Is the Mamiya RZ67 a decent camera for its price?

Answer 1

I have an RB67, almost the same camera, but mine is an older one and there is nothing auto about it.

It is an incredible camera, as all Mamiya's are. There is a full line of lenses available for it, so you can pick and choose.

It has two negative aspects:

1. It is not a camera to hand hold, you will need a substantial tripod for it, not one of the $39.95 Walmart models.

2. After you get the basic lenses, 90mm or 127mm, the rest of them can get quite pricey.

It is a Pro Camera, not an amature camera.

My pack, when I go into the mountains to shoot, weighs between 35-50 pounds, depending upon what I take with me. However I used a backpack and the weight is distributed quite well.

Mamiya makes a 645 model which can be acquired rather cheaply if you can stand a very good older model. It is smaller, has all the lenses available that you might ever need, and gives the same quality picture as the RB or RZ67 models.

You will quickly find that the shutter is inside the lens on the RB/RZ cameras, and probably on the 645. That is a nice convenience factor because one lens is giving you shutter speed problems, you can still shoot with the otehr lenses.

There are things that you will need.

Some sort of view finder - either a waist level finder, or one of the two prism finders (there is a model without a light meter if your camera does not come with a light meter).

You will need, as I have said, a substantial tripod - I don't think you want to move around much with this camera attached to a strap around on your neck. I don't even keep a strap on mine, I take it out and put it on my tripod.

If you call KEH, ask for Arthur - if you can't get him, call back. He seems to be the best down there to me and as a matter of fact I have to send KEH a check to get an order sent out in the next couple of days.

I would suggest a 55mm, 90 (or 127), a 150 (and those are available in sharp focus and in soft focus), and a 180 unless you need the longer ones. But as I said, the lenses get pricey.

My advice is to go to www.keh.com, click on store, scrolll down to medium format, and there you will see the Mamiya models. Open the RZ and see what is available for it. Do that also with the RB (and many of the lenses are interchangable), and also with the 645.

I love mine camera and shoot with it often.

Answer 2

I use a Hasselblad almost everyday, but I have to admit the Mamiya RZ67 is a great camera. What is there not to like about this camera: it has a rotating back, 6x7 format (larger than a hasselblads 6x6cm neg), sharp lenses and a cheap price. Just go to KEH.com, you can pick one up with the lens for around $600 in good condition ( you can also pick up a nice Hasselblad there too for around $700 with the lens and back, but mind you that they are still more expensive than all other medium format systems). If you are really into the 6x7 format I would also suggest taking a look at the Pentax 67, it is just as cheap but a bit more portable than the RZ67 which in all honesty is more of a studio camera, though I used one in the field without any problems. Oh yeah and if you want to talk about is the camera worth the money, well if you were to get a digital camera of an equal caliber such as a hasselblad H2, or H3 with a 39 megapixel back, you would spend well over $30,000....by the way you can also get a 22 megapixel digital back for the RZ67 here http://www.mamiya.com/cameras.asp?id=1&id2=2127

Answer 3

Yeah, definitely. It's a really solid, dependable camera with a huge range of lenses and accessories, including widely-available digital backs. It's well-made, and the lenses are quite good, although not as good as the Mamiya rangefinder lenses.

The only real disadvantage that it has over competing cameras is that it's enormous. An RZ-67 is a giant brick of a thing; they're heavy, awkward, and inelegant by design. If that matters to you, then maybe you'd better consider something else; but if it doesn't (maybe you're just going to use it in a studio, for example), then by all means buy one. It's a real workhorse.

Answer 4

Yes. Considering that you are now in the same league as Hasselblad, $3000 for a working camera/lens is a good value compared to the Hasselblad system for $4-6000.

Answer 5

yeah, it is....the only drawback, as someone mentioned, is its size. if that's not an issue for you, then go for it. if it is, then consider the bronica gs-1. it's also a 6x7, but significantly smaller and lighter. i have one and it's great, but unfortunately bronica is out of business now....

Answer 6

Its a workhorse of PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER