Manual scanned and put online free of charge by Mike Butkus, whose library runs on donations. The link opens his model page, where you can download the PDF.
Getting started
Battery Open the battery compartment cover with a coin slipped into the notch. Insert a 3 V DL123A or CR123A lithium battery, polarities aligned, negative end first, then close the cover until it clicks. On the Date version, the display then returns to “94 1 1”: set the date.
Loading Use DX-coded film. Slide the back cover latch down, insert the cartridge and pull the film leader to the film start mark, keeping it flat. Close the back: “1” appears on the counter. If “0” blinks, the film hasn’t loaded, start again.
Sensitivity Nothing to set: it reads the film’s DX code, from ISO 25 to 3200. Film without a DX code is treated as ISO 25. Canon recommends ISO 400 for everyday photos.
Your first photo Turn the mode dial to AUTO: the lens extends to 38 mm. Frame with the zoom control, place the AF frame on the subject and press halfway: the green lamp lights up when it’s in focus. Press all the way. In low light or against the light, the flash fires by itself.
Rewinding At the end of the roll, it rewinds by itself and the counter counts down. Wait for “0” on the counter before opening the back with its latch. To rewind mid-roll, press the rewind button under the camera with the pin on the wrist strap clasp.
What it can do
A 38-105 mm zoom, f/3.8-9.9, on the zoom control: wide angle for landscapes and groups, telephoto for portraits.
Six modes on the dial: auto flash, auto flash with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash off, real-time release (RT) and self-timer.
In RT, the picture is taken in about 3/100 s, for fast-moving subjects. Hold the shutter button halfway first: pressing straight down all the way doesn’t give a real-time release.
A 10 s self-timer: the lamp blinks and the display counts down the seconds. In low light, it switches to slow sync by itself, down to about 1/3 s: put the camera on a steady support.
Focus lock, for a subject at the edge of the frame: aim at it in the centre, press halfway, reframe without letting go, then press all the way.
Good to know
The battery indicator on the LCD shows the charge. One battery lasts about 17 rolls of 24 exposures with flash on every other shot.
Steady orange lamp in the viewfinder: the flash is charged. Blinking in flash-off mode: risk of camera shake, use a tripod.
Between 60 cm and 1 m, frame inside the close-up frame in the viewfinder: anything above it won’t be in the picture.
A blinking “H” on the display signals a film advance error: switch the camera back on, and if it’s still there, change the battery.
The Date version prints the date or time in the bottom right of the picture, in four formats, with a calendar programmed up to 2019. Frame so that it falls on a dark background.
The flash
Range at wide angle: 0.6 to 6.2 m with ISO 100, 0.6 to 12.4 m with ISO 400. At telephoto: 0.6 to 2.4 m with ISO 100, 0.6 to 4.8 m with ISO 400.
With red-eye reduction, a lamp lights up and the shutter only fires after about a second: keep the shutter button pressed.
Flash on gives fill-in light in broad daylight. Flash off is for places where flash is forbidden, for night shots or in ambient light.
It recharges in about 6 s.
Care
It isn’t waterproof: keep it away from rain, snow and sea spray. After the beach, wipe it with a dry cloth.
Store it somewhere cool, dry and dust-free, never in the sun or in a hot car.
Remove dust and sand from the lens and the inside with a blower brush, without any liquid product.
Airport X-rays can fog the film, even inside the camera: ask for a hand inspection.
Set the dial to OFF after use: the lens retracts into the body. Left extended for about 4 minutes without use, it retracts to 38 mm by itself. Don’t press on the lens.
Prima Super 105 specifications
Format
DX-coded 135 film, 24 × 36 mm frames
Lens
Canon 38-105 mm zoom, f/3.8-9.9
Focusing
AiAF active autofocus, from 60 cm to infinity, focus lock available
Shutter
programmed electromagnetic, from 2 s (flash off) to 1/550 s
Metering
automatic, EV 3 to 17 at wide angle and EV 5.7 to 19 at telephoto (ISO 100, flash off)
Sensitivity
ISO 25 to 3200, read from the DX code, ISO 25 for non-coded film
Viewfinder
real-image, zooming, with close-up frame and AF frame
Flash
built-in and retractable, 0.6 to 6.2 m at wide angle at ISO 100, recharges in about 6 s
Power
one DL123A or CR123A lithium battery (3 V), about 17 rolls of 24 exposures
Dimensions and weight
123 × 64 × 46 mm and 245 g without battery, Date version: 123 × 64 × 50 mm and 255 g
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