RZ67 battery drain problems. Need help

EricO · Jun 25, 2007

I'm new at RZ'ing and I've drained two batteries in two weeks. I have an RB lens on. I notice that when I look through the finder there are some leds that light to warn you that the dark slide is on, when there's no lens or back on etc. When I put the shutter release button on the locked position the light also comes on. I now have to get in the habit of not advancing the film after I shoot my last shot to prevent an accidental shutter release. Question? When I get an RZ lens, will the led remain on when I put the shutter in the lock position? Is this happening because the RZ does not recognize that the RB lens is on?

Am I making any sense.

Nick Zentena · Jun 25, 2007

Mine is in storage right now but the battery hasn't been changed since I bought it last year. That was the battery it came with. But then I've never stored it without the lens and back on. OTOH when i got it the body came with just the body. It can't be unusual to store the thing with no lens and back on. I think it's the way it was sold by the factory.

I'd wonder if you've got something else draining the battery. A short?

The RZ has a shutter position for RB lenses. At least my model does. You could try that.

max_ebb · Jun 25, 2007

There's no on/off switch on the finder? Have you tried taking the finder off while you're not using the camera? I used to have a Bronica SQA with and LED AE finder. I don't remember if the finder had an on/off switch (I think it did), but I always took the finder off when I wasn't using the camera.

Jerry Thirsty · Jun 25, 2007

The collar around the shutter release button (on the body, not the lens) should turn off all the electronics when the white mark points to the red dot. If you have it on the red dot and still get a light in the viewfinder when you push on it, then it isn't doing it's job, and will need to be fixed.

EricO · Jun 25, 2007

Jerry,

That turns it off but I have to make sure that if I'm done shooting I don't cock the shutter. With the shutter release collar in that position I could accidently take a photo. By the way, all I have is a WLF and an RB lens on a RZ67 Pro. Looking at getting an RZ lens this weekend.

Jerry Thirsty · Jun 25, 2007

Sounds like there's something wrong with it. I always leave mine cocked and I can't trip the shutter with the collar set to the red mark.

Jerry Thirsty · Jun 25, 2007

Actually, I should qualify that last statement; I don't have any RB lenses, so I'm not sure how that might affect the interlock system.

Photo Engineer · Jun 25, 2007

My RZ is on if the shutter button is partially depressed for any reason. It is off otherwise.

If it is on, there are lights in the finder, but otherwise no lights lit.

I have had the same battery for at least 2 years with the shutter in the locked position when stored.

PE

catem · Jun 26, 2007

I wonder which model you have?

There are issues with pre- pro 11, I believe you can't use the lithium batteries and they have a reputation for 'eating batteries' though I would have thought you'd have to use it a great deal to use up the battery that much.

I have a Pro 11 and use lithium batteries and they last a long time, but if I'm doing long, timed exposures (which I sometimes do for a minute or longer) then the battery can get used up quite quickly.

With the Pro 11 the led lights only come on when you depress the shutter.

edit: seems to be some disagreement over battery types - I've been told by camera stores that lithium batteries are fine for the pro 11 but after web searching to check, see that silver oxide (or alkaline) batteries are universally recommended.

Don't know the answer to this, not an expert on batteries! Maybe someone else is.

Lopaka · Jun 26, 2007

The RZ manual recomends 'alkaline manganese' or silver oxide'. Some time ago, (a couple of years, I think) there was an official reply on the user forum area at the Mamiya-USA official web-site (the forum is either gone or down this morning) that stated there was an issue with certain bodies produced (did not save since it did not affect mine) that lithium batteries were giving bad exposure readings when the camera was used with a metering prism. The problem was resolved, so there was no issue with subsequently produced RZII bodies. I use lithium batteries in mine, and find they last longer than the suggested batteries. The camera stores here do not sell lithium batteries in that size ("you can't use a lithium in a Mamiya") and buy mine at Radio Shack for lower price.

Bob

catem · Jun 26, 2007

Thanks Bob,

Yes, I thought there was something and thought it was for pre- pro 11's. I use lithium batteries too with no problem. They're widely available here in the U.K. (jessops have them - so can't complain about them on that point!). Also I think they're cheaper than the silver oxide batteries.

RZ67 battery drain problems. Need help

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