VOIGTLANDER BESSA-R2A User manual

BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES
MANUALE DI ISTRUZIONI
ARAE
P [77
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.
26

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
(7) Film Counter
(8) Main Switch
(9) Neck Strap Eyelet
(10) Lens Release Button
(11) Accessory Shoe
(12) Frame Selector Lever
(13) Film Rewind Shaft
(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
27

Synchro Contact
Finder Frame
Viewfinder
AE Lock Button
Tripod Socket
Battery Chamber Lid
Film Guide Rails
Rewind Fork
Film Cartridge Chamber
Film Pressure Plate
Film Cartridge Confirmation Window
Back Door
Winder Coupler
Film Rewind Button
Film Take-up Spool
Film Sprockets
28

Attaching the neck strap
Attach the neck strap to t
he camera as illustrated below.
29
Be sure the protective end
of the strap is on the
inside.

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(10)
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.
30

Inserting Batteries
1. Turn the Battery Chamber Lid(26) counter
clockwise using a coin or screwdriver blade. Jaan
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.
31

Battery Check
1
2.
3
4.
®
. Turn the Main Switch(8) to the ON position.
Wind the Film Advance Lever(6)
. Set the Shutter Speed Ring(2) to any position
except the "B"(bulb) position.
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
power. Prepare a new set of batteries.
oaded incorrectly.
OFF
on the bottom of the Viewfinder, then battery condition is sa
isfactory.
f 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
f no LED is lit, then the batteries need to be replaced or have been
@
The
LEDs
will
remain
on
for
about
8
seconds
after
you
stop
pressing
the
No
Shutter Release Button.
OFF position while the camera is not in use.
32
e: In order to avoid battery consumption, turn the Main Switch to the

Loading Film
ne
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."
. Insert the film cartridge into the Film Cartridge
Chamber(29) so that the protruding end of the
film cartridge faces downward. Do this ina
place away from direct sunlight.
. 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).
33

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 "1". Make
sure that the Film Rewind Shaft is rotating each time the film ew
is advanced, which will tell you that the film is advancing O
properly.
@ When advancing the film, wind the Film Advance Lever slowly
and securely until the film is fully transported to the next
frame. 34
a
000000000;

Film Speed Setting
1. Film speed is indicated on the outside of the film package
or in the
2. To set the
ilm instructions.
Film speed: while lifting the Film speed Set
Ring(2), turn it until the arrow indicator on the inner ring
points to
which can
he corresponding Film speed (ASA/ISO) value
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 wi
Exposure Setting
Condition
Aperture(F value)
| not be shown in the viewfinder.
At Night,
Faster than F2
When you want shallow depth-of-field
Faster than F2
Aperture Priori
With Aperture Priority (AE) mode, the camera will
y Mode (auto exposure mode or "AE") Seaside in midsummer
Indoors in normal conditions Fl- Fa
Outdoors on a cloudy day F4- FS
Outdoors on a fine day F8- FIL
FIL- up
Mountain area with snow Fil - up
automatically select the proper shutter speed based on
the lens apertu
re 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 brigh
tness 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.)
35

GQ me
© © `œ
» Se
Shutter Speed Index(1)
perture value.
>s>&
f way, while looking
the finder, the LED di
utter speed.
If the LE
due to over exposure.
higher setting.
he LED blinks "1" slo
In
h
wo
o
at
he LED of "1" blinks
ens to a
The LED
lower setting.
will remain on
wly,
ast,
or a
Re
Re
. Turn the Main Switch to the ON position
the Shutter Speed Ring to align "A" mark at the
Turn the aperture ring on the lens to the desired
dvance the film and press the Shutter Release Button
a hrough the Viewfinder.
splay will indicate the correct
D blinks "2000" quickly, it means out of range
Turn
he aperture ring on the lens
he shutter will be released
the speed of 1 sec. to 8 secs.
it means under the range of
exposure due to low light. Turn the aperture ring on the
ease Button. If the LED goes off while composing your s
ease Button again (half way) to reactivate the meter indicator.
The LEDs will not come on if the film is not advanced.
36
w
Example: Shutter will be released at 1/125 sec.
bout 8 seconds after you stop pressing the Shutter
hot, then press the Shutter

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
BES
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 as
also the LED indication in the finder will be locked.
Example: Compensate by -1.5 steps.
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.
B7

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 171-1715
Indoors in normal conditions 1/30 - 1/60
Outdoors on a fine day 17125 - 1/250
Seaside in midsummer 1/500 - 1/2000
Mountain area with snow 1/500 - 1/2000
Fast moving subjects 1/500 - 1/2000
38

Set the
In orde
evr
Shutter Speed Ring to
r to set the Shutter S pe
Turn the Main Switch to the ON position
he desired shutter speed setting.
ed 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.
Ww
way wh
You wil
One ind
A second blinking one indica
. Turn either the aperture ring
Speed Ring to align the two
light.
@ Whent
. Adjust your focus and press
ile looking through the
see two LED indicators
icates the manually set
LE
he blinking LED converg
lit in the finder, it means you
@ Ifthel
of rang
@ Ifthe L
range d
he Shutter Release But
inder.
in the finder.
shutter speeds are o
es the proper shutter s
on the lens and/or the
Ds until they converg
es with the other lit i
ave selected the pro
ED of "2000" blinks fas
e due to over exposure.
ue to under exposure.
on in half
n.
peed.
Shutter
e into one
ndicatort, and hus only one LED is
per exposure value.
when the Shutter Speed Ring is set to 2000, it means out
ED of "1" blinks fast when the Shutter Speed Ring is set to 1, it means out of
@ The LED will remain on for about 8 seconds after you stop pressing the Shutter Release
Button or stop turning the Shutter Speed Ring.
39

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
35mm
a |
R3AL Z =
40mm
oO vn

Focusing 1
For accurate focusing, with subjects such as a en ==
group of people, a "double image" viewfinder with | N
a central focus zone will ensure that sharp images = — + inba
are easily recorded. |
To achieve this, simply turn and adjust the lens 3
3l
until the double image converges to one. u i
In focus
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.
Not in focus In focus
41

Holding Camera
i; Hold the camera in the palm of the left hand so
as to turn the lens focusing ring easily with
your left hand.
. Hold the camera body steady and place your
right index finger lightly on the shutter release
button.
. 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.
42

Rewinding the Film
1. When the roll of film ends, the advance lever will no longer
advance smoothly. Check the Film Counter(7) display. Ifthe r
Film Counter shows that the all the frames of the loaded film E)
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.
43

"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.
44