XPan 2 Viewfinder LCD

[kaydee]

Hi Everyone,

Managed to get my hands on a XPan 2.

One of the difference between the XPan 2 and XPan 1 was the viewfinder LCD display that shows exposure information and the shutter speed.

But for the life of me I don't see it in the viewfinder. This might sound like a stupid question but where do you see it? Is it in the thing at the bottom inside the viewfinder? or Do I need to activate it in some way? If anyone could take a pic of the inside of their viewfinder that'd be great, Yeah I know it's asking for a lot.

Again, it could be that it has malfunctioned or is broken. Is it one of those things that is a problem area for the Xpan?

Asking because I'm not sure what the exposure value is or know whether or not the Aperture Priority works.

Thanks.

 

[MUEvans]

You must have film in the camera and, of course, batteries installed. You can search online for instruction 'book.'

 

[kaydee]

I thought that was the issue as with most medium format cameras. There's battery and film, but I don't see any exposure info in the viewfinder as the design would suggest.

 

[MUEvans]

The lcd shows at the bottom of the viewfinder and only shows if push the shutter button half way.

 

[kaydee]

I'm pretty sure I did press the shutter release halfway to start up the LCD display. Will try again when I get home.

 

[Huss]

You don't need film in the camera. Just make sure you have manually set the film speed/ISO so it is not in the auto DX setting. Are the batteries in correctly? When you turn it on is the LCD panel on the back activated?
Pressing the shutter button down half way should show the shutter speed read out in that bottom central black rectangle just beneath the framing marks. Move your eye around in case you do not have it positioned correctly.

It should look like this:

http://xpan.free.fr/1e60a960.jpg

Owner's manual here:

http://xpan.free.fr/HTMLobj-577/xpan_ii_user_manual.pdf

If it doesn't then you should return it and by my perfect one I have for sale in the classified!
😉

 

[kaydee]

Sir, I will check about the ISO thing. It's currently in DX, but will check to see if that makes a difference.

Batteries are in correctly, the shutter fires and I've taken 2 pics so far. The back and top LCD works no problem. Everything else works. The body is showing chips but not anything unusual or more than most I've seen online so I'm assuming it was never abused or dropped.

Could just be I'm setting something wrong (like you said) or something is broken. Stay tuned.

 

[kaydee]

OK just tried it. Confirm it doesn't work. UGH!!

 

[kaydee]

Weirdest thing just happened. I burned thru a roll so that I can get it developed to see if the AE works despite the LCD display not showing, and it decided to show up. Looks like all is well now.

Huss, sorry good luck with the sale tho. I'm off to making panoramics this weekend 😀

 

[Huss]

Weirdest thing just happened. I burned thru a roll so that I can get it developed to see if the AE works despite the LCD display not showing, and it decided to show up. Looks like all is well now.

Huss, sorry good luck with the sale tho. I'm off to making panoramics this weekend 😀

No problem, glad it was resolved! Was it because maybe your eye wasn't in the right position? I have found that that can make the LEDs seem to disappear.

The camera is fantastic, I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[kaydee]

I thought that too but I was looking at that black thing at the bottom of the viewfinder the entire time. I don't wear glasses so I don't see how I could've missed it.

Just really odd and I hope it's just a startup thing and nothing that will plague me in the future. But AE seems to be working fine, so doesn't matter really if the LCD goes out again.

 

[Huss]

But AE seems to be working fine, so doesn't matter really if the LCD goes out again.

It kinda does as it means that something is wrong with the camera.
A really expensive camera!

Good luck.