Help! Where is manual aperture control on sankyo xl420

[grainy]

Hi folks! - I got an xl 420 recently and I want to use it for a shoot next weekend instead of my slower-lensed GAF. The manual says it has manual aperture control, and gives a tip about using the auto control to first get exposure then setting it to manual and adjusting it -- but there is no aperture control on the camera that I can see, nor is it listed in the manual.

I'm wondering: is the manual system sort of like how it works on some point n' shoot still cameras - where you push the shutter half way while aiming it at the subject that you want to be affected by the aperture, THEN you frame and fire? So that with the xl420, I'd use Auto, aim my camera at something that is clearly in the aperture zone that I want (such as the shadowed subject in a backlit scene) then I switch to manual and all that does is disable the autoaperture so I can shoot what I "metered", so to speak?

thanks much!!
EH

[beamascope]

On the side without the film door there is a knob that says MANU/AUTO/EE. Turn it to manual then continue to turn it clockwise as you look at the tiny window on the OTHER side of the camera above where the lens bulges out of the film door side. You'll see F-stop readings in there and they will change as you turn the knob.

[grainy]

On the side without the film door there is a knob that says MANU/AUTO/EE. Turn it to manual then continue to turn it clockwise as you look at the tiny window on the OTHER side of the camera above where the lens bulges out of the film door side. You'll see F-stop readings in there and they will change as you turn the knob.

Perfect, that's what I needed to know! Makes sense now that I see it but counter intuitive because most dials just go click click and that's it... the manual is actually really good so this omission of detail threw me off.
This forum is great, thanks much!
EH

[beamascope]

Glad I could help.