![]() RZ67 Pro I ready for shooting | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Maker | Mamiya |
Type | Medium Format SLR |
Lens | |
Lens mount | Custom Mamiya breech-lock bayonet mount |
Sensor/medium | |
Film speed | ISO 25 to 6400 [manual] |
Focusing | |
Focus | Manual |
Exposure/metering | |
Exposure | Manual, Aperture Priority with AE prism |
Flash | |
Flash | Hot shoe, PC socket |
Shutter | |
Frame rate | Manual lever winding, unmodified. |
Shutter speed range | 8 s to 1/400 s, Bulb, Time |
General | |
Battery | 4LR44 6 V battery or 4 LR44 1.5 volt batteries |
Made in | Japan |
The Mamiya RZ67 is a professional medium format single-lens reflex system camera manufactured by Mamiya. There are three successive models: the RZ67 Professional (first model released in 1982), RZ67 Professional II (released in 1993) and RZ67 Professional IID (released in 2004). It is primarily designed for studio use, but can also be used in the field.
The RZ67 name is adopted from the model name of the Mamiya RB67, which was first introduced in 1970.
The RZ67 is a modular camera system, meaning the lenses, viewfinders, ground glasses, film winders and film backs designed for the system are all interchangeable. It is primarily designed for studio use, but can also be used in the field. The RZ67 Sekor lenses have built-in electronic leaf shutters which are cocked and triggered from the body. Focusing is performed with a set of bellows.
The camera accepts 120 and 220 film film with film backs configurable for 6×7cm, 6×6cm and 6×4.5cm exposures. Special-purpose backs allow for the use of Polaroid film as well as Quadra 72 4×5 sheet film. These backs are rotating, allowing for both landscape and portrait orientation without removing the back. Mamiya RB67 backs are also supported via the G-Adapter. The film speed is set on each RZ back via a dial. There are two versions of the 6×7 and 6×4.5 backs the model II versions have a second film counter to always show the film count on the top, regardless of the back orientation. [1]
The RZ67 operates on one 6V 4SR44 silver oxide battery, or 6V 4LR44 alkaline battery. It can be used in emergency mode fully mechanically with a fixed 1/400 sec shutter speed. Multiple exposures are possible in the M-mode. Mirror flip up is supported. The body has one standard flash hot shoe on its left side, one plug for a standard remote shutter cable release, and a socket for an electronic shutter trigger. The RZ67 measures 104 mm (W) × 133.5 mm (H) × 211.5 mm (L) with the 110mm f/2.8 lens, and weighs approximately 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs). The flange distance is 105 mm.
The RZ67 name is adopted from the model name of the Mamiya RB67 (in which RB stands for "Revolving Back"), which was first introduced in 1970, thus the RZ67 also takes backs which can be rotated 90 degrees to provide a horizontal or vertical composition. The orientation is shown in the viewfinder with black guides. The viewfinder also hosts LEDs informing of the state of the camera (flash ready, low battery, dark slide not removed, shutter not cocked).
In addition to manual operation (photographer chooses aperture and shutter speed), the RZ67 is able to operate in AEF mode with an AE viewfinder (AE being an abbreviation for automatic exposure), which transmits exposure information directly to the body. In RBL compatibility mode, the RZ67 is able to use RB67 lenses.
The biggest difference between RB67 and RZ67 is that the RB67 is completely mechanical. The RZ67 has also mechanical couplings between the parts, but the shutter is electronic, and parts are able to transmit exposure information with electronic couplings. In addition, the RZ67 has plastic exterior body, which makes it somewhat lighter.
Original RZ67 Professional (RZ67 Pro I):
RZ67 Professional II (RZ67 Pro II):
RZ67 Professional IID (RZ67 Pro IID):
There are a wide variety of lenses available for the RZ67:
All lenses have internal electronic Seiko #1 shutters with a maximum 1/400 sec speed, PC-type X flash sync plug, T-switch for long exposures, a plug for standard remote cable release for B exposures, depth of field preview lever, distance scale, aperture adjust ring. In "B" mode, the RZ67 models will expose up to 30 seconds (a warning beep will sound for the last 10 seconds). In "T" mode, the camera can expose indefinitely without drawing power from the battery. Most lenses, except for the 37 mm, 75 mm shift lenses and the 500 mm lenses have 77 mm filter threads on the front of the lens. The 75 mm shift lenses and the 500 mm lenses have 105 mm filter threads. Some lenses have a floating element; focusing these lenses involves setting a subject distance ring on the lens after focusing with the bellows.
Polaroid also made a radio transmitter and receiver for the RZ series.
Arguably the most famous photo taken with this camera is the "Bliss" photo used as the default background for Microsoft Windows XP. Seen by many millions of people every day, this photo was taken by photographer Charles O'Rear in 1996.[2]
RZ67 was used by Annie Leibovitz for many of her famous works in the 1980s and 1990s[3][4]