Zenith 12 Xp Manual

							 
Zenith 12 XP
  
						

							To get the best results from your Zenith study these instructions thoroughly to make
sure  you  are  familiar  with  the  essential  features  of  the  camera  before  you  start
taking pictures.  It is suggested that before loading  the first  film  you sit  down  with
the instructions in front of you and try out all the controls to generally get the feel
of  the  camera.  It  is  also  recommended  that a test film be shot and the results
examined before taking further pictures. This will enable any early operator errors
to be corrected and will give you confidence for the future.
As a system camera your Zenith will accept a large number of different lenses and
additional accessories; we particularly recommend as most suitable those from the
Hellos range which will enable you to cope with almost any photographic situation.
Your Zenith is sturdily built  to work happily  under widely varying conditions but it
should always be remembered that as a precision  optical instrument it must at all
times be treated with due care and consideration and protected from shock, damp,
dust, sand and sudden changes of temperature. With care it will give many years of
reliable service - and ; brilliant pictures. 
This booklet has been provided  to enable you to get the best  results  as quickly  as
possible and is not intended to be a comprehensive manual of photography. There
are  many  good  inexpensive  books  on  photographic  technique  available  and  your
dealer will be pleased to recommend one suitable for your particular need. 
Format: 24 x 36mm;using standard 35mm cassettes of 12, 20, 24 or 36 exposure
color or black and white film. 
Shutter:  Horizontal  traveling  Focal  Plane  type,  speeded  1/30,1/60,1/125,  1/250
and 1/500th second plus B (brief time). Linked to self-timer giving approximately 7
seconds delay. 
Flash  Synchronization:  Electronic  flash  at  1/30th  sec.  through  Hot-shoe  or
standard 3mm co-axial socket 
Viewing/Focusing system: Eye-level pentaprism/instant return mirror shows upright
laterally correct image. Bright Fresnel focusing screen with central microprism spot.
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Exposure meter: Zenith 12. Built-in CdS cell with L.E.D. indicators in the viewfinder.
Power  source:  two  Mallory  D386  cells.  (These  should  be  replaced  once  a  year.)
Zenith 11 Selenium cell with match-needle read out.  Both meters calibrated for 16-
500 ASA/13-28 DIN. 
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Frame counter:  Additive 0-36 manual resetting type  
Standard Lens: Helio 44M-4, 58mm focal length 
Construction: 6 elements in 4 groups 
Diaphragm type: Fully automatic instantly re-open. 
Aperture  range  F2-F16  with  click  stops  at full  and  half  apertures  (except  between
F11 and F16)
Distance scale: 0.5 to infinity 
Filter size: 52mm screw 
Lens  mount:  42mm  thread,   accepts  standard  single  pin  automatic  lenses  and
accessories 
						

							Loading the Camera - Step by step instructions 
Always  load  the  camera  in  subdued  light;  if  outdoors
shield from direct sunlight. 
Make sure that the indicator on the Shutter Release Button
[3] is facing towards the front of the camera. 
Depress Shutter Release Button [3] - if shutter does not fire
advance  Transport  Lever  [2]  in  short  strokes  until  it  stops
and press Shutter Release Button [3] again. 
Lift Rewind Knob [16] to open back. 
Insert  film  cassette  into  Film  Chamber  [21]  projection  of
cassette to bottom.
Push  Rewind  Knob  [16]  down  turning  slightly  to  seat  into
cassette.
Draw  out  enough  film  to  insert tip  of  leader  into  any  of
Take-up Spools  
						

							[22]  slots  ensuring  that  the  second  hole  engages  with  a
tooth  on  the  spool.  Ease  film forward  by  swat  strokes  of
Transport Lever [2] until it stops. The lower Sprocket Teeth
[26] should be properly engaged. 
Fire  shutter.  Advance  film  by short  strokes  of  transport
lever  until  both  top  and  bottom  sprockets  are  engaged.  If
necessary  tighten  film  on  Take-up  Spool  [22]  by  turning
the flange at the base of the spool  anti-clockwise  with  the
finger  and  in  the  cassette  by gently  turning  the  Rewind
Knob  [16]  in  the  direction  of the  arrow  on  the  lever  until
resistance  is  felt.  This  is  especially  necessary  with  twelve
exposure films. 
Close the back of the camera until it clicks shut. Complete
wind-on if necessary until Transport Lever [2] stops.
Fire  shutter.  Advance  film  Transport  Lever  [2]  using  short
strokes until it stops. The Rewind Knob [16] should revolve
while this is being done.
Fire shutter and advance film again. Set Frame Counter [4]
to zero.
Set  Film  Speed  Selector  Dial  [15]  against  Indicator  [17]
appropriate  to the speed of the film to be used. There are
two  scales  for  films  rated  in ASA  and  DIN.  Only  click-
stopped numbered or intermediate positions may be used.
Intermediate positions are proportional. If using 1000 ASA
film  set  the  selector  to  500  ASA  but  use  the  next  faster
shutter  speed  than  indicated  by the meter or close the
aperture ring by one full stop.  
						

							Using the Camera
Set  the  Speed  Dial  [1  ]  appropriately  according  to  the
subject.  The  dial  is  marked in  figures  that  represent
fractions of a second-i.e. 60 is 1/60th second. It may be
turned  in  either  direction  but  not  between  500  and  B
and must not be between marked speeds.
Initially we suggest that outdoors the speed set should not
be less than 1/125th sec.
Focusing.  Look  through  the  Viewfinder  [27]  and  roughly
decide  what  you  wish  to  take  remembering  you  are
actually  looking  through  the  lens.  Focus  by  turning  the
Focusing  Ring  [11]  clockwise  for  close  and  anti-clockwise
for  far  distance  until  the  subject  is  sharp  and  clear  on  the
large viewing screen.
For critical focusing using the inner of the two rings in the
center and adjust until the image is clear and undistorted. 
Since you are viewing and focusing through the actual lens
that  takes  the  finished  picture  you  can  feel  safe  in  the
knowledge  that  there  will  be  no  parallax  problems  (no
more cut-off heads in close-up
portraits  and  the  like).  Theres  a  built-in  safety  margin  of
course, in common with many other  modern  single  lens
reflex  cameras,  the  viewfinder  showing  an  overall  area
somewhat  smaller  than  the  total  film  area.  this  ensures
that  everything  you  see  in  the  viewfinder  appears  in  the
finished  picture  despite  the  fact  that  slide  mounts  and
masks in printing equipment cover part of the films image. 
						

							Depth of Field 
The lens is also provided  with a scale  calibrated  in  meters
but it will seldom be necessary to refer to this.
This is the depth of field scale [13] and works the following
way:
All lenses when focused on a given subject will show some
objects in front of and behind that subject sharply in focus.
This  range  is  called  Depth  of  Field  and  varies  with
different  lenses.  With  any lens you  will  find  that Depth of
Field is always great as small apertures such as F/16 and
less at large apertures such as F2.
Depth  of  Field  is  also  greater  with  a  more  distant  subject
that  a  nearby  subject  and  increases  nearly  twice  as  much
beyond the subject than in front of it. 
To  use  the  depth  of  field  scale,  first  focus  on  your  subject
then  determine  how  great  a  Depth  of  Field  a  given
aperture  will  give  by  reading  distances  against  the  two
marks  for  that  aperture.  The  figure on the left will be the
nearest  point  in  focus  and  that  to  the  right  the  furthest,
thus  enabling  you  to  select  that  aperture  which  will  give
the desired Depth of Field. 
						

							                          Using the meter
Having  focused  on  the  subject  set  the  Lens  Aperture  Ring
[9] in the middle of the range (say f/8) and press the
Shutter Release Button  [3] about half-way. This will switch
on  the  meter  and  one  of two  red  lights  on  the  right-hand
side of the viewing frame will
 come on. If it is the upper one this indicates over-exposure
and the Aperture  Ring [9] should be turned clockwise thus
reducing the amount of light reaching the film. Should the
lower  light  come  on  it  indicates  under-exposure  and  the
Aperture  Ring  [91  should  be  turned  anti-clockwise.  Turn
until  both  lights  flash  rapidly  in  sequence  -  this  is  the
correct exposure.
 If it is not possible to get both lights flashing in sequence
even at the end of the range of the Aperture Rinai9l then 
alter the Shutter Speed Dial [1] up or down and repeat the
process.  The  meter  fitted  in  the  Zenith  12  XP  is  very
sensitive  and in  some cases  the  indicator  lights  may move
from top to bottom without an intermediate flashing stage.
In this case choose the exposure at the point of the change
from top to bottom when the latitude of modern film will
still give you the correct exposure 
						

							Set Film Speed
In the cut-outs in the Aperture Indicator Dial [15a] there are two scales for ferris
rated in ASA and DIN. 
Set the speed of the film in use by turning the dial with the
small  projection.  Any  intermediate  positions  may  be  used
and are proportionate 
Point  the  camera  at  the  subject,  if  outdoors  with  a  bright
sky  tilt  it  downwards  somewhat.  Also  study  the  Helpful
Hint  for  Better  Exposure  on page  14.  Always  ensure
Exposure  Meter  Window  [15c]  is not obscured in any way
when taking a reading. 
With the camera still pointed at the subject turn the Shutter
Speed  Indicator  Dial  [15b]  until  the  ring  of  the  Exposure
Meter  Cursor  [19b]  is  centered  over  the  Exposure  Meter
Needle [19a]. Read off possible combinations of speed and
aperture  opposite  each  other  on the  two  dials.  Only  those
speeds  in  white  may  be  set  directly  on  the  camera;  of  the
others,  2-15  represent  fractions  of  a  second  and  are  for
information  only  but  the  figures  1-30  are  whole  seconds
which  may  be  used  in  a  time exposure.  Choose  the  most
suitable combination. 
In extremely dim lighting, the Exposure Meter Needle [19a]
may  rest  near  the  right-hand  edge  of  the  transparent
window.  Should  this  occur,  place  your  hand  close  in  front
of  the  Exposure  Meter  Window  and  watch  the  needle
carefully.  If  the  needle  moves  when  you  block  the  meter
cell  the  exposure  meter  is  able to  function  in  the  existing
light  -remove  your  hand  and  determine  exposure  in  the
normal way However, if no needle movement occurs-when
you  place  your  hand  in  front  of  the meter  cell  the  existing
light is insufficient and the exposure meter cannot be used.
In this event either a time exposure or use of a flash gun is
recommended.  
						

							Removing Exposed Film - Step by step instructions 
Replace the lens cap to prevent accidental exposure of film
during rewinding. 
Press Shutter Release Button [3].
With  the  finger  tip  depress  the  Film  Rewind  Sleeve
(arrowed above) into the cut-out portion of the surrounding
sleeve. It will click and stay down. 
Lift  out  Rewind  Crank  [16]  and  rotate  clockwise  in  the
direction of the arrow. You will feel the film being rewound
into the cassette - stop when resistance ceases.
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Lift  Rewind  Knob  [16]  fully  to  open  camera  back.  Remove
exposed cassette. 
Advance  Film  Transport  Lever  [2]  in  short  strokes  until  it
stops.  The  Film  Rewind  Sleeve will  return  to  its  original
position. 
Fire shutter.
The camera is now ready for your next film. 
						

							Photography with Flash
The meter cannot be used when taking flash pictures as the
burst  of  light  is  too  short.  In all  cases  the  Speed  Dial  [1]
must  be  set  to,  30-X,  the  aperture  being  determined  by
the  camera-to-subject  distance.  Tables  or  calculators  for
this are given in the instructions for the flashgun often
being incorporated into the gun itself. Some flashguns have
built-in  computers  which  allow  the  aperture  to  be  left  at
one setting regardless of camera-to-subject distance. 
Set the Speed Dial to 30-X. 
Remove square shield from Accessory Shoe [18] and put in
a safe place.
A  lightweight  compact  gun  may  be  slid  into  the  accessory
shoe.  If  there  is  a  lead  connect  the  plug  to  Flash  Sync.
Socket [5]. 
A  large  or  heavy  gun  must  be  fitted  to  a  flash  bracket
screwed  into  one of the Tripod Bushes  [23] on the  camera
base. Connect the lead to the Flash Sync. Socket [5]. 
Set  Aperture  Ring  [9]  in  accordance  with  the  flashguns
instructions. 
Switch gun on, wait for ready light, focus and proceed. 
Remember  to  replace  the  accessory  shoe  cover  after
removing gun.