- 1). Load the film into the camera. The 120 folding cameras produce usually 6-by-9-inch or 6-by-6-inch negatives, depending on the model. Tear off the paper tape holding the film leader, then insert the roll into the left or right side of the film back. It depends again on the particular model. The film wind knob needs to pull the film onto the take-up reel, so the empty spool must be in the chamber with the prongs for the winder. Insert the film leader into the empty spool and turn until you are certain the film securely threads. Then close the back. Continue winding the film until the first frame number appears in the window on the back of the camera.
- 2). Open the camera and extend the bellows. In some models, this requires pressing a button on the top of the camera to unlock the front plate on the camera. Then, pull the solid part of the front of the camera out. It will open at an angle and reach approximately 90 degrees. It should lock into place.
- 3). Focus the camera. Some of these models provide a rangefinder system in which you turn the focus ring on the lens while looking through a viewfinder. As you turn, the two images come together as one. For most of the folding 120 film cameras, you need to guess at focus. Estimate the distance from the camera to the subject, then turn the focus ring to the appropriate setting. For general scenes, you can set the focus approximately in the middle distance, then use the aperture ring to stop-down the scene. If you set the aperture to a maximum of f/11, you will get more in focus. If the lens stops-down beyond this, to f/22 for example, use that.
- 4). Set the shutter speed according to your light meter readings. The hand-held meter will substitute for an on-camera meter that does not exist. Set the meter to the ISO film speed according to the film box, then point the meter at the subject. Based on film speed, the meter will tell you what shutter speed to set as well as the proper aperture opening.
- 5). Experiment with the Voigtlander folding camera. It takes large, detailed images. The lenses the company used for its cameras, even low-end cameras, tend to be superior to other lenses of the time period on folding cameras. This means, with a little experimentation, you can produce unusually detailed images.
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