Bronica etrsi Metered Prisms

[zpark]

I have recently come into possession of a really nice Bronica etrsi with 2 lenses, the speed grip, 120 back, and the WL view finder. I'm currently looking at my options for a prism. I know Bronica made a non-metered prism and they made 3 metered prisms for the etr line of camera. I have seen a bit of information about the AE II and the AE III, but very little if any information about the original AE. I'm currently trying to figure out if I should just go with the non-metered prism or get a metered one.
I see a gap in price between the two and I wonder if the extra money would be worth while. I've heard some issues with the AE II and it not really turning off and draining the battery.

Does anyone have any experience with the original AE? Would anyone recommend it over the AE III? Or would anyone have any recommendations otherwise?

I shoot a lot of nature, architecture, and the occasional portrait, if that information would be helpful. Thank you in advance.

 

[twoeyeandy]

I guess it's all a question of size and cost. The non metered prism is cheap, small and just a simple
prism in a box....but you need a hand held meter. The AEii is bigger and more expensive and same again with the AEiii.
I started out with the non metered prism and pretty quickly moved on to the AEii and found it a great, reliable prism.....until I dropped it! I didn't find meter drain a problem.I looked into buying the AEiii but decided it was too big and expensive for my needs.

 

[hsandler]

Hi. I had both the non-metered and AEII prisms. First, the view was the same. I had read some thought the AEII was dimmer, but I did not think so. The issue with the AEII, as I understood it, was draining the battery if you forgot to turn it off when not shooting. I am not sure of the camera also had to have the shutter lock off for the battery to drain or not. It has 3 positions, off, manual and aperture priority. I just got in the habit of leaving it off between shots. Battery life was fine for me. As a meter it was good. No spot metering though.

 

[macfred]

I bought my ETRSi together with a waist level finder and an AEiii prism finder - I mostly have the AEiii on my Bronica. Spot metering is a nice to have ! Like hsandler said - don't forget to turn it off when not shooting.

 

[zpark]

Thank you all for your feedback! How accurate would you say the AE ii meter is? Did you find it over or under exposed?

 

[hsandler]

The AEII meter was accurate, but it is more or less an averaging meter, so if you are pointing at a polar bear in the snow you have to expose another stop or two, and if you are pointing at a black cat in a coal heap, the opposite. There is an exposure comp dial on it. a bit fiddly to operate, as it has a locking button which is hard to press without good fingernails.