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Mamiya ZE-X
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Focusing
Focus sharply on the subject by rotating the focusing ring of the lens. Correct focus can be checked as follows;
Using the Split-lmage Rangefinder: Turn the focusing ring until the split images in the central spot appears straight. Using the
Microprism Collar: Turn the focusing ring until the
image in the microprism collar appears sharply defined.
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Using the Matte Field: Turn the focusing ring until the image in the matte field clear and sharp.
Holding the camera
Press the elbow firmly against the side of your body for a steadier hold, whether using the camera horizontally or vertically. It is also recommended that you press the camera against
your forehead for extra steadiness.
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Most blurred photographs are due to camera shake caused by not holding the camera steady. Improve the sharpness of your pictures by holding your camera steady. Depress the
release button gently with a squeezing motion, without jerking.4www.butkus.org
Rewinding the film
After the last exposure, the film must be rewound completely into its cartridge before opening the back cover.
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1. Press the film rewind release button.
2. Fold out the film rewind crank and rotate the knob in the direction of the arrow until resistance ceases and the knob turns freely.
3. Open the back cover by pulling up on the rewind knob and remove the film.
Electronic Mechanism ZE-X
* Viewfinder Display
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Your ZE-X features a bright, full-frame viewfinder which gives all the necessary exposure information for the exposure mode in use via an
easy to-read LED digital display system. The
brightness of the LED read-out is automatically regulated to match the brightness of the subject. The viewing of the LED read-out therefore, is always comfortable under any
circumstances.4www.butkus.org
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Programmed AE mode
manual exposure operation Exposure variation in effect (warns dial is no t set at "0") Flash ready indication for Mamiya dedicated flash units. Indicates maximum flash distance in meters with E lenses (and EF lenses with focusing distance priority switch OFF) |
·Features of the Crossover System
The ZE-X's Crossover System permits automatic "crossover" between the various AE modes to assure exposure-perfect photos at all times.
1. Used with the shutter speed priority or aperture priority AE modes, the Crossover System automatically comes into effect to correct exposure settings, when your preselected shutter
speed or aperture will not give you correct exposure, thus enabling you to obtain the best exposure possible under the prevailing lighting conditions.
2. With hand-held photography in both the shutter speed priority and aperture priority AE modes, and at all times with the programmed AE mode, the ZE-Xis designed to maintain a
shutter speed which is safe, i.e., above the "camera shake" limit for the lens in use. So long as exposure conditions permit, you are sure of blurfree photographs.
3. If a Mamiyalite MZ 36R or MZ 18R auto electronic flash in) is used with this camera, it will not operate unless the shutter speed in any AE mode drops below the "camera shake" limit.
· "Camera Shake" Prevention
It is the rule of thumb among professional photographers that the slowest shutter speed at which sharp pictures can be taken with a hand-held camera is the speed closest to the reciprocal
of the focal length of the lens in use counted in seconds. Below this speed, "camera shake" is likely to occur blurring the photograph. The ZE-X is designed to operate within the
following "camera shake" limits depending on the focal length of the lenses as follows.
In the programmed AE mode, "60" will appear in the viewfinder as the "camera shake" warning for 1/80 sec., while "250" warns you that the speed has actually dropped below 1/200
second.
(A) Shutter Speed Priority Crossover AE Variation
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This chart shows the pattern used by the camera's microprocessor to maintain the selected shutter speed for as long as possible in relation to the lens aperture and the lighting conditions.
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(B) Aperture Priority Crossover AE Variation
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This chart shows the pattern used by the camera's microprocessor to maintain the selected aperture for as long as possible in relation to the shutter speed, the lighting conditions and the
"camera shake" limit of the lens in use.
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(C) Programmed AE Variation
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This chart shows the aperture and shutter speed combinations automatically chosen by the camera in the programmed AE mode.
With bright scenes, the program automatically select a combination of a fast shutter speed and a small aperture, while for dark scenes, it automatically keeps the shutter speed above the
"camera shake" limit of the lens in use (1/30 sec. with 50mm lens) until the maximum aperture is reached. -At that point, the shutter speed again shifts to the next slowest speed to ensure
a proper exposure.4www.butkus.org
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Flash Photography ZE-X
Flash Photography
Flash units are indispensable system accessories.
When using the Mamiyalight MZ auto electronic flash with the ZE-X, the camera automatically controls the aperture according to the ASA film speed which you set when loading the film in
the cameral and synchronizes the shutter at 1/60 sec. on charging. Moreover, when an EF Series lens is used, the revolutionary Distance Priority Flash AE system automatically selects the
aperture according to the focusing distance. This eliminates all your worries about correct exposures and does away with troublesome exposure setting.
Crossover Performance
When the Crossover System is on, the flash will not discharge unless it is necessary and the regular crossover AE mode takes priority. The flash will operate only when the shutter speed in
any AE mode drops below the "camera shake" limit and the flash has been recharged. If, in a bright situation, you wish to use flash for daylight synchronization or any other purpose, either
disengage the Crossover System or switch to the manual mode.
Selecting the Base Mode for Flash
The following instructions for Flash AE Crossover operations are divided into two main sections: (A) Flash AE with EF Lenses and (B) Flash AE with E Lenses. With both types of lenses,
all three regular AE modes may be used for flash AE photography. With EF lenses, however, the aperture priority AE mode is preferable to the others since it saves flash energy. While
basic operating methods are explained here using the Mamiyalite MZ 36R as an example, procedures for the MZ 18R are similar. For detailed operating instructions, refer to the
instructions accompanying the flash unit.
(A) Flash AE Crossover with EF Lenses
Procedures in the aperture priority AE mode:
1. Attach the flash unit to the camera and the crossover switch to its normal position (flush with camera).
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2. Set the aperture ring to the desired aperture setting, f/4 for instance.
3. Set the shutter speed dial to "A".
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4. Set the focusing distance priority switch at the base of the EF lens to ON by
clicking it as far as it will go in the direction of the arrow.
5. Turn the flash unit power switch on and set the selector at MZ-A. Press the shutter button partway and the indication EF appears in the viewfinder, take your picture. The shutter is set
automatically at 1/60 sec. and the flash exposure is controlled according to the distance to the subject.
Note:
The focusing distance priority switch is ON when positioned next to the serial number and OFF when positioned at the opposite side where an orange mark appears in the groove. For the
general flash photography, keep the switch ON. For bounce flash photography with the Mamiyalite MZ 36R flash unit, for example, make sure the switch is OFF. This way the flash is
operated on the reflected back light from the subject instead of the subject distance.4www.butkus.org
Automatic Aperture Variation in relation to flash distance with EF lenses
·In the aperture priority AE/manual operation modes
(At ASA 100, with 50mm f/1.4 EF lens and Mamiyalite MZ 36R):
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(A) For auto flash photography up to 9m, f/4 is the ideal aperture since the intencity of the flash is controlled according to the focused distance and surplus energy is saved for the next shot.
(B) Beyond 9m at f/4, the Crossover System automatically opens the aperture to obtain the required additional exposure.
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(1) Normal Flash Exposure: When you press the shutter button partway after the flash unit has recharged, the EF mark and the aperture value you have chosen will be indicated in the
viewfinder.
(2) Crossover Flash Exposure: When your subject is too far away for a proper exposure at the aperture setting you have chosen, the Crossover System will automatically correct the
aperture for you. The " o " crossover symbol appears at the right of the aperture value indicated in the viewfinder to inform you that a cross
over flash exposure is being made.
(3) Underexposure: If your subject is too far away for a proper exposure even at the maximum aperture of the lens in use, the maximum aperture indication will flash in the viewfinder to
inform you that your subject is out of flash exposure range.
·When you set the crossover switch to FIX by sliding it forward, the Crossover System is disengaged and flash exposures will always be made at the aperture you have chosen.
·When the subject is too far away for a proper exposure, however, the aperture setting will flash in the viewfinder as a warning. To obtain a proper exposure, open the aperture ring
manually until the flashing ceases.
·In the programmed AE/shutter speed priority AE modes
(at ASA 100, with 50mm F/1.4 EF lens and Mamiyaite MZ 36R)
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In the programmed AE or shutter speed priority AE modes, the aperture changes automatically in relation to the focusing distance. Up to 12.5 meters, flash energy remains at one half of full
(GN 18); beyond 12.5 meters, flash intensity automatically increases to full (GN 36).
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(B) Flash AE Crossover with E Lenses
The EF lens performs in the same way as the E lens whenever you set the focusing distance priority switch of the EF lens to OFF.
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Procedures in the programmed AE/shutter speed priority AE modes: 1. Switch the flash unit on and press the shutter button partway. The camera will automatically set the lens aperture according to the film speed (f/8 at ASA 100, f/16at ASA 400), and the maximum auto flash range for the aperture is indicated in meters in the viewfinder after the flash has charged. 2. When the indicated distance is not sufficient to cover your subject, open the aperture until the distance indication is adequate to cover your subject. Procedures in the aperture priority AE/manual mode: 1. Set the aperture ring at the desired aperture, for example f/4. 2. Switch the flash unit ON and press the shutter button partway. When the flash has charged, "EF" will appear in the viewfinder and the maximum auto flash range for the aperture in use will be indicated in meters. 3. When your subject is beyond the auto flash range indicated for the aperture in use, open the aperture ring to a wider aperture until your subject is within the indicated range. At maximum aperture, the distance indication given is the maximum auto flash range for the lens in use.4www.butkus.org |
Automatic Flash Synch Speed Setting
In the shutter speed priority AE and manual operation mode:
1. The shutter speed is automatically set at a flash synch speed of 1/60 sec. after the flash unit has charged, even though the dial is set for faster shutter speeds.
2. When the preselected
shutter speed is slower than 1/60 sec., the exposure will be made at the speed in use. Use of slower shutter speeds is useful for long exposures where additional exposure of the
background is desired.
Keys to better flash photography
· If you release the shutter before the flash has charged, a non-flash exposure will be made at the exposure setting of the preselected mode.
· Faster recharging is possible if you place your subject somewhat closer to you than the maximum distance indicated, since the camera computes the light reflected from the subject so
that the flash discharges only the amount of energy that is required, saving the left-over energy for the next flash.
· The distance indications given in the viewfinder are based on the lens aperture scale and should be taken as approximate only.
· Exposure compensation can be employed for flash by setting the exposure variation dial to the appropriate plus or minus setting.
(C) Flash Photography with Mamiyalite ZE
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The Mamiyalite ZE differs from the Mamiyalite MZ, and the following operational differences should be noted to ensure correct operation.
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Precautions when using other flash units
Mamiya Camera will not be responsible for any damage caused to the camera by flash units other than Mamiya products. The electrical contacts and input/output of
non-Mamiya dedicated
flash units, including high voltage trigger outputs, may cause severe damage to your Mamiya camera.
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