Konica Autoreflex TC
Second Section

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METER RANGE

All exposure meters are designed to operate over a certain range of film and shutter speeds. Your Konica Autoreflex TC's meter is actually sensitive enough to allow operation both in dimly-lit interiors and in outdoor situations where brightness is more than 12,000 times greater from 1/8 sec. at f/1.7 to 1/l000th sec. at f/16, using ASA 100 film.

With films faster than ASA 200, the slower shutter speeds are not usable in automatic exposure photography. Here, your camera prevents exposure errors by automatically turning the exposure meter off if the shutter speed selected is too slow for AE operation. When this occurs, the Meter Needle (48) moves into the red Under-exposure band (47), to show that the shutter speed is beyond the meter's EV range. Solution: turn the Shutter Speed Dial (20) to a faster speed, until the Meter Needle moves into the white area in the viewfinder. (If Needle will not move into the White area at any speed, flash photography must be used-see p. 29-30.)

Exposure Meter Range of Konica TC:

ASA 25 - 200 -1/8 sec. to 1/1000
ASA 250 - 400 - 1/5 sec. to 1/1000
ASA 500 - 800 - 1/30 sec. to 1/1000
ASA 1000 - 1600 - 1/60 to 1/1000

HINTS FOR UNUSUAL EXPOSURE SITUATIONS
A unique and most valuable feature of your Konica Autoreflex TC camera is the built-in exposure "Memory" lock... an easy-to-use control that "holds" a meter reading (and exposure setting) to insure correct exposure even in unusual lighting conditions.4.butkus.org

Backlit Subjects:
See how the sun is shining towards the camera in the illustration at the right? Chances are, the subject will have a much more natural expression than she would if she had to stare into the sun...but as a result, her face is much darker than the rest of the scene as seen by the camera. Solution: walk up to the subject hold the camera dose to the most important part (her face), press the shutter release halfway down...and you've 'frozen" the meter needle at the correct position. Holding the release button in place, step back, focus, and shoot: the exposure is actually taken at the aperture indicated when you first depressed the release, as shown within your Konica's viewfinder.

Extremely Dark Backgrounds:
In the illustration at left, a relatively light subject is being photographed against a very dark background. Here again, taking a "close-up" reading, holding or locking that reading, then going back to the desired position and taking the picture, will automatically provide a professional close-up exposure reading and a perfectly-exposed picture. As soon as you release the shutter button, the meter resumes continuous operation...so there's nothing to set or re-set.

Sometimes, of course, it's not possible to approach your subject for a close-up reading as outlined above. A very practical alternative is to memorize' the exposure setting by aiming the camera at your hand, then raising the camera to your eye and taking the picture. As your hand almost certainly reflects a similar amount of right to the subject's face, your exposure will in almost all instances be excellent! Try this "professional" technique when it's impossible to come close to your subject for an exposure reading, and the subject is much brighter - or darker - than the rest of the scene.

SHUTTER SPEEDS AND LENS OPENINGS

* In most cases, it is of more importance to take the picture at a specific shutter speed than at a particular lens opening. Almost all subjects are likely to move to some extent during the exposure, and all photographers tend to move the camera slightly when taking a photograph. By selecting a shutter speed fast enough to overcome subject and camera motion, you are assured of obtaining a sharp, clear picture.

* Should you prefer to take the picture at a specific lens opening to obtain more or less depth-of-field (see p. 26), this may easily be done while in "Automatic" (AK) mode. Just look through the viewfinder and rotate the Shutter Speed Dial (20) until the desired lens aperture is indicated by the Meter Needle (48) ... and take the picture! Your photograph will be correctly exposed, automatically, at the lens aperture indicated in the viewfinder.

Alternatively, it is possible to note the lens opening indicated by the Meter Needle, then manually set the Aperture Ring of the Lens to this position. However, there is no practical advantage in doing this: operation is faster and exposure accuracy is greater when the aperture is set by the automatic exposure mechanism.

Like your eye, your camera lens has an iris, generally called the diaphragm. Open it up, and it admits more light; close it down, it admits less. The amount of light is indicated by f/stops (also known as "apertures"): f/2.8 admits half as much light as f/2; f/4 admits one-quarter as much as f/2, and so on.

MANUAL EXPOSURE OPERATION

Manual exposure settings are used primarily in flash photography (p. 29 30), and to obtain intentional under or over-exposure--for example, to create a 'silhouette' effect by deliberately under-exposing the subject. It's easy:

1) Set Shutter Speed Dial (20) to desired speed.

2) Press AE Release Button (13) on lens and set lens Aperture Control Ring (12) to desired f/stop.4.butkus.org

3) Move Film Transport Lever (14) to "Ready" position (so that Red Dot on camera top is visible).

4) Frame, focus...and take the picture. Your photograph will be exposed at the shutter speed and lens opening you have selected.

* In Manual operation, the Meter Needle (48) continues to show the recommended lens opening. Thus, if the recommended lens opening is f/8 and you wish to obtain a silhouette effect, set Aperture Ring to f/16 to under-expose by two f/stops. In manual operation, the picture will always be exposed at the settings you hay" made.

When the Aperture Ring of your lens is set manually, a Red - Signal Mark appears at the left side of the viewfinder. This Signal also functions when using non-automatic lenses or accessories, to remind you that the exposure must be set manually. .

OPERATION WITH UNCOUPLED LENSES/ACCESSORIES
Your Konica's through-the-lens metering system works perfectly even with non-automatic lenses and accessories, which do not couple to the camera's automatic exposure mechanism. (Example: Pre-set lenses, mirror lenses, lenses from other cameras used with Konica adapters, even extension rings or bellows.) Here's how to use your Autoreflex TC m these situations:

1. Set the Film Speed.
2. Select the Shutter Speed.
3. Align the Indicator Needle.

Open up (or close down) the lens aperture until the Meter Indicator Needle (48) limes up with the Stop-down Metering Index Mark (46). (If preferred, you can also do this by changing the shutter speed instead of the lens aperture.)

4. Take the Picture!
Remember...this stop-down metering procedure is not needed (and in fact is not possible) with Konica Automatic lenses mounted on the camera body. Stop down metering is used only for uncoupled lenses or accessories.

OPERATION WITH UNCOUPLED LENSES/ACCESSORIES: REMINDERS

When using the stop-down metering system with uncoupled lenses or accessories, keep in mind that the f/stop scale in the viewfinder no longer applies; neither do the under or over-exposure warning bands. If the needle's above the Index Mark (46) as shown (above, left) there's not enough light; if it's below this mark (above, right) there's too much light. Solution: change lens aperture and/or shutter speed until the needle lines up with the Index Mark.

In full-aperture metering with Konica Automatic lenses stray light which may enter the eyepiece and reach the meter cells has virtually no effect on exposures. In stop-down metering with uncoupled lenses or accessories, however, such light can have the effect of incorrectly influencing the meter's reading. Whenever you're using the stop-down metering system, be sure to place your eye as close as possible to the eyepiece, to prevent stray light from entering. (A Konica Rubber Eyecup, available from your dealer, helps here.)

Using Preset Lenses.....

Lenses of this type do not automatically close down to the desired aperture; you turn the aperture control ring by hand to select the desired f/stop. Still, you can speed up operation considerably by setting both control rings of these lenses to the smallest f/stop (f/22 in the example shown above), then turning them together until the meter needle lines up with the Index Mark in the viewfinder. As soon as it lines up, you're ready to shoot...

DEPTH-OF-FIELD CONTROL

Depth-of-Field is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in the scene that will be sharp in the finished picture. In practical terms this means that when you bring an object into sharp focus, objects behind and in front of this will be rendered more or less sharply as well. For more Depth-of-Field, use a smaller f/stop (for example, f/ I 1 instead of f/5.6). For less Depth-of-Field, use a larger f/stop (for example, f/4.0 instead of f/8).4.butkus.org

Using Depth-of-Field Scale on Lens:
On the Depth-of-Field Scale, f/stop markings identical to those on the Manual Aperture Scale (9), are repeated to the right and left of the Distance/Aperture Scale Index Mark (7). The Depth-of-Field for any focused distance will be found between any two identical f/stop markings on the Depth-of-Field Scale. Thus, if the lens is focused at 15 feet and the picture is to be made at f/16, referring to f/16 on both sides of the scale tells us that the Depth-of-Field extends from Infinity to about 8 feet. For maximum Depth-of-Field, including Infinity, set the Infinity mark to the f/stop in use, on the right hand side of the scale.

Infrared Film Index Mark: Infrared rays come to a different focus than visible light rays. When shooting infrared film with the appropriate filter, focus as usual. Then bring the distance figure opposite the Distance Scale Index Mark (7) into line with the Infrared Film Index Mark (51).

FILM REWIND AND UNLOADING

After all the pictures on the roll have been taken, the film is rewound into the cassette prior to removal for processing.

An occasional look at the Film Counter (2) will help you keep posted as to when you are coming to the end of the roll and prevent your accidentally tearing the film out of the cassette If you should come to the end of the film while moving the Transport Lever, the Transport Lever (14) will tighten and refuse to advance even if the shutter has been released. If this happens do not force it! Instead, depress the Film Rewind Button (39) and at the same time move the Film Transport Lever as far as it will go. It will then snap back into its normal position. Then, just ....

1. Depress the Film Rewind Button (39). Once it is depressed, the button remains in place.

2. Lift up the Film Rewind Crank (21) and turn it clockwise at moderate speed in a continuous motion. An arrow on the Rewind Crank indicates correct direction.

3. When tension on the Film Rewind Crank eases, the film has been fully rewound. You can now open the camera back and remove the cassette by tipping it towards yourself and letting it drop out of the bottom opening.

The Film Rewind Button returns to its original position once the Film Transport Lever is again actuated. In addition, the Film Counter automatically resets itself to "S" (Start) as soon as the back was opened ... so you're ready to load your next roll right away!4.butkus.org

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY

Your Konica Autoreflex TC camera has several features which make flash photography easy.
* With electronic flash, set Shutter Speed Dial (20) to 1/125th second. This shutter speed prevents annoying 'ghost' images (and possible color shifts) which may be encountered at slower shutter speeds.
* For maximum convenience, a "Hot" accessory shoe is built-in to your TC. Simply slide in any "Hot Shoe" flash...no cords to connect.
* If your flash unit does not have a "Hot Shoe", or if you prefer to use a separate flash bracket, plug the flash cord into the Flash Cord Terminal (23).
* In flash photography, the built-in exposure meter is not used.

With KONICA X-20 or Other Manual Flash

Unit, Set calculator dial of Flash to correct ASA film speed. Your flash dial will now indicate the correct lens openings for various distances. Focus, and set lens Aperture Control Ring (12) to the aperture indicated by your flash for the actual camera-to-subject distance, as shown by your lens' Distance Scale (8). All photographs taken at this flash-to-subject distance will be properly exposed.

With KONICAX-28 or Other Automatic Flash
Units, Set calculator dial of flash to correct ASA film speed. Your flash dial will now indicate the correct lens opening for photography at a wide range of distances.

Set lens Aperture Control Ring (12) to the aperture indicated by your flash dial. You can now take pictures at any distance within the range indicated by your flash without further exposure adjustments.

SE LF Tl ME R

This trips the shutter for you, after a delay ranging from 4 to 10 seconds; thus, you can walk around and appear in the photograph yourself: The Self Timer is also valuable in close-up and technical photography, as it trips the shutter internally-reducing the possibility of blur due to camera movement at the moment of exposure. 4.butkus.org

To use the Self-Timer (4) simply move the Timer counterclockwise, then depress the Shutter Release Button (1). According to the degree you have moved the Timer down, the shutter will fire within about 4 seconds to a maximum of 10 seconds.

When the Self Timer is not in use, push the lever to its maximum vertical position - Engaging the Lock Pin (3). This prevents accidental activation of the Self Timer.

TIME EXPOSURES
When the shutter speed dial is set at "B", the shutter will remain open as long as the shutter release is held down. As a result, exposures longer than one second - as long, in fact, as several hours may be taken at night, or in dimly- lit places where there is no moving subject. If an exposure of more than several seconds is desired, attach a Konica Cable Release (available from your dealer) to the Shutter Release Button (1). Set the shutter speed dial to "B". Press down the cable release "plunger", and hold it down for as long an exposure time as is desired. When the cable release plunger is released, the shutter closes. (Webmaster: This is a manual camera shutter. The batteries DO NOT control the shutter so the shutter can be open as long as desired without any drain on the batteries)

In Time exposures, move the Aperture Control Ring to the desired f/stop and expose manually. Automatic exposure operation is not possible with time exposures.

It is necessary that you use a tripod or other support for "B" time exposures and all other exposures longer than 1/30th second. Use of a cable release will minimize jarring the camera.

CARING FOR YOUR CAMERA AND LENSES
Your Konica Autoreflex TC has been designed and constructed for thousands of pleasurable photographs. To insure utmost reliability, follow these simple steps:

* Protect your camera and lenses. Dust, dirt, and moisture are the natural enemies of all precision instruments. Always replace the lens (or attach your Konica Body Cap) when storing the camera Keep your camera within its' carrying case whenever possible. Never attempt to clean, adjust, or disassemble the camera or lens for any reason. In the unlikely event service becomes necessary, forward the equipment to an authorized Konica Service Center.

* In extremely cold weather, protect your camera by carrying it within its' case, keeping it inside your clothing until actually taking a picture. If exposed to extremely cold temperatures, your camera's meter batteries may fail to operate properly. By keeping your camera inside your coat, next to your body, the camera's temperature will in most instances remain virtually normal and no problems should be encountered.

* Avoid excessive force in attaching accessories (such as cases and tripods) to the Tripod Socket (40) of your camera. When attaching these, tighten. the locking screw firmly but do not tighten more than is necessary.

* The Built-in Hot Shoe (19) of your camera is intended for use with flash units of normal size and weight, such as the Konica X-20 flash. In the event a much heavier flash unit is employed, it is advisable to mount the flash on a flash bracket, available from your dealer as an accessory. (Webmaster: Large flash units will eventually loosen the flash shoe. Plus it becomes a lever. A small hit on the top of the flash creates a lot of force at the hot shoe area)

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