Mamiya's RZ33

[Neare]

Some news - http://www.dpreview.com/news/1006/10060301mamiyarz33.asp

Ok, I'm thinking... why this?

First of all, the RZ is huge and heavy. Far to large for my liking and many others.

Secondly, they've got the AFD (I, II, III) etc. so why the RZ. They're saying it's for the people who already own a RZ system to move over to digital, but.. while I don't know the facts, I would assume that there wouldn't be a lot of people falling into that category these days.

I understand it has the capability to shoot effectively 6x7. However the digital back it is being marketed with is still a 6x4.5 back. Why not further the AFD series then?

I also feel that the range of RZ lenses was somewhat limiting. With an 18k price tag... what's my motivation? The rotating back and cable free operation are really minor after all.

 

[Avotius]

The RB and RZ have been the gold standard of studio and commercial photographers for a long time. Here in Asia the cameras and lenses are everywhere. It makes sense that Mamiya would throw a bone to the people who still use such a system. Sort of like why did Hasselblad bother coming out with the H3 when the H2 was all anyone ever wanted? And now with everything going digital, why not make a digitally optimized version of a very popular camera system?

Furthering the line.

 

[Neare]

The RB and RZ have been the gold standard of studio and commercial photographers for a long time. Here in Asia the cameras and lenses are everywhere. It makes sense that Mamiya would throw a bone to the people who still use such a system. Sort of like why did Hasselblad bother coming out with the H3 when the H2 was all anyone ever wanted? And now with everything going digital, why not make a digitally optimized version of a very popular camera system?

Furthering the line.

Indeed I am very aware of it's success. But my thinking leads me to believe that those studio photographers would have already moved into another digital MF system (it has been a few years now).

Is there still such a reasonable studio market with the film bodies?

 

[David R Munson]

The RZ is not so unwieldy as so many people seem to think it is. It's like a running gag. I find it to be a pleasure to use, even handheld. The size and weight really aren't all that objectionable if one gives it a fair chance. If you want a big/heavy beast of an SLR, play with a Fuji GX 680. 🙂

The RZ also has short-barrel lenses and a tilt-shift adapter, allowing perspective correction and focus plane adjustments that are normally only achievable with a view camera.

There's also the rotating back, which is hard to underestimate the usefulness of until one uses it extensively.

Finally, RZ glass is brutally sharp. I would put any current RZ lens up against any current Hasselblad optic and the Mamiya glass would be *at least* as good. I have never seen sharper results than I have out of RZ glass.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and interchangeable finders and built in bellows focusing are great things to have.

 

[sevo]

Indeed I am very aware of it's success. But my thinking leads me to believe that those studio photographers would have already moved into another digital MF system (it has been a few years now).

Is there still such a reasonable studio market with the film bodies?

Well, there is some market left, and besides, most up-market digital medium format backs can be adapted to the RZ, so many RZ users did not switch the system to switch to digital.

 

[chrishayton]

sure its a big camera but in a studio its ideal. Ive owned the rb67 and thought it was great (if a little bit fiddly) even handheld. I think British fashion photog Rankin uses the RZ with digi back.