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TO SECTION TWO

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C O N T E N T S

(See also alphabetical index on page 33)
How to use the MINOX Page

Opening and Closing the Camera -  Holding the MINOX -  The Viewfinder -  Setting the Shutter -  Setting the Distance -  Always f/3.5-on important MINOX feature  The convenient Filters - Taking the Picture -  The Exposure Counter -  Loading Un-loading -  Attaching the Safety Chain -  Things to Remember , 2 Tips for best results The Best. Film -  S T E A D Y -  How about Longer Exposures? -  Frame your Subject -

Close-ups of Small Things -  How to stop Moving Subjects - The two built-in Filters -  Flash is Easy -  It's a Colorful World -  Copying -  Changing the Film Type -  Picture Series - 4www.butkus.org Tele-Photography -. 13 What happened? .... ............... . 23 Subject Size and Depth of Field Tables 27 The MINOX Exposure Meter 28 The MINOX Slide Projector - 29 The MINOX Developing Tank 30 The MINOX Enlarger-Copying Stand 31

YOUR MINOX is a precision instrument designed and built to give you excellent pictures under all kinds of conditions, indoors and out. As your constant companion, your MINOX is always ready to catch not only delightful, spontaneous snapshots, but on endless variety of fine pictures of any subject, any occasion, of any time.

This Manual shows you the way to best results with your MINOX. It contains many valuable tips which you will find helpful. Read the various sections carefully so that you will get fine results right from the start.

The first section explains the operation  of your MINOX. Read it with the un-loaded camera at hand - once you are familiar with the simple operating steps, you will always enjoy the full pleasure of picture-taking with your MINOX.

Part two will. help you select the proper kind of film for best results. It tells about filters, flash, close-ups, and many other special uses for your MINOX.

The final pages point out annoying little errors which may make the difference between o good and a bad picture. You will find it easy to avoid such mistakes, once you are aware of them.

If you have any questions, your MINOX dealer will always be glad to help, and we invite you to write to us whenever we may be of serviced you.

Sole U. S. Distributors
Kling Photo Corporation
235 Fourth Avenue, New York 3, N. Y.

HOW TO US USE MINOX

Opening and Closing the Camera

To open the camera for picture-taking, place left thumb on Shutter Speed Dial and left forefinger on underside of camera, while grasping narrow sides of camera with the right thumb and forefinger; pull camera open - like a telescope -as far as it will go. After a picture has been taken, push the camera together as far as possible. This "pumping' action automatically advances the film and winds the shutter for the next exposure. 4www.butkus.org IMPORTANT: Pull or push all the way.

Holding the MINOX

The illustrations straw the most practical way of holding your MINOX: With both hands, and steadied against the face. Such a steady, firm hold is assurance against camera movement during exposure. Keep both thumbs under the camera and other fingers on top to avoid the possibility of covering the lens window. You might practice this hold in front of a mirror to check yourself. The same hold can conveniently be used for vertical or horizontal pictures.

The Viewfinder

The luminous frame within the MINOX viewfinder contains the exact picture area that will appear on the film. The viewfinder image is automatically corrected, at all distances, to agree with the picture area. (Parallax Compensation). Far extreme close-ups (8-10 inches), the picture area lies a frame-width within the luminous frame.

Eyeglass wearers may readily use the MINOX viewfinder without correction lenses.

Setting the Shutter

The length of time the light is permitted to reach the film is controlled by the shutter. The Shutter Speed Dial is conveniently rotated by placing the thumb on the knurled surface while holding the forefinger under the camera and, with the other hand, turning the camera until the desired speed is set apposite the black dot.4www.butkus.org The Shutter Speed Dial may be rotated with the camera open or closed, whether the shutter is wound or not. The engraved figures ore fractions of a second 2 indicates 1/2 second, 1000 is 1/1000 sec., etc.). Intermediate speeds may also be set.

When the Dial is set at "B", the shutter opens if the Shutter Release is pressed down, and remains open as long as the Release is held down; set at "T" (Time), the shutter opens when the Release is pressed down, and remains open until the Release is pressed a second time. B or T exposures should be mode only with the MINOX resting on or against a firm support, or with a tripod (see page 14). Always use on exposure guide, or the MINOX Exposure Meter, to determine the correct shutter setting for existing light conditions.

Setting the Distance (Focusing)

The MINOX Distance Scale is calibrated from to Infinity (oo). Set the subject-to-camera distance by rotating the Distance Scale until the estimated distance is opposite the black dot of the small bracket. Objects at the set distance will be sharpest but, within a certain range, nearer and farther objects will also appear acceptably sharp. The entire range of sharpness from nearest to farthest objects is coiled 'depth of fields. The near and far limits of the Depth of Field for any distance setting are indicated on the MINOX by the small bracket adjacent to the Distance Scale. For example, when set at 6' (Illustration 7), the Depth of Field extends from 4ft to 11 ft; or, when set at 4' (Illustration 6) it reaches from aft to 6ft. The greatest Depth of Field is obtained with the SNAPSHOT SETTING (small dot half-way between - infinity - and 6ft) as shown in illustration 8. You will find this setting convenient far all pictures which require quick readiness and fast shooting, (i. e. Sports, Groups, Street Scenes, etc.); just keep in mind that the nearest object must be at least 6 feet away.

For scenery without important foreground interest, always set the Scale at Infinity (on). At this setting, the Depth of Field begins at approximately 12 ft.

Far accurate measuring of extreme close-ups (8" to 24''), the safety chain of your MINOX carries small beads at distances corresponding exactly to the close distances engraved on the Distance Scale. With the chain lacked in the camera socket, and held taut, exact measurements can be made at 8 - 10 - 12 -18 and 24 inches (full length). The Depth of Field ranges and Subject Sizes at various set distances are shown in the Tables on page 27.4www.butkus.org

Always f/3.5--an Important MINOX Feature
The 15 mm Complan lens of your MINOX yields such extreme Depth of Field, and together with the slightly curved design of the Film Gate gives such outstanding definition aver the entire film area, that an adjustable lens diaphragm could be omitted - saving you an extra operation necessary with other cameras.

The MINOX always works at full f/3.5 opening.


The Convenient Filters
You can place the built-in orange or green filters before the lens simply by pushing the knurled slide - above the viewfinder window - towards the lens window. Make sure the desired filter is fully visible in the lens window. When using the green filter, double the exposure time (i.e. use 1/100 sec. instead of 1/200 sec.); with the orange filter, triple the exposure. For tips on using filters, see pages 16 and 17.

The filters are automatically retracted when the camera is closed. Therefore, subsequent exposures are made without a filter unless the filter is again pushed into position.

Taking the Picture
When you are ready to 'shoot', frame your picture in the viewfinder (see page 4), and ~squeeze' the shutter release button - don't 'punchy it. Far critically sharp pictures, the camera must not be jarred during exposure. The shutter release of the MINOX works so smoothly - and without resistance - that you will find it easy to operate.4www.butkus.org

NOTE: The small circle in the lens window indicates that the shutter is wound, ready for an exposure. If the circle is not showing, simply 'push-and-pull" the camera to make it ready.

The Exposure Counter

tells you at a glance how many pictures you have taken on the film. The Counter advances automatically each time you move the film forward by a Pull-push of the MINOX. The Exposure Counter must be set at the red dot between 50 and 0 before a new film cassette is inserted. (Illustration 9). Otherwise, overlapping pictures may result.

Loading

Film cassettes should be shielded from bright sunlight. Always load - or unhand - the MINOX in subdued light, or in the shade. Set Exposure Counter at red dot between 50 and 0 by "pumping" camera. With camera in pulled-out position, press down an crescent shaped Snap lock (illustration 10) and slide open Back Cover until both Film Chambers are free. Then Clasp camera about 1/8 inch to spread the Film Gate open. (This occurs when the snap lock almost disappears in the camera Illustration 11b

LOAD CASSETTE INTO CAMERA ONLY WHEN FILM GATE IS OPEN.

 Drop cassette into film chambers, close back cover, and push-pull camera once.

If the back cover cannot be closed - this is a rare coincidence when the film take-up core is resting on the teeth of the transport wheel in the film chamber - lift out the cassette, pull the camera open all the way, and close again until the film gate opens. Reinsert cassette, close back cover, and push-pull-push camera once.4www.butkus.org

Un-loading
Watch the Exposure Counter - 50 is the last expa8urei Push-and pull the camera twice. The Exposure Counter should now be at the red dot. Unload in subdued light. Open back cover and spread film gate (as if to load).

Film cassette will crap out of camera with slight topping, or may be lifted out by its bridge. Store the cassette in film box or in block paper until it is developed. Note: Color Films end at 30 or 36 - see film package. Unload after two push-and-pull motions. Advance Exposure Counter to red dot before loading new film.

CAUTION: Do not advance films beyond the numbers indicated above, as the film would be entirely pulled into the toke-up side; this may result in light entering through the cassette slit during un-loading.

Attaching the Safety Chain

To protect your MINOX against accidental falls, always keep it on its chain. Insert the rectangular plug at the end of the chain into the corresponding Chain Socket of the camera. The spring-loaded dust cover will disappear in the camera. Use the D-ring of the end of the chain in the manner of a screw driver, inserting it into the slot of the plug disc; turn the plug one-quarter turn to the right. (Illustration 12). To remove the chain, reverse these steps; insert D-ring into slot, turn one-quarter to the left - plug will jump out of socket.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Before loading-- make sure Exposure Counter is set at red dot between 50 an 0

Before inserting or removing film cassette-- make sure Film Gate is open

When taking the picture-- keep fingers away from lens window; hold camera steady; "squeeze" shutter release button

At end of film-- do not attempt to take more pictures than the film allows (50 on black-and-white; 30 or 36 on color film)

Always-- keep Lens Window clean. Fingerprints or other smudges on the lens window cause un-sharp pictures. To clean, wrap soft linen cloth around match stick.

TO SECTION TWO