The hole on the top of WLF?

[shineofleo]

<p>Hello, I am very excited that I join the Mamiya RZ67 family!<br>

Just got a used RZ67PROII, which is in excellent condition! I have one question: there is a hole on the top of the waist level finder, which seems not common.<br>

So is it a different model of WLF, or is it a DIY by the previous owner? Or broken hardware? (I don't think so...)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Leon</p>

[michaelging]

<p>Could it be where the magnifier was located? </p>

[michaelging]

<p>CHeck out this photo, is the circle in the top the one you are talking about? </p>

<p>http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/MYRZWLF.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.adorama.com/MYRZWLF.html&usg=__KiSgCnR5wiMRven8rCYRT5aXib4=&h=200&w=200&sz=8&hl=en&start=0&tbnid=rCLfIjILub35tM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drz67%2Bwaist%2Blevel%2Bfinder%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1478%26bih%3D1069%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=165&vpy=236&dur=9212&hovh=104&hovw=104&tx=72&ty=125&ei=x8hHTICTKY32swOTvYSMCw&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0</p>

[shineofleo]

<p>Actually the position of this hole is where the magnifier is located. I am just confused because the hole is on the cover, which I didn't see in most of the normal RZ67 photos, such as</p>

<p><img src="http://www.i-rradiate.com/system/files/images/7.jpg" alt="" /><br>

As you can see the surface of the top cover is flat... On mine, the hole is around 1cm in diameter, in the middle of the top cover. Weird...</p>

[michaelging]

<p>The Rolleiflex had a sports finder that you could use to sight the camera quickly built into the WLF hood, might be a version of that. They are great cameras by the way (RZ67), I had the TTL 45 degree finder on mine. </p>

[shineofleo]

<p>Thanks Michael. I think I'd better take a picture of it later.</p>

<p>I am glad you like RZ67 and perhaps we can have more discussion in the future!</p>

[shineofleo]

<p>All right I just took a picture of my RZ67. As you can see there is a round hole at the middle of the cover of WLF.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[lubos_soltes]

<p>The hole seems to be a custom job done by the previous owner. probably to improvise a sports finder.</p>

<p>It is actualy on the front face of the wlf when you have it opened. you will get light leaked into the wlf this way. maybe you should ask the previous owner what the purpose of the hole is.</p>

[ben_gasser]

<p>I am somewhat new to this but how would you get light leak? I though the wlf would be open when you took the picture?</p>

<p> </p>

[shineofleo]

<p>So by all means, it is not a standard configuration from Mamiya, as I guessed.</p>

<p>I am still wondering why he did this, a sports finder? how? the WLF can only be viewed from the top. Since I bought it from a second hand camera shop, the seller didn't have any idea either.</p>

<p>But I also think there should be no leak issue since the viewfinder will be blocked by the mirror. Thanks anyway. Please put your thoughts if you know about this hole!</p>

[tim_bosley1]

<p>Interesting.<br>

I guess that hole is to make identification easier if your camera ever gets stolen!</p>

<p>Why else ruin a perfectly usable WLF :)</p>

[michaelging]

<p>If the person was trying to make a sports finder , they made the small hole the wrong one, its the hole on the back of the camera. I am thinking they might have put a bubble level into the top so they could level the camera without opening the hood. </p>

[jim_gardner4]

<p>Ben, I think you will find that Lubos is talking about light getting on to the ground glass/viewing screen, not onto the actual film its self. The walls of the wlf block daylight entering it from the sides making the image much easier to see and focus.</p>

[sumo_kun]

<p>Maybe its so he can see the GG while the hood is closed? Or would the mirror be in the way? Maybe the previous guy got shot at while out on a job...</p>

[lubos_soltes]

<p>Thanks Jim, that's exactly what I meant :-)</p>

<p>If the finder is opened, is there only ONE hole on the front side ?</p>

[ericophotography]

<p>It's hard to think of any reason for drilling a whole it the WLF but then again I've only been using one for about 4 years. They make 3-axis bubble levels that fit in the hot shoe these days.</p>

[pavel1]

<p>this is a case for duct tape! </p>