Orphancameras.

com
Posted7-23-'04
This next page contains information on this camera.
This manual is for reference and historical purposes, all rights reserved.

Creationis copyright@by-M_._B_utkuq'
NJ-
This page may not be sold or distributed without the expressed permission of the producer
I have no connection with any camera company

On-line cameramanuallibrary
This is the full text and images from the manual. Color imal

If you find this manualuseful, how abouta donationof $3 to: M. B

High Bridge, NJ 08829-L70Land sendyour e-mail addressso
Most other placeswould chargeyou $7"50for a electroniccopy or
read Xerox copy"
This will allow me to continpe to buy new manuals and pay thr
It'll make you feel better, won't it?
ff you use Pay Pal or wish to useyour credit card, go back t

a.k.a www.butkus.org/chinon
MfRANDAdx-3 MIRANDAdx-3 dx-3
MTRAI\TDA dX-3 MTRAIVDA
MfRAIVDAdx-3 MfRANDAdx-3 dx-3
MfRANDAdx-3 MfRANDAdx-3 MfRANDAdx-3
MfRANDAdx-3 MfRAIVDAdx-S MfRAIVDAdx-3
MfRAI\TDA dx-3 MIRAIVDAdx-3 MfRANDAdx-3
IVIfRAMAdx-3 MfRAI\TDA dx-3 MfRAIVDAdx-3
MfRANDAdx-3 NIIRANDAdx-3 MfRAI\TDAdx-S
IVIfRAIrIDA dx-3 MfRAIVDAdx-3 IvtfRAIvDA dx-3
MfRANDAdx-3 R',,dx-3 MfRANDAdx-3
MfRANDAdx-3 -3 dx-3
MfRAIVDAd*6e
dx
MTR dx-3
dx-3
dx'3
dx'3
dx-3
dx'3
dx'3
dx-3
dx-3
dx-3
dx'3
dx'3
MTRAIIDAdx-3 MIRAIV dx-3
MfRANDAdx-3
MIR'ANU\dx-3
MfRANHdx-3
MrRArvoffi*til3i12
MfRANDA dx-3 MfRAIVDA,, .g
MfRANDAdx-3 MTRANDA
MTP AT\TT)A d x-3 r14Tp-
c{v-ll !.'.Fr r r?F -,/
AND/"{|I ,3- w
MfRANDAdx-3 MTRAIVDA d x-3 14Tp-31TI+ l*f,,
MfRANDAdx-3 MIRAIVDA d x-3 MTR/,{4.Jfl,/-3
MfRAN_DAdx-3 MTRANDA d' -? ur/^udI! /x-s
MfRANDAdx-S MTRATvDA
;;-i {7^&-"dA;}
MfRANDAdx-3 TVITP AT\trT)a r{r.'-? ,,/.,,-'.S
MfRAMAdx-3 ,7^\' ,9 ,/rrt d-t-,
x
MfRAIIIDAdx-3 MTRANDA
T\TTP AI\TT.rA nt'.'."/ oP'].+',
o/{9/NDAdx
www.orphancameras.com
THE STORYBEHINDYOUR
MfRAI\TDAdx'3
In 1946 Miranda Camera Company, Ltd.'s pre-
d e c e s s o rf i r m w a s e s t a b li s h e d i n T o k y o . I n i t i a l l y i t
manufactured a limited line of photographic prod-
ucts, but most of its business was as a top notch
s e r v i c e c e n t e r f o r p r o f e s s i o n a lp h o t o g r a p h i c e q u i p -
ment. The company continued to produce photo-
g r a p h i c a c c e s s o r i e sf o r 3 5 m m r a n g e f i n d e r c a m e r a s ,
but in 1948 they very quietly began investigation
MIRANDA T'
and development of a revolutionary 35mm SLR.
While this development continued, the company consistently made news with
pioneering products such as an adapter which allow",g,f,j'ffi.il4yners onfo"iLejca type
cameras to use
cameras use Contax Nikon lenses
Contax or Nikon with ;1.
lenses with it. .****rl+t'$++,1,'t1li,ff$iii'filfl#lr'Ifu*#,+ffiw
.*-#,rr,$,fr#fi"{:iiifi.f$iiT
.--*ffi'+ffi.,*.
Probablythe first product that earnedtheffirnpdnV..,a'world tion
was the revolutionaryMIRAX mirror box wi#$, hamedbjle reffiffiist-
M.RAXBdl level uffi't cfgr c its
& F o c A B EL L I u n i q u e iffbu**gfi*#c'fi non,
Contig"'i very
urr# ight
im#iiii!fi1heh,. ffi o&ffiffi'*Arket
in i nits
lauffi, #ffi-kW.affiore
ver
fin affKffiffi|ffir.. $t-
level finder. Surely this was 4 ;. t $tffi" it
amazinginventionate|ephotoH op#Wi.t|b.ffffiffiffiffiruas
marketed under the name SUpffiffi.gffim lenbttffiffieed of
1 2 . 8 s o m e t h i n gq u i t e u n b e l i e v a 5 With the introductid
tionary bellows system, the FOCABELL, the owner of a 35mm rangefinder
c a m e r a/ M I R A X b o x / S U P R E M E l e n s / F O C A B E L L c o m b i n a t i o nc o u l d n o w
f o c u s a n y w h e r e f r o m o o t o e x t r e m e m a c r o p o s i t i o n s .S h a d e so f t h e m o d e r n S L R !
T h e w o r l d w a s u n a w a r ew h e n O r i o n C a m e r aC o . i n t r o d u c e dt h e P H O E N I X i n
1 9 5 3 . A l t h o u g h o n l y a f e w h a n d m a d e s a m p l e sw e r e a v a i l a b l ew , o r d s p r e a dl i k e
wildfire that a new type of camera had been born.
The actual production model rolled off the assembly
line shortly thereafter,and was marketed in 1954 as
'T'
the model . I n s t e a d o f P h o e ni x t h e n a m e
M I R A N D A w a s e m b l a z o n e do n t h e v i e w f i n d e r . T h e
M IRAN DA T was the pioneer of a new breed of
c a m e r a ,a 3 5 m m S L R w i t h a b u i l t - i n m i r r o r h o u s i n g
and upright image pentaprism. lt was the first
m o d e r n J a p a n e s eS L R c a m e r a a s w e k n o w i t t o d a y .

C O N T I N U E DO N P A G E 3 1
www. butkus.orglchinon

www.orphancameras.com
 MIRAIVDAdx'3
CAMERANOMENCLATURE
1. F I L M S P E E DI N D E X
2. F I L M S P E E DD I A L ( A S A O R D I N }
3. FILM ADVANCE LEVER
4. S H U T T E R S P E E DD I A L
5. SHUTTER SPEEDINDICATOR
6. A C C E S S O R YS H O E
7. HOT SHOE CONTACT
8. A C C E S S O R YS T O P P E R( W / L E D C U T - O F F S W I T C H }
9. FILM PLANEINDEX
10. FILM MEMORY INDICATOR
1 1. F I L M R E W IN D C R A N K
12. FILM MEMORY DIAL
13. R E W I N D D I R E C T I O NA R R O W
14. L E N S P O S I T I O N I N GM A R K
15. APERTUREINDICATOR
16. A P E R T U RE S C A L E
17. DISTANCEINDICATOR
18. F O C U S I N GR I N G
19. MIRANDA AUTO EC LENS
20. FILM REWIND KNOB
21. S E L F - T I M E RO P E R A T I N G I N D I C A T O R
22. E X P O S U RE S E N S I N G A R E A
23. F/NUMBER ADJUSTMENT LEVER
24. XIF P FLASH TERMINAL
25. O U I C K - R E T U R NM I R R O R
26. D I A P HR A G M C O N T R O L L E R
27. OUICK-CHANGEBATTERY CHAMBER
28. TRIPOD SOCKET (W/DCMOTOR DRIVE CONTACT)
29. F I L M R E W IN D R E L E A S E B U T T O N
30. MOTOR DRIVE ATTACHMENT CAP
31. N E C K S T R A PE Y E L E T
32. BAYONET MOUNT lwl440 MM SCREWMOUNT)
33. MAXIMUM APERTURELEVER
34. F/STOP PIN
35. SELF.TIMER SETTING BUTTON
36. S EL F - T I M E R L E V E R
37. L E N S P O S I T I O NI N G A R R O W
38. S H U T T E R R E L E A S E B U T T O N ( W / I N S I D E S C R E WS O C K E T )
39, F I L M S P E E DS E T T I N G R I N G
40. INFRARED DISTANCEINDICATOR
41. DEPTHOF FIELD SCALE
42" LENS RELEASELEVER
43. SHUTTER RELEASE LOCK MARK
44. SHUTTER RELEASE LOCK
45. AUTOMATIC FILM FRAME COUNTER

4-
 MfRAIVDAdx-3
H o w t o . . . a n dW h e r e
O p e r a t i oA n . B.C pp.6-7
Load Batteries .. p.8
Set the Film Speed . . .. p.9
Load and Wind the Film p p . l 0 - 11
Set the Shutter Speed .. p. 12
S e t t h e F i l m M e m o r yD i a l p. 12
H o l d t h e C a m e r. .a . .... .... p. 13
Lock the Shutter ReleaseButton .. p. 13
PreviewDepth of Field pp.l 4-15
Technica Dla t a . . .. .. p. '17
Set the Aperture .. p. 18
Openvs.Close-downMetering . . .. p. 18
Mirandadx-3 lC Metering. p. 19
Focusthe MirandaOIS Way p. 20-21
Determinethe ProperExposure. p. 22-23
R e w i n dt h e F i l m . . p. 24
Removethe Back Cover p. 24
U t i l i z eF l a s hU n i t s p. 25
Usethe Self-timer p. 26
InterchangeLenses ... . p. 27
MirandaAuto EC LensSeries .. p. 27
Two Notesof Caution .. p. 28
Storeand Carefor Your fVliranda dx-3 p. 28

CONGRATULATIONS on purchasing the world's first electronically controlled

compact 35mm SLR camera, the Miranda dx-3. World renowned, Miranda Camera
Co., Ltd., has always striven to produce the camera systems that photographerswant
and trust. Truly an advanced camera designed with the most up-to-date spaceage
t e c h n o l o g y , t h e M i r a n d a d x - 3 o f f e r s y o u a n e x p a n s i v es y s t e m o f a c c e s s o r i etsh a t w i l l
n e v e r f a i l t o e x p a n d y o u r p h o t o g r a p h i c h o r i z o n s .C a r e f u l l y r e a da n d s t u d y t h i s o w n e r s '
m a n u a l , a n d t h e n g o o u t a n d e x p e r i m e n t . T h e o u t s t a n d i n g f e a t u r e so f t h e c o m p a c t
d x - 3 e s p e c i a l l yi t s a m a z i n g O I S ( p a t . p e n d . ) r a n g e f i n d e r ,e a s ei n h a n d l i n g ,q u i c k a n d
e a s y m e t e r i n g , L E D r e a d o u t , a n d l a r g ec o l o r - c o d e dm a r k i n g sw i l l c o n s t a n t l y r e a f f i r m
y o u r w i s e c h o i c e i n p u r c h a s i n gt h e M i r a n d a d x - 3 s y s t e m .O n e w i t h o u t e q u a l .
T h r o u g h p r o p e r c a r e a n d h a n d l i n g ,y o u r c a m e r aw i l l p r o v i d e y o u w i t h m a n y y e a r s
of photographic pleasure. Should any questions or problems arise, we urge you to
f i r s t c o n s u l t y o u r l o c a l M i r a n d a d e a l e r f o r q u i c k r e s p o n s ea n d s e r v i c e ,t h e d i s t r i b u t o r ,
and then, if necessary, Miranda Camera Co., Ltd. at the address on the rear of this
manual

www.orphancameras.com
OPERATING THE MIRAI\TDA dx'3
I S A S S I M P L EA S A . 8 . C . . . . .

Load the batteries.

c
Load the film.

(S eepage10 & 111

Determineand set the
shutter speed.

(Seepage12)

Composethe picture and focus.

(Seepage20 &211

Adjust the diaphragmfor

correct exposure.

(Seepages18, 19,22 & 23!.

www.orphancameras.com
 LOADINGTHE BATTERIES
AI
To open the OUICK-CHANGE BATTERY CHAMBER
(27) press down and back, in the direction of the arrow
molded into the chamber cover.

A2
Insert four 1.5 volt silver oxide batteries (Eveready 576,
Mallory MS 76, or equivalent) into the chamber in the
direction shown on the Gover. MAKE SURE THE BAT-
T E R I E S A R E I N S E R T E DP R O P E R L Y .

A3
T O C I O S Et h E O U I C K . C H A N G E B A T T E R Y C H A M B E R
Q7l press down and forward on the cover until it
clicks shut.

A4
One set of batteries (fourl is supplied in a special plastic
casewith the camera. DO NOT discard this plastic case.
There is a specially designed pouch built into the camera
case to hold this plastic battery case.
It is suggestedthat you purchase an extra set of batteries,
p.ut them into the empty- plastic case,and store them in
the camera case pouch.

NOTE: The LED's act as a battery check. When they do

not light it is time to replace the batteries.

8
SETTIN GTH E F I LM S P E ED

BI
Check the film speed (ASA or DlNl recorded on the
35mm film cassette.

B2
Lift the FILM SPEED SETTTNG R|NG (39) up, and
rotate it until .....

B3
the orangeFl LM SPEED INDEX (11 is tined up with the
ASA or DIN number you read on the film cassette.

F I L M S P E E DE O U I V A L E N T S ASA & German E uropean

Gost
BSA DIN Scheiner Weston

25 15 / 1 0 zb 22 20
ASA FILM 32 16/10 27 32 24
40 7t 1 0 28 32
S P E E DD I A L 32
r8/10 29 45 40
SETTING 64 r9/10 30 65 50
80 20110 31 65 64
100 21110 32 90 80
125 22t10 33 130 100
160 23t10 34 130 125
200 24t10 JC 180 r60
250 25110 36 250 200
DIN FILM 320 26t10 J I 250 250
400 2 7t 1 0 38 350 320
S P E E DD I A L 500 2a/10 500 400
SETTING 650 lJI o 40 500 500
800 30t 0 41 700 650
1000 31/10 42 1000 800
r 250 32t10 43 1000 1000
1600 33/10 44 1500 1250

www.orphancameras.com
I
T HE F IL M
LO A DINGAN D W I NDI NG
tv \ l I ONLY load or unload film in tfie strade, never
in the sunlight.

To open the back cover, pull the BACK COVER LOCK

LEVER (51) down. The back cover will automatically
swing open and the film counter will return to the
'S'.
starting position

c2
Lift the FILM REWIND KNOB (20) all the way up, and
o
then insert the film cassette into the Fl LM CASSETTE
CHAMBER (63) as shown at left. ()
bI
o
u,
*4

f-Q F
vLt F
ts
Push the FILM REWIND KNOB (20) all the way down
to its original position. lf it doesn't go down, rotate at a
little left or right. The film cassette'is now engaged by
the FILM REWIND SHAFT (641.

c4
Insert the film leader into one of the slits in the RAPID
LOAD TAKE-UP SPOOL (55). Make sure the
SPROCKET WHEEL (56) engagesone of the perfora-
tions in the film leader.
 c5
Using the FILM ADVANCE LEVER (31, advancethe
film to check that both top and bottom film perfora-
tions are engagedby the SPROCKET WHE EL (56). Snap
the back cover closed.

A F
L'0
T u r n t h e F I L M R E W T N DC R A N K ( 1 1 ) c t o c k w i s e( i n t h e
direction of the engraved arrowl until all the slack in
the falm cassette is taken up. This occurs when there is
resistanceto further turning of the crank.

DI
Wind the FILM ADVANCE LEVER (31. When it is be-
ang operated, the F|LM REwtND KNoB (2Ol shoutd
turn in a direction opposite the engraved arrow indicat-
ing that the film is moving properly.

D2
W i n d t h e F I L M A D V A N C E L E V E R ( 3 ) a n d r e t e a s et h e
shutter until the pointer in the FtLM COUNTER (451is
aligned with '1'. You are now ready for taking the first
photo.

i www.orphancameras.com
SETTINGTHE SHUTTERSPEED
- 1
trl
Rotate the FILM SPEED SETTING RING (39) until the
desired shutter speed on the SHUTTER SPEED DIAL
(4) lines up with the SHUTTER SPEED INDICATOR
{5}. Note that the speedsare in fractions of a second ....
112,114,1/8, etc. except for the yellow 2 and 4 seconds.
The RING click stops in both directions, but goes only
'100O'the
as far as'B' one way, and other way.

r-n
e-z
'B'
The or bulb setting allows you to keep the shutter
open as long as you keep the SHUTTER RELEASE
BUTTON {38} depressed. Your camera should be
mounted on a tripod when long exposures, 1/15 sec. or
longer, are used. A cable release should also be used to
avoid shaking the camera.

F Q
E- Ut

S e t t h e S H U T T E R S P E E D D I A L ( 4 1 a t 1 / 6 0 s e c o n df o r
qynchronization with electronic flash units. See page
25 t or f urther instruction s.

Turn t{re FILM MEMORY DIAL (121 until the type of

film lines up with the FILM MEMoRY tNDtcAToR
(10).
B&W - black and white film
Neg. - color negative film (color prints)
Pos. - color reversal film (35mm slides)
HOLDINGTHE CAMERA
T I
r l

To avoid blurred photos the camera must be held firmly.

The sharpest pictures can be taken only when the camera
does not move while tre shutter is released.

Firmly hold the camera with both hands.

When the camera is utilized in a horizontal position,

comfortably brace your elbows against your body.
Rest the camera on your extended right thumb. Take
a deep breath, and release half. Then while holding in
the rest, smoothly depressthe SHUTTER RELEASE
BUTTON (381with the tip of your right index finger.
The camera is further steadied by pushing the camera
in towards your nose with the last three fingers of
the right hand. Your left hand *rould serve to focus
and support the lens barrel.

When the camera is held vertically your right hand is

essentially in the same position with the elbow braced
against the body. The left hand drould either func-
tion as abone or grasp the end of the camera gently
pulling in.

The camera slrould be mounted on a tripod and a

cable release used when taking pictures with a tele
photo lens and/or at slow speeds (l/1S second or
slower). lt is also recommended for microphotog
raphy.

T f,
L L

lf you don't want to take a picture after cocking the

slrutter,turn the SHUTTER RELEASE LOCK (44) until
it coversthe SHUTTER RELEASE LOCK MARK (431.
This prevents accidental release of the shutter. After
fini$ing with the camera set the LOCK so any pressure
on the SHUTTER RELEASE BUTTON (381 witt not
cause the LED's to light and thereby drain,the batteries
Do not keep the SHUTTER cocked for any great length
of tame.

www.orphancameras.com
P R E V I E W I N GD E P T H O F F I E L D
F I
t^II

The Miranda dx-3 offers both full open and closed-down

metering. When using the dx-3 in its closed-down mode
you will preview the depth of field while you are deter-
mining the proper exposure. In the full-open mode, pre-
viewing depth of field, and determining the proper
exposure are done independently.

P r o v i s i o nf o r D E P T H O F F I E L D P R E V I E W i s m a d e o n
the lens, not on the camera body. For this reason the
method for previewing the depth of field will vary with
the lens mounted on the camera.

Miranda Auto EC lenses have a PREVIEW LEVER (5O)

on the lower left, next to the X/FP FLASH TERMINAL
(24) when mounted on the dx-3. Each Miranda Auto
EC lens also features a DEPTH OF FIELD SCALE (411
on the top of the lens. To read the approximate depth
of field, note the aperture number indicated on the
c
APERTURE RING {67). The same numbers to the left
and right on the.DEPTH OF FIELD SCALE (46) point c
to the depth indicated on rfie DISTANCE SCALE (69).

v
For example: On the Miranda Auto EC Somm f/1.4
lens as shown at left; when the aperture is at f/8 and
the subject is at 5 meters n6.25 ftl, the depth of field
F
extends from approximately 4 meters (13 feetl to 10
meters (32.5 feetl.

To vizually see the depth of field, stop the aperture

down (close the diaphragm) by sliding the PREVIEW
LEVER (521 downward.
 D E P T HO F F I E L D :A P E R T U R E
VISUALLY
Subject
--f--
Sublect's Disrance
---------+ Smau bepth of Fietd_________>
A iig p e r t u t e t j t '

f.'s- AAAtttAAA
{r-m
^,'"?,11" FffiT+-ffit-!
or Field-J
t f-Depth
-----+ LargeDeplh of Field----{>

l^6
12 z.

Very frequently the composition of a picture can be enhanced by having the main
subiect in sharp focus while the surrounding objects in the scene are soft and out of
focus. This will de-emphasize distracting background oblects, and concentrate the
viewer's attention on the principle subiect.

Three factors determine depth of field:

DEPrH
oF+ ApERTU*e
. BYSJifiL* to"drt,.ffon"
small large near long
large small lar short

t-'l
tsJ

DEPTH OF FIELD is the zone of diminishing, but still

acceptable, sharpness in front of and behind the image
plane on which the lens is focused. Usually the front
depth is smaller than the rear depth.

1
www.orphancameras.com
 ,***
-d.
* *
#*{"'
T ITHYOUR
E X P E R I M E NW

MIRANDAdx'3

c High-speed Action Shots With A Telephoto

@ Evening Long Exposure q$ Macrophotos
@ Silhouette By Under Exposing Backlit Subjects
lc, Aim The Sensing Area High For Drama.
MIRAMAdx'3
TECHNICALDATA
CAMERATYPE
Compact 35mm singlelens reflex (SLR) camera with electronically
controlled focal plane shutter, TTL meter, and lC-LED circuitry.
FILM FORMAT
35mm-24 x 36mm,43.3mm film frame diagonal.
STANDARDLENSES
Miranda Auto EC SOmm/f 1.8 or f 1.4,460 A.ngle of View.
SHUTTER
Electronically controlled rubberized cloth blind focal plane shutter
with speeds from 4 to 1/1OOO second and B. Top shutter release
button with cable release remote control socket. 8 second delay self-
timer with flashing indicator. Built-in provision for motor drive -
20/3O/bulk exposure.
V I E W F I N D E RS Y S T E M
Bright, full display viewfinder which displays focus, aperture readout
shutter speed, and LED exposure indicators. Three lC controlled
LED's (OK, +, -) which read when shutter release button is partially
depressed. Fixed pentaprism with O.83x image magnification when
using SOmm lens at q,949/o field of view.
EXPOSUREMETER SYSTEM
TTL, zone (lower center-weighted) light measuring at open or closed-
down aperture, CdS cell built into mirror assembly, lC circuitry
comparator cross-coupled to shutter speed/aperture/film speed
controls, readout by LED's, meter system activates by depressing
the shutter release button. Light measuring range EV 2-18 (ASA
1OO), ASA: 25-1600, DIN: 15-33, Apertures: f 1.4 to f 22-
FOCUSING SYSTEM
Rapid, unique OIS (Ouadrascopic lmage System) rangefinder com-
bining 360 degree multimicroprism split-image center with ground
glass ring, and matte Fresnel field.
L E N SI N T E R C H A N G E A B
LITY
Accepts all Miranda lenses. Dual Miranda mount: four-claw bayonet,
and inside 44mm 0 screw mount.
FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION
Single flash terminal on front for PC cord accessory shoe w/hot
shoe on top, X synchronization at 1/6O sec. or slower, FP at1/125
sec. or faster.
FI LM ADVANCE/COUNTSYSTEM
R a p i d - l o a d s p o o l , a u t o - r e s e t tni g a d v a n c ec o u n t e r , s i n g l es t r o k e 1 8 5 0
f i l m a d v a n c el e v e r , p l a s t i c t i p p e d .
DIMENSIONS
134.6 x 89 x 86 mm (w/SOmm f 1.8 lens)
5-1/4 x 3-1/2 x 3-113 inches.
WEIGHT
8 O Og r a m s ( w / 5 O m m f 1 . 8 l e n s ) 2 8 . 2 o u n c e s .
POWEB SOURCE
F o u r 1 . 5 V s i l v e r o x i d e b a t t e r i e s ( M a l l o r y M S 7 6 , E v e r e a d y5 7 6 )
* S p e c i f i c a t i o n si n t h i s m a n u a l a r e s u b j e c t t o c h a n g ew i t h o u t n o t i c e
d u e t o o n g o i n g t e c h n o l o g i c a la d v a n c e s .

www.orphancameras.com