The Wrayflex is a high
precision camera designed to produce fine quality
pictures under any conditions. It is a true reflex with
eye-level viewing and is British Made throughout. It is
not complicated to operate and while being able to
satisfy all the requirements of the experienced
miniaturist, it can be used successfully by one with
little previous knowledge of the exacting standards of
miniature photography, provided the following
instructions are followed carefully.
Loading with
Film
The WRAYFLEX is designed to use any standard 35 mm.
cassette. Loading may be carried out in daylight, but
care should be taken that you are free from the direct
rays of the sun.
Remove back by pushing up release catches; the back
can now be taken off completely.
Pull out rewind spindle and place cassette into its
housing, key-way uppermost. Push back the rewind
splindle, engaging the key into the cassette.
Pull out four to five inches of film, including the
'film lead', ensuring that the emulsion side is towards
the film track. Insert the end under the clip in the
winding spindle after bending back about a quarter of an
inch of the film lead.
Wind the film on to the winding sprocket by turing the
flanges with the thumb until the film is taut across the
gate, seeing that the sprockets correctly engage with the
perforations.
Wind the key a half-turn in a clockwise direction to
make sure that the film progresses smoothly across the
gate and that the sprocket engagement is true. Press the
shutter release and replace the back.
Turn the exposure counter in a clockwise direction
until zero on the scale is opposite to the indicator.
The Wrayflex is now ready for use.
Preparing for
Exposure
As a small amount of film has been exposed to light in
the process of loading, the winder key should now be
turned two half turns, depressing the shutter release
between the turns as the film transport is coupled to the
shutter release to prevent double exposure. As will be
explained on a later page, the shutter design prevents
successive turning of the winder without the action of
exposure first taking place. These two 'frames' will be
fogged unless loading has been carried out in the
darkroom. Note that the rewind key rotates while winding,
thus confirming that the film is being taken up by the
winding spindle. The exposure counter will now register
'2'. For time exposures or other occasions when a tripod
is being used, a cable release can be screwed over the
press button.
The shutter speed can be altered either before or
after the film has been wound on to the next frame.
Viewing and
Focusing
Open the iris to full aperture and view through the
eyepiece. The image seen is precisely what will be
photographed. Focus by turning the milled ring at the
back of the lens. A guide to the position of correct
focus is given by the scale calibrated in feet n the
focusing mount of the lens.
It will be seen that a small circular area, just below
the centre of the screen, gives a magnified image.
Focusing with this magnifier ensures maximum
sharpness.
If on viewing, no image can be seen, as explained
previously, this will indicate that you have omitted to
set the shutter and viewing mechanism and that the
previously exposed film is still in the gate. A half turn
of the winding key in the base of the camera will bring
the mirrors back into use.
Having satisified yourself that the composition and
focusing are correct, the depth of field can be increased
by using a smaller lens aperture, should this be
desirable.
Pre-Set Iris
Diaphragm - First Version
All Wrayflex lenses are fitted with a device making it
possible to focus at full aperture and then, by turning
the iris ring to its furthest extent, to close the iris
to the aperture required to be used.
The mechanism for operating this device consists of a
lever fixed to a freely rotating ring fitting into any of
a series of slots, in the iris ring, cut at the marked
apertures.
The lever is first fitted into a pre-detemrined slot
and then then iris is opened to full aperture. When
focusing has been completed, the iris ring is closed as
far as possible which will be the aperture previously
determined and the exposure can be made.
Pre-Set Iris
Diaphragm - Second Version
All Wrayflex lenses are fitted with a device making it
possible to focus at full aperture and then, by turning
the iris ring to its furthest extent, to close the iris
to the aperture required to be used.
The mechanism is a rotating milled ring into which is
fitted a pin, the ring is spring-loaded and by means of a
slight upward pressure can be freely rotated. A series of
slots are cut into the iris ring at the engraved
apertures, the necessary aperture is assessed and the
ring rotated so that the pin falls into the correct clot.
The iris is then opened to full aperture for focusing;
immediately before exposing, the iris ring is turned
clockwise against the stop.
Taking the
Picture
Probably the most important factor in successful
miniature photography is the steady handling of the
camera while exposing. Practice will surely teach, but
the following hints will undoubtedly help the
beginner.
Firmly grasp the camera in the right hand, leaving the
index finger free for depressing the release; press the
camera against the face. Support the base of the camera
in the palm of the hand and steady with the index figer
on the top, leaving the centre finger free to operate the
focusing and aperture rings. Keep the left elbow tucked
into the body. The exposure release should be depressed
gently; particularly does this apply when using the
slower speeds. This action releases the hinged mirror
system, which in turn. operates the shutter when the
former is well clear of the picture format. It will be
appreciated, therefore, that a 'split second' of time lag
occurs between the actual pressing of the release and the
moving of the shutter, during which time the camera must
be absolutely steady in the hands. At speeds slower than
a 50th of a second it is advisable to use a tripod if
possible.
Immediately after making each exposure, it is a good
habit to prepare for the next, re-setting the shutter and
film by means of the winding key in the base.
Filter
Technique
All Wrayflex lenses have an internal thread on the
lens mount to accept a 40.5 mm. screw-in filter holder.
The glasses of this holder are interchangeable so that
only one holder with a range of glasses (38 mm. diameter)
is required.
Yellow Filters reduce the actinic effect of
blue, rendering it darker, and are therefore,
particularly suitable for landscape photography in order
to obtain clearly defined clouds effects on a normal blue
sky. In the case of a very light blue sky use a darker
filter and vice versa.
Green Filters give an effect similar to that of
yellow filters, but also hold back red (render it
darker), to which some panchromatic films are
comparatively over-sensitive (photogrpahing it too
light).
Ultra-Violet Filters are only to be employed at
heights of 6,500 ft. (2,000 m.) above sea-level and over
to avoid an unduly dark sky, such as would be ontained by
using a yellow filter. At the same time such a filter
absorbs the ultra-violet radiation prevalent at high
altitudes for which the lens is not corrected and which
would reduce the definition.
Orange Filters give over-correction, and serve
therefore, as effect filters for showing up heavy clouds
against a dark sky, and to give very clear distant views
in landscapes, eliminating light haze etc.
Red Filters are of still stronger effect than
orange filters for extreme contrast, creating a black sky
with brilliant clouds faking sunshine into moonlight
effect, etc.
Dark Red Filters to be used only with infra-red
film. Chiefly employed for scientific purposes, they
penetrate mist in long-distance photography.
Blue Filters are for panchromatic film in
artificial light. They absorb part of the red
sensitivity. This results in better skin tones.
Close-Up
Work
The Wrayflex, as a single-lens reflex camera, is
particularly suited for close-up photography. With the
addition of extension rings, distances between 23 ins.
and 9 ins. are covered as shown in the chart below. A
copying unit can be supplied which greatly facilitates
such work and is necessary for document copying. The
column carries an arm with a camera support plate which
moves freely up and down, and can be fixed at any desired
height up to 24 ins. above the board. The subject to be
photographed or the document to be copied is square to
the lens and can be viewed and focused in the usual way
through the reflex finder.
Instructions for
Flash
The camera is internally synchronised for flash; two
flash sockets are fitted on the camera front. An electric
cable is connected from the flash outfit to the socket on
the camera by means of a co-axial plug as fitted to the
majority of flash guns. On releasing the shutter an
electrical circuit is automatically closed through the
flash contacts firing the bulb.
The upper socket is marked 'E' to denote its use for
electronic flash. The contact on this circuit is made the
very instant the shutter is fully open. It is also used
for flash bulbs with a delay between contact and flash of
only 4 - 7 milliseconds such as the Speed Midget (SM)
type. The blinds of the focal plane shutter are only
fully apart at the 1/25th second shutter setting being
partly closed at all faster speeds. Electronic flash and
SM bulbs can only be used with speeds up to 1/25th
second. Taking into account that the flash duration of
the electronic flash tube is approximately 1/1000th of a
second and the SM bulb 1/50th, instantaneous exposures
are always obtained.
When the plug is connected to the lower socket (marked
B) the shutter is fully open (at 1/25th second) 17
milliseconds (1/50th second) after the electrical contact
has been made. This allows for the use of normal flash
bulbs which have a firing delay of 17 - 20 miliseconds.
But remember, this is again at 1/25th second shutter
setting.
Alway connect the flash gun after the camera is wound
on and after exposure is made, wind on immediately for
the next shot. Otherwise, if electronic flash is being
used, the gun will fire again after build-up, for the
circuit is closed while the shutter is in the un-set
position. Similarly, if bulbs are being used, a new bulb
may be inserted and will fire immediately unless the
shutter is first set by being wound on. The use of focal
plane type flash bulbs does not allow the use of
faster speeds without giving uneven illumination.
Removing the
Film
The WRAYFLEX is designed to take 36 exposures on a
standard length of 35 mm. film. When the exposure counter
registers this number, the cassette has been completed.
It will be noted that the two frames lost in loading by
daylight have already been counted.
To wind the film back to its cassette, turn the handle
on the top of the camera in a clockwise direction, at the
same time pressing the sprocket stud on the bottom of the
camera which automatically releases the sprocket, thus
allowing the free movement of the film. It will be
readily appreciated when the tension of the pull eases,
indicating that the film is now clear of the sprocket.
Give about two more turns and then film is fully wound
back.
Take off the back and pull out the rewind spindle,
thus freeing the cassette for removal and if required,
reloading. As for loading, this operation should be
carried out in subdued light.
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