Hi, and Mamiya 6 shutter speed question

[Nobuya]

Hi everyone!
I found this forum recently and have been enjoying reading past posts. Great source of information for my beloved Mamiya 6.

One thing I've been wondering for a while is the longest shutter speed possible in AE/AEL modes. Mine only goes up to 6 or 7 seconds even under total darkness. Is this normal?
I apologize if this has been discussed already.

Thanks in advance.

Nobuya

 

[jan normandale]

I've used mine for quite a while and maxed at about 4 seconds .. I think. Have you checked your manual?

BTW I have a Mamiya 6 manual in PDF if you need a copy.

 

[Finder]

In automatic exposure, there is usually a limit to exposure time. One problem is the sensitivity of the meter. Meters are really not very accurate for long exposures. Another is a practical concern that you would not want the shutter to open indefinately. Besides, any exposure over four seconds can easily be made with bulb.

 

[Nobuya]

Thanks very much to both for answering. I checked the camera manual but it doesn't seem to have this information.

On one hand, I'm happy to know that the behavior of my 6 is normal. On the other hand, I'd like to have a bit longer duration than 4-6 seconds in AE, like two more stops, to casually snap nightscapes.

Nobuya

 

[jan normandale]

I've shot night stuff w mine using 400 ISO and they look okay. I've also shot some 800 ISO lately and it looked like I was shooting at the hour before dusk. Here's a link for the 400

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16739&cat=5194

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16770&cat=5194

 

[mattg]

Hi Nobuya,
I think mine only goes up to 6 or 8 seconds so I'm sure your 6 is normal.

In terms of casually snapping nightscapes, what Finder is saying is that the meter no longer corresponds to the film speed. Because of the failure of the reciprocity law, with exposures from about half a second on, meters will only underexpose your film.

You can still casually snap nightscapes! I use Pan F and Delta 400; at F8 I expose PanF for 5 minutes and for Delta 400 use about 1 minute. If you bracket around these times you should get good results. I don't think nightscapes are an exact science, I use normal deveopment and have yet to find any highlights I'd call overexposed despite bracketing those times a stop either way. That means that exposing PanF for 10 minutes still gives good results!

Hope this helps, I've really started enjoying night photography recently.