Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,085 4 users found this helpful | Review Date: December 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Aperture Priority, three metering modes and no coupling system. | Cons: | None | | If there was ever a Pentax product that needed a redesign it was the old 6x7/67 TTL metered prism.
The original 6x7 TTL prism was released in July 1969 and finally upgraded in September 1998 when the new 67II & AE metered prism were released. During this 29 year period the 6x7 TTL meter went from being on par with the Pentax 35mm Spotmatic’s meter, to being a dinosaur compared to the Pentax 35mm MZ film body meters of the late 1990’s. New Features introduced on the P67II AE Prism:
- Aperture Priority
- Multi (6)-Segment Metering Mode
- Spot Metering Mode
- Exposure Compensation (-3 to +3 EV)
- Viewfinder Diopter (-2.5 to +1.5 DP)
- Eyepiece Shutter Improvements over the 6x7 TTL Metered Prism:
- The AE prism installs just like the other Pentax 6x7 viewfinders. The coupling system and shutter dial adaptor from the old TTL are gone.
- Meter range has been improved from EV 2.5 - 19 to EV 2 – 21
- Weight has been reduced from 520g to 450g
- Two extra metering modes have been added to the existing Center-weighted
- The viewfinder display now has a bar graph instead of the needle between the +/-
- The viewfinder display also shows the shutter speed, metering mode and film counter as standard. As well it indicates if memory lock, flash, bulb mode and exposure compensation are being used. Usage:
The AE prisms build and finishing are excellent and it has an unreversed laterally correct image. (Only 90% of the focus screen is visible ) The AE prism also accepts the Magnifier, Right Angle Finder, Eyecup and Correction Lens as attachments. (Same as the old metered TTL prism)
The Multi segment meter is the most accurate for normal shooting and has done very well with any difficult metering scenes I have tested it with. The 67II body has a memory lock function that can be used with the spotmeter mode, if you want to meter on one area and center the viewfinder on another.
Also being able to mount/dismount the AE prism like a regular viewfinder, without having to remove your lens first, is a HUGE plus. Summary:
The 67II AE metered prism is so far advanced from the old 6x7/67 TTL meter, it’s like driving a new Porsche after owning a Model T Ford. If you want to use a metered prism with a Pentax 6x7 medium format body, then the 67II & AE Prism are the best choice. The old TTL meter is too unreliable & outdated to bother with and if you have a 6x7/67 body then a hand held light meter is recommended instead. The 67II AE prism is a real gem, it’s a shame that it is not backwards compatible with the older 6x7 and 67 bodies.. Price:
As I bough this AE prism as part of a 67II kit, I have not indicated a price for it
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