User manual LEICA SL2

Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals The LEICAFLEX® SL 2 is a modern single-lens-reflex camera with selective light metering through the lens. The large, bright LEICAFLEX viewfinder gives you all the necessary information. At the same time it functions as the control and composing centre for focusing, spot exposure measurement, assessment of the pictorial effect, and perspective. Both the shutter speed set on the dial and the lens stop can be read at the same time. All controls are arranged conveniently so that you will soon carry out the few operations almost in your sleep. But please spend a little time on reading these instructions: you will have even more fun when you take photographs with your new LEICAFLEX SL 2. 2 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Contents Brief description for the reader in a hurry Inserting and changing the lens Holding the camera correctly The composing and control centre Focusing Exposure meter Setting film speed and -type Use of filters Testing and changing the battery Rapid transport lever, shutter speed dial, release button The LEICAFLEX lenses Automatic diaphragm Depth-of-field button Depth-of-field scale Lens hoods Series filters Self-timer Flash synchronization, flash table Inserting the film Taking out the film Tips for the care and maintenance of the LEICAFLEX and its lenses Accessories for the LEICAFLEX SL 2 4 6 7 8 10 12 13 16 17 18 19 19 20 20 21 22 22 23 24 26 26 Interchangeable lenses Follow-focus lenses LEICA lenses on the LEICAFLEX Focusing Bellows-R Motor for the LEICAFLEX SL2 MOT Ring combination for the close-up range ELPRO close-up attachments Cases Enlargers Projectors LEITZ Warranty After-sales service LEITZ Information Service "LEICA FOTOGRAFIE" journal Available accessories 28 30 30 31 31 32 32 34 34 35 36 36 37 38 39 3 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Brief Description for the Reader in a Hurry 1 Automatic film counter (p. 24) 2 Shutter speed dial (p. 18) 3 Release button with thread for cable release (p. 18) 4 Rapid transport lever for shutter wind and film transport (p. 18), at the same time on/off switch of the exposure meter (p. 12) 5 Self-timer (delayed-action mechanism) (p. 22) 6 Depth-of-field button (p. 20) 7 Bayonet lock for the lens (p. 6) 8 Button for switching on the viewfinder illumination in poor lighting conditions (p. 15) 9 Accessory shoe with central contact (p. 23) 10 Red dot mark for lens change (p. 6) 11 Diaphragm pre-setting ring (p. 19) 12 Depth-of-field scale (p. 20) 13 Distance setting ring (p. 10) 4 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals 14 Contact bushes for flash units (p. 23) 15 Button for testing the exposure meter battery (p. 17) 16 Locking button for DIN/ASA setting of the exposure meter (p. 13) 17 Clamp for pulling out the rewind crank to open the camera back (p. 25) 18 Swing-out rewind crank (p. 25) 19 Disc with film-type symbols (p. 13) 20 DIN scale (p. 13) 21 Cover of the battery for viewfinder illumination (p. 15) 22 Eyelets for the carrying strap (p. 7) 23 ASA scale (p. 13) 24 24 Cover for the exposure meter battery (p.17) 25 Viewfinder eyelens, accepts mount for correction lenses (p. 8) 26 ¼ in tripod bush 27 Push-button for rewind release (p. 25) 5 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Inserting the lens For insertion of the lens in the bayonet ring on the camera body the red dot (10) on the lens mount must face the bayonet lock (7) marked in red. After a slight turn to the right the lens clicks into position. Change lenses in the shadow of your body. Taking out the lens Irrespective of the distance and diaphragm settings the LEICAFLEX lenses are changed as follows: Grip the lens on the fixed ring (12), depress the bayonet lock (7), turn the lens to the left and take it out. 6 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Holding the camera correctly For the steady 3-point support the right hand grips the camera. The index finger rests on the release button, the thumb against the rapid transport lever. The left hand supports the lens from below. When taking pictures in the upright format, simply turn the LEICAFLEX. The hands remain in the same position as for horizontal pictures, ready to wind on the film and to focus. 7 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals 8 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals The composing and control centre The viewfinder of the LEICAFLEX SL 2 is the centre both for pictorial composition and for control of all important data: sharpness, picture area and perspective, measuring field and exposure meter pointer, shutter speed set on the dial and lens stop. Spectacle wearers, too, can normally survey the viewfinder image without difficulty. In special cases, correction lenses in a mount can be pushed onto the eyelens mount. The viewfinder of the LEICAFLEX SL 2 has been adjusted with micro-precision. This ensures optimum sharpness as well as exact agreement of viewfinder image and picture area on the film. A scale below the viewfinder field indicates on the left the shutter speed set on the dial, and on the right the pre-set lens stop. 9 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Focusing According to your predominant photographic work you will have chosen between 3 permanently built-in viewfinder screens. The image is focused by rotation of the distance setting ring (13) on the lens. a) Screen with split-image wedge This screen is particularly suitable for quick focusing with wide-angle and standard lenses. Unless focusing is critical, edges and lines of the object are mutually displaced in the horizontal split image. A ring-shaped quadrangular micro-prism screen surrounds the central split image. This serves for the focusing of objects lacking crisp outlines. Out-of-focus setting is indicated by distinct flickering. The surrounding field consists of triangular micro-prisms, producing a ground-glass screen effect. This surrounding field is therefore used mainly for focusing with longer-focal-length lenses and in the close-up range. 10 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals b) Screen without split-image wedge The entire central measuring field is occupied by a quadrangular micro-prism screen. Distinct flickering indicates that the object sighted is not critically focused on this screen. c) Groundglass screen The image can be focused within the entire viewfinder field. The central circle indicates the measuring field for the exposure meter. This screen is suitable for close-up and macro-photography as well as for extreme telephoto work. In these cases the working stop is usually employed for focusing etc. because a transmission of the automatic diaphragm is no longer possible. The LEICAFLEX SL 2 MOT special version is supplied with a ground-glass screen unless otherwise ordered. 11 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Exposure meter The exposure meter of the LEICAFLEX SL 2 measures through the lens at full aperture. Additional and therefore timeconsuming operations are eliminated. 20% of the light coming from the lens is directed to the detector of the exposure meter via a cylindrical deflecting mirror arranged behind the hinged mirror. The detector is a CdS photo-resistor built into the bottom part of the camera and arranged so that no stray light influences the measurement. The outline of the measuring range of the exposure meter is indicated by the two semicircular markings top and bottom right on the edge of the viewfinder image. The exposure meter is switched on and off with the rapid transport lever (4). In the LEICAFLEX SL 2 the exposure meter is switched off when the rapid transport lever is parked against the camera body in the resting position. It is switched on when the rapid transport lever (4) is swung into the measuring position (in the LEICAFLEX SL 2 MOT special model the exposure meter is constantly switched on). The measuring field of the exposure meter is exactly defined in the viewfinder by the large central circle. Thus the target area for the focal length of all the lenses 12 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals is outlined clearly and at the same size. The part of the subject representative of the exposure can be measured precisely. Unfavourable influences such as extremely bright or dark portions of the subject, open light sources, and other undesirable features can be eliminated by the measurement of an undisturbed area of the object representative of the total subject. In most cases a rule of thumb can be used: measure the feature you are focusing on. Generally do not measure extremes such as dark shadow portions, bright clouds, open light sources, or reflections on the water. Our special leaflet "Selective Light Measurement" No. 111-77 contains further details. Setting the film speed and -type Correct setting of the film speed is essential to correct exposure measurement. The setting ring (20) displays the DIN/ASA values. To set the value for the film in the camera depress the locking button (16) and simultaneously turn the ring until the desired number faces the corresponding index on the front (DIN) or back (ASA). The film indicator disc (19) can be set at the following symbols to denote the type of film in the camera: = Black-and-white film = Daylight colour film = Artificial-light colour film = Colour negative film The locking button (16) serves as index mark for the setting. 13 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Setting the shutter speed The pointers of the exposure meter appear on the right of the viewfinder field. The follow-pointer is coupled with the diaphragm setting ring (11) of the lens and the shutter speed dial (2) of the camera. To set the correct exposure the diaphragm setting ring (11) of the lens and/or the shutter speed dial (2) are adjusted. It is thus possible to select the desired shutter speed/lens stop combination at will: The lens stop to vary the depth of field, the shutter speed to avoid camera shake or undesired movement blur. The shutter speed set on the shutter speed dial (left) and the pre-set lens stop (right) are displayed on the scale below the viewfinder image. When the exposure is set correctly the follow-pointer exactly brackets the measuring pointer. Measurement with working stop Some accessories, such as extreme telephoto lenses, the ring combination for the close-up range, and the focusing bellows R have no automatic diaphragm. The exposure must be measured at the working stop. The deflection of the measuring pointer is influenced by a change in the lens stop. The follow-pointer is made to 14 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals coincide with the measuring pointer by rotation of the shutter speed dial (2) of the camera. The reading for the lens stop in the viewfinder will be opposite H in this case. Measuring in the limiting ranges The high sensitivity of the exposure meter of the LEICAFLEX SL 2 permits precise exposure measurements even in very poor lighting conditions. To improve visibility the adjustment display on the right-hand margin of the viewfinder image is illuminated with the push-button (8). The lamp is supplied with current by a 1.35v mercuric oxide battery. This is a Mallory PX 625 or an equivalent make. It is located underneath the cover (21), which is unscrewed when the battery has to be changed. With short switching periods of 3 to 4sec duration the life of the battery is about 10 hours. Viewfinder illumination should therefore be switched on only when necessary. 15 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Use of filters When light is measured through the lens the energy reduction owing to filters is generally allowed for automatically. But the various films have different sensitivities in the various spectral regions. Deviations from the measured exposure value can therefore occur with dense and extreme filters. Thus an orange filter, for instance, requires an increase by about 1 stop value, red filters on average about 2 stop values. A completely accurate value cannot be given since the red sensitivity of black-and-white films varies a great deal. With circular-polarizing filters as supplied with our lenses measurement and settings can be carried out as with ordinary filters. With ordinary polarizing filters without circular effect the longest exposure is determined by rotation of the filter and set; now the desired effect is found and the exposure made. 16 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Testing the battery The exposure meter has a 1.35v mercuric oxide battery as current source. The Mallory PX 625 or equivalent brands such as Varta Pertrix 7002 can be used. These batteries have an average life of 1-2 years even when the exposure meter remains switched on for prolonged periods. The power of the battery can be tested as follows: hold the camera as for the horizontal format and look through the viewfinder. Depress the test button (15): the pointer of the exposure meter must be deflected at least as far as the lower semicircular marking of the viewfinder field. Changing the battery Unscrew the cover (24) on the underside of the body with a coin. This exposes the battery, which can now be exchanged. When inserting the new battery make sure that the engraved data are on top. 17 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals The rapid transport lever (4) transports the film through 1 frame with each full lever movement, winds the shutter and switches the film counter (1) to the next-higher number. It engages in a resting position (exposure meter switched off), in a measuring position, and in a readiness position. The shutter speed dial (2) can be set before or after film transport and engages with a click opposite the engraved speeds. Intermediate values can be set as required and are fully operative except between 1/8 and 1/4, 1/30 and 1/60 sec. At the "B" setting the shutter remains open as long as the release button is depressed. Electronic flash units can be used at the speeds B, 1 to J = 1/100 sec (see p. 23). The release button (3) has a thread for cable releases. Pressure on the release button triggers the following camera functions in sequence: 1. The mirror is swung up. 2. The deflecting mirror for the exposure meter folds against the viewfinder mirror. 3. The lens diaphragm closes to the preset value. 4. The shutter operates. 5. The mirror returns into the optical path. 6. The deflecting mirror of the exposure meter returns to the measuring position. 7. The lens diaphragm reopens. 18 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals The LEICAFLEX lenses All LEICAFLEX-R lenses are of the same external design, i.e. the rotatable diaphragm pre-setting ring (11), the fixed ring with depth-of-field indication (12), and the distance setting ring (13) are arranged identically. The left hand thus becomes very easily accustomed to rapid and reliable operation with all focal lengths. Automatic diaphragm All LEICAFLEX-R lenses are fitted with an automatic diaphragm. This means that the viewfinder image is viewed always -- i.e. before and after exposure -- at full aperture and thus maximum viewfinder brightness. Immediately before the exposure or when the depth-of-field button (6) is depressed the lens diaphragm is closed to the pre-set value. 19 Not For Resale ­ Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals Depth-of-field button The LEICAFLEX SL 2 measures the exposure at full lens aperture. The depth-offield button permits the assessment in the viewfinder of the depth of field to be expected with the pre-set stop-down. When the button (6) is pressed the lens diaphragm is closed to the preset value. Please note: During exposure measurement the button (6) must not be pressed. Depth-of-field scale The depth-of-field scale indicates the range of the depth of field for the object distance set on the distance setting ring. If, for instance, you have focused the 50mm SUMMICRON-R f/2. lens on 5m, the sharpness will extend from 3m to about 20m when the lens is stopped down to f/11. If you stop down only to f/4, however, sharpness will extend from 4m to about 8m. Detailed information about depth of field with all focal lengths is contained in our Depth-of-field Table No. 110-57. 20