Pro-TL finder illumination - problem?

[dave_parry]

Quick request for a brainstorming session for everyone:

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I've just acquired a used Mamiya Pro-TL body, pro 120 back and AE N prism.

Going through some preliminary testing leads me to believe there's some kinda

problem with the body. Read on...

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Basically, when you half depress the shutter release to light up the finder,

its supposed to stay on for several seconds, but mine always goes off right

away.

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I've ruled out problems with the back/finder/battery/lenses/winder by swapping

them around with ones belonging to a mate of mine who also has a Pro-TL, in

every conceivable combination - even using a back loaded with film, and every

setting on the finder/body, darkslide in/out and making sure all the

electrical contacts between the body-back-finder are clean. With no

combination will my body keep the viewfinder display lit. My mate's body

always keeps the finder illuminated when everything is set correctly (dark

slide out, shutter cocked etc) but mine never will, when everything else is

set identically.

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So the long and short of this is that there's something wrong possibly with my

body that is causing this. I'm 100% certain that the issue lies with the body

(not the back or prism), but as a new user of the system I'm only 99% sure

that I've not missed any other possibility. Getting this fixed won't be a

problem, but before I send it back under warranty to the shop (which'll leave

me without the camera for a week or so), can anyone think of anything else

this could be, or has anyone had a similar problem? I'm all out of ideas.

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(I've searched this forum and couldn't find any mention of a similar problem).

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Many thanks in advance!

[Giovanni Cappai]

According to the "M645 Super AE prism finder N" manual the indication on the viewfinder remains lit for 10sec, after the release of the shutter button (half-pressed), only in manual mode. In AE and AEL mode the display disappears as soon as you release the half-pressed shutter button. Also if the display flickers in any value, then the battery is weak. If in manual mode your camera doesn't behave as stated and the battery is fresh, you have a problem.

[dave_parry]

Good work - I knew someone would be able to shed some light (pun) onto this for me. Thanks.

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Although, from memory, I think it was doing the same for the A/AEL as for the manual shutter speeds. I will of course double-check later - I'm hoping to be proved wrong.

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On a slight tangent, does anyone know if the manual for the AE N prism is available online anywhere? I can't find it on either the mamiya.com or .co.uk sites. Obviously using the prism is fairly self-explanatory, but the instructions would come in handy for clarifying this type of "problem" I recon.

[Giovanni Cappai]

Try this:

 

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya.htm

 

Loads and loads of information!

[jim_momary]

Not that you asked, but here's a link to the body manual, mentions the AEN in passing. If you need it ...

 

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya/mamiya_645_pro_tl/mamiya_645_pro_tl.htm

 

I have the older M645 1000S body, so I can't hlp on your issue. Good luck. Jim M.

[dave_parry]

Thanks again for the response - unfortunately the Pro-TL manual (which I already have a copy of) doesn't have any really meaty info about the finder operation, and that useful webpage containing scans of most Mamiya manuals sadly doesn't have the AE N prism instructions. I'll keep looking!

[dave_parry]

<i>"According to the "M645 Super AE prism finder N" manual the indication on the viewfinder remains lit for 10sec, after the release of the shutter button (half-pressed), only in manual mode. In AE and AEL mode the display disappears as soon as you release the half-pressed shutter button."</i>

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Someone buy this guy a drink - it turns out this is actually what my camera is doing! Amazing, I could have sworn that between me and my friend testing all the combinations we should have spotted this. I'll be interested to see if his FE401 finder does the same thing.

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So panic over, and cheers for the help fellas. I suppose the one thing to take away from this incident is it always helps to have the instruction manual! I'll be out at sunset with a borrowed lens and a roll of 4-year expired Provia before you can say "cable release" now.