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Chinon CM-4s PDF MANUAL
| AKA - The Agfa Selectronic 1 (SLR), it offered exposure metering but worked manually. Agfa had the large red button added to their versions. |
It is a basic manual exposure camera similar to any needle match except you have to match
the lights.
The link to the Ultimate
K-mount site only shows a CM-4 not the S model.
The CM-4S
has a self timer. The CM-4
does not have a self-timer. Thanks to Gene Poon for that information.
This is a K-mount body... any K-mount will work including AF lenses, as long as you can manually focus and change apertures (off aperture lock)
 |
1. Shoulder strap eyelet 2. Frame Counter 3. Shutter release button/exposure meter switch 4. Film advance lever 5. Shutter speed dial
7. Hot Shoe |
 |
8. Film rewind knob/back cover opener 9. Self-timer lever (CM-4S only) 10. Lens lock release lever 11. Aperture ring 12. Depth of field scale 13. Focusing ring |
|
14. Film chamber 15. Exposure indicator LED's/battery check lamp 16. Viewfinder eyepiece 17. Sprocket teeth 18. Take-up spool 19. Film pressure plate 20. Film chamber cover |
21. Rewind knob 22. Film guide rail 23. Film rail 24. Tripod socket 25. Shutter 26. Battery compartment cover |
Type: 35 mm SLR compact camera with LED type light measuring system.
Picture Format: 24 x 36 mm.
Lens Mount: Chinon Universal Bayonet Mount.
Mirror: Large, Quick return, shockless system.
Shutter: Seiko MFC metal focal plane shutter.
Shutter Speeds: 1 sec. -1/1000 sec., " B ".
Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism, central split image with microprism collar and ground glass.
Viewfinder Magnification: 0.87 x ((id 50 mm, 00).
Viewfinder Visibility: 92%.
Exposure Meter: TTL, Center weighted full aperture system employing one silicon blue photo cell, 3 steps exposure indicator with 3 LEDs.
Exposure Range: EV+2 (F/1.9, 1 sec.) to EV+18 (F/16, 1/1000 sec.) - ASA 100 F/1.9 lens.
Meter ON/OFF Switch: Meter switch is activated when shutter release button is pressed, meter remains on for several seconds after finger is lifted off release button.
ASA Range: 25-1600 (DIN 15-33) with safety lock.
Film Advance: Single stroke in an arc of 130° with 25° stand off.
Film Counter: Automatically indicates number of exposures and resets to " S " when camera back is opened.
Film Rewind: Folding crank type.
Accessory Shoe: Hot Shoe type with X sync.
Self-Timer: Built-in.
Synchronization: Strobe Sync. at 1/60 sec.
Power Source: Two 1.5V Alkaline batteries (LR44, A76) or two 1.5V silver oxide batteries (SR44, S76, G-13).
Battery Test: Built-in with LED indicator.
Accessories: Multi-coated lenses, Auto electronic flashes, carrying case, and many more.
Body Dimensions: 135.5 (W) x 86.0 (H) x 50.5 (D) mm. (5.33~ x 3.78~ x 1.99~).
Body Weight; 455 grams (16.05 oz).
On-line Procedure of Shooting
Installing the batteries
1. By using a coin, unlock the battery chamber cover by turning it counterclockwise (Fig. 1).
2. Place two 1.5V Alkaline batteries (LR44, A76) or two 1.5V silver oxide batteries (SR44, S76, G-13) with the minus bump ( - ) side touching the battery cap (Fig. 2).
3. Replace the battery chamber cover by turning fully clockwise (Fig. 3).
Test the batteries when;
- a new battery is installed
- the camera has not been used for a long period of time
- the camera is being used continuously for many hours.
To test the batteries, press the shutter release button slightly. If the batteries are in good condition, one of three LED's located at the left side of the viewfinder frame will illuminate (Fig. 4).
If a LED fails to illuminate, the batteries are too weak and need to be replaced, they are incorrectly inserted, or the speed selector is set
to " B " position.
FILM LOADING
Your Chinon CM-4s camera can be used with any kind of 35mm film.
2. Then, insert a film cartridge into the film chamber with the protruding end facing the bottom of the camera (Fig. 6).
3. Push in the film rewind knob and slightly turn the knob in either direction until it catches the film cartridge spool.
4. Insert the trimmed end of the film into a slot of the multi-slotted take-up spool.
5. Turn the shutter speed selector to any setting and advance the film while holding the film lightly down on to the transport.
6. Release the shutter if necessary and advance the film until the sprockets engage with the upper and lower perforations of the film (Fig. 7).
7. Close the camera back firmly until it locks with a click.
8. Turn the film rewind knob gently until the film slack is taken up and the rewind knob stops turning freely.
9. Do not force or further rewind the film.
10. Advance the film and release the shutter three times (Fig. 8).
(Webmaster - this rewind knob will continue to slowly turn as the camera is advanced each picture ensuring the film is correctly loaded. This is the ONLY way to determine if the film is going thought the camera. To determine IF you HAVE film in the camera before you open the back, turn the rewind knob COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. After a half or full turn any camera with film in it will refuse to turn)
USING THE MEMO HOLDER
The Chinon CM-4s compact SLR camera has a built-in memo holder feature.
To utilize the memo holder feature, simply cut off the top of the film box and insert it into the memo holder located on the back cover of your camera. This will enable you to quickly and easily identify the type of film and ASA speed used in the camera. Your calling card can also be inserted in the memo holder (Fig. 10).
FRAME COUNTER
Your Chinon CM-4s is equipped with a frame counter which displays the number of exposures made and resets automatically upon opening the camera
back. When the camera back is opened the counter shows " S " indicating the start of the picture taking process. When a film is loaded according
to the procedure previously described, the counter displays " 1 " indicating that the camera is ready for the first exposure.
ADVANCING THE FILM
Every time the film advance lever is turned the counter will proceed one stop forward. The number 24 and 36 are colored in orange to warn the end of commonly available films (Fig. 11).
Make sure the film has been loaded properly. Operate the film advance lever through a full stroke. When the film end is reached the film advance lever may stop before the lever is fully turned. Do not force the lever. Stop winding at once and rewind the film. Refer to "Unloading Exposed Film".
ASA / DIN SETTING
The ASA/DIN speed of the film is specified on the box or in the instruction sheet packed with the film. Set the ASA/DIN speed by lifting up and rotating the shutter speed dial to be appeared in the film speed window. Be sure to check the ASA number whenever you put new film into the camera (Fig. 12).
SHUTTER SPEED SETTING
Rotate the shutter speed dial to the left or right to select a suitable shutter speed from the band
of "B", 1 to 1/1000 sec. (Fig. 13).
The aperture is set in the usual way by rotating the lens diaphragm ring until the desired F stop is set against the green index mark on the lens barrel. For further explanation see " Determining Correct Exposure"
(Fig. 14 & 15).
* F stop Selection: The following may be used as a guide to determine the lens F stop when you are using the camera;
Sunny day outside: F/8 - F/16
Cloudy day outside: F/4 - F/5 ~
Inside (without flash): F/1.9 - F/2.8
FOCUSING
Your Chinon CM-4s has three built-in focusing aids.
The center of the viewfinder is the split image with microprism collar which is surrounded by ground glass. When the camera is in focus, the image
of these focusing aids become sharpest. While observing the subject through the viewfinder, turn the lens focus ring until the upper and lower split image match up to form a uniform image (Fig. 16).
This split image focusing is particularly helpful when the subject is dominated by vertical lines. The microprism is also helpful. When it is out of focus, the image on the microprism will be composed of collection of asterisks (Fig. 17).
These sparkling asterisks will disappear when the focus is properly set. You can double check the focus setting by the image
on the ground glass. You can also focus indirectly. Actually measure
or estimate the distance to the subject and set the lens focus ring to the appropriate setting (Fig. 18).
DETERMINING CORRECT EXPOSURE
Your Chinon CM-4s camera has a through The Lens (TTL) exposure metering system. Also called an open aperture measuring system. To determine the correct exposure, operate the film advance lever, observing the subject through the viewfinder in the center of microprism area. Depress the shutter release button until the exposure indicator lamp (LED) located on the left side of the viewfinder frame illuminates (Fig. 19).
Should the green lamp (LED) not illuminate, you must turn either the shutter speed dial or the lens aperture ring until the green lamp illuminates. By doing so, you will be assured of a correct exposure.
* The Exposure Indicator:
A: is overexposed - either close the aperture or change to a faster shutter speed
B: is properly exposed (correct)
C: is under exposed - either open the aperture or change to a slower shutter speed but do not go below 1/60 of a second unless on a
tripod. (webmaster) Only if you have a very steady hand or hold the camera on or against something solid you can try to shoot
with a 50, 35 or 28mm lens down to 1/15 of a second. Remember, with a flash, ignore the exposure meter use the setting the flash requires)
Your Chinon CM-4s camera has three exposure indicator lamps (LED) located at the left side of the viewfinder frame. These three lamps control the condition of exposure of the camera. The conditions of exposure can be confirmed in the following three ways;
When rotating the shutter speed dial or the lens aperture ring, you must operate them slowly since the exposure indicator lamps are very sensitive. Generally you should select a shutter speed first then operate the lens aperture ring until the proper exposure is obtained. A tripod should be used for shutter speeds longer than 1/30 sec.
UNLOADING EXPOSED FILM
When the film in the camera is fully exposed, the film advance lever will stop. Do not attempt to force the lever any further. Rewind the film and replace with a new film. Push in the rewind button at the bottom of the camera (Fig. 20).
Unfold the rewind crank of the rewind knob and turn the rewind crank clockwise (Fig. 21). You will feel friction as the film is rewound. Suddenly, when the film is rewound completely, the friction decreases and the rewind crank will turn with ease. Pull up the rewind knob to open the camera back (Fig. 22). When the camera back is opened, the frame counter will automatically reset to the " S " position.
The rewind button on the bottom of the camera will pop out upon the next advancement of the film advance lever.
Your exposed film should be processed without delay.
CONVENIENT FEATURES
Interchangeable lenses
Your Chinon CM-4s camera is equipped with a Chinon bayonet mount which accepts all interchangeable lenses with the universal bayonet mount.
To remove the lens from the camera body, depress and hold the lens lock release lever on the camera body, turn the lens counterclockwise as far
as it will go, and lift it up from the body (Fig. 23).
To attach the lens, match the red dot on the camera body with red dot on the lens (Fig. 24). Then insert the lens into the camera body and turn it clockwise until the lens locks with a click.
It is advisable to use a flash when the exposure indicators detect that the light level is too low, such as indoors, at night time, or in daylight when the subject is too dark to provide adequate exposure.
Electronic flash units as well as conventional flash units using flash bulbs may be utilized. Your CM-4s has a hot shoe (Accessory shoe with built-in flash contact) for "X" synchronization (Fig. 25).
Electronic flash units having a foot with built-in contact may be used without connection cord. As the hot shoe has "X" type synchronization it can be used with electronic flash at 1/60 sec. or at slower shutter speeds (Fig. 26).
The lens aperture is determined by the calculation table indicated on the flash unit. Specially designed and developed automatic flash units are available for your Chinon
CM-4s as optional accessories. This highly advanced electronic flash system permits carefree flash photography for you. Look at the following
fantastic flash units by Chinon;