RZ67 dead

KevinM · Nov 19, 2011

Hello, all. I'm a new RZ67 Pro II user; I just picked up this outfit used is week. My familiarity is with 35mm SLRs only.

When I say my RZ67 is dead, I mean that there are no lights, sounds, nothing. I currently have a Polaroid back with film on it, but previously had the 6x6 back on it (no film). I have the AE Prism Finder (I?) on it, and it appears to be seated correctly. I replaced the silver oxide battery in it just this afternoon...

Shouldn't there be some LED that comes on for something? Shouldn't I see some status in the prism finder? I can release the shutter (dark slide in) and it all appears to be working mechanically. Setting the side shutter to AEF (for the prism) seems to do nothing. Both using he AEF/top dial and the side dial to set the shutter speed sound the same. I'm pretty sure all it's doing is the ~1/400 mechanical shutter speed.

What's wrong with my camera? Is there something I'm forgetting to turn on? Is it really dead? If so, how should it be repaired?

Sirius Glass · Nov 19, 2011

I am not familiar with the RZ67 Pro II, however I would suggest that you check the battery and the battery terminals in the camera first. Is the battery inserted correctly? Try replacing the battery.

If you need the instruction manual, you can find them => http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ If you find the download useful, please send in $3 to support that free website.

More knowledgeable RZ67 users will answer your questions soon.

Welcome to APUG

Steve

KevinM · Nov 19, 2011

Thanks for the reply and the welcome!

I did check correct insertion of the battery and inspected the terminals but you know what? I'll do it again.

I already have the manuals for the RZ67 Pro II and for the AE Prism Finder, but thanks for that tip, too.

TimmyMac · Nov 19, 2011

There is a ring around the shutter release button with a white dot on it. Make sure the white dot is lined up with the white dot on the body. Orange dot is mechanical 1/400th, and red dot is shutter locked.

TimmyMac · Nov 19, 2011

Also, if you have the AE prism I, you can only use autoexposure with the prism dial. All the manual speeds are off if you try to set them using the prism.

KevinM · Nov 19, 2011

Whoa!

The shutter release was on the orange dot. I moved it to the white dot in the middle, and we have beeps and LEDs (blinking red LED under the battery icon? Oh wait, now it's not on), and I saw some numbers on the left side of viewfinder a second ago. I can decode all of this with the manual.

Clearly, I need to learn more about the camera but this is a breakthrough!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

KevinM · Nov 19, 2011

(It says only, "RZ67 AE PRISM FINDER" on it, and there are two dials on the top of it.)

You mean just the "A" setting on the prism dial? I'm not sure I follow your comment.

TimmyMac · Nov 19, 2011

top dials is the new prism model, works with RZII. You're good to go, functionality should be perfect. Half-press the shutter to get a meter reading, full-press to use whatever shutter speed you've selected on the prism (or AE). AEL is super handy - I usually leave it there so you can do the old meter-recompose-shoot thing.

KevinM · Nov 19, 2011

I set the side to AEF, the top to A. The lens was set to f/2.8 indoors, lamp light. I pressed the shutter release all the way, and nothing happened. (Well, the camera beeped and flashed near the dark slide icon but I'm using the Polaroid back so it probably doesn't know it's out.) Anyway, I'm guessing it was just too dark and refused to release.

I took off the prism and shot with the WL finder just now, with a manual shutter speed (metered at 1/4 second, shot 1/3). It fired as expected and gave expected results, too.

I need to read up on this prism a little more.

Thanks so much for your replies!

L Gebhardt · Nov 19, 2011

I've never use the polaroid back, but the regular backs have interlocks for the darkslide, and I think for when the film isn't loaded. So check that the back is ready to take a shot.

KevinM · Nov 19, 2011

I don't think it was the back; I just changed the finder so I could go full manual and it took the shot with no problem.

polyglot · Nov 20, 2011

While it looks like you've solved this little gotcha, definitely get the RZ manual off butkus and have a good read of it. There are a lot of little things like that that are completely non-obviously until you read about the camera in detail.
In particular:
* solid red LED = darkslide inserted or similar
* flashing red LED (with darkslide in) = battery low
* orange LED = film not ready (e.g. exposed once, lever not in M position)
* mirror fires, shutter doesn't = cable release nipple on lens isn't properly screwed in
* shutter opens but doesn't close (can't advance lever) = lens in T position

TimmyMac · Nov 20, 2011

You can go full manual with the prism as well, just select your shutter speed on the body OR on the prism with AEF on the body.

RZ67 dead

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