Thoughts on the Mamiya RZ67

[Wcarpenter]

Hello All,

I'm considering the purchase of a Mamiya RZ67 as a portrait camera. The 6x7 format is very appealing as is the billows focusing. They also seem to be fairly affordable. KEH has a complete kit for $500. Does anyone here use on? If so, what's your take on it? Would a Hasselblad 500 series be as well suited to portraiture and maybe the occasional street use?

Size is less of a concern, as I have an M6 for portability.

Thanks,
Walker

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

It's a great camera. 6x7 might be better suited for portrait then 6x6. Unless you really dig square. The bellows system allows you to focus much closer without the use of a ring like you need on the hassy.
If size doesn't matter I'd go for the RZ.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[PKR]

W; Check a Mamiya 645 pro.. no motor, too. Good camera. Hasselblad repair is expensive. find a camera store with some used gear and handle the cameras. An RZ is a big camera.

If you go 6 x 6 you can crop the frame (for a vertical) without having to turn the camera. You might also look at a Mamiya 330 or 220 twin lens camera. Avedon used them so did Newton. Yes they both used Rolleis but often used the Mamiyas for their interchangeable lenses. pkr

p.

http://www.mamiya.nl/client/mamiya/uploads/downloads/645_pro_tl_v8.pdf

http://www.mamiya.nl/client/mamiya/uploads/downloads/rb67_pro_sd_v7.pdf

 

[tomalophicon]

Go for it. You can't lose with a camera that good.

 

[mervynyan]

rz67 is too big to haul around, other than that, it is a superb mf camera.

 

[jamesdfloyd]

As a Mamiya user, I would definitely suggest the RZ. For what it is worth, it has an incredible history as a studio portrait / fashion camera; not a good field camera though. And...forgive me for saying...if you want to move to medium format digital, Phase One has a very good setup for it. You cannot go wrong with the 6x7 format. If you are looking to do outdoor portrait work the RB67 would be a better choice.

J.D.

 

[oftheherd]

For portraiture, the RZ should be fine. For occasional street use, I would not want to be the one doing it. For that, I would look to the Mamiya Press. If you have been looking on RFF for long enough, you know I often recommend the Super Press. It is a good camera. I have been around people using the RZ. Tripods and slow focusing. The Super Press is a range finder. Granted, a large one, but I always found it handled very 35mm like.

If you want one camera in the 6x7 range to do both portrait and street, you can use the Super Press, except no camera of that size is very stealthy if that is your street style. At least the RZ can be used at waist level. It just seemed to so unwieldy when I watched others using it. The Super Press cannot be used at waist level unless you are doing prefocus and waist level shooting by cable (including the handle cable of course).

I would not normally think of any 6x7 as street shooters except maybe the older folders. If you like the RZ, and KEH's in in your price range, go for it for portraiture. For street, I really would look for something else.

 

[Wcarpenter]

Thank you all.

The camera would be purchased for a fairly specialized purpose. I want to photograph all (or atleast most) of the kids in my grade, as I'm in high school. Richard Avedon's portraiture really inspired me and what subjects are more available than my classmates.

I found one on KEH with the 110mm lens and the waist level finder for $350 dollars, though it is BGN. But, at that price, it seems hard to say no. Its Bargain quality at KEH as bad as it sounds? I've heard good things about their "Bargain" products, but maybe some of you can shed some more light.

Thanks,
Walker

 

[PKR]

Thank you all.

The camera would be purchased for a fairly specialized purpose. I want to photograph all (or atleast most) of the kids in my grade, as I'm in high school. Richard Avedon's portraiture really inspired me and what subjects are more available than my classmates.

I found one on KEH with the 110mm lens and the waist level finder for $350 dollars, though it is BGN. But, at that price, it seems hard to say no. Its Bargain quality at KEH as bad as it sounds? I've heard good things about their "Bargain" products, but maybe some of you can shed some more light.

Thanks,
Walker

What are you going to do for lighting and a background? White seamless, outdoors? you'll need a tripod.

 

[Wcarpenter]

Absolutely. I have a number of tripods from my fathers photographing years that I could use. There's a studio at my school that I would probably use and then maybe some outdoor stuff.

 

[PKR]

Absolutely. I have a number of tripods from my fathers photographing years that I could use. There's a studio at my school that I would probably use and then maybe some outdoor stuff.

Avedon's portrait style evolved from his taking ID photos when in the Navy. He did ID photos on a white background. Very stark.

I'm going to try to send you an email.. no go. I was going to send you a link I don't want public.

p.

 

[Wcarpenter]

perhaps a PM?

 

[Chris101]

... Avedon used them so did Newton. ...

I didn't think they had film in the 1600's.

 

[shimokita]

I have the RB67 and it's great... for me tripod only and 98% outdoors.

Please consider an extra back or two so you don't have to stop to reload film during a shoot. I also changed out the focusing screen to the A4 Checker as I wanted a grid for shooting landscapes.

Very inexpensive way to get into 6x7 format... enjoy.

Casey

 

[Wcarpenter]

Well, I got parental approval (I'm 16) and ordered my bargain priced RZ with the 110mm lens just now and I'm very excited. Its a full setup for $350, so I figured I couldn't really go wrong. I have two weeks to send it back, too, if it really isn't want I want.

Shimokita:
I'll definitely add backs and other accessories if it turns out be a system I want to invest in. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Wcarpenter]

Thank you! I think it will be a good camera for the portraiture project I'm going to use it for.

 

[ruby.monkey]

rz67 is too big to haul around, other than that, it is a superb mf camera.

Depends on personal preferences. My RZ67 Pro II is one of my favourite walkabout cameras.

 

[oftheherd]

For indoor portraits I think you will be very happy. I suspect you will find a way to make it work outside as well. As long as you aren't suffering aftershocks from earthquakes or hurricane force winds, you can make do with a fairly light tripod when you go outside. Some shots at your age you can probably pull of without a tripod. Hope you enjoy this as much as you are anticipating it. Let us know.

 

[PKR]

perhaps a PM?

I tried a pm.. I don't know if it's working.. oh well..

p.

 

[akremer]

one of the great cameras. you have nothing to worry about.