Mamiya RZ67 Pro II Mirror Lock Up - When to use

[TheMagicFlute]

Hello,

I'm looking for information from Mamiya RZ owner's.

When do you use the mirror lockup feature? For landscapes and still scenes, or do you use it when taking portraits?

I read a thread somewhere that said due to the huge mirror slap, the camera is hard to use at speeds under 1/400th of a second and get good results. Surely this can't be true?

Is there any downside to shooting mirror lockup all the time?

And my final question is, can you use this mode with an electro magnetic release cable? I read the manual but I am unclear.

 

[Neil Grant]

Hello,

I'm looking for information from Mamiya RZ owner's.

When do you use the mirror lockup feature? For landscapes and still scenes, or do you use it when taking portraits?

I read a thread somewhere that said due to the huge mirror slap, the camera is hard to use at speeds under 1/400th of a second and get good results. Surely this can't be true?

Is there any downside to shooting mirror lockup all the time?

There is minimal mirror slap from the RZ, or for that matter the earlier RB cameras. I use 'mirror up' for static work with the camera on a tripod. Hand held operation is feasable with lenses up to about 180mm. Handling becomes increasingly difficult with longer focal length - particularly C of G changes during focusing. If you are used to D of F from small formats then 120 will come as a shock! This often dictates tripod useage. Mirror-up is a bit fiddly so not well suited to fast moving situaitions. You don't mention where you propose to take your portraits - if you're in a studio with electronic flash the camera shake is unlikey to be 'recorded' - continuous light would be another matter altogether.

 

[Kyle M.]

With the RB67 and the 90mm lens or the RZ67 with the 110mm lens I can easily hand hold them down to 1/60 sec without the mirror slap being a problem. I've also managed a few shots at 1/30th on the RB. Anytime I do any kind of macro or still life shots I use the mirror lockup, I normally even use it anytime the cameras on a tripod. I may not need it but i use it anyway. I'm not sure if theres a way to use the mirror up with the electromagnetic release. The easiest way to use Mirror lockup on an RZ is to screw a cable release into the lens and push the shutter button on the body with your finger this will flip the mirror up but will not fire the shutter, wait a few seconds and then trigger your cable release that is screwed into the lens which will trip the shutter.

 

[EdSawyer]

I basically never use it, you can easily handhold down to 1/30th with no trouble. THe mirror is very well damped on the RZ.

 

[Stephen Prunier]

When using a tripod I use the 2 cable release for the mirror-up, and shutter. Others just use a single cable for the lens shutter release. Like the others, I also use it handheld with no problems, and no mirror-up.