Sigma SA-5 User Manual

Sigma SA-5

AKA - SA-300 or 300N

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WEBMASTER:

Thank you for purchasing the Sigma SA-5 Autofocus Camera.

This camera is one of the most advanced 35 mm SLR cameras, newly developed using Sigma's latest
technology. To add to your enjoyment of photography, the camera has a variety of features.

* Built-in flash with wide angle coverage for lenses with focal length up to 28 mm

* 3 different metering systems --8 segment metering

--Partial metering

--Average metering
* Mirror-up and Preview mechanism

To make the most of all these features, and to get the maximum performance and enjoyment from your Sigma
SA-5 Camera, please read this instruction booklet before using the camera.

INDEX

CAUTION .. .... :

DESCRIPTION OF PARTS . .

LCD PANEL INDICATION

LCD PANEL ILLUMINATION

VIEWFINDER INDICATION ...........

MODE DIAL

BASIC OPERATION .................

PREPARATION

ATTACHING THE CARRY STRAP .

HOW TO USE THE FINDER CAP

INSERTING THE BATTERY

CHECKING THE BATTERY

MOUNTING AND REMOVING THE LENS

HOLDING THE CAMERA

SHUTTER BUTTON

INSERT THE FILM

SETTING THE FILM SPEED MANUALLY

PRINTING DATE AND TIME ...

BASIC OPERATION ...

TAKING A PICTURE BY * MODE ..

REWIND THE FILM ..................

UNSUITABLE SUBJECT FOR AUTOFOCUS ......

FOCUS LOCK ....

FOCUS MANUALLY ......

USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH ...

RED-EYE REDUCTION ....

PRECAUTIONS FOR USING THE BUILT-IN FLASH .............

OPERATION OF DRIVE MODE ......................

CONTINUOUS SHOOTING

SELF-TIMER ...................

REMOTE CONTROLLER MODE .

FIXED AND SELECTABLE FUNCTION IN THE " * " MODE .....

ADVANCED FUNCTIONS .............

SELECTING THE AF MODE ....................

SELECTING THE EXPOSURE MODE ..

P PROGRAM AE PROGRAM SHIFT .

S SHUTTER SPEED PRIORITY AE ...............

A APERTURE PRIORITY AE
M MANUAL OPERATION

BULB SETTING

SELECTING THE METERING

AE LOCK...

AUTO BRACKETING ...

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

BUILT-IN FLASH

MIRROR UP

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

REMOTE CONTROLLER RS-11 AND RS-21

EXTERNAL FLASH EF-43

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS ....

SNAPSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

SCENERY

PORTRAIT

MOVING SUBJECT

CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY.

NIGHT SCENES

WARNING INDICATIONS

DEPTH OF FIELD

INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

REPLACING THE DATA BACK BATTERY

RESETTING THE CALENDAR/CLOCK .

PRECAUTION DURING USE

SPECIFICATIONS

** Caution - Read this section before using the camera

* The built-in flash in this camera includes a high voltage circuit. To avoid electric shock or burns, do not
attempt to disassemble the camera. If the outside shell of the unit is broken or cracked, do not touch the
mechanism inside.

* Do not use this camera with any external flash unit other than the Sigma EF-430, which has special contact
pins on the hot shoe. This flash is offered as an optional accessory. Other external flash units may damage the
camera's circuitry or may not work properly.

* This camera is not waterproof. When using the camera in the rain on near water, keep it from getting wet. It is
often impractical to repair internal electrical components damaged by water.

* To avoid any chance of lithium battery explosion, the battery pack should not be disassembled, recharged,
short-circuited or exposed to fire or water.

* As with any camera, it is best to check all functions and shoot a test roll of film before using the camera for a
wedding, a trip abroad, or for any irreplaceable photographs.

* Please carry a spare battery when you use the camera in a cold environment, in the field, on a trip, or when
taking many pictures at one time.4www.butkus.org

DESCRIPTION OF PARTS

When you press the Exposure Compensation/Drive Mode Button and Flash Mode Metering Mode Button
simultaneously, the LCD Panel will illuminate for about seconds.

LCD AND VIEWFINDER INFORMATION

LCD Panel LCD Identification LCD Panel Illumination

Viewfinder Indication Mode Dial

If you press both buttons simultaneously again, the illumination will disappear.
If you press any button or turn the dial while Illuminating the LCD, the illumination will continue for an
additional 6 seconds.
During the charging of the built in flash, the LCD will not Illuminate.

At very low temperatures you that due to the nature of the LCD it may take slightly longer to respond - this is
not a function problem, but a characteristic of LCDs.

BASIC OPERATION

1. Insert the battery

Insert the battery into the chamber, aligning the + and - marks as indicated

2. Mount the lens
Align the red mark on the camera's mount with the alignment dot on the
lens. Engage the lens in the mount by turning the lens clockwise until it
clicks into the locked position.

3. Set the lens switch to the AF position.

4. Set the mode dial to the "*" position.

Turn the mode dial while pressing the lock button.4www.butkus.org

5. Insert the film
Insert the film and align the tip of the film with the Film Position Mark. Then close the back cover.

6. Align the subject in the AF frame

7. Press the shutter button

ATTACHING THE CARRY STRAP

1. Undo the strap end.

2. Thread Finder cap on the strap.

3. Then attach the carry strap as shown.

HOW TO USE THE FINDER CAP

When using the self-timer or remote control, please cover the finder eyepiece with the Finder Cap.
Remove the eye cap from the finder.

Insert the finder cap onto the finder.

INSERTING THE BATTERY

This camera uses a 6 V 2CR5 Lithium Battery. Without a battery, the camera will not function at all.

1. Be sure the mode dial is on the lock position. Then open the
battery compartment by pushing the latch in the direction of the
arrow.

2. Insert the battery into the chamber, aligning the + and the ­marks as indicated.

3. Close the battery cover until it clicks and locks closed.

CHECKING THE BATTERY

Turn the mode dial to the "*" position or one of the P. S. A or M positions while pressing the lock button. The
battery mark will appear on the LCD panel.

The battery strength is good.

4www.butkus.org

The battery strength is weak. Keep a spare battery
or replace the battery in advance.

If the mark blinks, the battery is very low and the
camera is not operable.

The battery mark remains visible while the camera is in use.

To conserve the battery, the camera will switch itself off after 6 seconds of not being operated. However,
it still is possible for the shutter to be released accidentally. If the mode dial is set on the "L" position,
the shutter cannot be fired.

MOUNTING AND REMOVING THE LENS.

This camera uses the SA type bayonet mount. For ordinary lenses use the inside bayonet mount (type SA-IB)
and for Super Telephoto lenses use the outside bayonet mount (type SA-OB). The mounting methods are same
for both type of mounts.

Remove the Camera's body cap and I lens mount cap.

Align the red mark on the camera's mount with the alignment dot on the lens. Engage the lens in the mount by
turning the lens clockwise until it clicks into the locked position.4www.butkus.org

To ensure proper connection, please do not press the lens lock button while mounting the lens.

To remove the lens, press the lens lock button and turn the lens counter-clockwise until it stops.

Gently remove the lens from the mount.

**On the mount surface of the lens, there are a number of electric contacts. Please keep them clean to ensure
proper connection. To avoid damaging them, be sure to place the lens with its front end down when it is off the
camera.

HOLDING THE CAMERA

Even the slightest movement of your body, while pressing the camera's shutter release, may cause camera shake
and a resulting blurriness of your photograph. To avoid this we suggest the following:
Hold the camera steady with your left hand supporting the bottom of the camera and the lens. Keep your left

elbow close to your body and place your eye as close to the viewfinder as possible. Firmly grasp the camera's
grip with your right hand and then lightly place your right index finger on

SHUTTER BUTTON

|

The shutter button of the SA-5 camera has two positions. When you press the shutter button "Halfway Down",
the camera's Autofocus and Exposure System activates. Then you press the button "All-the-way Down", and the
shutter will release to take a picture.

Before you start to take pictures, we recommend that you operate the camera without film to become familiar
with the "halfway down" position and other operations of the camera.

INSERT THE FILM

When you load and unload the film, please avoid the film or film cartridge from being struck by direct sunlight.
The SA 5 camera is compatible with the DX system. When you use a film with DX codes, the camera
automatically sets the correct speed of the film. If you happen to use a non-Ding film, please refer to none 17 to
set the film speed manually.

1. Turn the mode dial to the "*" position while pressing the lock button.

2. Push the Back Cover Latch down and open the Back Cover.

3. Place the film cartridge into the film chamber.

4. Push the cartridge in firmly, and align the tip of the film with the Film Position Mark.

5 Check to be sure that the film sprocket holes are properly engaged with the teeth of the film transport sprocket
wheel.

6. Close the back cover, pressing firmly so it is securely locked. The film will advance automatically to the first
frame and the LCD film counter will display the number "1". Also, the film speed set by DX system and
"ISO/DX" mark will be displayed on the LCD panel for about 6 seconds. Please check that the film speed is
correctly set.

7. If the film has not been loaded properly, "Err" and the film mark will blink on the LCD panel. Open the back
cover and re-load the film. The camera will not operate while the "Err" is displayed on the LCD.

If the mode dial is set to the "L" position, the camera will not advance the film. When you load the film,
be sure to set the mode dial to other then the "L" position.

You can check whether there is film in the camera and the type of film and number of exposures, by using the
film window on the back cover.

Before you first load any film: please removers the protective sheet which is
inserted on the film chamber.
The shutter curtain is very delicate, "precision components" - which moves
at high speed. It can be easily damaged by touching or pushing it with your
finger while loading film.
The pins in the film chamber read the DX film cords. Please them the clean
to insure proper contact.

SETTING THE FILM SPEED MANUALLY

When the camera automatically sets the speed of the film by DX codes, the LCD shows "DX" after the film Is
loaded. If you use the film other than DX codes, set the film speed manually.

1. Insert the film. If the film is DX coded, I the LCD shows " DX " and its film speed, or if the film is non-DX­coded, the LCD shows "lSO 100" after the film is loaded. The film speed will automatically set itself to ISO
100 if you do not set the film speed manually.

2. Set the mode dial to AFISO.

3. Turn the A-dial to set the desired film speed. When you set the film speed manually, the DX will disappear
on the LCD panel even if you use the DX coded film.

4. Turn the mode dial to the desired exposure mode.

You can check the current film speed setting when you set the mode dial to the " AF ISO " position.

When you load a new film cartridge, the previous film speed setting will be released and reset to ISO 100
or the DX speed for the new cartridge.

PRINTING THE DATE AND TIME

You can select from 5 types of data by pressing the "MODE" button.

The data that appears in the Data Back LCD will be imprinted on the
picture unless the MODE is set to OFF.

The word "PRINT" is not part of the data and will not imprint on the
picture.

The data may be somewhat less distinct when backgrounds are red, orange
or yellow, or when the subject is very bright.

Depending on the film speed and temperature, legibility of the printed data
may vary.

If the Data Back LCD becomes light and difficult to read, please replace the
battery in the data back.

The SA-5 camera has many features. This part describes the basic camera operation using Full Automatic
Mode "

TAKING A PICTURE BY THE

The "
and the film advance.

*" and the functions you can use in this mode.

* MODE

*" mode is full automatic operation mode. The camera will automatically control the focus, the exposure

1. Set the mode dial to the "*" position while

pressing the lock button.

2. Set the lens switch to the AF position.

To avoid damaging the AF mechanism, please do
not turn the focus ring manually while in the AF
mode.

3. Align the subject In the AF frame4www.butkus.org

4. When you press the shutter button "Half-way",

the camera will focus automatically, and the
shutter speed and aperture speed are displayed in
the viewfinder and on the LCD panel.

5. Then you press the shutter button "All-the-

Way", the camera releases the shutter and
automatically advances the film.

6. To conserve battery power, set the mode dial to

the "L" position when you are not using the
camera.

7. The flash mark blinks in the viewfinder to warn

of a slow shutter. When this occurs use tripod or
flash.

The AF Auxiliary Light will turn on automatically as you focus on a dark area. Effective distance is up to about
4 m.

To conserve the battery, the camera will switch itself off after 6 seconds of not being operated. However,
it still is possible for the shutter to be released accidentally. If the mode dial is set on the "L" position,
the shutter cannot be fired.

REWIND THE FILM

1. If you use DX coded film with 12, 20, 1 24 or

36 exposures, the number in the film counter will
blink when the remaining frames becomes less
than 3.

2. After the last frame has been exposed, L the

camera will automatically rewind the film. After
the film is completely rewound, "End" will appear
in the LCD. Open the back cover and remove the
film cartridge after the "End" mark appears.

3. If you want to rewind the film before the last

frame, you can do so by pushing the rewind button
located at the bottom of the camera.4www.butkus.org

While the film is rewinding, the counter counts backwards.

PRECAUTIONS

If you open the back cover before the film is completely rewound, the light falling on the film will destroy your
pictures. Do not open the back cover until the "

accidentally, on rare occasions the camera will become inoperable, LCD panel shows "Err" and the film mark
blinks. If this occurs, rewind the film by pressing the rewind button.

End" appears on the LCD panel. If you open the back cover