Zero Image Zero 135 Instruction Manual

Zero 135 Dual Format

Pinhole Camera

Pinhole/Zone Plate Version

Instruction Manual

Thanks for purchasing the Zero Image wooden

pinhole/zone plate camera. With Zero Image cameras,

your photographic creativity will be unlimited.

Although the Zero Image cameras are easy to use,

please read this manual before

your first shot for best results.

CONTENTS

NOMENCLATURE

SETTING THE FILM FORMAT

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PREPARE THE TAKE UP SPOOL

LOADING THE FILM

FILM ADVANCING

EXPOSURE

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UNLOADING THE FILM

MAINTENANCE

SPECIFICATIONS

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Back Cover

1

1

2

3

4

5

8

9

NOMENCLATURE

A. Shutter
B. Top Cover
C. Top Cover Lock
D. Film Advance Knob
E. Marking for film advance
F. Pinhole/Zone plate
G. Exposure Scale
H. Back Cover
I .Tripod Socket
J. Divider

H

J

B

A

G

C

D

E

F

I

SETTING THE FILM FORMAT

The Zero 135 camera is designed to be a dual format camera. The
film format can be set to normal 135 format (23mm X 55mm) or
panoramic format (23mm X 45mm).

1. Turn the top cover lock (C) counter-clockwise to open
the top cover (B).

2. Slide out the back cover (H), you will find two thin, removable
blocks (J) at both sides of the middle chamber of the camera. By
retaining these two blocks in this position, the camera will be in
135 format. Removing these blocks will allow you to shoot in a
panoramic format.

1

PREPARE THE TAKE UP SPOOL

1. This camera accepts 135 film only. Before you can use the camera,
you will need to prepare an empty "take-up" film canister. You
may request your local lab to keep a film canister for you, having
them procesed the 135 film in
the following way:
a) First, tell them to removed the

film without removing either
end of the canister.

b) Second, have them removed

all but the last 1"-2" of film.

c) Have them saved this nearly

empty canister for you. This
canister with the 1"-2" leader
of film will become your "take-up" film spool, and will allow
you to draw the film from a new roll of film into the "take-up"
canister. Follow the directions below to continue.

Note: If you don't have a roll of previously-exposed film, you could

choose to sacrifice a fresh roll of film to prepare the take-up
canister yourself!

2. Now you need to join the fresh film with the take-up canister. First
trim off film's leader. The "leader" is the tapered end of the roll of
film.

3. With the fresh film on your right, and the take-up film canister on
your left, join the film with masking tape (adhesive tape) as shown
in the figure on next page. Apply the tape to both sides of the film
and make sure your tape is strong enough to hold the film together.

2

LOADING THE FILM

1. Insert the fresh film and the pick-up film canister into the
camera with the fresh roll of film on the right hand side of the
camera.

Take-up film canister

2. Press the fresh film and the pick-up film canister into the
pocket of the camera until they are sited properly and firmly.

3. Replace the Top Cover (B) and turn the Film Advance Knob
counter-clockwise (D) several revolutions until the masking
tape has disappeared entirely within the take-up canister.

4. Replace the Back Cover (H) of the camera

Fresh film

5. Replace the Top Cover (B) and lock it to the camera by
turning the Top Cover Lock (C) clockwise. Don't over-tighten
it or you may damage your camera.

3

FILM ADVANCING

1. Turn the Film Advance Knob (G) counter-clockwise to
advance the film. Using the mark on top of the knob and the
markings on the top cover as a reference, advance the film by
at least 5 complete revolutions. Now make sure the dots of the
knob aligns with the far right marking (E) of the Top Cover (B).

2. After each exposure, advance the film by turning the Film
Advance Knob (D) one-and-a-quarter revolutions for the first
five shots. After those first five shots, the dot of the Film
Advance Knob (D) will align with the uppermost marking on
the top cover.

For the remaining shots, turn the Film Advance Knob (D) by one
revolution until you find it very difficult to advance the film. This
will indicate that the whole roll of film has been exposed.

Note: 1. The mechanism of the Film Advance Knob (D) will not

allow you to turn the knob clockwise, which prevents the
film from curling back. Attempting to turn the knob in a
clockwise direction may damage the camera.

2. Please be advised that the last frame will be wasted due to
the method of film advance employed in this camera.

4

EXPOSURE

Calculating the exposure time:

Our camera comes with an Exposure Scale (G). If you have a light
meter, you can make use of the Exposure Scale (G) to calculate the
exposure time easily. The numbers on the outer ring of the
Exposure Scale (G) are the exposure time ranging from 1/8000 of a
second to 15 hours and numbers on the inner (movable) dial
indicate f/stop number setting. These range from f/1.4 to f/500.

1. Use a light meter to get a reading of the scene you wish to
photograph. Choose the f/stop that is aligned most closely with a
given exposure time. (For example, the reading is f/5.6, 1/500
seconds).

2. Look on the inside ring and
find the f/stop selected from
the light meter (f/5.6 in this
example). Turn the dial until
that f/stop matches with the
correct exposure time (1/500
seconds in this example).

3. Now find the f/stop of your
camera on the inside dial (f/
stop of the 135 camera is f/

138). It will be aligned with
the estimated exposure time
of the photograph you wish
to take, i.e. 1 second in this
example.

5

If you don't want to use a light meter, the following guide may
help: 1-3 seconds under bright sunlight, 4-20 seconds for shade;
4-10 minutes for cloudy, for indoor or night scene, use 15-45
minutes or more. These estimated exposure times are based on
ASA100 film.

Reciprocity Corrections

If the exposure time is shorter than 1/10,000 seconds or longer
than 1 second, it is necessary to calculate and adjust for
reciprocity failure.

Exposure time indicated by

Exposure scale Compensation Exposure

1 second (or over) x2 2 seconds

5 seconds (or over) x5 25 seconds

50 seconds (or over) x12 600 sec or 10 min.

Note: 1. All information mentioned above is based on ASA 100 film

speed.

2. Some practice will be required to relate the times given in
this chart to your particular camera and film. Keep a careful
record of the light conditions and the exposure times for
every photograph you take, so that future adjustments may
be made easily.

6

Trigger the Shutter

1. To expose, simply slide the shutter (A) to open. When the
exposure time is up, close it by sliding it back to cover the
pinhole.

open

close

2. If you use high speed film or a zone plate version camera, the
exposure time may be less than 1 second. This time you may
need to open the shutter (A) and cover the pinhole/zone plate
with hat and put it back to cover the pinhole as fast as you can.

3. If you have the optional cable release adaptor, you can open
the shutter manually by sliding it, or by attaching a cable
release to trigger the shutter as in the "B" mode on any
ordinary camera.

attach to cable release

open

open

close

7

close

UNLOADING THE FILM

This camera can take 24-25 frames when the camera is set to
normal 135 format or panoramic format.

1. When you find that it is very difficult to advance the film, it
means that the whole roll has been exposed. Simply open the
camera and take out the film canisters.

2. Cut the two film canisters apart and remember to leave at least
one inch of film outside so that it can become your next take-up
canister.

3. When processing the film, be
sure to leave at least one inch at
the end of the film so you may
use it as your next take-up
canister. Shooting more film will
result in a higher capacity take­up canister.

Note: Although the camera is designed for you to load and unload the

film anywhere, we highly recommend that you do not load or
unload the film under bright sunlight as the film may be
damaged by light leaks.

8

MAINTENANCE

1. Avoid getting the camera wet.

2. Do not allow the camera to be exposed to strong sunlight for a
long period of time.

3. Do not press or punch the pinhole or zone plate with any object.

4. Never clean the camera with an alcohol-based cleaning agent.

5. Clean the camera with a cotton cloth, and a polishing oil like
lemon oil, or orange oil for woodworking. Beeswax is
preferable.

6. If the shutter or the exposure scale is too tight or too loose,
adjust the screw that holds it with a screw driver.

7. Clean the pinhole/zone plate with an air blower tenderly. Keep
the blower at least one inch away from the pinhole or the zone
plate and blow away the dust tenderly. Too much air pressure
may damage the pinhole and the zone plate.

8. Never over-tighten the knobs or any screw of the camera. It will
cause damage to the camera.

9. Do not store the camera near a heat source or in a cabinet with
humidity control, as the camera may dry up or crack.

9

SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Teak Wood
Pinhole size: 0.25mm
Zone Plate: 25 with 9 zones
Dimension : 4 3/4" (L) x 1 5/8" (D) x 2 3/4" (H)

Weight: 6.5oz (185gm)
F/no: f/138 (pinhole) f/45 (zone plate)
Focal Length: 25mm
Film use: 135 roll film
Film Format: 135 (23mm x 35mm), panoramic (23mm x 45mm)
Tripod Socket: 1/4” Thread

Specifications and design are subject to change without notice.

(including all knobs)

Unit 902, Workingview Commercial Bldg.,

21 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Tel: [phone] (852) 2949 9332

Web Site: http://www.zeroimage.com

Technical support: [e-mail]

Zero Image Co.

Email: [e-mail]

©Copyright Zero Image Co., 2003