Difference between revisions of "Chinon CS"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 11: Line 11:
 
The '''Chinon CS,''' also sold as the GAF LC-M, is a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] camera made in Japan by [[Chinon]]. The model identification, CS, stands for Chinon Screw, the Chinon designation for the universal [[M42|M42 Praktica/Pentax screw thread]].
 
The '''Chinon CS,''' also sold as the GAF LC-M, is a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] camera made in Japan by [[Chinon]]. The model identification, CS, stands for Chinon Screw, the Chinon designation for the universal [[M42|M42 Praktica/Pentax screw thread]].
  
Like a vast family of m42 SLR's from the mid-late-60's and to some extent the early 70's, the CS is designed for stop-down metering. The lenses do bot communicate their aperture to the camera. Instead, the metering is taken with the aperture closed. Metering is activated by the same switch that closes the aperture. This locks down unlike on many similar cameras, but can be pushed back up. It will also automatically unlock and move up when the shutter is fired.
+
Like a vast family of m42 SLR's from the mid-late-60's and to some extent the early 70's, the CS is designed for stop-down metering. The lenses do not communicate their aperture to the camera. Instead, the metering is taken with the aperture closed. Metering is activated by the same switch that closes the aperture. This locks down unlike on many similar cameras, but can be pushed back up. It will also automatically unlock and move up when the shutter is fired.
  
The shutter is of the metal-blind [[Copal]] Square type, mechanically-timed, as on such cameras as the [[Nikkormat]] FT. This gives it a high sync speed of 1/125th, and is less delicate and less apt to distort fast-moving subjects than a rubber-cloth shutter.  
+
A notable feature on this camera is that a red flag will rotate out behind the meter needle in the viewfinder if the combination of shutter speed and film speed is likely to be outside the center's accurate range. Moreover the needle will be mechanivally raised if the user turns the dial past this point, as if to indicate that the value is a certain number of stops out of range.
 +
 
 +
The shutter is of the metal-blind [[Copal]] Square type, mechanically-timed, as on such cameras as the [[Nikkormat]] FT. This gives it a high sync speed of 1/125th, and is less delicate and less apt to distort fast-moving subjects than a slower-moving rubber-cloth shutter with a significantly longer travel time at the same shutter speeds.
  
 
The Chinon CS was designed to be powered by a 1.35 volt PX13 [[Mercury Cells|mercury cell]] providing a constant power source. Due to environmental reasons, mercury batteries are no longer readily available in many countries. Suitable replacements include a 1.5 volt Alkaline battery (together with an adjustment in the camera's film speed setting), a 1.35 volt [[Wein|WeinCell]] zinc/air battery, or a number of other PX13/PX625 battery substitutes.  
 
The Chinon CS was designed to be powered by a 1.35 volt PX13 [[Mercury Cells|mercury cell]] providing a constant power source. Due to environmental reasons, mercury batteries are no longer readily available in many countries. Suitable replacements include a 1.5 volt Alkaline battery (together with an adjustment in the camera's film speed setting), a 1.35 volt [[Wein|WeinCell]] zinc/air battery, or a number of other PX13/PX625 battery substitutes.  

Revision as of 21:50, 27 October 2020

The Chinon CS, also sold as the GAF LC-M, is a 35mm SLR camera made in Japan by Chinon. The model identification, CS, stands for Chinon Screw, the Chinon designation for the universal M42 Praktica/Pentax screw thread.

Like a vast family of m42 SLR's from the mid-late-60's and to some extent the early 70's, the CS is designed for stop-down metering. The lenses do not communicate their aperture to the camera. Instead, the metering is taken with the aperture closed. Metering is activated by the same switch that closes the aperture. This locks down unlike on many similar cameras, but can be pushed back up. It will also automatically unlock and move up when the shutter is fired.

A notable feature on this camera is that a red flag will rotate out behind the meter needle in the viewfinder if the combination of shutter speed and film speed is likely to be outside the center's accurate range. Moreover the needle will be mechanivally raised if the user turns the dial past this point, as if to indicate that the value is a certain number of stops out of range.

The shutter is of the metal-blind Copal Square type, mechanically-timed, as on such cameras as the Nikkormat FT. This gives it a high sync speed of 1/125th, and is less delicate and less apt to distort fast-moving subjects than a slower-moving rubber-cloth shutter with a significantly longer travel time at the same shutter speeds.

The Chinon CS was designed to be powered by a 1.35 volt PX13 mercury cell providing a constant power source. Due to environmental reasons, mercury batteries are no longer readily available in many countries. Suitable replacements include a 1.5 volt Alkaline battery (together with an adjustment in the camera's film speed setting), a 1.35 volt WeinCell zinc/air battery, or a number of other PX13/PX625 battery substitutes.

Links