How to Shoot

Choosing your film

With your Konstruktor camera built, you’ll need to select the appropriate film for the job. Use this handy guide to use the correct ISO of film depending on your shooting conditions!

LOADING THE FILM

  1. Open the Film Door Lock to unlock the film door
  2. Pull out the Rewind Wheel as far as the second stop
  3. Place the Film Roll in the Film Chamber
  4. Push the Rewind Wheel down
  5. Pull the film roll across into the Take-Up Spool slot so that the teeth catch the film perforations
  6. Rotate the Film Advance Wheel for one rotation and check the Sprocket Gear Teeth are catching the film perforations
  7. Rotate the Rewind Wheel in the direction of the arrow to adjust the tension of the film
  8. Before closing the camera Back Door, reset the Frame Counter to ‘36’ (This is the film countdown mechanism. When the counter reaches ‘1’, your film is finished!)
  9. Close the Film Door and close the latch of the Film Door Lock
  10. Advance the film for two frames to wind on to an unexposed part of the film. If the film is winding properly, the Film Transport Signal will turn to let you know

Preparing to shoot and framing your subject

When it’s time to take a photo, firstly open the Hood Viewfinder Cover then lift the inside covers. (We recommend closing the Hood Viewfinder when the camera is not in use.)

Now take a look into the Hood Viewfinder and you’ll see your subject. Usually it’s best to hold the Konstruktor at chest or shoulder level when shooting using the Hood Viewfinder. When photographing vertical images with the Hood Viewfinder, it’s possible to shoot at right angles; this is particularly useful when you want to remain hidden from the object of your photographic desire! The image in the Hood Viewfinder can also be viewed from below when the Konstruktor is held above your head.

This is very handy when you want to take photos over the heads of crowds, for example. In order to get more precise focusing, you can flip up the magnifier inside the Lens Hood.

Operating the lens

The Konstruktor has a fixed aperture lens. You can rotate the lens ring to change your focus. If the lens ring is close to the camera body, you’ll be focusing on subjects that are far away. If you rotate the lens ring to the right so that the lens is further from the camera body, you’ll focus on subjects closer to you. The lens will correctly focus as close as 0.5m to your subject.

Operating the shutter

  1. To operate the Konstruktor shutter, turn the Mirror Reset Knob until it is in the reset position
  2. Then select your shutter mode. You can select N (1/80s) for normal exposures or B (Bulb) for long exposures
  3. Then simply press the Shutter Release button to take a photo!

Rewinding the film

Do not open the Film Door until the full length of the exposed film has been rewound into the cartridge.

  1. Turn the Rewind Wheel in the direction of the arrow. Avoid blocking the Frame Counter and ensure the Film Advance Wheel rotates with the Rewind Wheel. The resistance will go away as the film disengages from the Take Up Spool.
  2. The Film Door can now be opened to remove your film
  3. Pull the Rewind Wheel up to take out your film