Weighing in at just under 3 kilos and measuring a huge 24x20x12cm with standard lens and waist-level finder hood erected, the RZ67 is best used on a tripod and preferable in the studio.

 

It was introduced as an electronic successor to Mamiya’s purely mechanical RB67 launched back in 1970, with which it shares a claimed image size of 6x7cm (actual size: 56x68mm). The Hasselblad-like design is modular. It consists of a body containing a reflex mirror inside and focusing screen on top; a lens on the front which breach-locks to a focusing panel that is moved back and forth by twin knobs on either side of the body; a fitting for waist-level or eye-level viewfinders on top, facilities for a power winder on the base and interchangeable film holders round the back to offer 6x7cm or 6x4.5cm formats on 120 and 6x7cm on 220 film. The back rotates through 90°.

 

A range of 15 lenses is available, from 37mm f/4.5 fish-eye to 500mm f/6 telephoto, each incorporating its own shutter. Unlike that on the RB67 whose speeds are changed by a ring around the barrel, this is controlled electronically using a knob on the body. Twisting the shutter knob to a bullseye-type symbol and adding the AE Prism Finder turns the RZ67 into an aperture-priority camera. A side-mounted lever tensions the shutter, lowers the mirror and winds the film with a single stroke. The electronics are driven by a 6-volt 4LR44 battery, without which the shutter defaults to 1/400sec. Having so few shots to a roll of film is admittedly restrictive, but it concentrates the mind on getting the shot right first time.

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