AE Prism Finder for Mamiya RZ67 and the shutter speed dial

I have used the Mamiya RZ67 and an RZ67 Pro II for about thirteen years, generally hand held with the waist level finder and with a hand-held meter. (Ok... I'm nuts.)

For the past several months, however, I have been working on a landscape project and have been using it with a tripod, which has increased my patience for slowing down, etc. Been enjoying using the camera in a new (to me) way with a new (to me subject).

I am... shall we say, vertically challenged, and one thing that gets difficult is if I raise the tripod, things get too high and i cannot get above it to look down into the waist level finder, so I broke down and bought an AE Prism finder. Hoping that I won't have to try to stretch above the camera from a ladder any more! haha...

I am unused to having a light meter in the camera, but I have figured out how to use it in Aperture Priority using the dial on the prism finder, and it looks like it is reading light and setting the shutter speed. But just to be sure, I figured I'd ask one question here, that I could not find...

When I use the AE Prism finder in aperture priority, do I have to set the shutter speed dial on the camera body to any particular setting? TIA

All you need is the manual....

http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/files/documentation/RZ67PROII_Instr.pdf (page 21)

You need to set the shutter in "AEF" position.

When I had mine I'm pretty sure it shows the shutter speed that's matched to the aperture that was chosen on the screen. I know you have three choices for metering, M/S/A. I liked using it, but when I sold my setup it went with the outfit. Now I just have one (3rd) with just the WLF and I know exactly how you feel about it. I could see myself getting another AE Prism someday soon.

halfaman said:

All you need is the manual....

http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/files/documentation/RZ67PROII_Instr.pdf (page 21)

You need to set the shutter in "AEF" position.

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Thank you! I was thinking it should be set to AEF, and yes, I had a manual, but I find them hard to read as PDF's, and simply could not find that information in there, though I managed to figure most of it out despite my aging eyes!! Appreciate the help. ~Suzanne

Yes 'AEF' and for further AE 'instruction leaflet', donate a few $$ to www.orphancameras.com.
Nice combo though; not only for landscape but also portrait & still life. And order the magnifier FD-701 for the optical challenged people like me.

Thats very fancy.
I just tilt the tripod head 90 degrees and focus side on when Im too little to see the screen from tippy toes.

awty said:

Thats very fancy.
I just tilt the tripod head 90 degrees and focus side on when Im too little to see the screen from tippy toes.

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Certainly a cheaper solution! Still, nice to have a built in meter as an option, and this camera has been such a workhorse that I have not spent much money on it until now! A rare indulgence! Thank you.

I have a love hate relationship with my RZ, love the lenses, sharp with very nice contrast and depth. Hate the camera, clunky difficult to use and that shutter shake!!. Lucky you can fire from the lens. A in camera meter would be nice, must check them out, but I worry they would be painful to use like the camera.

awty said:

A in camera meter would be nice, must check them out, but I worry they would be painful to use like the camera.

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As usual in this system, the AE prism weights a lot (close to 1 Kg or 2 pounds). No problem if you use a tripod, but any attemp to use it handheld will be more painful.

halfaman said:

As usual in this system, the AE prism weights a lot (close to 1 Kg or 2 pounds). No problem if you use a tripod, but any attemp to use it handheld will be more painful.

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Unless of course you are Annie Liebovitz (and have her staff):

That is NOT the real heavy AE finder ! but the PD 'sissy' type

OK, I wont complain anymore how heavy they are and never pick a fight with Annie.

k.hendrik said:

That is NOT the real heavy AE finder ! but the PD 'sissy' type

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Well excuuuuse meee! (cap tip to Steve Martin)

awty said:

OK, I wont complain anymore how heavy they are and never pick a fight with Annie.

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I have a feeling that it is never a good idea to pick a fight with Annie.

This is how real men should roll... (RZ67 Pro II+AE finder+L grip)

über cool but; real/real man mounts a winder too. and I like that 250mm !