Krasnogorsk-3 User Manual

Krasnogorsk-3 (K-3) User Manual

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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................ 3 CAMERA CONTROLS: ....................................................................................... 4 VIEWFINDER ADJUSTMENT: ............................................................................. 8 WINDING THE CAMERA: .................................................................................. 8 CAMERA SPEED CONTROL: .............................................................................. 8 CAMERA SHUTTER SPEED: ............................................................................... 9 LOADING FILM: .............................................................................................. 9 ANIMATION & TIME-LAPSE: ........................................................................... 10 FOOTAGE COUNTER: ..................................................................................... 11 CARE & MAINTENANCE: ................................................................................. 11 CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS: ............................................................................ 12 SERVICE CENTERS ........................................................................................ 13

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Introduction: The Krasnogorsk-3 (K-3) is a spring-wound 16mm mirror-reflex movie camera designed and manufactured in the USSR by KMZ. Production of the Krasnogorsk-3 ceased in the early 1990s but the original name "Krasnogorsk" comes from the suburb of Moscow where the camera manufacturing plant was located. The K-3 shoots standard 100-foot 16mm film loads (either single or double-perforation) and the stock K-3 comes with an uncoated 17-69 mm f1.9 zoom lens.

The K-3 camera is a solid and well built workhorse used by many film schools and film making professionals. Throughout the 1980’s the K-3 was one of the most popular 16mm movie cameras in Eastern Europe, where it made a prominent appearance in Krzysztof Kieślowski's 1979 film Camera Buff. The K-3 was also used by director Spike Lee for his 1996 film Get on the Bus. This user manual outlines the operation and controls of the K-3 camera and should be used as the first reference for operation of your K-3. Should the need arise; additional resources for camera service are also located in the back of this document. Enjoy your K-3, it’s a great camera!

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Camera Controls:

Location 1 2 3 4 5

Function Zoom Lens Focal Length Scale Zoom Lens Lever Detatchable Camera Handle Zoom Lens Lever Extension Magazine Cover Release

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Location 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15

Function Viewfinder Light Meter & FPS Dial Light Meter Power Switch Light Meter & ASA/ISO Dial Zoom Lens Focus Ring Zoom Lens F-Stop Adjustment Shutter Release Trigger Speed Control Winding Handle

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INTRODUCTI Location 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Function Film Cutter Film Feed Spindle Footage Counter Arm Footage Counter Window Film Take-Up Spindle Single-Frame Release Film Loop Former Control Button

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Location 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Function Film Loop Former Film Feed Sprocket Film Guide Limiter Screw Limiter Film Gate Pressure Plate Film Gate

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Viewfinder Adjustment:

The K-3 viewfinder can be adjusted to accommodate individual user’s eyesight. To do this you must adjust the camera's viewfinder (also called a diopter) to your eye.

1. First loosen the small screw above the Viewfinder (6).

2. Adjust the Zoom Lens Focus Ring (11) to infinity ∞, and open the Zoom Lens F-Stop Adjustment (12) to F-1.9.

3. Point the camera at a bright object.

4. While turning the viewfinder ring to either the left or right, look through the viewfinder and focus the grain visible in the viewfinder until it is sharp and clear to your eye (If you have difficulty focusing on the grain in the viewfinder you can remove the lens from the camera by unscrewing it from the body, and then attempt the viewfinder focus procedure again).

5. Tighten the screw on top of the Viewfinder (6) to lock it in place.

If dirt or other particulate can be seen through the viewfinder, the camera ground-glass may need to be cleaned. There are two ways to clean the ground- glass: 1. First remove the lens from the camera body. If your K-3 has a screw-mount lens, just unscrew the lens from the camera body by firmly gripping the lens and turning it in a counter-clockwise direction to remove it from the camera body. To remove a bayonet style lens from a K-3, push the two little knobs clockwise about 10 degrees, then pull the lens straight out away from the camera body.

2. With the lens removed, look straight into the lens mount opening in the camera body.

You will see the viewfinder mirror and the reflection you see in the mirror will be the imaging ground-glass (it’s mounted in the camera body above the viewfinder mirror).

To clean the ground-glass, spray a burst of compressed on the glass to blow away any dust and debris. You can also brush away dust particles with a small natural bristle paint brush. For heavier dust and debris, you can use a swab dampened with alcohol to clean the ground-glass.

Winding the Camera:

The K-3 camera uses spring motor and speed governor to maintain a constant film speed from the beginning of a shot until spring tension is completely exhausted. To wind the K-3 spring motor, use the Winding Handle (15) located on the right side of the camera. Lift the Winding Handle into a vertical position and turn the handle in the counter-clockwise direction. Slowly wind the camera until you feel resistance. The camera is now fully wound and will operate for approximately 25 seconds at 24fps. At higher speeds the camera will run for less time.

Camera Speed Control:

The K-3 has a variable speed control for frame rates between 8 and 48 frames per second.

Camera speed can be adjusted between 8 and 48 frames per second. Given the K-3 uses a spring motor, actual film speed is hard determine accurately. To change the film speed, turn the 8 Krasnogorsk-3 User Manual - Copyright 2010 | www.FilmMaker8.com

Speed Control (14) to the appropriate setting. The camera should not be operated at high speeds without film!

Camera Shutter Speed:

Frame Rates (fps) Single Frame 8 12 16 24 32 48

Shutter Speed 1/30th of a Second 1/20th 1/30th 1/40th 1/60th 1/80th 1/120th

Loading Film:

Before shooting unexposed film, it is recommended that a small length of film (approx 20ft.) be used to practice loading film in the camera. Practice loading the camera is a good time to listen to how the camera sounds when film is feeding properly and to gain an overall understanding of how the camera operates with film loaded. To load film, please follow the instructions below and refer to the “Camera Controls” section of this document for the location and function of camera controls.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Select a clean dust-free area away from direct sunlight to load film.

Wind the camera a few times using the camera Winding Handle (15).

Adjust the camera Speed Control (14) to 8 frames-per-second (fps).

Flip the camera over so that the lens is pointed to your left and turn the Magazine Cover Release (5) to remove the camera magazine cover.

Remove any empty daylight film reels from the camera.

Spray a burst of compressed air into the magazine to blow away any dust and debris.

Check the Film Gate (29) to make sure it is also clean and dust free. (To remove the Film Gate Pressure Plate (28), push it open away from the Film Gate (29) toward the Limiter (27) to its widest position and gently pull it upwards). If the gate or pressure plate are dirty use a Q-tip, orange wood stick or compressed air as needed to clean them.

Unpack your unexposed 100ft daylight film reel. Unroll approximately 18 inches of film and place the roll on the top Film Feed Spindle (17) so that the film comes off the bottom of the roll. Remember to push the Footage Counter Arm (18) aside when placing the film on the spindle.

Place the end of the film into the feed side (top) of the Film Feed Sprocket (24) and under the top Film Guide (25). If the end of the film is jagged use scissors or the Film Cutter (16) to trim.

Slowly feed the film into the Film Feed Sprocket (24) by pressing the Shutter Release Trigger (13) on the front of the camera. If the film starts to jam, push, or pull, guide the 9 Krasnogorsk-3 User Manual - Copyright 2010 | www.FilmMaker8.com

film by hand as necessary through the camera until it has made it through the Film Loop Former (23), between the Film Gate Pressure Plate (28) / Film Gate (29) and emerged from the bottom side of the Film Feed Sprocket (24) and bottom Film Guide (25).

10. Inspecting the film path, the film should be pressed against the top and bottom Film Loop Former (23). If the film has pulled away from either Film Loop Former (23), you will need to readjust the film to the proper loop size by gently pulling film into the loop from the feed side of the sprocket assembly. You can open the Film Guide (25) to release the film from the Film Feed Sprocket (24) on the feed side (top) or take-up side (Bottom) of the Film Feed Sprocket (24) to make adjusting the film loop inside the top and bottom Film Loop Former (23) easier.

11. Run some film (at least two feet) to make sure the film is running through the camera properly. If film is transporting correctly, the film will emerge from the bottom of the Film Feed Sprocket (24) without scratches or damaged film sprocket holes.

12. If you notice the Film Gate Pressure Plate (28) pulsing in and out as you run film, this means the Film Advance Pull-Down Claw (Not identified in diagrams) under the Film Gate Pressure Plate (28) is not engaging the film correctly. Remove the Film Gate Pressure Plate (28) and position the film so that the Film Advance Pull-Down Claw is engaged properly.

13. Place an empty daylight film reel on the Film Take-Up Spindle (20). Wind the excess film snugly around the film reel by turning the reel in a clockwise direction.

14. Replace the camera magazine cover and making sure it is installed correctly. Lock the magazine cover in place using the Magazine Cover Release (5).

15. Congratulations! You are ready to film with your camera! If you hear a sudden change of sound from the magazine while filming you may to check for proper film advance by removing the magazine cover (Opening the camera will expose approximately four to eight feet of film).

Note: Some K-3’s have both of the Film Loop Formers (23) removed. If this is the case with your particular camera, just make the film loop manually. The top loop should have about 4 perforations of film visible and the bottom loop should have about 7 perforations visible. As long as the camera runs properly with film loaded, the exact loop size is not critical.

Animation & Time-­‐lapse:

The K-3 is capable of capturing one frame at a time for animation and time-lapse filming. The Single-Frame Release (21) is a threaded hole located on the rear of the camera body where a cable release can be attached for single frame operation. Any standard cable release used for 35mm film cameras can be used. To operate the single-frame function, press and release the cable release plunger to expose one frame of film at a time. To prevent light leaking in and fogging the film during single-frame captures, it’s also a good idea to cover the viewfinder between exposures. The cap from a 35mm film canister is a perfect fit to cover the viewfinder (pull off the rubber eyepiece off the viewfinder and snap on the film canister cap).

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Footage Counter:

The K-3 automatically displays the remaining amount of unexposed film in the camera available for image capture. The unexposed film remaining is displayed in the Footage Counter Window (19). After loading the camera with a new 100ft film reel, the Footage Counter Arm (18) will rest on the film stock loaded on the 100ft reel. As the camera operates, film moves from the Film Feed Spindle (17) to the Film Take-Up Spindle (20) during image capture. As film moves during image capture, the camera will automatically decrement the film counter and display the remaining unexposed film available in the Footage Counter Window (19). The Footage Counter Window (19) displays the amount of unexposed film remaining for image capture in five meter increments. When the camera is fully loaded with a new 100ft. film reel, the Footage Counter Window (19) will display 30. When a 100ft film reel is half empty, the Footage Counter Window (19) will display 15 and 0 when completely empty.

Care & Maintenance:

The Krasnogorsk-3 motion picture camera is a reliable and rugged camera capable of providing many years of consistent operation. It is however also a precision instrument and care should be taken to keep it in proper working order. The precautions below will help make sure you receive years of excellent performance from your K-3.

• The camera should never be operated at high frame rates without film installed.

• Keep the camera in a cool dry place.

• When cleaning the camera lens, lens filters, camera mirror or viewfinder eyepiece, only use cleaning solutions and materials approved for lens cleaning. Using small amounts of cleaning solutions will also minimize the risk of cleaning solutions entering the lens and associated components.

• When cleaning the camera and lens using compressed air, hold the can upright to avoid spraying liquefied compressed air on camera components.

• The camera should be wound gently and care should be made to not over-wind the camera.

• Store the camera with the motor spring completely run down.

• Avoid subjecting the camera to rapid temperature changes. Be aware that bringing a cold camera into a warm, moist environment can cause condensation to form inside the camera.

• Always replace the lens cap after use.

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Camera Specifications:

Film Type

16mm single or double perforation

Maximum film load

110ft (33M) (100ft daylight load)

Frame rate

6-50fps and single frame (standard) 12,24,48 fps crystal sync with optional motor

Lens

17-69mm F-1.9 zoom (5:1)

Lens thread

M42x1 mm (standard) Arri standard / bayonet (optional)

Lens filter size

77mm

Minimum aperture

1:1.9

Minimum focus

2 meters (6.6ft)

Viewing

Rotating Mirror Reflex

Viewfinder (diopter)

+5 to-4

Shutter speed

1/57 at 24fps

Battery type (Light meter)

PX- 640 type mercury cell (Discontinued) Adapter available from: (http://www.yashica-guy.com)

Maximum running time

Approx 30 seconds at 24fps

Maximum draw of film per wind

17 feet

Mounting thread (for tripod)

3/8 standard

Dimensions

326 x 104 x 194mm

Weight

Approx 7 lbs

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Service Centers The following are recommended 16mm service centers offering a full range of camera sales and service.

Super 16 Inc 2103 Newark Valley-Maine Road Newark Valley, NY 13811 Phone: 607.642.3352 www.super16inc.com

Visual Products Inc 790 Shiloh Ave. Wellington, OH 44090 Phone: 440.647.4999 www.visualproducts.com

Optical-Electro House 4222 Glencoe Ave. - Unit 102 Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Phone: 310.482.6997 www.opticalelectrohouse.com

CinemaTechnic d/b/a Diaz-Amador Productions, Inc. P.O. Box 522163 Miami, FL 33152 www.cinematechnic.com

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