Mamiya RZ67 shutter problem.

[bernardox]

Hello people, I'm new here and have a technical question for RZ67 users.
I just bought an RZ67 and some lenses SEPARATELY.
I have a problem with the shutter that I haven't seen addressed on any forums. Hope someone can help.
I found a video that almost describes my problem here:
The problem is that the shutter speed doesn't change, basically. The shutter lever is in the WHITE not orange position.
I have tested 3 lenses, a 110 a 127 and a 127 for the RB. The RZ lenses fire at a very quick speed. The RB one changes speed with its own dial on the lens. The mirror up thingie is NOT raised (no red line) and I have already tried attaching and un attaching a release in case it was something there. The battery is new (not flashing red with the dark slide on, just steady red). Tried rotating the back, no luck. The difference with the one in the video is that it frees the lever immediately. There is no click at the correct speed at all. Anyone has experienced this or has any idea what it can be? Seems that the camera is not telling the lens at which speed to fire its shutter. :/

 

[soulstar89]

hey. all rz and rb lenses have a leaf shutter. on the video you showed the load clunk was just the mirror. after two seconds and four the leaf shutter closed. its a soft click.

 

[bernardox]

hey. all rz and rb lenses have a leaf shutter. on the video you showed the load clunk was just the mirror. after two seconds and four the leaf shutter closed. its a soft click.

I know it's a leaf shutter, and as you can see in the video, it does not remain open for 2 seconds. It just closes very fast. The mirror works properly, makes its clunking sound and remains up until you cock it with the lever.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I think to avoid "mirror slap" for longer exposures you move the mirror up first then fire the shutter via the shutter release on the lens. You'll find the socket on the barrel of the lens.

 

[bernardox]

I think to avoid "mirror slap" for longer exposures you move the mirror up first then fire the shutter via the shutter release on the lens. You'll find the socket on the barrel of the lens.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The leaf shutter on the lens does not change speeds when I change the shutter dial on the camera. And the release lever is on the white setting, I know what happens when it's on orange.
I am grateful for the replies everyone, but the problem, I think, is that the camera is not telling the lens the correct shutter speed. It's not in bulb and it's not in the red dot. The tests I've been making are with different speeds from 1/125 to 4 seconds.

 

[MattKing]

I know you have described the battery as a working one that appears to test as okay, but I would still try another battery.
And check and clean any and all electrical contacts on the body, the film back, and the lenses (if any).

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. The leaf shutter on the lens does not change speeds when I change the shutter dial on the camera. And the release lever is on the white setting, I know what happens when it's on orange.
I am grateful for the replies everyone, but the problem, I think, is that the camera is not telling the lens the correct shutter speed. It's not in bulb and it's not in the red dot. The tests I've been making are with different speeds from 1/125 to 4 seconds.

Oh. Do you have another RZ lens as a tester?

 

[bernardox]

Oh. Do you have another RZ lens as a tester?

Yes. Two RZ and one RB. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[bernardox]

I know you have described the battery as a working one that appears to test as okay, but I would still try another battery.
And check and clean any and all electrical contacts on the body, the film back, and the lenses (if any).

I’ll try that, thanks.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Yes. Two RZ and one RB. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Oh man. Are the electronic contacts clean? You might have to have it repaired.

 

[campy51]

On the Bronica SQ-A if the battery is dead it would only fire the shutter at 1/500th. I would also recommend the battery contacts.

 

[bernardox]

Oh man. Are the electronic contacts clean? You might have to have it repaired.

I might. But that’s why I’m seeking advice here first.

 

[bernardox]

On the Bronica SQ-A if the battery is dead it would only fire the shutter at 1/500th. I would also recommend the battery contacts.

On the RZ that’s 1/400, but I have checked two batteries.

 

[Ian C]

In the video of post #1, the camera & lens are working correctly. The fellow that made the video is misinterpreting the results. The shutter opens a tiny fraction of a second after the mirror rises—far too fast to perceive by ear. Too, the shutter-opening sound is masked by the much-louder sound of the mirror.

The tiny click heard afterwards is the CLOSING of the shutter at the appropriate time, 2 seconds, and then 8 seconds in the video. The camera and lens in the video are working normally.

If your camera and lens are in correct condition and with a good battery, they should work the same as in the video.

If you get no shutter-closing click at the longer speeds (1 second or longer), that implies that the shutter is firing at its mechanical speed of 1/400 second. It opens and closes before you could hear the closing sound above the much-louder sound of the mirror mechanism.

 

[mpirie]

It looks to me like the multiple exposure switch is stuck on 'M' ?

On my RZ, as soon as i either trigger the shutter (using the Mamiya twin cable release) the multi-exposure switch flicks to the centre position, likewise when i recock the shutter.

Mike

 

[Ian C]

Regarding post #15,

That is not normal behavior for the RZ67, Pro II and Pro II D. In the “M” position the lever should remain in position after firing the shutter. It can only be moved from “M” to “N” or “R” manually.

When the lever is set to the revolving-back position “R”, it will spring to the “N” position immediately after the shutter fires or operating the advance/cocking lever. It makes a solid “snap” sound as it does so.

See page 18 of the following manual, "The R-M Lever":

http://www.mamiyaleaf.com/assets/files/documentation/RZ67PROII_Instr.pdf

 

[mpirie]

I stand corrected, i was going from (a clearly failing) memory.

Mike

 

[campy51]

On the RZ that’s 1/400, but I have checked two batteries.

What about the contacts?

 

[bernardox]

In the video of post #1, the camera & lens are working correctly. The fellow that made the video is misinterpreting the results. The shutter opens a tiny fraction of a second after the mirror rises—far too fast to perceive by ear. Too, the shutter-opening sound is masked by the much-louder sound of the mirror.

The tiny click heard afterwards is the CLOSING of the shutter at the appropriate time, 2 seconds, and then 8 seconds in the video. The camera and lens in the video are working normally.

If your camera and lens are in correct condition and with a good battery, they should work the same as in the video.

If you get no shutter-closing click at the longer speeds (1 second or longer), that implies that the shutter is firing at its mechanical speed of 1/400 second. It opens and closes before you could hear the closing sound above the much-louder sound of the mirror mechanism.

You can see in the video that the shutter blades are closed. Or some other blades anyway. I know the click is related to the shutter speed, however I can clearly see it is closed. Also, as I stated in the OP, mine does not do that second click, not is the advance lever locked for the correct shutter time.

 

[bernardox]

What about the contacts?

I will try cleaning contacts. Any insights as to which ones? The battery ones are working as I have normal lights in the display.

 

[MattKing]

The battery ones are working as I have normal lights in the display.

That doesn't guarantee proper functioning.
Lights are often far less demanding than things like shutter timing control functions.
Clean every contact that you can reach.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The same problem is with both your RZ lenses, right?

The lenses lock into place properly, right?

Check the contacts on the body (the mount contacts) for signs of damage or tarnish.

 

[awty]

400th is the default setting on the lens, so if you take the lens off the camera, cock it then fire the lens with a cable release it will shoot at 400th.
What yours sounds like its doing is mechanically firing the lens, but not adjusting the shutter speed. Like others have said its a sounds to be an electrical problem, could be just a contact clean or may have some other issues.
The RZ is a b!tch of a camera, great lenses. I had similar but different problem with my first rz although it was a mechanical problem in that the camera would often not fire the lens. I just ended up getting another body. These cameras were often used by professional photographers and often are worn out. Send it back if you can.

 

[bernardox]

Thanks everyone. It's not any of those problems. Probably something internal. Sent it to a technician before my guarantee expires.