Polaroid MiniPortrait 203 User manual

MiniPortrait Camera

User Guide

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

What’s Inside

Introduction........................................................................................ 3

Beforeyou begin ............................................................................... 4

Cleanthe rollers ........................................................................... 4

Usea clean,white background..................................................... 4

Knowtheprocessing times forPolaroidfilms ............................... 4

KnowPolaroid’s toll-freenumber fortechnicalassistance............. 4

Settingup for greatpictures............................................................... 5

Tipsandtechniques........................................................................... 7

Usefresh film ............................................................................... 7

Knowpicture-size andpicture-typerequirements.......................... 7

Havea photocutting devicenearby .............................................. 7

Checkyour supplyofphoto folders ............................................... 7

Setthe flashunit position.............................................................. 7

Framingandcomposition.................................................................. 8

Usethe viewfinder aimingand framingaids ................................. 8

Aimandframeaccuratelythrough theviewfinder .......................... 8

Camerasettings step-by-step............................................................ 9

Setthe Film SpeedSwitch onthe flashunitfor thePolaroid

filmtype youareusing.................................................................. 10

Setthetimer forthe processing time ............................................ 10

Usingthe Sonarrangefinder......................................................... 10

Film processing................................................................................. 11

Pullthe film tabsstraight atamoderate speed ............................. 11

Handledeveloping pictureswith care ........................................... 11

Pictureproblems andproblem prevention.......................................... 13

Rulesandregulations ........................................................................ 17

Accessories...................................................................................... 18

Toll-freetechnical assistance ............................................................. 19

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

Introduction

The Polaroid MiniPortrait Model 203

two-lens camera has been used in most of

the illustrations and operational

photographs in this booklet. Where infor-

mation about four-lens cameras appears,

the Model 455 camera has been used.

While most of the general tips and

techniquesapply toall MiniPortrait

cameras,users of earliermodels should

referto theinstruction bookfortheirparticular

camerafor details aboutexposure and

distance settings, or call Polaroid Technical

Assistanceat thetoll-freenumber shownon

page 4.

Please keep this booklet within reach of

your camera.

The information in this booklet is designed

to help both experienced photographers

and occasional users of Polaroid MiniPortrait

camerasproduce instantphotos for

passports,visas andother officialdocuments

thatmeetthequalitystandards ofregulatory

agencies,as well asthe expectationsof

payingcustomers.

The booklet will help camera operators set

up and shoot successfully…avoid some

common picture-taking errors…perform a

few simple, routine, preventive

maintenance checks…and get expert

assistance when needed.

This booklet covers – in quick reference

form – much of the material contained in

theinstructions providedwith Polaroid

MiniPortraitcameras. Please consultthose

instructionswhenfirstlearningto usethe

camera.

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

Know the processing times for Polaroid

films

Color films/U.S. passport pictures

Recommended Normalprocessing time*

filmtypes

Polacolor 100 90 seconds

Polacolor Pro 100 90 seconds

Studio Polaroid 90 seconds

Providid 90 seconds

PolacolorER 60 seconds

Types669, 559

Black and white film

Recommended Normalprocessing time*

filmtypes

Type 667, 665, 554 30 seconds

* AT 70º - 77º F (21º - 24º C)

Know Polaroid’s toll-free number for

technical assistance

Forassistance withyourcamera or

Polaroidfilms, orforadvice onany instant

photographicproblem, pleasedon’thesitate

tocall us. Calltoll-free at 1-800-343-5000,

Mondaythrough Friday,8 a.m.to 8p.m.,

EasternTime.

More about lighting

Detailedinformation aboutlightingcan be

foundin theinstructionbookthatcame with

yourPolaroid MiniPortrait camera. Thebook

includesinformation aboutbasic portrait

lightingtechniques, aswellas alternative

lightingoptions.

Before you begin…

Clean the rollers

Removeand cleanthe rollersin thefilm

holderregularly. Checktherollerseachtime

you load a pack of film and before each

picture-takingsession. (You cancheck and

cleanthe rollersevenwhenthefilm holderis

loadedwith film.) Therollerscan beremoved

easilyfor cleaning. Use asoft cloth,moist-

enedwith water. Donot usealcoholor other

cleaningfluids, andnever scrapethe rollers

witha hardobject orwith yourfingernails.

Use a clean, white background

Formost documentphotos aclean,white

backgroundis required. For bestresults, use

seamless,super-whitepaper,or a beaded,

whiteprojector screen. Avoid clothback-

drops.

Fortheverybestresults, auxiliary

backgroundlighting isrecommended.

(See page 5)

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

1Usea clean,white background.

2Abackground light isrecomended.

3Providean adjustablestool foryour

subject.

4Placethe subjectcloseto the

background,about 10-12in.

5Measurecamera-to-subject distance

carefully. Distance affectsimage size,

imagesharpness, andexposure.

(See page 10)

6Usethe Sonarrangefinder tohelp

positionthe camera atthe correct

distance(1.2 m/47in.) fromyour

subject. (See page 10)

Setting up for great pictures

7Makesure yoursubject isfacingdirectly

towardthe camera.

8Thecamera lensesshould beat the

subject’seyelevel.

9Markthe correctcamera andsubject

positionsif your setupis not

permanent.

10 Forconsistent resultsmountthe camera

on a tripod.

11 Whenusing thecamera’s flashas the

mainlighting, besure theflash unitis in

the“up” position andreflector isfacing

forward. (See page 7)

12 Checkthe cameraexposure settings

before you shoot. (See pages 9-10)

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

13 Setthe timer forthe correctprocessing

timefor thefilm youre using.

(See pages 4, 10 and 11)

14 Havea photo-trimmingdevice, suchas

a die cutter, handy. (See page 18)

15 Havea supply ofPolaroid Photo

Foldersavailable to protectyour images

andto assuresafe deliveryto your

customers. (See pages 7 and 18)

16 Knowthe photo specifications(image

size)for thedocumentsin whichthe

pictures will be used. (See page 17)

17 Havea mirrornearby foryour customer’s

convenience.

18 Keep a copy of “Quick Tips for

MiniPortraitCamera Users”handy for

fastreference.

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

Use fresh film

Notethe film expirationdate stampedon

Polaroidfilm packages. Outdated filmmay

notproduce satisfactoryresults, andis not

coveredby thePolaroidfilmwarranty.

Know picture-size and picture-type

requirements

Referto the informationon page15for

detailsabout documentphoto picturesizes,

image sizes, and film types (color or black &

white). Mostgovernmental agenciesand

regulatorybodies havespecific requirements

fordocumentphotos.

Have a photo cutting device nearby

Be prepared to trim photos to the proper

size. Usea die cutter,picture trimmer,or

paper cutter. (See page 18 for information

aboutaccessories.)

Check your supply of photo folders

PolaroidPhoto Foldersprotect freshly

processedpictures fromscratchesand other

damage. Thespecial coating onthe folders

makes them a safe place to keep pictures that

arenot quitedrytothetouch.

UsePhoto Folders topresent aprofessional

appearance to customers. (See page 18 for

informationabout ordering.)

Set the flash unit position

Ifthe mainlight sourceis thecamera flash

unit…

•Raisethe flashunitall theway up. The

greenlight willcome oninafewseconds. If

itdoesn’t, turnto page12forinstructions.

•Rotatethe flashTiltKnob sothe flash

reflectorfaces forward. (Thetiltfeature

allowsyoutousebounceflashwithauxiliary

lighting.)

Formore informationabout lighting,referto

yourcamera instructionbook.

Tips and techniques

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

Use the viewfinder aiming and framing

aids

aPortraitframes.

bSizingdots (forvarious document“head

size”requirements).

cSizingbar (forvarious document“head

size”requirements).

dSonarrangefinder indicatorlights.

Aim and frame accurately through the

viewfinder

Adjustthe heightof thecamerasothelenses

areabout levelwith thesubject’s eyes.

aUse the solid frame to compose

portraitsof subjectswhen theDistance

Selector is set to 1.2 m (47 in.).

Framing and composition

bUsethe partial framefor composing

portraitswhen the DistanceSelector is

setto 1.92m (76in.)andsupplementary

lensesare being used.

Usethe sizing barand dotsto helpproduce

portraitsin whichthe subject’s“head size”must

meet specific requirements. (See page 17)

ForU.S. passport picturesplace thebarunder

anadult subject’schin; checkto besure that

thetop of thesubject’s headis betweenthe

highestand lowestdots.

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

aSetthe lensapertureusingthe

guidelinesindicated onthe flashunit.

bTurn thecamera onbesettingthe0/1

switchto “1”.

cForU.S. passport photosand most

otherdocument photosofoneperson,

settheDistance Switch to1.2m

(47in.).

dSetthe Shutter SpeedSelector to

1/125,especially if youare shootingin

anareawithstrongfluorescent lighting.

Note: Settingsmay haveto be

adjustedforauxiliarylighting,

differentfilm types,background

color,temperature,etc.,orto

makepictures lighter ordarker.

Exposurecan beadjusted bychanging

thelensaperture:

•Highernumberswillreduce

exposure(for darkerpictures).

•Lowernumbers willincrease

exposure(forlighterpictures).

Camera settings step-by-step

eSet the Portrait Selector for the desired

results:

Model 203:

•Twoidentical portraits

•Twodifferentportraits

Model 455:

•Fourdifferent portraits

•Fouridentical portraits

•Twopairs of identicalportraits

fThePicture Counterhelps youkeep track

ofyour picture-takingby indicatinghow

manyshots remain tobe taken. Referto

thePortrait Selectorfor pictureconfiguration,

thenread thePicture Countertoseehow

manyexposures areneededto accomplish

thetask. The Counterwill alwaysread “1”

whenmaking identicalportraits.

Onthe Model455 camera,set thecounter

usingthe procedurein theinstruction book

orcall Polaroid Technical Assistancefor

details.

MiniPortrait Camera User Guide

Set the Film Speed Switch on the flash

unit for the Polaroid film type you are

using

Model 203:

Set to 80 for color and black and white films

ratedISO80° – 125°.

Set to 3000 for black and white films rated

ISO3000°.

Model 455:

Set to 80/100 for color and black and white

filmsratedISO 80°– 125°.

Setto 400/800 forother films.

Set the timer for the processing time

Notethe recommended processingtime

givenon the Polaroidfilm package.Thistime

willvary accordingto thetype offilm youare

using,and maychange fromtimetotime

becauseof technical improvementsin the

film. Processingtime adjustmentsalso may

berequired because ofthe temperatureat

thetime of processing.

How to set the timer

To setthe timer (orreset it toa longer time),

pressand holdtheSETbuttonuntil thecorrect

processing time is displayed.

To setthetimer for a

shorter

time,press theSET

andSTARTbuttonssimultaneously untilzerois

displayed,then setthetimer asabove.

Using the Sonar Rangefinder

Ifyour setupisnotpermanentor marked,use the

SonarRangefinder to positionthe cameraat the

correctdistance fromyour subjectfor most

documentphotos. Thecamera-to-subject

distance is important because it affects image

size,image sharpness,and exposure.

Note: TheSonar Rangefinderdoes notfocus

thecamera. Itis adistance-measuring

deviceonly.

•Setthe Distance Selectoron thecamerafor

the distance specified for the image size

desired.

•Lookthrough theviewfinder andaim the

cameraat yoursubject. Press theshutter

buttonhalfwaytoactivatethe Sonar

Rangefinder.

•Ifthe camera isat thecorrect distance,both

greenlightswill beon. If the camerais too

close,the leftlightwill beon; iftoo far,the right

lightwillbe on. Movethe camera backand

forthuntil it isat thedesireddistance.

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