7. Latch for camera back 8. Counter support for spool 9. Knob for opening the finder hood 10. Frame finder (sports finder) 11. Knob for unlocking finder hood

12. Film type setting dial 13. Speed setting dial 14. Magnifier lens for focusing 15. Locking ring for shutter release 16. Film speed setting dial 17. Exposure counter 18. Milled ring for fixing the lens 19. Lever for checking depth of field 20. Diaphragm setting ring 21. Depth-of-field scale 22. Focusing ring

18. Milled ring for fixing the lens 23. Tripod socket

We are extremely pleased that you hove chosen the genuine single lens reflex camera PENTAGON six TL and wish you every success in your photographic activities with this camera.

The PENTAGON six TL carries on the great tradition of the genuine single lens reflex cameras in the 6 x 6 cm (2 1/4 in. square) format.

Its special features are:

Clearly arranged operating controls, shutter release in anatomically correct position, interchangeable viewfinders (including TTL Prism Attachment) and focusing screens, click stop shutter speed settings from 1 sec. to 1/1000 sec. and B (geometrically graduated), designed for 120 roll film (12 frames) or 220 roll film (24 frames), automatic exposure counter with locking device for the film in use, focal-plane shutter of rubberized material.

X synchronization for electronic flash and bulbs, locking device for flash plug, wide range of accessories for every kind of photographic activity, interchangeable lenses, with bayonet fitting and locking ring, from 50 mm to 1000 mm focal length, up to 180 mm with automatic spring diaphragm.

External view of the camera: Unfold the two inside pages of the front and back covers and look at the camera itself in the same position as it is shown in the pictures of the instruction booklet. The important parts are marked by numbers and explained on the page.

Abridged Instructions
The following Abridged Instructions are a summary of the most important sections of this Instruction Booklet. These sections deserve particular attention. Yet the knowledge acquired by reading them alone cannot compensate for the valuable information to be obtained by studying the complete instruction manual.

1. Pull latch (7) downward and open camera back. Exposure counter (17) jumps to starting point.

2. Place film into left-hand spool chamber.

3. Remove gumstrip pull paper leader across picture gate and push it into longer slit of the receiving spool.

4. Swing rapid wind lever (2) around as far as it will go and continue advancing the film by small rocking movements until the reference mark imprinted on the paper leader stands against the white dot on the picture gate. Now move the rapid wind lever (2) back to its initial position and close the camera back. The short rocking movements of the rapid wind lever may be performed only while the film is being inserted, i.e. as long as the camera back is open, or after the 12th exposure.

5. Set film reminder dials (12 and 16).

6. Release the shutter and wind it again four times. The rapid wind lever must be swung without interruption as far as it will go and moved back. The exposure counter (17) shows the mark for picture 1.

7. Employ viewfinder image for focusing. Critical focusing is performed by means of the magnifying lens.

8. After the 12th and (in case of roll film 220) the 24th exposure, the winding mechanism is locked. It is released by means of disconnecting lever (3), whereupon film transporting can be continued.

9. In case of premature removal the film has to be wound up to the end with the paper trailer by f u 11 swings of the rapid wind lever and subsequent releasing of the shutter. Short rocking movements of the rapid wind lever must not be performed before the 12th exposure has been made.
 (see also Section 4).


Inserting and advancing the film

Inserting the film starts with the unlatching and opening of the camera back. Any type of commercially available roll film 120 for 12 exposures 6 x 6 cm (2 1/4 in. square) or roll film 220 for 24 exposures 6 x 6 cm (2 1/4 in. square) may be used in the camera. The film is inserted as follows: Retract the two spool supports (8), rotate them to fixed position, place an empty intact film spool into right-hand spool chamber, making sure that the carrier mechanism catches the spool core, unlock the spool support and let it spring back. The pivot pin will engage in the spool core. The full film spool is inserted into the left-hand spool chamber in exactly the same manner. First swing rapid wind lever (2) around as far as it will go, then continue advancing the paper leader by short rocking movements until the reference mark imprinted on it stands against the white dot on the picture gate. Taut and even winding of the paper leader is necessary to avoid faulty film feed periods. After this, move the rapid wind lever back to its initial position. Close the camera back. It is of special importance to note that the short A rocking movements of the rapid wind lever may be performed only while the film is being inserted, i.e. as long as the camera back is open, or after the 12th exposure.

To achieve faultless advancement of the film, special attention must be paid to the following 3 points:

1. Remove the gumstrip and insert the paper leader carefully into the middle of the spool. It must not brush against either one of the spool flanges (Fig. 1). If this happens, the film will not advance properly. There is even the possibility of the receiving spool getting jammed within the spool chamber because of the irregular winding of the film, and the film transport mechanism might be overstrained on actuation of the winding lever.

2. The paper leader, when being wound up, must lie tautly on the core of the receiving spool. This can be achieved by slightly suppressing the movement of the full spool on the supply side with the thumb of the left hand (Fig. 2). Make sure that the paper windings are not too loose on the take-up spool (Fig. 3) since this might cause overlapping or excessive spacing between frames. The first exposure could, in such a case, be made before the film is in the picture gate;

3. The short rocking movements of the rapid wind lever when advancing the film, which are mentioned in this instruction booklet, may be performed only under the following conditions:

a) when the film is being inserted, as long as the camera back is still open, and

b) after exposure of the 12th frame and subsequent release of the locking device to permit further advancement of the film.

Thus, if for instance a roll film 120 is to be removed from the camera after the 10th exposure, the shutter has to be wound and released normally up to the 12th frame. Then, when the locking device of the transport mechanism has been released, the film can be wound on to the end by short rocking movements. In this manner you may also advance any 220 roll film after the 13th frame by rocking it to the end.
 

Exposure counter

The exposure counter (17) jumps back to its starting point when the camera back is opened and is automatically set when the camera back is closed. The shutter has to be released and wound again four times, whereupon the mark for picture 1 will appear in the exposure counter. Do not let the winding lever jump back but move it back smoothly. At every subsequent winding of the shutter the counting mechanism advances to the next number. After the 12th and, in case of roll film 220, after the 24th exposure, the winding mechanism is locked. It has to be released again by actuation of disconnecting lever (3). The rapid wind lever can then be fully swung around again steadily and without interruption.

Film reminder dial

Film reminder dial (12) bearing the symbols for black-and-white and color film, is mounted above the speed setting dial (13). The symbol required is set for roll film 120 against the numeral 12 and for roll film 220 against the numeral 24 on the speed setting dial. A second film reminder dial (16) marking the film speed in DIN and ASA readings is positioned above the rapid wind lever.

Finder hood

The finder hood (1) opens and springs into operating position as soon as you push knob (9) in the direction of the arrow. It is closed by finger-tip pressure an the cover. The finder hood is automatically locked on to the camera. To remove it, depress unlocking knob (11) on the camera top. The hood can then be pushed towards the back and lifted off.

Magnifier- Sports finder

The magnifier in the finder hood is designed for critical focusing | and to facilitate picture composition. The magnifying lens (14) yielding a fourfold enlargement may be swung into position. The magnifier in the finder hood is designed for critical focusing | and to facilitate picture composition. The magnifying lens (14) yielding a fourfold enlargement may be swung into position parallel with the image field lens. The sports finder is moved into working position by lifting the inner part of the finder hood cover and pulling out the frame (10).