Rollei AFM 35 Operating Instructions 1 GENERAL Congratulations on your sophisticated new 35 mm camera! Please read these instructions carefully before using your camera, so you will be able to make optimum use of its many features. Precautions > Do not tamper with the camera's internal components. High-voltage circuits may pose a health hazard. Also, tampering will invalidate your warranty. > Should the camera be damaged, do not touch any internal components to avoid an electric shock. > Should the camera get wet, remove the battery for the same reason. Battery notes > The camera will work only with a battery properly loaded. > Load the battery with the proper polarity. > Batteries must not be recharged, short-circuited or opened, thrown into a fire, exposed to humidity or liquids, disposed of with household garbage. Keep batteries away from children! 2 GENERAL > > > The shutter of your camera will not release, if ... no battery is loaded or the battery is exhausted; the lens cover is closed (camera OFF); the film is being rewound. Your camera is electronically controlled by a microprocessor. In rare cases, strong electrical or magnetic fields may give rise to malfunctions. In this case remove the battery for 2 ­ 3 minutes. The camera should again function normally after reloading the battery. Preventive police recommendation: Marking your valuables, photographing and cataloging them will make it more difficult for thieves to sell them and may save you a lot of trouble. 3 CONTENTS Getting ready Controls Description of parts LCD panel Viewfinder frame Loading the battery Testing the battery Preparing your camera for shooting Loading film Removing the film Mid-roll rewind Picture taking Switching the camera on/off Holding the camera Shooting on full auto Purpose of viewfinder LEDs When autofocus might fail Releasing the shutter Focus lock Depth of field Aperture-priority AE Purpose of viewfinder LEDs Flash range 4 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 24 Flash modes Autoflash Red-eye reduction Flash off Fill flash Backlight compensation Slow sync (night flash) Self-timer Bulb exposures Setting a bulb exposure Automatic exposure bracketing (AEB)/ exposure compensation Retaining your bracketing amount Manual focusing Selecting the date format Setting the date Miscellaneous Camera care and storage Troubleshooting Specifications AE program diagram Aperture-priority AE diagram Lens cross section Depth-of-field table > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 25 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 35 35 36 37 38 40 43 45 46 47 50 CONTROLS Primary functions of components Control Main dial Purpose Master switch (see p. 15) Programmed AE (see p. 17) Aperture-priority AE (see p. 21) Autofocus (p. 17)/manual focus selector (p. 35) Flash-mode selector (see p. 25) Bracketing selector (see p. 32) Exposure-compensation selector (p. 31) Activating the self-timer (see p. 30) or a bulb exposure (see p. 31) Setting the date (see p. 37) and the date format (see p. 36), respectively Mid-roll rewind (see p. 14) Focusing dial Button (7) [AEB/±] button ( /BULB) button SET button SEL-Taste Button (21) 5 DESCRIPTION OF PARTS 1 Strap lug 2 Main dial (ON/OFF, programmed and aperture-priority AE) 3 Self-timer lamp 4 Shutter release 5 Autofocus window 6 Exposure-meter window 7 Flash button 8 Bracketing/ exposure-compensation button (AEB/±) 9 Self-timer/ bulb-exposure button (BULB) 10 Viewfinder window 11 Flash unit 12 Focusing dial 13 Focusing-dial release 14 AF-LED 15 Automatically retracting lens 1 23 45 6 1 7 8 9 10 1 (1) 15 6 14 13 12 DESCRIPTION OF PARTS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Viewfinder eyepiece 25 Focus indicator 26 Red warning LED 27 Date select button (SEL) 28 Date set button (SET) 29 Mid-roll rewind button 30 Camera-back release Film-cartridge compartment 1/4" tripod socket Take-up spool Film-leader mark Battery-compartment cover 17 19 21 Camera back Pressure plate Film type window 16 18 20 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 7 LCD PANEL LCD panel AEB compensation in EV AEB mode Self-timer Bulb exposure Date imprint Anti-red-eye mode Slow sync Flash OFF Flash ON Frame counter Manual focusing Backlight compensation Battery status 8 VIEWFINDER FRAME 2 1 AEB 3 MF 4 4 MF (manual focusing) This appears when you press the shutter release halfway with autofocusing disabled. The minimum focusing distance is 0.4 m. Please note that at distances between 0.4 and 0.9 m so-called parallax will cause the viewfinder to show a slightly different frame from the one recorded on film. This is why parallax marks serve as upper and lefthand frame lines at this distance. In other words, the actual frame will shift to the bottom and right. Be sure to make allowance for this effect. The viewfinder This is your guide to what will be recorded on film. 1 Autofocus frame The camera will automatically focus on the subject detail covered by this frame. 2 Parallax marks These mark the upper and left frame lines of your picture at distances between 0.4 m and 0.9 m. 3 AEB (automatic exposure bracketing) This appears in the AEB mode as you press the shutter release halfway. 9 LOADING THE BATTERY Loading the battery Your camera is designed for use of a type CR2 or CR2/ DL 3V lithium battery with an average capacity of around 360 exposures. Please do NOT load any film as long as there is no battery in the camera. Before shooting, be sure to check the battery status (see p. 11). The date and hour have to be reset after loading a new battery (see p.37). When traveling and shooting at low temperatures, it is advisable to carry a spare battery. > > > Open the battery-compartment cover with a coin. Load the battery with due regard to the polarity marks (+) and (-). Align the symbols, and tighten the cover with the aid of a coin. 10 TESTING THE BATTERY 1 Battery notes > Should the battery fail during rewinding, load a new one and repeat rewinding by pressing button (21). In this case, it is possible that a figure will be blinking in the frame counter instead of "E" after rewinding. However, you may open the camera back as soon as the figure in the frame counter starts blinking. 2 3 Testing the battery When you switch the camera on, a battery icon will appear on the LCD. The different icons have the following meaning: 1 Sufficient power 2 Low power. Change battery. 3 Blinking: Battery exhausted; shutter cannot be released. Note: Be sure to test your battery before shooting. You can easily change the battery with a film in the camera. You will only have to reset the date and hour thereafter. 11 Note: Battery power drops at low temperatures. It is therefore advisable to carry a spare battery when shooting in cold climate. PREPARING YOUR CAMERA FOR SHOOTING Attaching the wrist strap > Thread the thin end of the strap through the camera's strap lug and pull the long end through the loop. Loading film Your camera has been designed for the use of DXcoded 35mm film (size 135). These films allow the camera to set the film speed automatically. Suitable film speeds: ISO 50/18°, 100/21°, 200/24°, 400/27°, 800/30°, 1600/33°, 3200/36°. When you load a non-DX-coded film or one whose speed varies from the values given above, the camera will default to ISO 100/21°. 12 LOADING FILM > > > > > > > > > Push the camera-back release as shown, and open the back. A battery must be loaded BEFORE you load a film. Be sure NOT to open the camera back as long as there is a film in the camera that has not been rewound. Be absolutely sure to avoid force when opening or closing the camera back. Normally, the shutter cannot be released when the camera back is open. However, should this become indispensable, the shutter can be released if the camera-back release is pressed down at the same time. Load a film cartridge. Pull the film leader out until it reaches the corresponding mark at the opposite side of the camera. Close the camera back. The film will now be automatically wound up to the first frame. Please make sure that the cartridge lip makes contact with the film guides before closing the camera back. > > > > Should the film leader reach beyond the mark on the left-hand side of the camera, remove the cartridge and rewind the film slightly by hand. With the camera back closed, you may read the type and speed of the film loaded through the corresponding window in the back. Switch the camera on and check the frame-counter reading. Remember that the shutter cannot be released as long as the frame counter does not read "1" because the film has not been properly wound up to the first frame. In this case, open the camera back and load the film again. Notes: Never change films in direct sunlight. If you exceed the nominal number of exposures per roll, the last frame may be cut off during processing, or the date may not be properly imprinted. 13 REMOVING THE FILM/MID-ROLL REWIND Removing the film After the last frame, the camera will rewind the film automatically. The frame counter then reads "E" (for "empty"). > Before opening the camera back, make sure that there is no more rewinding sound and that the frame counter reads "E". Premature opening of the camera back may damage the camera and expose at least part of your film. > Push the camera-back release in the direction of the arrow and open the camera. > Remove the film cartridge. > Should you switch your camera off without removing the rewound film, the lens will not retract. This is why you should always remove the film immediately after rewinding. Mid-roll rewind Press button (21) if you wish to rewind a film that is only partially exposed. > After rewinding, the frame counter will read "E". 14 SWITCHING THE CAMERA ON/OFF Switching the camera on > Turn the main dial to "P". The lens cover will open. > If you do not use any of the camera's functions for five minutes, it will switch off automatically. To switch it on again, simply press the shutter release halfway. Alternatively, you may turn the main dial to OFF and back to the desired setting. Switching the camera off > Turn the main dial to OFF. The lens cover will close, and the liquid-crystal display will go dead. 15 HOLDING THE CAMERA Holding your camera properly > Grasp your camera firmly with both hands to avoid camera shake. > If possible, brace your elbows against your body. > Keep the camera close to your eye so you can see the entire viewfinder frame. > The camera will focus automatically over a range of 0.4 m to infinity (). > Press the shutter release SOFTLY, without jerking. Please note Do not obstruct the lens, autofocus and exposuremeter windows and the flash with your fingers, hair or the wrist strap. > For shots in vertical format, make sure that the flash unit is on top to obtain natural illumination. > Frame your subject so that the AF area is on top of the most important detail of your picture. > 16 SHOOTING ON FULL AUTO/PURPOSE OF VIEWFINDER LEDS Purpose of viewfinder LEDs in full-auto mode (with shutter release pressed halfway) Display Green focus indicator LED lit Information Camera has focused on subject Shooting on full auto > Your picture will be focused automatically (AF). > Exposure will be controlled automatically. > Flash will likewise be controlled automatically. In other words, the camera will do all the "work", leaving you to frame your subject and press the shutter release. blinking Subject too close Focusing impossible. See "When Autofocus might fail" Red warning LED blinking Outside metering range lit Flash being charged Wait till LED goes out (Recycling time is about four seconds) > > Turn the main dial to "P", and switch the camera on. Be sure to engage your focusing dial on "AF". * Releasing the shutter while the flash is being charged will result in underexposure. 17 WHEN AUTOFOCUS MIGHT FAIL/RELEASING THE SHUTTER When autofocus might fail The autofocus system has its natural limits, and in some cases it may be advisable to use focus lock (see p. 19). Alternatively, you may focus manually (see p. 35). Difficult subjects for autofocus are, among others, the following: > A bright light source, for instance the sun or a strong reflection from a water surface, car paint, etc. near your main subject. > A mirror or another highly glossy surface near the center of your picture. > A background that is noticeably brighter than your main subject. > Exclusively vertical patterns within the AF area. > Fast subject motion. Releasing the shutter > Press the shutter release halfway. > The camera will focus automatically, and the green focus indicator will light. > The red warning LED should NOT be lit. > Softly press the shutter release all the way. > In low light, the flash will fire automatically. > After each exposure, the frame counter will advance by one step. 18 FOCUS LOCK 1 2 3 Focus lock In the left-hand photo above, the AF area is on the background. As a result, the camera would focus on the latter. > To do better, sight one of the persons with the AF area. > With the camera in this position, press the shutter release halfway. Your focus will be locked in for as long as you keep the shutter release in this position. > Exposure is locked in together with focus. > Keeping the shutter release depressed halfway, recompose and press the shutter release softly all the way. > Focus lock is canceled as soon as you let go of the shutter release. You can thus repeat focusing on different subjects as many times as you wish before you finally trigger the exposure. 19 DEPTH OF FIELD What is depth of field? > Any optical system can actually focus on only one distance. However, the size of the lens aperture (fstop) has a decisive effect on the depth range which the eye will still accept as "sharp". The following optical laws apply: > A large aperture results in shallow depth of field, a small one in great depth of field. > The longer the focusing distance, the greater the depth of field. The shorter the distance, the shallower the depth of field. > Depth of field is shallower in front of the plane of best focus than behind it. See also the depth-of-field table on p. 50. > > Turn the main dial to the desired aperture and make sure it engages one of its click stops. Note that proper exposure is not guaranteed in any intermediate position. Press the shutter release halfway, making sure that the green focus indicator lights (not so the red warning LED!), and press the shutter release softly all the way. 20