Mamiya RZ67 or Pentax 67II?

snegron · Aug 1, 2005

I currently have a Mamiya 645 and I would like to step up to an outfit with a larger frame size, like 6 x 7. I am not a big fan of square format due to the cropping issues. The equipment will be used to shoot mostly portraits and weddings. I have been looking into the Mamiya RZ67 and the Pentax 67 due to ther flexibility and reasonable price range. Also, I plan to get a poloroid back for whatever system I buy. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Troy Ammons · Aug 1, 2005

snegron said:
I currently have a Mamiya 645 and I would like to step up to an outfit with a larger frame size, like 6 x 7. I am not a big fan of square format due to the cropping issues. The equipment will be used to shoot mostly portraits and weddings. I have been looking into the Mamiya RZ67 and the Pentax 67 due to ther flexibility and reasonable price range. Also, I plan to get a poloroid back for whatever system I buy. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I have used both and personally i like the Pentax 67, but its probably too loud for a wedding. Its a real whacker. Personally like the Pentax lenses a little better. For portraits is probably fine.

The RZ and RB 67 pro s have the smoothest mirror action I have found to date on MF and the roatating back is handy on a tripod. Its not as loud as a 67. Not as handholdable either.

Of course if you want something really quite and sharp get a mamiya 7.

Probably best to rent each and try them out. They are all very expensive systems.

snegron · Aug 1, 2005

Thanks Troy! I hadn't thought about the Mamiya 7 mainly because I only used a rangefinder once many years ago and wasn't too sure how well the parallex focusing would work on a medium format. Also, I haven't read too many reviews on the 7. I wonder if there a possibility of attatching a poloroid back on a Mamiya 7?

L Gebhardt · Aug 1, 2005

snegron said:
Thanks Troy! I hadn't thought about the Mamiya 7 mainly because I only used a rangefinder once many years ago and wasn't too sure how well the parallex focusing would work on a medium format. Also, I haven't read too many reviews on the 7. I wonder if there a possibility of attatching a poloroid back on a Mamiya 7?

I have the Mamiya 7 and it has great lenses and the meter works very well. You can attach a polaroid back to it, but I haven't used or seen one. See http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=004Z14. My big problem with the camera is that it is a rangefinder and I can't use graduated filters. Of course I knew this when I bought it, but I wasn't expecting it to be so sharp that I would want to use it for lanscapes instead of the 4x5. The parallex correction seems to work well. The 150 doesn't focus close enough for tight portraits however.

AndrewL · Aug 2, 2005

Will you use the camera handheld or on a tripod? If it's the latter I would suggest the RZ.

Also, if you're at a wedding and time is tight, you'd be better off with a whole stack of ready 120, or 220, film backs ready to go onto the RZ.

Changing film for a Pentax isn't as quick. If you're someone like Bruce Weber you get around this problem by owning literally dozens of P67s and having a gang of assistants.

I've owned both but now use just the RZ which I love and this is my suggestion for you.

Rock Poper · Aug 2, 2005

having only held a pentax 67 once I'm probably not the best person to provide a comparison, but I will say that I love my RZ ... (;

modafoto · Aug 2, 2005

I have used both a couple of times.

The Pentax 67 is great because it handles like an ordinary 35mm SLR. But on a tripod the Mamiya is an absolute winner.
I have no real opinion on the lenses as I found both Pentax and Mamiya sharp and great.
The mirror on the Pentax really knocks it out of your hands (huge recoil), so the Mamiya is my winner.

gnashings · Aug 2, 2005

I don't own either, but have had a lot of time with both, and can say this much: the Pentax is great, has wonderful glass, and is a very charming camera. But other than handholding, I can't think of anything the RB67 won't do better or as well. And with a camera as big as the pentax, you really don't want to be holding it on its side too long - so while the Mamiya is heavier (I think, at least...), the rotating back more than makes up for it, in my humble opinion. You will also find that with its bellows, it can be very flexible for close up and macro work. I came by these realizations when a friend of mine had his Pentax stolen (in Prague of all places!) and decided to replace it with a Mamiya - he has been quite happy with his choice. He nor I knock the Pentax - we both loved it, but it was more of a "character", you kind of loved it for its quirks, while the Mamiya just kind of rises to all challanges and quietly does what you ask. The Pentax did nothing quietly
We rested in on a car roof once, and I swear we found a little knick in the paint after the mirror recoiled. Perhaps it was when put the camera down - not a 100% sure, but it would not surprise me if it moved enough from the recoil. On thing I find with the Mamiya is the lack of a "B" setting is a bit of a hassle for long exposures at night - but you just use a cap and live with it.

Woolliscroft · Aug 2, 2005

I have an RB67 and a Pentax 67II. I much prefer the latter for normal use as it's faster to use and has faster shutter speeds. However, I keep the Mammy for close up work (where its bellows focusing is great) and for times when I might need to change film mid roll (the Pentax does not have interchangable backs). As ever, it's horses for courses. If you shoot much in low light, the mammy's mirror lock up, combined with the leaf shutter can also be very useful (I agree with modophoto the Pentax focal plane shutter still jolts a bit even with the mirror up) and the Mammy will sync with flash at any speed.

David

gnashings · Aug 2, 2005

You know, I guess I have so rarely needed faster speeds that I forgot about the very valid point David makes - the Pentax can go faster. I just found (there was a thread on this recently if I recall) that I rarely need anything above the Mamiya's capabilities - even when shooting other formats. Then again, I shoot mainly on the lower limit - either as slow as I can go, wide open, in available light - or from a tripod. In my case the adventage in speed is purely academic - but you definitely have to examine your shooting habits. I found that coming from 35mm I really went through a "Where did all the light go!" shock - but it should not be an issue coming from 645, I think.

AndrewL · Aug 2, 2005

"I have an RB67 and a Pentax 67II. I much prefer the latter for normal use as it's faster to use and has faster shutter speeds."

The Pentax might be quicker than the RB for normal use but I honestly reckon that the RZ is quicker than either of them.

There have been occasions when I've had to get through a lot of shots in a very brief period of time and the RZ really shines here. Think about the positioning of the shutter release and the speedy wind on action that cocks the shutter and winds the roll on- it's really quick for medium format, IMHO.

Of course, the Rollei 6000 series is probably the quickest MF camera of the lot but it is only a square

In terms of shutter speeds, I don't know what the fastest setting is on the Pentax but is it strictly necessary for portraits? 1/400th is more than
adequate, surely? I thought would have the slow synch speed of 1/30th, on the Pentax, would be more restricting.

It is, of course, a matter of taste...

Claire Senft · Aug 2, 2005

I doing wedding work I would expect that you will do a lot of work with flash.
The preferred location of the flash is perhaps 10 inches directly above the vertical axis of the lens since it makes only a small shadow and illuminates the field well abd will not cayse red eye.. If you use the Pentax 67 you will fnd yourself having to change the flash location each time you change from horizontal to vertical...A treal PITA as far as I am concerned... with the RZ you merely rotate the back. The rotating back is one of the very nicest features for a RB/RZ when using either a flash or tripod. I like the RZ67 and own one.

However, if I were to choose a camera for wedding work it would be either a 500 series Hasselblad...small and compact or a Rollei 6000 series. With the square you do not even have to rotate a back. I believe the Pentax 67 cameras have a lot going for them but I would not pick one for wedding work.

Paul Sorensen · Aug 2, 2005

No one has addressed this so I will. I kind of thought that the Polaroid back for the Pentax 67 was a real pain to change compared to the Mamiya. I have never used the Pentax and have used the Mamiya only briefly, but perhaps someone who has used it can speak to this issue.

Keith Tapscott. · Aug 2, 2005

Claire Senft said:
I doing wedding work I would expect that you will do a lot of work with flash.
The preferred location of the flash is perhaps 10 inches directly above the vertical axis of the lens since it makes only a small shadow and illuminates the field well abd will not cayse red eye.. If you use the Pentax 67 you will fnd yourself having to change the flash location each time you change from horizontal to vertical...A treal PITA as far as I am concerned... with the RZ you merely rotate the back. The rotating back is one of the very nicest features for a RB/RZ when using either a flash or tripod. I like the RZ67 and own one.

However, if I were to choose a camera for wedding work it would be either a 500 series Hasselblad...small and compact or a Rollei 6000 series. With the square you do not even have to rotate a back. I believe the Pentax 67 cameras have a lot going for them but I would not pick one for wedding work.

If you`re doing wedding, portraiture and studio work, particularly with flash/strobe and want a Polaroid back, then go for the Mamiya. If you shoot mostly landscape or subjects photographed mainly with ambient light, go for the Pentax, both are good systems, but I like the Mamiya.

Woolliscroft · Aug 2, 2005

AndrewL said:
"In terms of shutter speeds, I don't know what the fastest setting is on the Pentax.

1/1000th David.

snegron · Aug 2, 2005

I think I am leaning more toward the Mamiya RZ after hearing all of the arguments. Has anyone had any issues with the bellows? How tough is it, and will it dry up and crack like bellows on older cameras?

AndrewL · Aug 2, 2005

"Has anyone had any issues with the bellows? How tough is it, and will it dry up and crack like bellows on older cameras?"

I haven't experienced problems with the bellows and I haven't heard of anyone who has but you never know

Are you buying new or second hand? If you're buying used make sure that it's a RZ II as that's more reliable and recent (at least years since it came out).

Charles Webb · Aug 2, 2005

The bellows is nothing to be worried about, both are fine cameras I have used them both for many years, I choose the Pentax over the Mamiya simply because I believe the lenses are better. I owned and used both, and my comment on the lenses are totally based on my own findings. Nothing scientific to prove the point, but literally thousands of negatives and transpariencies to compare.

Woolliscroft · Aug 2, 2005

snegron said:
Has anyone had any issues with the bellows? How tough is it, and will it dry up and crack like bellows on older cameras?

I've had my mammy for about 15 years and it was second hand when I got it. The bellows remain fine, despite a lot of use and occasionally seeing rain.

David.

snegron · Aug 3, 2005

AndrewL said:
"Has anyone had any issues with the bellows? How tough is it, and will it dry up and crack like bellows on older cameras?"

I haven't experienced problems with the bellows and I haven't heard of anyone who has but you never know

Are you buying new or second hand? If you're buying used make sure that it's a RZ II as that's more reliable and recent (at least years since it came out).

I have had really bad luck with used camera bodies, so I am planning on buying it new. At least the camera body and lens. Thanks for the tip on the RZII. I wasn't aware there was a newer RZ.

Rock Poper · Aug 4, 2005

snegron said:
I think I am leaning more toward the Mamiya RZ after hearing all of the arguments. Has anyone had any issues with the bellows? How tough is it, and will it dry up and crack like bellows on older cameras?

When I first used my RZ I found my fingers poking in the bellows every now and then - but after about a week using it you learn how it feels and you unconciously avoid thouching it from that point onwards... in any case they are sturdy beasts and if you are out shooting landscape with say a 50mm lens at infinity it isn't an issue at all ... good luck with your decision (;

David H. Bebbington · Aug 4, 2005

As far as I know, the Mamiya bellows are as durable as any (I have had an RB67 for about 9 years). If you're working handheld, a speedgrip is a very good idea.

The only "problem" I had with the RB67 was this - I walked around with it on a strap. Sometimes I found it would not take a picture - I eventually realized that carrying the camera against my chest had caused the rotating back to move very slightly, thus activating an interlock.

Mamiya RZ67 or Pentax 67II?

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