Important Operating Notes

1. The Konica Auto S-3's CdS meter, heart of the 2. The shutter speed is not usable when it is set
automatic exposure system, operates on a to an intermediate point between shutter
mercury battery cell. As a quick check on speed calibrations. Make sure that the
battery condition, look through the camera shutter speed ring has clicked into position.
viewfinder to see that the meter needle swings
as you move the camera in an arc from the
sky to the ground. If the needle does not
move or if its action seems sluggish, replace
the battery with a new one.
3. Electric eye photography is not possible if
there is a flash unit in the camera's accessory
clip. For flash operation.
Six Simple Steps for Electric Eye Photography

1. Load Film 2. Wind Film 3. Set ASA (DIN)

4. Set Shutter Speed 5. Focus and Frame 6. Depress Shutter
Name of Each Part
(1) Shutter Release (2) Film Wind Lever (4) Accessory Clip (6) Film Rewind Crank
Button
(3) Cordless Flash
Contact
(5) Film Plane Mark
(7) Film
Counter (13) Film Rewind Knob

(14) Rangefinder
Window
(8) Strap Eyelet

(9) Guide (15) Viewfinder

Number Ring Window

(16) B(Bulb)Set Lever

(10) Self-timer Lever

(17) Shutter Speed Ring

(11) CdS Meter Window

(12) HEXANON Lens

(18) Focusing Lever
Name of Each Part
(22) Film Guide (25) Pressure Plate
(19) Cord-type Flash
Contact (21) Film Rewind (23) Sprocket
Spindle
(20) Eyepiece (24) Film Take-up
Spool

(30) Back Cover

(31) Film Tension

Roller

(32) Film Rewind

Button
(29) Tripod Socket

(33) Mercury Battery

Chamber
(26) Film
Cartridge Chamber (28) Film Speed (34) Guide
(27) Film Speed Scale Set Lever Number Set Pin
Loading of Mercury Battery

The Konica Auto S-3's CdS meter operates on a

mercury battery. Completely wipe the mercury
battery, which is available as an accessory, with a
piece of dry, clean cloth and then place in the
mercury battery chamber.

1. Take off the lid of your camera's Mercury

Battery Chamber (33) by turning it
counterclockwise with a coin.
 z The life of a mercury battery exceeds one year
when it is put to normal use. Instead of
gradually dropping according to the frequency
of its use, a mercury battery tends to suddenly
drop in voltage when its life has practically
expired.

z When it is found that the meter needle does

not swing when your camera is trained at a
bright subject, replace the mercury battery
with a new one.

z The meter of your camera takes a 1.35V

Mallory PX-675 or Eveready EPX-675.
2. Insert the mercury battery so that the "+" side
of the mercury battery comes in contact with Note that there are batteries similar in shape
the "+" side of the cover. Put the cover on to but different in voltage from a mercury
the chamber, turn it clockwise and screw it up battery.
tightly.
z When your camera is not to be used for a long
period of time, take out the mercury battery
and keep it in a dry place.
Film Loading

1. Flip up the Film Rewind Crank (6) and forcibly 2. While the crank is kept drawn, load a roll of
pull it up, and the Back Cover (30) will open 35mm cartridge film (for 20 or 36 exposures)
and the film counter will indicate the mark "S" into the Film Cartridge Chamber (26) and
(start). return the crank to the original position.
3. Insert the film tip into the slit of the Film 4. Turn the Film Wind Lever (2) and ascertain
Take-up Spool (24). The film tip can be that perforations on both sides of film are in
inserted into any slit. gear with the Film Sprocket (23), before the
back cover is closed.
5. Repeat the winding of film and the depression 6. Move the Film Speed Lever (28) while
of the Shutter Release Button (1) until the applying inward pressure, and turn it so that
figure "1" appears in the Film Counter (7). the notch in the lever matches the film speed
rating of your film as indicated on the Film
z When the film is correctly transported, the film Speed Scale (27). When properly matched,
rewind crank turns. the film speed lever will spring up, locked in
position
Electric Eye Photography
The Konica Auto S-3 incorporates a system in which preference is given to shutter speed in exposure
determination. In other words, this system is so designed that when a shutter speed has been determined
in advance, your camera is automatically set to the correct aperture.

1. Turn the Shutter Speed Ring (17) and set the 2. When the camera is trained at a subject, the
predermined shutter speed to the index mark. lens will be automatically stopped down to the
At a bright place, select a somewhat fast shutter appropriate aperture. In this manner, the
speed (a large shutter speed reading) but
correct exposure is assured at all times.
choose a somewhat slow shutter speed (a small
shutter speed reading) at a dark place. The
simplest way will be to set the shutter speed to
"125" (1/125 sec.) for outdoor shooting and "30"
(1/30 sec.) for indoor shooting.
Before the Shutter is Released

1. Look through the finder.

While looking through the finder, you may be
able to (1) ascertain the exposure, (2) focus
the lens and (3) frame the subject. When
either an electronic flash unit or a flash gun
has been clipped into the accessory clip of
your camera, the Synchro Mark will appear in
the finder.
 Bright Frame
Aperture Scale Overexposure
Warning Mark

Parallax
Compensation Mark

Synchro Mark

Meter Needle

Rangefinder's
Double-Image Section Underexposure Warning Mark
2. Ascertaining of EE Exposure

Correct Exposure Range:

When the meter needle is within the correct
exposure range, it means that the EE system will
work and make it possible to take pictures at the
correct exposure. The calibration to which the
needle points represents the aperture at which
the picture is taken. In other words, this scale
provides you with photographic data.
Overexposure Warning Mark:
When the meter needle has come into this
portion and the shutter has been released with
the needle as it is, the picture will be
overexposed. Turn the shutter speed ring to set
the shutter to a faster speed, and the needle will
come out of this area. One way would be to use
an ND filter.
Underexposure Warning Mark:
When the meter needle is within this area and the
shutter is released with the needle as it is, the
picture will be underexposed. Turn the shutter
speed ring to set the shutter to a slower speed,
and the needle will come out of this area. In
case the needle has not come out of this area
even if the shutter is set to a slower speed, use a
flash gun or electronic flash.
3. Focusing
While looking through the finder, turn the
Focusing Lever, put together the double image
visible at the bright, yellow-colored center of your
finder. This means that the lens of your camera
is perfectly focused on your subject. Depress
the shutter button without too much force.

Bright Frame:
The scope of area in the bright frame will be
photographed. When your subject is situated at
a point 1 meter from your camera, put your
subject within the inner Parallax Compensation
Mark. The lens is out of focus
(note the double image is split.)
The lens is in focus Readings in Green
(note the double image is aligned.) If you set the shutter speed to the reading of
1/125 sec. in green and the taking distance to the
reading of 5 m. in green, you will be able to take
sharp snap-shots without focusing the lens
whenever you want to take a picture. By so
doing, you will be able to take a picture at the
right moment.
Holding Your Camera Steady

To obtain well-focused pictures, it is imperative It is more difficult to hold your camera, long side
that your camera is held steady to prevent your vertical, than to hold it, short side vertical. But at
camera from being accidentally jarred when the times you have to hold your camera, long side
shutter button is depressed. Hold your camera
vertical, depending on the subjects. It is
in both hands and put it to your face to assure its
advisable to get yourself familiarized with long
stability. To release the shutter, gently depress
the shutter button with your finger. side vertical holding.
Film Rewinding

1. When a predetermined number 2. Flip up the Film Rewind Crank 3. When there is a sudden drop in
of pictures have been taken, (6) and turn in the arrow- the pressure felt in your hand
push down the Film Rewind marked direction, and the film and the film rewind button stops
Button (32) on the bottom of will be rolled back into the film turning, open the back cover
your camera. cartridge. and take out the cartridge.
In Taking Portraits with
Behind-the-Subject Lighting...
When a man is photographed with
behind-the-subject lighting or his background
constitutes the skies or the shining water surface,
the pictures will be under-exposed. In this
situation, train your camera downwards and
slightly depress the shutter button so that the
meter needle may be temporarily fixed. With the
needle kept stationary, train your camera at your
subject and fully depress the shutter button, and
you will be able to take a clear picture of your
subject.

z Another way would be to set the film speed

scale to ASA 40, instead of 80.
Use of Self-timer B (Bulb) Exposure

Turn the Self-timer lever (10) to the full extent

and set it. Depress the shutter button, and the
With the bulb lever kept depressed, turn the
shutter will be released in about 10 seconds.
shutter speed ring and set "B" to the index mark
z Do not depress the shutter button while for B (bulb) exposure. In B exposure, the
standing in front of your camera. Otherwise, shutter will be open as long as the shutter button
the correct exposure will not be assured. is pressed down. This method is fitted for use in
giving long-time exposure at a dark place, such
z Do not forget that the film wind lever has been
as at night or in taking pictures of fireworks.
cocked before a picture is taken.
z For bulb exposure, use a tripod and the
z Do not return the self-timer lever to the original
Konica Cable Release.
position once it has been set.
Flash Photography

1. By moving the Guide Number Set Pin (34), set

the guide number to the index mark according
to the film speed of the film you have in your
camera and your flash device.

In using film of ASA 80/125, the guide number is:

14 for Konica X-14
20 for Konica X-20, and
28 for Konica Cube Flash.

10 20 40 32 64 128

In a dark room, use the Konica Electronic Flash

X-14 or X-20 or Konica Cube Flash for flash
photography, so that you may be able to take
bright and beautiful pictures.
 3. In using the Konica X-14 or X-20 Electronic
Flash, you can set the shutter to any speed,
but use 1/30 sec. or a slower speed for the
Konica Cube Flash.

4. When the lens is focused at a subject while

looking through the finder, the lens will be
stopped down to the correct aperture,
according to the taking distance, and you will
be able to take beautiful flash pictures at all
2. When the Konica X-14 or X-20 Electronic
time (Auto Flashmatic system).
Flash or the Konica Cube Flash is fitted to the
Accessory Clip (4), your camera will be set to
flash photography, as the synchro mark
appears in the finder.

z The synchro mark is designed primarily as an

index for daylight flash photography, and it
also serves as a signal for flash photography.
Daylight Flash Photography

When a picture is taken of a person at the

window in backlight, the face of this person will
become dark in the finished picture in EE
photography. In such a case, use the daylight
flash photography technique in which both the
subject and the background may be brightly
photographed with an electronic flash.

1. Insert the Konica X-14 or X-20 Electronic

Flash into the accessory clip and set the guide
number for the film used in your camera.

2. The synchro mark which appears in the finder

goes up and down, depending on the taking
distance.
3. After the lens has been focused on the subject, Notes for the cases in which the meter needle
turn the shutter speed ring while looking cannot be brought in line with the synchro
through the viewfinder and align the meter mark:
needle with the synchro mark. The electronic (1) When the needle cannot be aligned with the
flash and available light will be balanced in synchro mark as the meter needle stays
brightness, thus making it possible to take above the mark and cannot be brought in line
beautiful daylight flash pictures at the correct with the mark even if the shutter speed is set
exposure. to 1/500 sec., go closer to the subject and re-
focus it.

(2) When the needle cannot be aligned with the

mark as it stays under the mark and cannot
be brought in line with the mark even if the
shutter speed is set to 1/8 sec., keep farther
away from the subject and re-focus it. Note
that daylight flash photography is more
effective at distances of up to 5 m. for the X-
14 and 7 m. for the X-20.

z When the needle is above or under the mark,

the picture will come out as shown in the
following photos:
(a) The farther the needle stays above the mark, (b) With the needle staying under the mark, the
the weaker the electronic flash landed on the background is dark as the camera has been
subject. set to Auto Flashmatic.
Shutter Speed and Delineation

In taking pictures of a fast moving subject,

whether you can fix and sharply delineate it or
blur it to emphasize its dynamism depends on the
shutter speed selected for this particular moment.
z If you want to fix a fast moving subject in a
finished picture, choose a fast speed, such as
1/250 and 1/500 second.
z If you want to blur a subject in a finished
1/500 sec. picture to emphasize its dynamism, select a
slow shutter speed between 1/8 to 1/30
second. For a sharp delineation of the
portion which does not move, use a tripod and
a cable release to prevent the camera from
being accidentally jarred.
(Whatever shutter speed it to be selected must
be within the EE coupling range.)
After the selection of the appropriate shutter
speed, the essential thing will be to release the
shutter at the very moment when the expression
1/8 sec. of the subject is good.
Aperture and Delineation

In taking pictures of a person against the

background of a landscape, you could sharply
delineate both the person and the background, or
you could sharply delineate the subject and blur
the background. Which way of photographing
can be done depends on the given aperture.
• When you want to sharply delineate
everything both at near and far places, select
a small aperture, such as f/11 or f/16. In this
f/1.8 situation, focus the lens at a point somewhat
behind the thing which is near the camera.
• When you want to sharply delineate the thing
which is near the camera and blur the thing
which is far from the camera, select a big
aperture, such as f/1.8 and f/2.8. If available
light is too bright for the lens to be set to a big
aperture at 1/500 second, use an ND filter and
focus the lens at the thing which is close to the
camera.

f/16
Depth-of-Field
When the lens is focused on a subject, there is
an area around the subject which will be clearly
delineated in the finished photograph
(depth-of-field). The smaller the aperture and
the more distant the lens is focused, the bigger
the depth-of-field. The depth-of-field is small for
the area in front of the subject and larger for that
behind the subject. Use these effects for
delineation.
Features of the Konica Auto S-3