Medium Format Forum

Register a free account now!

If you are registered, you get access to the members only section, can participate in the buy & sell second hand forum and last but not least you can reserve your preferred username before someone else takes it.

NEED SOME BASIC INFO ON ELM FUNCTIONS

osprey57

New Member
HI,
I HAVE A 500C BUT JUST PURCHASED A REALLY NICE EXEMPLAR OF AN 500 EL/M. IT HAD A FACTORY CONVERSION TO TAKE AA BATTERIES SO BATTERY PROBLEMS ARE NOT AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING SETTINGS ON THE DIAL WHERE A CRANK USUALLY IS DO?
"AS" , "A", "O", "S", "SR"

WHAT ARE THE THREE LETTERS NEAR THE CHARGE PLUG USED FOR?
"L" "O" "T"

IS THERE AN OFF POSITION TO CONSERVE BATTERIES?

ANY DO'S OR DONT'S I NEED TO KNOW WHILE OPERATIONG IT?


ALSO: I PURCHASED A COUPLE OF 70 BACKS WITH CANISTERS TO USE WITH IT. IS IT POSSIBLE TO STILL BUY PRELOADED CANISTERS OF FILM FOR THE BACK OR AM I STUCK BUYING 100' BULK AND CUTTING AND LOADING THE CANISTERS? IF SO, FROM WHAT I HAVE READ I NEED TO BUY THE 70MM THATS PERFORATED? IS THIS CORRECT OR CAN I USE 70MM NON-PERFORATED FILM?
ONE ARTICE SAID IT TOOK TYPE TWO PERFORATED FILM, ONE SAID TYPE THREE PERFORATED. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AND WHICH DO I NEED TO BUY?

MANY THANKS,

MIKE
 
"O" is the normal setting, one exposure is made and the camera stops in the normal position with the mirror down.
"S" is prereleased but retruns to the normal position after the picture is made.
"SR" the camera is also in the prereleased position, but it returns to the prereleased mode with the mirror up.
"A" is the automatic mode, where the camera takes pictures at the rate of about 1 frame per second as long as the release is pressed or as long as there is film in the camera (the camera returns to the normal mode)
"AS" setting is for automatic, starting and ending in the prereleased mode. The camera operates a little faster than in the "A" position.
"L" is to lock the release.
"O" is for normal operation.
"T" is for time exposures.
Moving the lever from O to T is like releasing the camera to make an exposure.
 
Mike,

You write: ""AS" setting is for automatic, starting and ending in the prereleased mode. The camera operates a little faster than in the "A" position."

I don't think that is true. AS setting operates exactly like A setting, except that after the finger is removed from the release button, after the last exposure was made, the mirror flips up and the baffle doors open again. And, of course, before the first exposure is made, the mirror flips up, the baffles open too, But that will happen too as soon as the release is pressedin A mode.
So in fact, the AS release cycle takes a little bit longer.

It appears to be a wide spread misconception that in AS and SR mode, the mirror stays in the up-position between exposures. It doesn't. After each exposure, the mirror is brought down again.
So the real (and only) diference between modes is where in its cycle the camera starts and stops. The cycle itself is always the same: mirror up - lens closes - baffles open - lens makes exposure - baffles close - MIRROR IS BROUGHT DOWN AGAIN - lens opens.

Mikce,

There is no reall off-position. With the LOT-lever set to L, the release is mechanically obstructed. However, putting pressure on the release/closing the circuit will still put a drain on the batteries.
So take care to store a camera such that there is nothing pushing therelease, even though having the LOT-lever set to L will prevent unwanted exposures.
 
Back
Top