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Thank you for purchasing the Sigma SA-300 Autofocus Camera.

This camera is one of the most advanced 35 mm SLR cameras, newly developed using Sigma's latest technology. To add to your enjoyment of photography, the camera has a variety of features.

* Built-in flash with wide angle coverage for lenses with focal length up to 28 mm
* 3 different metering systems    --8 segment metering
                                                --Partial metering
                                                --Average metering
* Mirror-up and Preview mechanism

To make the most of all these features, and to get the maximum performance and enjoyment from your Sigma SA-300 Camera, please read this instruction booklet before using the camera.
 
 

INDEX

CAUTION .. .... :

DESCRIPTION OF PARTS . .  . .. 

LCD PANEL INDICATION 

LCD PANEL ILLUMINATION

VIEWFINDER INDICATION ...........

MODE DIAL

BASIC OPERATION .................

PREPARATION

ATTACHING THE CARRY STRAP ... 

HOW TO USE THE FINDER CAP

INSERTING THE BATTERY  

CHECKING THE BATTERY  

MOUNTING AND REMOVING THE LENS

HOLDING THE CAMERA

SHUTTER BUTTON

INSERT THE FILM

SETTING THE FILM SPEED MANUALLY

PRINTING DATE AND TIME ...

BASIC OPERATION ......

TAKING A PICTURE BY * MODE ....

REWIND THE FILM ............................

UNSUITABLE SUBJECT FOR AUTOFOCUS ..........

FOCUS LOCK ..................... 

FOCUS MANUALLY .................

USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH .............

RED-EYE REDUCTION .........................

PRECAUTIONS FOR USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH ...................

OPERATION OF DRIVE MODE ........................

CONTINUOUS SHOOTING

 SELF-TIMER ....................

REMOTE CONTROLLER MODE . . .

FIXED AND SELECTABLE FUNCTION IN THE " * " MODE ..............

ADVANCED FUNCTIONS ..............

SELECTING THE AF MODE ...................

SELECTING THE EXPOSURE MODE ..

P  PROGRAM AE PROGRAM SHIFT .

S SHUTTER SPEED PRIORITY AE ..............

A APERTURE PRIORITY AE

M MANUAL OPERATION

SELECTING THE METERING

AE LOCK... 

AUTO BRACKETING ..

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

BUILT-IN FLASH

MIRROR UP

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES 

REMOTE CONTROLLER RS-11 AND RS-21

PANORAMA ADAPTOR PS-300

EXTERNAL FLASH EF-

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS ....

SNAPSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

SCENERY

PORTRAIT

MOVING SUBJECT

CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY.

NIGHT SCENES

WARNING INDICATIONS

DEPTH OF FIELD

INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

REPLACING THE DATA BACK BATTERY

RESETTING THE CALENDAR/CLOCK

PRECAUTION DURING USE

SPECIFICATIONS
 
 

** Caution - Read this section before using the camera

* The built-in flash in this camera includes a high voltage circuit. To avoid electric shock or burns, do not attempt to disassemble the camera. If the outside shell of the unit is broken or cracked, do not touch the mechanism inside.

* Do not use this camera with any external flash unit other than the Sigma EF-430, which has special contact pins on the hot shoe. This flash is offered as an optional accessory. Other external flash units may damage the camera's circuitry or may not work properly.

* This camera is not waterproof. When using the camera in the rain on near water, keep it from getting wet. It is often impractical  to repair internal electrical components damaged by water.

* To avoid any chance of lithium battery explosion, the battery pack should not be disassembled, recharged, short-circuited or exposed to fire or water.

* As with any camera, it is best to check all functions and shoot a test roll of film before using the camera for a wedding, a trip abroad, or for any irreplaceable photographs.

* Please carry a spare battery when you use the camera in a cold environment, in the field, on a trip, or when taking many pictures at one time.
 

 DESCRIPTION OF PARTS 

 When you press the Exposure Compensation/Drive Mode Button and Flash Mode Metering Mode Button simultaneously, the LCD Panel will illuminate for about seconds.
 
 LCD AND VIEWFINDER INFORMATION

If you press both buttons simultaneously again, the illumination will disappear.
If you press any button or turn the dial while Illuminating the LCD, the illumination will continue for an additional 6 seconds.
During the charging of the built in flash, the LCD will not Illuminate.

At very low temperatures you that due to the nature of the LCD it may take slightly longer to respond - this is not a function problem, but a characteristic of LCDs.
 
 BASIC OPERATION

	1. Insert the battery Insert the battery into the chamber, aligning the + and - marks as indicated
	2. Mount the lens Align the red mark on the camera's mount with the alignment dot on the lens. Engage the lens in the mount by turning the lens clockwise until it clicks into the locked position.
	3. Set the lens switch to the AF position.

4. Set the mode dial to the "*" position.
Turn the mode dial while pressing the lock button.
 

6. Align the subject in the AF frame
 

7. Press the shutter button
 
 

ATTACHING THE CARRY STRAP

1. Undo the strap end.
2. Thread Finder cap on the strap.
3. Then attach the carry strap as shown.

HOW TO USE THE FINDER CAP

When using the self-timer or remote control, please cover the finder eyepiece with the Finder Cap.
Remove the eye cap from the finder.

Insert the finder cap onto the finder.

 
 

INSERTING THE BATTERY

This camera uses a 6 V 2CR5 Lithium Battery. Without a battery, the camera will not function at all.

	1. Be sure the mode dial is on the lock position. Then open the battery compartment by pushing the latch in the direction of the arrow.
	2. Insert the battery into the chamber, aligning the + and the - marks as indicated.
	3. Close the battery cover until it clicks and locks closed.

CHECKING THE BATTERY

Turn the mode dial to the "*" position or one of the P. S. A or M positions while pressing the lock button. The battery mark will appear on the LCD panel.
 
 

The battery strength is good. The battery strength is weak.  Keep a spare battery or replace the battery in advance. If the mark blinks, the battery is very low and the camera is not operable.

The battery mark remains visible while the camera is in use.

To conserve the battery, the camera will switch itself off after 6 seconds of not being operated.  However, it still is possible for the shutter to be released accidentally.  If the mode dial is set on the "L" position, the shutter cannot be fired.
 
 

MOUNTING AND REMOVING THE LENS.
 This camera uses the SA type bayonet mount. For ordinary lenses use the inside bayonet mount (type SA-IB) and for Super Telephoto lenses use the outside bayonet mount (type SA-OB). The mounting methods are same for both type of mounts.

Remove the Camera's body cap and I lens mount cap.
 

Align the red mark on the camera's mount with the alignment dot on the lens. Engage the lens in the mount by turning the lens clockwise until it clicks into the locked position.
 
 

To ensure proper connection, please do not press the lens lock button while mounting the lens.

To remove the lens, press the lens lock button and turn the lens counter-clockwise until it stops.

Gently remove the lens from the mount.
 

**On the mount surface of the lens, there are a number of electric contacts.  Please keep them clean to ensure proper connection. To avoid damaging them,  be sure to place the lens with its front end down when it is off the camera.
 
 HOLDING THE CAMERA

Even the slightest movement of your body, while pressing the camera's shutter release, may cause camera shake and a resulting blurriness of your photograph.  To avoid this we suggest the following:
Hold the camera steady with your left hand supporting the bottom of the camera and the lens. Keep your left elbow close to your body and place your eye as close to the viewfinder as possible. Firmly grasp the camera's grip with your right hand and then lightly place your right index finger on

SHUTTER BUTTON
|

The shutter button of the SA-5 camera has two positions. When you press the shutter button "Halfway Down", the camera's Autofocus and Exposure System activates. Then you press the button "All-the-way Down", and the shutter will release to take a picture.
 
 
 Before you start to take pictures, we recommend that you operate the camera without film to become familiar with the "halfway down" position and other operations of the camera.

INSERT THE FILM

When you load and unload the film, please avoid the film or film cartridge from being struck by direct sunlight.
The SA 5 camera is compatible with the DX system. When you use a film with DX codes, the camera automatically sets the correct speed of the film. If you happen to use a non-Ding film, please refer to none 17 to set the film speed manually.
 

1. Turn the mode dial to the "*" position while pressing the lock button.

2. Push the Back Cover Latch down and open the Back Cover.

3. Place the film cartridge into the film chamber.
 
 
 

4. Push the cartridge in firmly, and align the tip of the film with the Film Position Mark.

5 Check to be sure that the film sprocket holes are properly engaged with the teeth of the film transport sprocket wheel.

6. Close the back cover, pressing firmly so it is securely locked.  The film will advance automatically to the first frame and the LCD film counter will display the number "1". Also, the film speed set by DX system and "ISO/DX" mark will be displayed on the LCD panel for about 6 seconds. Please check that the film speed is correctly set.

7. If the film has not been loaded properly, "Err" and the film mark will blink on the LCD panel. Open the back cover and re-load the film. The camera will not operate while the "Err" is displayed on the LCD.

If the mode dial is set to the "L" position, the camera will not advance the film.   When you load the film, be sure to set the mode dial to other then the "L" position.

You can check whether there is film in the camera and the type of film and number of exposures, by using the film window on the back cover.
 
 

Before you first load any film: please removers the protective sheet which is inserted on the film chamber. The shutter curtain is very delicate, "precision components" - which moves at high speed. It can be easily damaged by touching or pushing it with your finger while loading film. The pins in the film chamber read the DX film cords.  Please them the clean to insure proper contact.

SETTING THE FILM SPEED MANUALLY
When the camera automatically sets the speed of the film by DX codes, the LCD shows "DX" after the film Is loaded.  If you use the film other than DX codes, set the film speed manually.
 

1. Insert the film. If the film is DX coded, I the LCD shows " DX " and its film speed, or if the film is non-DX-coded, the LCD shows "lSO 100" after the film is loaded. The film speed will automatically set itself to ISO 100 if you do not set the film speed manually.

2. Set the mode dial to AF ISO.

3. Turn the A-dial to set the desired film speed. When you set the film speed manually, the DX will disappear on the LCD panel even if you use the DX coded film.
 

4. Turn the mode dial to the desired exposure mode.

You can check the current film speed setting when you set the mode dial to the " AFISO " position.

When you load a new film cartridge, the previous film speed setting will be released and reset to ISO 100 or the DX speed for the new cartridge.
 

PRINTING THE DATE AND TIME

You can select from 5 types of data by pressing the "MODE" button.
 

	The data that appears in the Data Back LCD will be imprinted on the picture unless the MODE is set to OFF.   The word "PRINT" is not part of the data and will not imprint on the picture.   The data may be somewhat less distinct when backgrounds are red, orange or yellow, or when the subject is very bright.
	Depending on the film speed and temperature, legibility of the printed data may vary. If the Data Back LCD becomes light and difficult to read, please replace the battery in the data back.

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