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Flash exposures

The hot shoe of the Minox 35 PL takes any electronic flash unit with a centre contact in the foot - as well as the Minox TC 35 and FC 35 computer flash units which are specially matched to the Minox 35. Push the black blanking plate out of the hot shoe towards the rear. Fully push the foot of the flash unit into the shoe. This disengages the automatic exposure control of the Minox 35 PL and sets a fixed shutter speed of 1/90 second.

Do not take flash shots with the aperture ring (12) set to A (automatic). For flash shots select one of the marked apertures between f/2.8 and f/16 (including intermediate values) - check the instructions of the flash used.

With some electronic flash units (not with the special Minox flashes) you must operate the film transport of the35PL immediately after every flash shot. For unless the shutter is tensioned, such flash units either fail to give a ready signal for the next flash or (more rarely) may automatically trigger the next flash after recycling. (Th is is not a fault but a f eature of the electronic circuit.)4www.butkus.org

The self timer

Push down the small sliding switch (18) at the right of the finder eyepiece to uncover a red window with T (timer) in white. This delays the shutter release by about12 seconds after you have pressed the green release button (or released with a cable release). A red flashing LED on the camera front (9) signals that the self timer is running but the exposure has not yet started. The flashing rate doubles after 4 seconds and again after 8 seconds of the delay period.

The distance setting

Estimate the approximate distance to the main subject and set this on the distance scale (13). In view of the considerable depth of field of the 35 mm lens a really accurate setting is only necessary at near distances of around 3 to 4ft or O.9 to 1 m.4www.butkus.org For a useful snapshot zone set the scale to the green dot between 10 and 20 ft or between 3 and 5 m; in good light this then covers everything from about 6 to 60 ft or 2 to 20 m. For landscapes without near foreground set the scale to oo (infinity).

Loading the film

Never load the camera in direct sunlight- at least do it in the shade of your body.   Turn the back cover locking lever (24) in the camera base to uncover the recessed red dot, then pull off the beck from below (illustration a).

Insert the film cartridge in the film chamber (25) to the left of the film track, with the film leader pointing to the right.

Turn the take-up spool (20) with the r ight thumb to bring the broad slot of the spool core to the top.

Now press the rewind release (21) at the right in the camera base to lock the take-up spool. Push the film leader underneath the metal sleeve as far as it will go (illustration b), then let go of the rewind release button.

Open the camera's front cover so that you can operate the release button.

Alternately advance the film and release until: · The full film width is drawn with both perforation rows across the film track and lies flat against it (arrow in illustration c), and

 · One tooth of the sprocket wheel (at the right below the film gate) engages a perforation hole of the film (circled in illustration c).

Replace the camera back by pushing it on and lock by turning the back lock in the camera base to cover the red dot again (illustration d).4www.butkus.org

Advance the film, release the shutter, advance once more. Check that the rewind crank (8) at the left in the camera top rotates - watch the light dot The frame counter (1) is now at O.

Set the film speed on the scale in the camera base (page 13).
During shooting you can still check that the film is advancing correctly: Whenever you work the film transport lever, the rewind crank with the light dot must rotate, too.


Unloading the film

After the last exposure (No. 36, 24 20 or 12 on the frame counter, depending on the film length) you must rewind the film into its cartridge: Unfold the rewind crank end with the light dot (8, in the camera top at the left), press the rewind release button (21, in the recess in the camera base at the right) and let go. Rewind the film by tu rni ng the rewi nd crank clockwise. The film is fully rewound when the crank starts turning more freely.

After rewinding remove the camera back and withdraw the cartridge from the camera.

If the frame counter (1) does not return to its start position on removing the back, release the shutter once.

However the frame counter automatically resets itself during loading at the latest when you have pushed the film end into the take-up spool and advanced the film and released the shutter before closing the back (see page 22).

Care of the camera
Periodically clean the front lens element, the outer finder window surfaces and the curved window in front of the CdS cell. Remove any dust with a soft brush, air blower or special lens cleaning tissue -these are obtainable from photo dealers. Do not use lens cleaning fluids.

Immediately remove fingerprints from the front lens; such marks greatly reduce definition.

When changing film, check that the back of the lens and the camera i nterior are also clean and dust-free.

Accessories

The matched Minox FC 35 computer flash

The Minox FC 35 electronic flash is the smaller of the two computer flashes designed for the Minox 35 cameras. It is 3 x 5.5 x 7.5 cm (1.2 x 2.2x3in.)1argeandweighs130g(4.6 oz). The metric guide No. for 100 ASA is 18 (59 in feet). You have two aperture options with two working ranges of the computer control: At the "green" setting the flash covers subjects up to 4.5 m or 15ft.Attheredsettingthelimitis3.2m (10 ft) but the depth of field is greater, for at any given film speed you use one stop smaller than with the green setting.

If you switch off the automatic control of the PC 35 you can cover greater distances with high-speed films, e.g. up to 13 m or 40 ft with 400 ASA.4www.butkus.org

Recycling time: Approx. 10 seconds. Batteries: 2 size AAA alkaline manganese cells. Capacity approx.60 to 80 flashes per battery set. (Ail data based on DIN 19011 specifications.)


The matched Minox TC 35 computer flash

The TO 35 is the more powerful of the two Minox 35flash units and offers additional features. The guide No. (in accordance with DIN 19011) is 26 (m) or 95 (ft) at 100 ASA. Three aperture options with ranges up to 9, 6.5 and 3.25 m (30, 21 and 10 1/2:ft). LED on a scale show available ranges and working apertures; in manual mode (range with 400 ASA up to about18 m or60 ft) this serves as an aperture calculator.

In computer (automatic flash duration control) mode, and especially at near to medium distances, the thyristor series circuit provides fast recycling (1 to 10 seconds) and a high capacity (about 80 to 500 flashes) per battery set of 4 size AAA alkaline manganese cells. An economy circuit automatically switches off the unit when not in use for longer periods, so saving batteries.

A test button and green LED provide a battery check.

For bounce flashing the flash reflector tilts up to 90° in 15° steps. On triggering a test flash, a built-in auto ch eck control shows by a green or red signal whether the flash power is sufficient for the subject in question.

For storage in its leather case or for carrying in a jacket pocket swing the reflector up; the unit is then no thicker than the camera. It is 10 cm (3.9 in.) wide, 6.5 cm (2.6 in.) high with the reflector pointing forward or 9.1 cm (3.6in.) tilt up through 90°. lt weighs 188 9 (6.6 oz with batteries

The ever-ready case

The black leather ever-ready case of the Minox 35PL is closely tailored to the camera so that it is no bigger than a soft zip pouch. But you can shoot much faster with it. An eyelet at the left and right of the ever-ready case takes the wrist strap supplied, fit it at whichever side you find more convenient for handling. The 90 cm (3 ft) neck strap -an optional extra accessory - attaches to both eyelets for carrying the camera around the neck.

You can remove the top of the Eveready case altogether. If you carry the Minox 35 PL slung around your neck in the bottom section of the case, with the camera front open and the filter and lens hood in place, you can walk around and be instantly ready to shoot (see illustration page 33).

The belt and wrist pouch

This smart elegant case is a piece of luxury leather work in top-quality soft burgundy red Naskapi leather. It is totally unlike any ever-reedy case: It ideally matches smart leisure wear and you can carry it either slung around your wrist or fixed to your belt (up to 4 cm or 1 win. wide). When used as a belt case, remove the leather wrist strap with its brass snap hook.

For shooting you remove the Minox 35 PL from the case. The sides are in generously tailored so that the closed case fits snugly around the Minox, yet you can get into the open case with the fingers to grip the camera easily and securely from both sides.


The pocket tripod

The Minox pocket tripod is a very handy camera stand - not much larger than a pencil when closed but very rigid as stable and wall support - even on rough surfaces. It can also serve as a chest pod for horizontal shots with the Minox 35 PL. The Minox pocket tripod includes a cable release indispensable for tripod shots. Screw the tripod screw into the bush in the camera base. Do not screw the camera too tightly onto the tripod but tighten instead the large milled plate of the tripod against the camera body. Screw the cable release into the thread next to the release button.

Push-on filters with collapsible lens hood and leather case

The Minox 35 PL takes only Minox filters marked either "Minox 35 GT" or "Minox 35 GT/PL/PE". Minox filters not so marked are intended for the older EL and GL models and do not fit the Minox 35 PL.

The skylight filter
This reduces any blue cast liable to arise in color slides taken by brilliant blue-sky light. In daylight the filter also absorbs ultraviolet rays that could with any film - impair definition.

The 4 x neutral density filter
This reduces the light coming through the lens to one-quarter and is recommended for shots in bright sunlight on high speed film (400 ASA).4www.butkus.org


Technical data
Type: Minox 35 PL miniature camera. Minox code Nos.: 10.721 with distance scale in meters 10.722 with distance scale in feet

Picture size: 24 x 36 mm.

Film: Standard 35 mm cartridge (No.135).

Lens: 35 mm Minox Color-Minotar f/2.8, focusing range from infinity to 0.9 m or 3 ft. The lens retracts automatically on closing the front cover.

Automatic exposure control: Electronic program control (with aperture ring set to A) from 1/500 second at f/16 to 4 seconds at f/2.8 with 100 ASA. Longest reliable time depends on film speed, e.g.15 seconds with 25 ASA down to 1 second with 400 ASA.

Slow-speed warning: With exposure times longer than 1/30 second a red LED blinks on top of the camera; also visible in the finder via a fiber-optical light guide.

Backlight switch: Doubles the exposure.

Release: Soft release, blocked if front cover is not fully open.

Cable release socket: Next to release button in camera top.

Self timer: Electronic, approx. 12 seconds delay. Red flashing LED on camera front during delay time; flashing frequency increases in three~ steps.

Viewfinder: Bright-frame direct finder with slow speed warning signal.

Frame counter: Counts forward, returns to start position on removing camera back and releasing shutter.

Flash contact: Hot shoe, X synchronized, automatic time switching to 1/90 second. 

Tripod bush: l/4 in. Battery: One Varta V 27 PX, Ucar EPX 27, Duracell PX 27 or equivalent (5.6 volts). 

Battery check: Check button, green LED signal. 

Camera body: Glass fiber-reinforced Makrolon. Size: (Width x height x depth):10x6.1x 3.1 cm (3.9 x 2.4 x 1.2 in.) 

Weight: Approx.190 9 without or 200 9 with battery (6.7 or 7.1 oz respectively).

Made by: MINOX GmbH, Postfach 60 20, D-6300 Giessen 1, West Germany.

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