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Photography Question 

Shauna Linde
 

Vintage camera operation


Was wondering if anyone knew anything about the Mercury II Model CX camera which was made in the late 1940's- early 50's. I'm trying to figure out the exposure guide on the back and what dials do what. If anyone knows about this camera, or knows where I can find some good information on how to use it, I would love the help! I hear it was a great camera at the time and would like to see how it still works.


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November 12, 2004

 

Jon Close
  Know only what I just read in sites returned in a Google search. You set shutter and aperture manually. The depth of field and exposure scales on the front and back are a guide, but turning them does not change any settings on the camera. The DoF scales are important because instead of through the lens or rangefinder focusing, it is scale focusing: you guess at subject distance and set the lens for that approximate distance. It uses 35mm film, but takes 1/2 frame photos: 18mm x 24mm negative size, rather than the standard 24mm x 36mm.


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November 12, 2004

 

Shauna Linde
  Thanks for the response- I too did the google search and found that, but if you've ever seen the "guides" on the back- they are quite complicated (at least by look). There's two dials, one within the other that you select move to select the film type, season, time of day....but there are so many numbers it's hard to figure out what they are all for.


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November 12, 2004

 
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