Using Minolta X-370 Cameras & Similar Aperture Priority Type Cameras

... (Click here to see instructions for Kalimar Cameras.)

  1. Set ISO (film speed) to the number for your film type.  (We use ISO 400 film in class.)
    1. Press & hold the ISO release button
    2. Turn the ISO dial until the correct number shows in the ISO window
  2. Turn the shutter speed/mode dial until “AUTO” appears in the shutter speed/mode window
  3. Turn the camera’s on/off switch to the ON position
    1. Some Minolta camera models also need to have the film advance lever pulled slightly out from the camera body before the camera meter goes on
  4. If you are outdoors a good starting point is to TURN THE CAMERA LENS APERTURE TO f/8

If you are indoors a good starting point is to TURN THE CAMERA LENS APERTURE TO the lowest f/stop number (to let the most light possible into the camera).

  1. LIGHTLY press the shutter release button down a little less than ½ way.  Do not press hard enough to actually take the photo yet. 

>>> This is the step that tells the camera to begin to measure the light on your subject.

>>> (If you are using a ‘gray card’ to help to determine correct exposure, this is the time to aim your camera at the gray card.)

>>> (If your subject is in directly in front of a window where the light outside the window is brighter than the light falling upon your subject from inside the room, this is the time to use the camera’s AE lock.)

  1. On the right-hand side of the viewfinder you should see a capital A with a column of numbers under it.  (The capital A should be solid – not blinking.  If the A is blinking or not present, your camera’s batteries probably need to be replaced.  If you see a capital M instead of a capital A, you did not set your camera on AUTO.  Turn the shutter speed/mode dial until “AUTO” appears in the shutter speed/mode window.)

>>> You should also see either one red line pointing to one of the numbers or two red lines pointing to two of the numbers.  These lines should be solid – not blinking.  (If you see a blinking red line you did not set your camera on AUTO.  Turn the shutter speed/mode dial until “AUTO” appears in the shutter speed/mode window.)

>>> The number or numbers that the red lines point to indicate/s the shutter speed the camera is going to use for the aperture you selected in step #4 above.

>>> If you are hand-holding the camera (that is, if you are not using a tripod,) make sure that the number is at least 60 or higher.  If the number is not 60 or higher, your picture will most likely be too blurry due to ‘camera shake.’ 

  1. If the shutter speed is 60 or higher, it is OK to take the picture.

a.       If the shutter speed is too slow, turn the aperture ring to a lower number to let more light into your camera & try steps 5, 6 & 7again.

b.       If you are already at the lowest number aperture setting possible, there is not enough light in your scene to take a successful photo.  Either add more light (turn on extra room lights, etc.) or choose a different scene.

  1. If instead of a red line you see a blinking arrow at the top of the column, you have too much light in your scene for correct exposure.  Turn the aperture ring to select a higher number aperture so that you let LESS light into your camera & try steps 5, 6 & 7again.
  2. If instead of a red line you see a blinking arrow at the bottom of the column, you have way too little light in your scene for correct exposure.  Turn the aperture ring to select a lower number aperture so that you let MORE light into your camera & try steps 6, 7, & 8 again.
  3. Turn the focus grip until the image is in sharp focus.  (If your camera has a split-screen focus circle in the viewfinder, be sure that the top & bottom parts of the image line up with each other.)
  4. Press the shutter release button down all the way to take the picture.
  5.  Press the film advance lever forward to reset the shutter spring, move the film forward & get ready to take the next picture.

 

Using Kalimar Cameras & Similar L.E.D. Type Cameras for scenes with average lighting conditions.

  1. Make sure the ISO (film speed) is set to the number for your film type. (We use ISO 400 in class.)
    1. Press & hold the ISO release button
    2. Turn the ISO dial until the correct number shows in the ISO window
  2. Turn the camera’s on/off switch to the ON position
  3. Turn the shutter speed wheel until your shutter speed is set to…
    1. Indoors:  60 (1/60th second)
    2. Outdoors:  at least 125 (1/125th second)
  4. Turn your aperture setting to …
    1. Indoors:  TURN THE CAMERA LENS APERTURE TO the lowest f/stop number (to let the most light possible into the camera).
    2. Outdoors:  TURN THE CAMERA LENS APERTURE TO f/8 or higher
  5. Let your subject fill the frame of your viewfinder and LIGHTLY press the shutter release button down a little less than ½ way.  Do not press hard enough to actually take the photo yet. 

>>> This is the step that tells the camera to begin to measure the light on your subject.

>>> (If you are using a ‘gray card’ to help to determine correct exposure, this is the time to aim your camera at the gray card.)

>>> (If your subject is in directly in front of a window where the light outside the window is brighter than the light falling upon your subject from inside the room, this is the time to move in close to the subject & measure only the light on the subject – not the window light.  Turn your camera to those settings & leave them there, then back up and take the picture using the composition you originally planned.)

On the right-hand side of the viewfinder you should see either a red dot a green dot or a yellow dot

·         Yellow dot means not enough light energy to form a picture on the film (if a picture is able to be formed at all the negative would be way too thin to scan & use – almost transparent)

·         Yellow dot plus green dot means there is not quite enough light energy to fully form a picture on the film -the negative would be a little thin & transparent, but possibly usable.

·         Green dot means there is just the right amount of light energy to form a picture on the film.

·         Red dot means there is way too much light energy to form a picture (if an image could be perceived at all the negative will still be way too dense to scan & use.)

·         Red dot plus green dot means there is a little too much light energy to correctly form a picture on the film -the negative would be a little black & dense, but possibly usable.

  1. If you have a green light & the shutter speed is at least 60 (1/60th second) it is OK to take the picture.

a.       If the shutter speed is set for a number lower than 60 the shutter speed may be too slow and your picture could be blurry due to “camera shake.”  To try to fix this problem, turn the shutter speed dial to 60 (1/60th second), turn aperture ring to a lower number to let more light through the lens & into your camera & see if that gives you a green light.

b.       If you are already at the lowest number aperture setting possible, and you can’t get a green light when your shutter speed is set at 60 (1/60th second) that means that there is not enough light in your scene to take a really sharp photo.  Either add more light (turn on extra room lights, etc.) or choose a different scene.

  1. If you see a yellow dot, you do not have enough light energy in your scene and your negative would be almost transparent.  Turn the aperture ring to select a lower number aperture so that you let more light energy  into your camera & try steps 5 & 6 again.
  2. If you see a red dot, you have too much light energy in your scene and your negative would be way too dense.  Turn the aperture ring to select a higher number aperture so that you let less  light energy  into your camera & try steps 5& 6 again.
  3. Turn the focus grip until the image is in sharp focus.  (If your camera has a split-screen focus circle in the viewfinder, be sure that the top & bottom parts of the image line up with each other.)
  4. Press the shutter down all the way & take the picture.