Mamiya RZ67 Viewfinder Orientation Mix Up

braxus

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I shot a bit with my RZ67 today using the 645 back. I noticed the framing in the viewfinder was reversed for the orientation of the back for some reason. It shows horizontal in the finder when the back is in vertical position, and reverse of that. I haven't checked my other backs yet to see if they also do it, or if its just this one back. What could be causing this?
 
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braxus

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To ellaborate, the viewfinder has the masks set to portrait mode when the film back is in landscape position, and when the back is in portrait mode, the viewfinder masks are in landscape. Its reverse of what its supposed to be. Does using the switch on the side of the RZ from center dot to R position have any affect on this? I was told you have to set it to R when rotating the back, but I forgot to do this some times.
 
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braxus

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So how exactly did Mamiya intend on people using the 645 backs, if it masks the viewfinder in the wrong orientation? You can't frame anything properly when it does that.
 

cramej

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It's operating as designed. Back in landscape orientation = frame and mask in portrait orientation. Trust the viewfinder and everything will turn out fine.
 

Mainecoonmaniac

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When using my 6x7 back, the masks cover up the focusing screen showing the orientation.
 

MattKing

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braxus

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I take it with the 645 back on, the camera masks crop to 6x7 mode, and the viewfinder insert crops further? That would make sense.
 

MattKing

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No matter what back you have on - 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8 - the indicators in the viewfinder merely indicate what the orientation of the back is. For 6x7, those indicators also show the outside of the frame.
 
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braxus

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Ok. I thought this camera might sense what back is on and set the masks to the appropriate sizing and such. I guess its not that smart. Is there also a insert mask for viewfinder for 6x6?
 

MattKing

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braxus said:
Is there also a insert mask for viewfinder for 6x6?
Click to expand...
I don't know, but at least with the RB67 there was always lines showing what was inside a 6x6 frame - no matter what orientation the back was set to.
 

M Carter

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Static cling vinyl is a good material for making masks on focus screens. Mark it with a sharpie, trim it and stick it on - it peels off with zero residue, but it stays put quite well.

I use them on green screen shoots to show where the "set" will be sometimes, stick it on whatever monitor we're using.
 
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