Mamiya RZ67 - Honest Thoughts (My Film Camera For Portraits)

My honest thoughts on the Mamiya RZ67 and why it has become my favorite medium format film camera for portrait photography. I will also be discussing what I like and don’t like about this camera, as well as showing some sample photos to give you a better idea of whether this camera might be for you and your needs.

0:04 - Introduction
0:29 - Camera Description
0:34 - Mamiya RZ67 Loading
1:05 - Waist-Level Finder
1:41 - How to Focus
2:24 - Modular Camera
2:51 - Rotating Back
3:10 - Multiple Exposure Mode
3:29 - Lenses
4:46 - Weight & Size
6:13 - Price
7:12 - Light Meter
7:36 - Summary
8:06 - Outro

So this is a medium format SLR camera that takes a 6x7 negative allowing you 10 frames per roll of 120 film. I bought the Mamiya RZ67 back in 2018 with the intention of making more portrait work and I was also in the process of making a photo project at the time.

So my setup at the time included the 110mm f2.8 lens, and also came with an additional polaroid back which I am yet to use. It also does use a waist-level finder, meaning you actually look down into the mirror, rather than use an eyepiece like most cameras.

The minimum focus distance is also extremely good. It does depend on the lens obviously but with my 90mm I can focus on anything 43cm away from the camera allowing me to get nice and close to my subject and get those detail shots. Whereas when I am using my Mamiya 7 for example, the distance is a lot further and these types of shots are near impossible as the minimum distance is over a meter away.

So as I mentioned previously, I have the 110mm f2.8 lens which is the most popular lens for the Mamiya RZ67. It’s the only lens that goes down to 2.8, so I would say for any portrait photographer this would be an ideal lens choice to get that dreamy looking bokeh. Keep in mind that due to the demand, this is the most expensive lens available for the Mamiya RZ67, but there are also some great alternatives.

My 110 is actually broken at the moment, so I am currently using the 90mm f3.5 which I actually prefer. Having a bit of lens distortion really appeals to me, and it’s also around half of the price of the 110 on the second-hand market.

There are a lot of other lens options in the Sekor Z lineup which is the proper name for these lenses, but you can actually use any of the Sekor C lenses from the Mamiya RB67 or the 645 using a separate adapter. This might be something to think about, as those older lenses are often far cheaper but provides a similar quality, so if you are on a budget but still want the Mamiya RZ67 then this could be an option for you.

One of the biggest downsides of this camera is its size. Initially, it was made to be a purely studio-based camera which makes total sense. Everything about this camera works in a studio environment, but as soon as you take it out on location it’s a different story. Weighing in at just under 4kg, moving around with this camera can be super difficult and really makes traveling quite limiting.

I’ve done a few overseas trips and there would be days where I wouldn’t even take it out due to its size, which meant I wasn’t taking any photos. It barely fits in my bag, which is okay but when you add all your other equipment in, that bag will get so heavy and will be the biggest pain to move around with. So my recommendation is if you plan on traveling with this type of camera format, I would probably suggest some lighter alternatives like a Mamiya 7, or even the Hasselblad 500cm as they are a lot more practical to move around with.

In saying this though, if medium-format travel photography isn’t really your thing, then it probably won’t be a big deal. If you’re doing portrait shoots or even landscapes locally and you’re driving or catching public transport then the bulky build might not entirely matter? It’s still more portable than a 4x5 large format system, and a lot of people have no problem with them, so it really is all personal preference. Then again, shooting with this camera for a few hours will definitely start to hurt your hands and neck so I would really recommend getting a grip or using a tripod.

Even the older model, the Mamiya RB67 might be a better choice if the price is going to be a big factor for you. It has most of the same features and shoots the same negative for a fraction of the price, so it might seriously be worth thinking about. I’m not going to go into detail about that camera because this is not a comparison video, but I definitely wouldn’t write that camera off.

All images shot with Mamiya RZ67 and Portra 400 + Tri-x 400.

My Instagram:
  / bendroege_  

My Website:
https://www.bendroege.com

'Mamiya RZ67 - Honest Thoughts (My Film Camera For Portraits)'

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