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Voigtlander Brilliant V6

Voigtlander Brilliant - parts a Back panel catch

b Film transport spool-pin

c (beneath carrying strap) release button of film transport catch

d Indicator release

e (at rear) window for film numbers

f Nozzle for shutter cable release

g Shutter release
h Front lens with feet scale

i Adjusting mark for focusing

k Finder lens

l Frame finder flap of finder hood cover

m Finder hood cover with frame finder

n Closing catch for finder hood

o Rear panel with viewing aperture for frame finder

Instructions for use

1. Finder:

Open the finder hood cover m by lifting catch n (preferably with the thumb). Look vertically down into the finder hood and view the subject.

For exposures at eye level use the frame finder:

Press back the middle part l in the finder hood cover until it engages under the boss on the rear panel o. Press the camera tightly against the face and view the picture through the rectangular opening in the rear panel o. The front part of the frame finder shows the exact angle of view.

To close, pull back the rear panel o gently, whereupon the middle part l springs back into position. Now close the two sides, then the rear panel o and finally the cover m which holds the whole together.

2. Shutter and diaphragm:

Your dealer will be glad to explain this important section to you in detail. We give here the essential points

Compur and Prontor shutters must be set before release - Prontor for all adjustments, Compur not for B and T. Singlo does not need to be set. 5 indicates 1/5th of a second, 100 represents 1/100th of a sec., and so on. For the B adjustment the shutter remains open as long as the release is pressed down, while for T it opens on the first pressure and closes on the second.

The tension lever generally lies at the top. It is pressed gently to one side until it encounters resistance. The release lever g is always at the bottom. When releasing the shutter, hold the Brilliant firmly in both hands, view the picture and press the release lever g gently down. Do not jerk, or the picture will be "shaky". Hold the camera still and straight.

The delayed-action release in the Singlo and Prontor II is a tension lever with a red knob. First adjust the shutter and then set the delayed-action release. Hold the camera securely, and the release.

The shutter operates after the delayed-action mechanism runs down (about 10 seconds). Never use the delayed-action mechanism for B and T.

For long time exposures fix the camera on a tripod. The screw-bush is on the base of the Brilliant. Release shutter with wire release attached to f.

Diaphragm adjustment is also on the shutter. The diaphragm controls the time of exposure and depth of focus. (Read up this point in a good text book.) The greater the number, the smaller the diaphragm aperture.

Double the time of exposure when the diaphragm aperture is set to the next smallest value.

3. Focusing:

Brilliant F/3·5 and F/4·5. The feet scale is on the front lens mount. Revolve the front lens by the milled ring and adjust the focus against the adjustment mark i (infinity = infinity, i.e. anything over 100 feet).

Depth-of-Field Table on the Finder Hood: When focusing to a certain range - say 25 feet - not only that point, but a certain zone will be sharp. At 25 feet and with an aperture of F/4·5, for example, everything between 19 feet and 36 feet will be sharp. This zone increases as you stop down; at 25 feet and with an aperture of F/11, it will extend from 14 feet to 99 feet. Reading the depth of field table: Find the distance in the left-hand vertical column, and on the corresponding horizontal line there appears under each lens aperture column, the various distances covering the zone of sharpness (depth-of-field) e.g., at 13 feet, and at F/8, all is sharp between 10 and 18 feet.

Brilliant F/6·3 and F/7·7. Revolve front lens mount by milled ring. adjust red dot on the appropriate word (Landscapes, Groups, Portraits) or the distance in feet beneath the indicator mark i. These distinguishing words greatly facilitate focusing:

   at Landscapes the sharpness extends from 20 feet to infinity,

   at Groups the sharpness extends from 7 feet to 20 feet,

   at Portraits the sharpness extends from 4 feet to 7 feet.

4. Film Chamber:

Hold the front part of the Brilliant in the left hand. Press together the knobs a and open the back panel.

Remove empty spool from lower chamber. Pull out large film transport knob b and keep it in that position by turning it a quarter way round. Open out the film protecting cover by the handle on the left, place the empty spool on the pin, so thatthe slot faces the winding-key. Turn the latter until it engages in the slot.

Then insert the full spool in the bottom chamber, hold it secure, and tear off and remove the adhesive strip. Hold the spool gently in the chamber and pull out the protective paper with the black side downwards, and insert the end in the wide slit on the empty spool. Turn the film key twice an make sure that the paper is being gripped. The paper must wind exactly between the two spool flanges. Open the red film indow by turning the milled knob at the back panel to the left.

5. The Indicator:

Hold the camera in the left hand, as above, and pull up the knob c by the index finger. Now observe the red film window on the rear window and turn the film knob b until (after hands and dots) the figure "1" appears. Let go knob c and press knob d towards the number window e until the figure "1" is also visible there. Close the film window by turning the milled knob at the back panel to the right. The Brilliant is now ready for the first exposure.

N.B. - Make it a rule to turn on immediately after each exposure.

To be able to turn the film on, the knob c must be pressed up once more. Without consulting the film or number window, you may now turn on as far as the knob will go and then make the second exposure. This procedure is repeated up to the twelfth exposure. The number window e indicates how many exposures have been made. After the twelfth exposure lift knob c with the index finger; then turn on until the safety paper disappears in the red film window.

Now open the rear panel, remove the full spool and secure it by means of the adhesive band. Hold it securely while doing so, to prevent it from unwinding.

6. The "Hold-all":

This compartment is in the side not shown in the illustration. It is provided with a door which opens by pulling the small handle back. This compartment is intended to accomodate yellow filters, portrait lenses and the excellent Brilliant exposure meter. These accessories are placed on the discs on the cover and scured by turning to the right.

7. Accessories:

Yellow filters are indispensible for well-balanced pictures with correct tonal values, and particularly for attractive landscapes. Voigtländer make a light filter (Moment, 2x) and a dense filter (Normal, 4x), both of a special glass and absolutely plane parallel.

Size required: 29mm diameter.

Portrait lenses are also available for your Brilliant, namely the Portrait-Focar No.67 and Near-Focar No.30*, which make it possible to approach very closely the subject taken. A table of distances is given below.

The Voigtländer Lens hoods impart brilliance to pictures, as they cut off all disturbing side light. Particularly for exposures against the light, they are quite indispensible.

The Brilliant Exposure meter is the most suitable instrument for your camera. It measures extremely rapidly and accurately the correct time of exposure.

Have everything demonstrated to you by your dealer, and in particular - use Voigtländer film! The orthochromatic "Illustra" (18/10° DIN) and the panchromatic "Bessapan" (19/10° DIN) are available for your use - two films which have great latitude for exposure and, above all, give brilliance and richness of tone to your pictures.


*Near-Focar No.30 cannot be accomodated in the "hold-all"




Depth of Field Tables when using Portrait Lenses

Brillant F/7·7 and F/6·3 Brillant F/4·5 and F/3·5
Sharpness (measured from lens) lies: Sharpness (measured from lens) lies:
Focussed on Portrait-Focar 67 Near-Focar 30 Focussed on Portrait-Focar 67 Near-Focar 30
Portraits 24 in. 15 in. 3 feet 19 in. 13 in.
7 feet 27 in. 31 in 5 feet 24 in. 15 in.
Groups 31 in. 17 in. 7 feet 27 in. 16 in.
20 feet 34 in. 18 in. 13 feet 31 in. 18 in.
Landscapes 40 in 20 in. 25 feet 35 in. 19 in.
40 in. 20 in.