
( 6 ) Film Advance Lever I —
(7) Film Counter 3 -
( 8 ) Main Switch 5-
(9) Neck Strap Eyelet
(10) Lens Release Button 7 —
(11) Accessory Shoe
(12) Frame Selector Lever 9 —
(13) Film Rewind Shaft io_
(14) Film Rewind Crank
(15) Film Rewind Knob
(16) Backdoor Lock Lever
'17) Rangefinder Window
18) Bright-line Frame Illumination Window
19) Viewfinder Window
20) VM Lens Mount
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(21) Synchro Contact
(22) Finder Frame
(23) Viewfinder
(24) AE Lock Button
(25) Tripod Socket
(26) Battery Chamber Lid
(27) Film Guide Rails
(28) Rewind Fork
(29) Film Cartridge Chamber
(30) Film Pressure Plate
(31) Film Cartridge Confirmation Window
(32) Back Door
(33) Winder Coupler
(34) Film Rewind Button
(35) Film Take-up Spool
(36) Film Sprockets

Attaching the neck strap
Attach the neck strap to the camera as illustrated below.
Be sure the protective end
of the strap is on the
inside.
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Mounting/Removing Lens
•M (Bayonet) Mount lens
1. To mount the lens, match the red mark on the camera body
with the red mark on the lens barrel, then Insert the lens In
the camera body and turn the lens clockwise until it clicks.
2. To remove the lens from the camera body, press the Lens
Release Button(lO) and turn the lens all the way
counterclockwise, then lift it straight out of the mount.
• L Mount lens
1. Mount M-Bayonet Adapter Ring (available separately) on the
camera body.
*Any one of three types of M-Bayonet Adapter Ring can be
used.
*Refer to the instruction manual for M-Bayonet Adapter Ring
to mount it on the camera body.
2. Align the lens mount screw with that of the M-Bayonet
Adapter Ring, then turn the lens clockwise,
*Pay attention not to over tighten the lens to the body.
3. To remove the lens from the camera, press the Lens Release
Button and turn the lens counterclockwise,
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Inserting Batteries
1. Turn the Battery Chamber Lid{26) counter
clockwise using a coin or screwdriver blade.
2. Two LR44 type alkaline or two SR44 type silver
batteries may be used to power the camera.
3. Place the batteries so that both positive + sides
are toward the bottom of the battery chamber.
4. Turn the Battery Chamber Lid(26) clockwise
until it closes firmly.
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Battery Check
1. Turn the Main Switch(8) to the ON position.
2. Wind the Film Advance Lever(6)
3. Set the Shutter Speed Ring(2) to any position
except the "B"(bulb) position.
4. Lightly press the Shutter Release Button(5) half
way while looking thorough the View Finder(23).
• If you can see one or two LEDs lit or blinking
on the bottom of the Viewfinder, then battery condition is satisfactory.
• If both "2000" and "1" LEDs are blinking slowly in addition to one or two
of the LEDs mentioned above, then the batteries are running out of
power. Prepare a new set of batteries.
• If no LED is lit, then the batteries need to be replaced or have been
loaded incorrectly.
• The LEDs will remain on for about 8 seconds after you stop pressing the
Shutter Release Button.
Note: In order to avoid battery consumption, turn the Main Switch to the
OFF position while the camera is not in use.
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Loading Film
1. To open the back Door(32), unfold and lift the
Film Rewind Crank(14) up, then pull the Film
Rewind Knob(15) up while holding the Backdoor
Lock Lever(16) in the release position.
When the Back Door is opened, the Film
Counter(7) will automatically reset to "S."
2. Insert the film cartridge into the Film Cartridge
Chamber(29) so that the protruding end of the
film cartridge faces downward. Do this in a
place away from direct sunlight.
3. Rotate the Film Rewind Crank carefully while
pushing down lightly on the Film Rewind Knob,
until the film locks on the Film Rewind Fork(28).
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4. Insert the film leader into the grooves of the Film Take-up
Spool(35)and place it so that the spool teeth engage the film
edge perforations,
5. Check that the film perforations are properly engaged by the
teeth of the Film Sprockets(36} and that the film slides
smoothly along the Film Guide Rails(27) while turning the
Film Advance Lever(6) lightly in order to advance the film,
Caution; Do not touch the shutter curtains,
6. Gently close the Back Door and push it until it clicks and
locks shut,
7. Remove slack by turning the Film Rewind Crank(14) gently in
the direction of the arrow until the loaded film is properly
tensioned. Stop turning the crank when it is tight, and then
return the crank to its original closed position.
8. Advance the film a couple of frames, by depressing the
shutter release button a few times and operating the Film
Advance Lever until the Film Counter(7) indicates "I", Make
sure that the Film Rewind Shaft is rotating each time the film
is advanced, which will tell you that the film is advancing
properly.
# When advancing the film, wind the Film Advance Lever slowly
and securely until the film is fully transported to the next
frame.
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Film Speed Setting
1. Film speed is indicated on the outside of the film package
or in the film instructions.
2. To set the Film speed: while lifting the Film speed Set
Rlng(2), turn it until the arrow indicator on the inner ring
points to the corresponding Film speed (ASA/ISO) value
which can be seen through the Film speed Window(4).
Caution; Make sure to set film speed exactly at the
detent, not in between, otherwise proper shutter
speeds will not be shown in the viewfinder,
Exposure Setting
Aperture Priority Mode (auto exposure mode or "AE")
With Aperture Priority (AE) mode, the camera will
automatically select the proper shutter speed based on
the lens aperture value and brightness of the subject,
You may select lens aperture value with consideration of the film speed, the depth-of-field you
want, the brightness of the subject, -etc.
Recommended aperture value with ISO 100/21° film under typical situations as shown on the list.
(Shutter speed corresponds from 1/2000 to 8 sec.)
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1 .
2 .
3.
4.
Turn the Main Switch to the ON position
Set the Shutter Speed Ring to align "A" mark at the
Shutter Speed Index(l),
Turn the aperture ring on the lens to the desired
aperture value.
Advance the film and press the Shutter Release Button
half way, while looking through the Viewfinder,
In the finder, the LED display will indicate the correct
shutter speed.
If the LED blinks "2000" quickly, it means out of range
due to over exposure. Turn the aperture ring on the lens
to higher setting.
If the LED blinks "1" slowly, the shutter will be released
at the speed of 1 sec. to 8 secs.
If the LED of "1" blinks fast, it means under the range of
exposure due to low light. Turn the aperture ring on the
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Example: Shutter will be released at 1/125 sec,
lens to a lower setting.
The LED will remain on for about 8 seconds after you stop pressing the Shutter
Release Button. If the LED goes off while composing your shot, then press the Shutter
Release Button again {half way) to reactivate the meter indicator.
The LEDs will not come on if the film is not advanced.
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Exposure Compensation
You can also use the Exposure Compensation mode to use a different exposure value
than the one that aperture priority has determined automatically,
You can change the value to both brighter (+ compensation) or darker ( ■ compensation),
The amount you can compensate for is +/ ■ 2 steps, by 1/2 step increments.
Set the "A" indicator on the Shutter Speed dial to the desired value of compensation.
When active, the Exposure Compensation Mode, the indicator LED of the compensated
shutter speed will blink slowly,
AE Lock function
Use the AE lock function with Aperture Priority mode or Exposure Compensation mode.
The exposure value at the moment when AE Lock Button is pressed will be stored and
also the LED indication in the finder will be locked.
1. Place the camera near enough to the subject to have the image centered in the middle of the finder,
2. Press the Shutter Release Button in a half way and check the LED indicator in the finder. Then press the AE Lock Button
(24) and reframe your composition,
# Exposure value will be locked while the AE Lock Button is pressed and held,
# Exposure value will be released when you stop pressing the AE Lock Button,
3. Create your composition and release the shutter,
# The LEDs will remain on about 8 seconds after you stop pressing either the Shutter Release Button or the AE Lock Button,
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Example; Compensate by -1.5 steps,

Exposure Setting
Manual Exposure
Recommended shutter speeds with ISO 100/21“ film under
typical conditions as shown on the list.
# Indications on the Shutter Speed Ring
"2000" means 1/2000 sec.
"1" means 1 sec.
"B" means Bulb
• With brighter and/or fast moving subjects, it is
recommended to use higher shutter speeds.
Condition
Shutter speed(sec.)
Stationary subject in subdued light
1/1 - 1/15
Indoors in normal conditions
1/30 - 1/60
Outdoors on a tine day
1/125 • 1/250
Seaside in midsummer
1/500 ■ 1 /2000
Mountain area with snow
1/500 ■ 1/2000
Fast moving subjects
1/500 ■ 1/2000
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1. Turn the Main Switch to the ON position
2. Set the Shutter Speed Ring to the desired shutter speed setting.
# In order to set the Shutter Speed Ring to any of the manual
shutter speed indicators (1/2000 - B) from Auto Exposure mode
or Exposure Compensation mode, press the AE Release Button(3)
and turn the Shutter Speed Ring as appropriate.
3. Adjust your focus and press the Shutter Release Button in half
way while looking through the finder.
# You wiil see two LED indicators in the finder.
One indicates the manually set shutter speeds are on.
A second blinking one indicates the proper shutter speed,
4. Turn either the aperture ring on the lens and/or the Shutter
Speed Ring to align the two LEDs until they converge into one
light.
# When the blinking LED converges with the other lit indicatort, and thus only one LED is
lit in the finder, it means you have selected the proper exposure value.
# If the LED of "2000" blinks fast when the Shutter Speed Ring is set to 2000, it means out
of range due to over exposure,
# If the LED of "1" biinks fast when the Shutter Speed Ring is set to 1, it means out of
range due to under exposure.
# The LED will remain on for about 8 seconds after you stop pressing the Shutter Release
Button or stop turning the Shutter Speed Ring.
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Selecting Frame
Turn the Frame Selector Lever{12) and the frame illustrated below will be shown in the
finder. The frame shows the range to be included when used with the lens indicated,
Select the frame pattern according to the focal length of the lens you have mounted on
the camera.
Additionally, the parallax is automatically corrected according to the combination of your
shooting distance and the lens selected.
R2A
R3A
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Focusing 1
For accurate focusing, with subjects such as a
group of people, a "double image" viewfinder with
a central focus zone will ensure that sharp images
are easily recorded.
To achieve this, simply turn and adjust the lens
until the double image converges to one,
Focusing 2
For accurate focusing of architectural or technical
subjects with vertical lines, use the "Split image"
focusing option. To achieve this, simply turn and
adjust the lens so that the lines join together.
* When focusing, make sure to put your eye in the
middle of the Viewfinder.
In focus
Not in focus In focus
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Holding Camera
1. Hold the camera in the palm of the left hand so
as to turn the lens focusing ring easily with
your left hand.
2. Hold the camera body steady and place your
right index finger lightly on the shutter release
button.
3. Press your left elbow lightly against your body
and then look through the rangefinder eyepiece
to steady the camera against your face. Then
relax your right arm holding the camera.
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Rewinding the Film
1. When the roll of film ends, the advance lever will no longer
advance smoothly, Check the Film Counter(7) display. If the
Film Counter shows that the all the frames of the loaded film
have been exposed, then the film needs to be rewound.
2. Press the Film Rewind Button (34)on the bottom of the
camera.
3. Unfold the Film Rewind Crank(14) and turn it in the direction
of the arrow,
4. Once the winding tension eases, the film is completely
wound into the cartridge and it is ready to be removed.,
5. Pull up the Film Rewind Knob while keeping the Back Door
Lock Lever toward the rear in order to open the Back Door
and take out the film,
6. Remove the film cartridge in a place away from direct
sunlight.
Note: If the film reaches the end of the roll during film advance, the film advance lever
will lock. Rewind the entire roll, then complete the movement of the film advance lever
after removing the cartridge which will reset it.
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"B"(bulb) setting
1. With the Shutter Speed Ring(2) set at "B"
position, the shutter will remain open for as
long as the Shutter Release Button(5) is held
down.
2. This setting is useful when a longer exposure
than one second is required, such as in
photography at night.
3. Be sure to use a tripod and/or cable release
when using long shutter times to avoid camera
movement.
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