Mamiya RZ67

[lxdude]

I prefer to do handheld work....I'm still in my teens an I don't think the weight would be much of a problem.

Hi, Patrick,
If you want to hand hold, other 6X7's might be more appropriate. The Pentax 6X7 and the Bronica GS-1 are both a little lighter and certainly less bulky. The Pentax resembles a 35mm SLR on steroids and handles like one; the Bronica has an auxiliary grip with thumb wind which also allows it handle like an overgrown 35.
On the other hand, the Mamiya's revolving back allows you to take verticals without tilting it on its side. I don't have an RB or RZ, but if I did, I would probably use the waist level finder and cradle it using the strap around my neck to add a little tension for more stability. A waist level on the other two sucks for verticals.

Whatever you get these days, you're not married to it. If it turns out to not be for you, flip it and get something else, for little or no loss, and sometimes a slight profit. Unprecedented adventurousness for people of modest means is now possible.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Well, I actually decided to go with a Mamiya M645. It is on it's way in the mail and I am thrilled! I can't wait. I thought that 6X7 is a bit much for all the handheld stuff I do right now. Maybe later on.

 

[Steve Smith]

But the "massive" mirror slap is really not an issue.

It doesn't really have much mirror slap due to being on a cam mechanism. The Pentax 67 has much more as does the Bronica ETRS which I also have.


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

I prefer to do handheld work....I'm still in my teens an I don't think the weight would be much of a problem.

I'm about two and a half times your age and have no problem taking my RB67 out on walks. My preferred setup is with the waist level finder and the left hand grip.


Steve.

 

[lxdude]

It doesn't really have much mirror slap due to being on a cam mechanism. The Pentax 67 has much more as does the Bronica ETRS which I also have.


Steve.

I have the ETRS (early, all metal body) and two ETRSi's. The ETRS has a lot more slap and noise. The ETRSi's are very mellow by comparison.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have the ETRS (early, all metal body) and two ETRSi's. The ETRS has a lot more slap and noise. The ETRSi's are very mellow by comparison.

That's interesting. I was thinking about getting an ETRSi body as my ETRS sometimes flattens batteries quickly and it's missing the battery check/shutter confirmation LED. Not a good combination as you are sometimes shooting at 1/500 without realising it.


Steve.

 

[lxdude]

That's interesting. I was thinking about getting an ETRSi body as my ETRS sometimes flattens batteries quickly and it's missing the battery check/shutter confirmation LED. Not a good combination as you are sometimes shooting at 1/500 without realising it.


Steve.

They're so cheap now, why not?

Right now, KEH has ETRSi's at:
EX+ $119, EX $105, and BGN $79.
I don't know if they're comparably cheap where you are, but the bodies are small and light enough I'd expect shipping wouldn't be too bad.

And to further reduce mirror slap, the ETRSi has mirror lockup.

I recommend getting spare multi-exposure and mirror lockup levers. They are plastic and can break when they get old. They're quick and easy to replace. They're cheap at $5 each from Koh's in NY, so should be comparable in the UK. I've heard the metal multi-exposure lever from older models will fit in place of both, but don't know for certain.

 

[lxdude]

Well, I actually decided to go with a Mamiya M645. It is on it's way in the mail and I am thrilled! I can't wait. I thought that 6X7 is a bit much for all the handheld stuff I do right now. Maybe later on.

Congratulations! I think that's a wise choice. I expect you'll gain greater satisfaction in the near term, and will know later when you're ready to move up. In the meantime, film cost will be less.

When I decided to try medium format SLR's, I went with a Bronica ETRSi (6X4.5). It handles really well, and with motor winder or thumb-wind speed grip feels sort of like a big 35mm SLR, while weight is still reasonable. With just the wind crank it's nice and light. I now have two, plus an ETRS. One is enough, but the bodies are so cheap, and if you have more than one back, finder and lens, it's just so easy to have another whole camera!
I just got the 35mm W (panoramic) back so I can take 24X54mm images on 35mm film. With films that are available in roll film sizes, it's no big deal as cropping accomplishes the same thing, but I'm dying to make Kodachrome pano's while I still can. Not quite an X-pan, but there's no way I can afford one of those. My widest lens is the 40mm, equivalent to a 24mm in 135 format, so it should still be fun. My longest is a 250mm, so telephoto "pano's" should be very intriguing.

I might move on to the 6X6 SQ series from the ETR series because I'm becoming interested in square format. There's a 645 back available for rectangular shots without cropping, along with 35mm standard and pano backs.

Though I could get the GS-1 along with a 6X6 back or two, or just crop to square.... hmmm... and those RB's and RZ's sure are nice too.....