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1982: Mamiya RZ67 Professional

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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The Mamiya RZ67: big, heavy, awkward to use, but a good introduction to roll film reflex medium format photography.

The fully manual Mamiya RB67 that preceded the RZ67.

Breaking down the RZ67 into its component parts of body, lens, viewfinders, film backs and power winder.

How the film back rotates for portrait or landscape pictures.

To learn about the Photographic Collectors Club of Great Britain, click the logo

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