OLTA AUTO

OWNER'S MANUAL
 A oroduct of Minoltr r l a r r r s h EM&lrsalsion a I

~tis a sophisticated Inatruman9

8 quality and convenlrnca ~ l t I
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- simplest foolproof oprritlon 8

nake it ideal for all trr,#tnnln~
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-

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w h o s e variety bf acea8morlma Dul4D It L many a?&!
ions, including tlm#.lrpDa, 1 ~ ~ s y n c h r b ~
remote-control, and w l r r l r r l Illmlflk rnakfng i t a I
valuable tool for advancad o l m r r l ~ n me well.
Before using your Mlnoltr AU~O$S~*@D6 t
time, please read thla m r n u l l 111 t h l WRY thro
at least far enough to OOver YOUr OWn Qlrnlng
while loading b a t k r l r a and film, hrndllng r n
ing yourself with your 08marD and it8
features. In this wry, you ODn f r k l
begin t o realize the full p ~ f l n t l lOf
l
right from the start.
MAIN FEATURES .................................2 MORE ADVANCED FILMING
NAMES OF PARTS ................................. 4 Meter lock button ..............................
28
SPECIFICATIONS AND ACCESSORIES ...
6 Shutter speeds .................................
29
PREPARATION .
X sync terminal for strobe ..................
30
How t o install batteries ..................... 8 Frame speeds and their uses ...............
31
Battery check ....................................
11 Single-frame photography ............... ..
i 32
Inserting and removing cartridges ......
12 Viewfinder shutter ..............................34
Using various film types Film'plane index .................................
34
Outdoor filming .............................. 14 HINTS FOR BETTER MOVIES
Indoor filming .................................
14 Length of scenes.....................:...........35
Viewfinder Panning ..............................................
35
To adjust the eyepiece .....................
16 Titles ................................................36
Viewfinder information .....................
17 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Focusing by microprism ..................
18 Close-up lens .................................... 37
Lens aperture scale. under- and Release cord ....................................... 39
overexposure warning zones. and Remote-control cord ...........................
39
underexposure indicator lamp ......19 1A (skylight) filter ..............................
40
Footage indicator. safe-run and Lens shade .......................................
40
film-end signals ........................
20 Oversize eyepiece hood .....................
41
Pre-filming checklist ...........................
21 Intervalometer-P .................................
41
NORMAL FILMING Intervalometer-S .................................
42
How t o support the camera ...............
24 Wireless remote-control unit ...............
42
Filming button ....................................
25 Tape recorder-control cord ..................
43
Zooming .............................................
26 DEPTH-OF-FIELDCHART .....................
44
Changing zooming speed .....................
27 MAINTENANCE AND CARE .....................
52
~ u Y - k # ) i l l ~ ~ -

The Minolta Autopak-8

all the Super-8 sy*m c
ct3ck the carkr- in&%poMm eta h@-t~
need t o handle or t h r d film. 83Qi k&&
film run straeglht thrau@, &&IsBtimg the Superb aarnere ~ o l f ~ t i e r nP swlE&
d besme
Iattim*, light-strwcRffttm.and splicing d ~ l d af accessorc~~s maw@
double-8 film t u r m . to shoot slow--tan, .Nrn@-&apai%, rmwte-
Film speed is automatically set by theoar- or wireless-centralkd, and %ape rwordclr-
tridge, and a filter for outdoor filming is wto- synchronized motion pfctures.
matically pasiMmed when you use indsar
color film. Nearly 5Q per cent la~gbafilm VarUblm-ap..d powor room Ionr
image area dves you sharper, brbghder
pictures. - At a touch 6f your timer, the high-perform-
WiQkk~rLens power morns 6 diameters
M w a n wideangle afid Wephoto at you
e b i ~ Of
g ~tw s p W s OT manrralky.
A ekighly sensitive ~adaEj&~b18.&&@&I
T h m convmhnt rhutter wttln.1
'6wo Bandy frame speeds plus ainsb-frame
setting onable $law-matbion for
sports scenes, recordins wildlife
.,
as well as smodhirtg pans and
camera movement; time-lapse for animation
and plant and weather studies, in addition
t o regular filming.

The electromagnetic shutter release and

-
cordaccessories makeremote-controlfilmina
simple at any shutter setting.

Bright "inforrnatlon-center" viewfinder

Thanks t o a special mirror and through-the-

lens viewing, you see the subject at i t is,
bright and without distortion, with positive
microprism focusing in the center and with
all essentialfilmingindicationsinview-with-
out taking your eye from the finder. Eyepiece
adjusts and locks t o suit your vision.

Easy-to-hold battery-chamber handgrip

conveniently folds flush against camera for
carrying or storage.
 I
NAMES OF PARTS

- Accessory bracket
Battery check button
Movie-light socket

Manual zoom lever

- Frame speed dial/battery master switch

Focal length scale
Sync. terminal
Zoom speed selector
Distance scale
Meter lock button
Zoom Rokkor Lens
Scale illumination window

-
ZI
Filming button
Handgrip battery chamber
Filter-retracting screw

lri.
=-3
C
d L . h - _ _ -. .-
 Power zoom control
Focusing ring a
Film chamber latch
Film data window
3
-
-
-
Film plane index
Tripod socket
Finder shutter control
Eyepiece lock
Finder eyepiece
Battery-chamber cap
Battery-chamber lock
Wrist strap
-
\
 Camera type: 8mm movie camera using Super-& film cartridge
Lens: Rokkor F1.8 room type, 14 elements in 12 groups, focal length con-
tinuously variable from 8.4 to 50mm (6x) for manual or power zoom
EE system: Through the lens aperture measuring system incorporating high-
sensitivity CdS Celt, spwial bridge circuit with double-coil galvano-
meter, powered by bettety-compartment dry cells
EE working range: Daylight filming : ASA 2 5 - l ~ i O ( D l N15-23), artificial light: ASA 40
-250 (DIN 17-25); coupled t o F45, virtually obviating need for ND
filters; film speed set automatically when cartridge loaded
Drive system: Electric mi.cmmotor for filming; separate zoom power micromotor
operating at approx. 1.6 or 4 seconds' full zooming time
Power source: 4 AA-size (penlight) 1 . 5 ~dry batteries contained in battery-case
located in handgrip
Shutter: Rotary type with speeds of 1/40 second at single frame and 18 frames
per second, 1/72 sec. at 32 fps; X synchronization at single-frame
 Viewfinder: Erect-image, single-lens-reflex type, with central micropriim foc&ing,
locking eyepiece adjustment, extraneous light shutter; under- and
overexposurewarningzones and F-stop, safe-run and film-end signals,
batterylunderexposure indicator lamp all visible in viewfinder ;
Footage indicator: ~ e n g t h ' o fexposed film registered in both meters and feet, automatic
return
Others: Electromagnetic shutter release, built-in automatic-positioning No.
85 filter (for using Type A color film in daylight), built-in X sync. ter-
minal, accessory bracket, movie-light socket, tripod socket, folding
handgrip
Accessories available: No. 1A filter, lens shade, close-up lens, oversize eyepiece hood, Inter-
valometer-S, Intervalometer-P, release cord, remote-control cord,
wireless remote-control unit, tape recorder-control cord
Size and weight: 70x 1 2 8 x 196mm (2% x 5 x 7% in.), 1250g (44 or)
How to laatail

Film transport and shutter rotation, auto-

matic exposure, power zoom, and shutter
release are all powered by four AA-size 1 . 5 ~
dry batteries contained in the handgrip. To
properly install these:
1. Remove cap on bottom of handgrip by 3. Carefully insert batteries into the other
turning lock from C t o 0 with a coin or part with positive (+) or negative (-) end
similar object and grasping two edges to down according t o the markings in the
lift it off.
2. Take out the plastic battery case and
its 2 parts by turningthe central1
the end of one part counter-' ,

i
the matching notches on the other, put
the two plastic parts together again and
fasten the case together with the screw
tij

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CAUTION:
It is essential that the batteries be inserted
as indicated in the battery case.
a Be sure t o remove batteries when the
camera is not to be used for more than a
month.
Do not try to force the battery case into
the chamber upside down.
 Do not keep the battery check button de-
pressed for long, as this will w9aken
Dry batteries lose power gradually whether batteries.
actually used or not. From time t o time use Whenever the camera is left unused for a
the battery checker built into your Minolta period of time, be sure t o t u r n frame speed
Autopak-8 D6 t o see if your batteries have dial t o OFF.
grown too weak for good filming results.
Checking is quick and easy:
Make sure the frame speed diallbattery
master switch is not in the OFF position.
Then, while looking into the viewfinder,
push the battery check button all the way
in. If batteries are in good condition, the
red batterylunderexposure warning signal
lamp outside the lower right of the frame
will light up. If this red signal does not light
when the battery check button is depressed,
your batteries are not serviceableand should
be replaced with new ones.
CAUTION:
.Be sure not t o press the filming button
or power zoom control while pushing bat-
tery check button.
.There is no need t o push the battery
check button repeatedly.
lnontlns and rmmorrlm awtrldgu
am@ -.
2. Slide the cartridge into the camera from
the rear and angled slightly down toward
camera front as shown, with the center
a
hole down, the label up, and the opening
To put In cartridge: with film visible toward the front. Then
1. Push film chamber latch toward front of push down gently on the rear edges of the
camera as indicated by arrow and open cartridge until it seats flat i n the chamber
film chamber door. and you hear a click.

3. Close the film chamber door and push in
on i t near the latch until it locks shut with
a snap.
I
Putting in the cartridge automatically sets
the camera for the proper film speed.
a Loading Type A film automatically posi-
tions a No. 85 filter t o allow outdoor film-
ing if you are not using a movie light or
filter-retracting screw.
a Looking through the film data window,
you can see whether and with what kind
of film the camera is loaded.
To take cartridge out:
Open the side cover as mentioned before
and remove the cartridge by lifting it from
the back and sliding it out toward the back
at a slight angle.
Outdoor filming
Regardless of the kind of film you load in
your camera, you are ready for daylight
filming immediately.
If you load with Type A color film (balanced
for use with a movie-light or photofloods of
3400K color temperature), the film car-
tridge automatically positions a built-in
filter between lens and film t o balance the
daylight t o suit your film.
Indoor filmlng
When you unscrew the cap screw from the
movie-light socket and attach a movie light
to your camera by screwing it into the
socket, the daylight light-balancing filter
positioned by a Type A color film cartridge
will be removed from the path of light t o
the film t o provide proper color balance for
your indoor movies.
For indoor filming with any other kind of
artificial light, screw the filter-retracting
screw (similar but longer than the cap screw)
supplied with your camera into the movie-
light socket t o remove the filter from the
light path and use filters or gels as necessary
t o balance the light t o the film in use.
Use a properly balanced blue lamp for fill-
in lighting in daylight or indoor filming with
outdoor film.
No provision for color balance is necessary
when you are filming in artificial light with
black-and-white film.
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Viewflnder information &ortun F-number & underand oversxposure
Besides providing an accurate, parallax- marntng zone
free view of your subject, the viewfinder of
your Autopak-8 D6 is a rather complete infor-
mation center that gives you all necessary
filming control information continuously as
you film. In it you can see the microprism
focusing center spot, aperture F-number
scale with red under- and overexposure
zones, battery/underexposure indicator
lamp, and safe-run and film-end signals
positioned as shown.
Each of these is explained below, some in
1
Film safe-run signal

this section, others later in connection with

other mechanisms and the functions they
relate to.
) Filmand signal
Battery/underexposure

I I
Focusing by rnicroprlsrn
To focus a subject, zoom t h e lens toward . ). ,,=
t h e 50mrn telephoto focal length until the
viewfinder image is relatively large.
Then while looking intotheviewfinder, t u r n
the focusing ring clockwise or counterclock-
wise until t h e image i n the central micro-
prism circle becomes clear. When t h e image
reaches its clearest point, focusing for the
subject is complete.
The standard focal length for general
8 m m filming is about 13mm. Depth of field
E
at this focal length and below is so great
that there is less need t o focus subjects
precisely at usual distances and apertures;
approximate focus by visual estimation is
usually satisfactory. At focal lengths from
about 20mm through 50mm, however,
accurate focusing is essential.
b
Lens aperture scale, under- and overea-
posure warnlng zones, and underexpssvre
indicator lamp
Black figures on a white background in a
rectangular window above the main view-
finder frame continuously register the F-
stop number at which the EE system is set-
ting the aperture for filming. Specifio
reference figures and dots between them on
this scale indicate F-numbers of (2), 2.8, 4,
(5.61, 8, ( l l ) , 16, (22), 32, and (45).
Below the maximum aperture position of
F1.8 (slightly t o the left of the dot indicat-
ing F2), there is a red underexposure warn-
ing zone that comes into view from the left
as light volume approaches an inadequate
level. When filming under relatively low
light conditions, keep watch for this warning
zone. When the red zone reaches the small
index halfway across the top of the window,
the red underexposure indtcatar lamp will
light up t o warn you whewever the fllming
button is depressed halfway. When this hap-
pens, there 5s not enough light, and your
movles will be underexposed unless you use
i~ r P - 1
-,
morslllumination (such as from a movie light
or &her source) or a slower shutter speed (as
by decreasing the frame speed if practical).
It is unlikeJy that you will ever encobnter
lighting conditions that will indicate an aper-
ture smaller than F45 (i.e., the dot t o the
right of 39,but if such should ever become
thecase under very bright conditions, such
as sun on sand or snow, with high-speed
films, and the index indicates a point within
the red overexposure zone t o the right of the
F45 dot, increase the shutter speed if ac-
ceptable by increasing the frame speed t o
the extent necessary to register a lens open-
ing of F45 or larger.
04 . 8 16 correct exposure
m
2.8 Underexposure
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F o o t y e Indicator, -.run and tllmand though you can reinsert and continue t o ex-
c*' $tipals pose partially used cartridges (losing some
frames of light-struck film unless you do so
Each super-8 film cartridge contains 50 and keep the film in total darkness) the
feet (15.24 meters) of film. footage indicator will start again and advance
The footage indicator on the side of the from zero and thus will not accurately reg-
camera registers the length of exposed film. ister the actual length of exposed film.
I t is marked in 5-foot graduations from 0 t o The film-end signal will appear when the
F (i.e., "FinishW=50 ft.) and every 2 meters film is exhausted, however.
from 0 to 14 meters.
Regular bobbing up and down of the safe-
run signal at the upper right of the view-
finder frame when the filming button is
depressed confirms that film transport i s
proceeding.normally.
Just before the F registers on the foot.
age indicator, the black, pointer-shaped film-
end signal will swing up into view from the
left pert of the frame t o warn you that the
film in your cartridge has all been exposed.
This film-end signal will remain vlsible i n the
viewfinder until the next cartridge is properly
Inserted into,the film chamber.
The footage indicator automatically resets
t o zero when a cartridge is removed. Thus, ,--
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 For better movies without false starts, run
through the following checklist each time you
get your camera out for some normal filming: (

1. Set the frame speed dial at other than

OFF ~ o s i t i o nand use the battery checker 2. Check t o be sure you have enough film
~ k Ie your batter are good. sma g or load a new cartridge.
3. Turn the camera to a bright direction and
move your hand back and forth in front of
the lens to confirm that the F-number
scale Is working.Jf it does not move with
adeauate light, make sure the meter lock
buttbn is pushid in to itsunlocked position.
(If the viewfinder appears completely 4. If you wish, depress the filming button
black, remove the lens cap andlor open briefly t o see that the shutter is releasing
the viewfinder shutter.) properly.
NORMAL FlLMlNQ
Mow t o support tka ramaca
Slnce an unsteady camera ganerally pro-
duces unsatisfectory movies, be sure t o s u p
port your camera positively and properly.
For best results, use of a soad tripad in-
tended for use with a movie camera is re-
commended wherwer @ r w f i e a b l ~ ~
To twnat#al.dthe camera, slip either wrist
throwgh 6 k w t s t strap loop and @raspthe
handgrip with tho same hand. Place the
ather hand on top d the camera to steady
it. The power room control can probably be
operated better if the left hand Is the one
placed on top.

To actuate the electromagnetic shutter
release {toceted inside the camera) to start
filming at either speed or to m;rke each
.*.
By grasping the knurled round grips on
either sideof the filming button with thumb
snd fwdntptr, the regular f i ~ m i n ~ ~ s w i t c h
oWsfiIfy Zs easily detached from the
cen3W1. Electrical connectionsof the release
cord, Int@rmlmtsr-P or -S, wlrpless remote.
c o W d unft, ior tape rec~rder-controlcard
 hanglng zoomlng apeed
Your camera has 2 zooming speeds, fast
and slow. To set the fast speed of approx.
1.6 seconds' full zooming time from one ex-
treme to the other, push in on the F end of
the zoom speed selector until it clicks. For
IY the slow approx. 4-second full zooming time,
push the S end of the zoorn speed selector.
pay special attention tocamera movement
In filming at extended focal lengths.
CAUTION:
Do not depress power zoom con$rol to
zoom toward same direction after lens has
reached wideangle or telephoto extreme.
as this will exhaust batteries.

Choose a zoom speed suitable t o your

subject and effect you desire to create.
IIf you use the zoorn too much, the pro-

jected movies will be difficult to view.

When planning a zoom sequence, be sure
t o focus at the telephoto extreme before
beginning t o film it.
When zooming manually during filming,
use a tripod t o prevent camera movement.
Screw the manual zoom lever into which-
ever of the 2 sockets provided is more con-
venient for your operation of the camera.
I ZOOM SPEED
0 Any camera movement is magnified in
telephoto pictures and further exaggerated
when they are projected. You should
ami
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 (length af @JCPVSWT@ d
your Autap&-% 06 cdrnwa is l~'40 w m ~& d
18fps an4 skngle frame and 1/72sm.s# at
 The strobe terminal provided on your
Autopak-8 D6 enables you t o use electronic
flash (strobe) lighting for individual single-
frame exposures and for time-lapse filming
intervals sufficient t o allow proper recycling
between exposures.
Since automatic EE aperture setting is nc,
suitable for making strobe exposures, the
proper aperture is generally determined by
dividing a guide number for the flash and
film in use by the flash-to-subject distance.
To set the camera aperture for strobe ex-
posures:
1. With the meter lock button ~ u s h e in.
d look
through the viewfinder and point the
d m e r a toward dark or light subjects until
the proper F-stop indication registers
opposite the index of the lens aperture
qqale.
2. t h e n lo& the aperture at the desired F-
stop value by pulling out the meter lock
button until it snaps.
Ir
Frame s p w d r and thelr usos

our Minolta Autopak-8 D6 will film at

32frames per seeand and also single
Suggrnsted uses follaw for each sf

This is the standard frame speed for

ent Super-t) movies. Use it for all general
ming for rrslural M e & wit4 minimum
llcker and greatest Pllm economy.

Filming at &hishigher speed and project-

blllawinq seeL1 ahfidrsn c W $ a kfl,@lrmta

rustllryb in the wind, ruantrqs, and m
 The single-frame provision on your camera
enables you t o expose just one frame at a
time for animating titles, cartoons, etc.,
time-lapse photography, and trick and spe-
cial.effects. SF shutter speed is the same
as that for 18fps, that is, 1/40 sec.
General instructions for SF use are:
1. Attach the camera t o tripod or similar 2. Remove the filming-button switch assem-
firm support and set the frame speed dial bly and insert the 4-hole release-cord
t o SF connection in its place.
 4. A W r making sure focus and exposure
w e eqrr.er:t, release the shutter. . 7
e E%~~g#34r.gmr? pbotagraphy can be done
using the Ftfming button in the normel
pasitton plugged into its socket on the
3. Insert the 4-prong plug on the other end camera, burt use of the release cord is
of the release mrd Into the 4-hole jack af strongly recommended t q prevent camera
the filming-button swltch assembly. movement.
Vkwflndmr ahuttar Film plmo Indmx

Since your head and/or the oversize eye-

piece hood shields the viewfinder during
normal filming, there is little problem of
strong stray light entering it. I n such special
types of filming as remote-control and time-
lapse work, however, there may be nothing
over the eyepiece t o do this. The viewfinder
shutter is used t o prevent such light from
affecting exposure. It should be closed
whenever you are not using the viewfinder
during filming. The small circle with a line running
To close this shutter, simply switch the through it (4) on the left side of your Auto-
control t o CLOSE until nothing can be seen i n pak-8 D6 is the film plane index. Use this
the viewfinder. To open it, turn the control t o calculate film-plane-to-subject distance
back t o OPEN. for close-up photography, etc.
INTS FOR BETTER MOVIES
 - -
,- OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
one-up lens
This lens allows filming titles and other
close-up subjects at filming distances be-
tween about 40.6 t o 50.8cm (16 t o 20 in.).
Zooming is also possible when the close-up
lens is used.
Focusing is done by means of the view-
finder microprism as with general filming.
The term filming distance means the actu-
al distance between thefilmplane(indicated
by the camera-side O mark) and the subject.
The following table indicates what this
distance will be when using the close-up
lens focused at various distances indicated
by the focusing scale.
 This accessory allows you t o release the
lectro- electromagnetic shutter of camera frqrn a
laceof distance. It is useful for cover filming of
arnera wildlife and various scientific subjects. You
Irning. can also use it when operating rnorethan one
Inter- camera at a time or t o get i n the picture
 This filter absorbs ultraviolet rays very well
but has no filter factor.
Use the 1A filter t o improve probable
bluish rendition of subjects in shade illumi-
nated mainly by blue sky, on overcast days,
or obscured by atmospheric haze. It can also
be used t o protect the taking lens.
Limmbd@
I
This lens shade is effective not only for
preventing flare from strong direct light on
the lens but also for protecting the lens and
front of the barrel from rain or snow.
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 'his cord is used t o connect the camera
with a tape recorder for synchronizing film-
ing with sound recording. The tape recorder
operates while the filming button is depress-
ed.
48 Depth-of-Field Chart (in feet) F=29mm
50 Depth-of-Field Chart (in feet) F=50mm
..
 Your camera should be examined and
cleaned from time t o time i n normal use.
When it has been exposed t o dust, dirt, or
corrosive conditions (such as salt spray), it
should be cleaned as soon as practicable
after such exposure. It should be kept and
stored under proper conditions. If you take
care of your camera, it will serve you well
for many years.
Gently whisk dust, salt particles, or other
loose, dry matter off the lens and barrel with
a balr-bellows lens brush, then wipe gently
with a soft silicon-treated cloth.
If the lens is still not clean, swab it with a
gentle circular motion from the center out-
wgrd with a soft, clean cloth or special photo-
graphic lens tissue.
For stubborn stains, place only one drop of
lens-cleaning fluid on lens tissue or absorb-
ent cottan and swab lens gently. Do NOT
drop lens-cleaning fluid directly on lens
surface.
1
Store your camera i n its case when not in.
use. Frame speed dial should of course be
turned t o OFF.
When the camera is t o be unused for more
than a month, be sure t o remove the bat-
teries from the handgrip chamber.
Do not store your camera where the
temperature or humidity are high or near
salts or corrosive chemicals.
When storing your camera for an extended
period, it is best t o place the case contain-
ing it into an airtight container (such as a
I
heavy or double plastic bag) along with a
small bag of a drying agent (such as silica
gel).
2,: