Rollei versus RZ67?

georgedean · Sep 8, 2011

I have been reading as much as I can about medium format and weddings....

There is one photographer I simply love... abyranphoto.com

He uses both the "2.8 F PLANAR (BAYONET III) TWIN LENS REFLEX" and the RZ67....

Do you know WHY one would take both to a wedding and when would you use one over another??

Perhaps the Rollei is more "walk around friendly" or its the Carl Zeiss lens he used?

Your insight is valuable.

George

Jerevan · Sep 8, 2011

With the RZ you can have different lenses to switch between and you also have the option of having extra loaded film magazines with you. Downside may be that it is much heavier than a Rollei TLR. It all depends on what cameras you like and what sort of way you work when doing photography.

JohnArs · Sep 8, 2011

Why not ask himself, I can't answer this question for somebody else!

Cheer Armin

georgedean · Sep 8, 2011

JohnArs said:
Why not ask himself, I can't answer this question for somebody else!

Cheer Armin

Actually, did John... no response yet.

if you notice, I did not ask why HE takes them to a wedding, I asked why "one" would use one over the other.

George

Jeff Kubach · Sep 8, 2011

Rollei is a great camera, but for wedding I would toward the RZ67.

Jeff

georgedean · Sep 8, 2011

FWIW... he answered...

"Both serve different purposes. The Rollei is great because its compact, simple, but has impeccable optics. The Mamiya is a tank but is perfect for detail shots, shooting groups (w/ 65mm, equivalent to a 32mm) and for Polaroids. I don't always bring the Mamiya with me on shoots, but it does come with me on to weddings."

dnjl · Sep 8, 2011

Aside from their practical differences, I think it's just good policy to have a backup camera at a wedding.

dpurdy · Sep 8, 2011

I have taken both a Rolleiflex and Pentax 67 a few times. The reason is I like the Rollei better and I like the square format but the Pentax has changeable lenses, wide angle for a group or tele for some portraits. The truth is that neither is a great camera for most of the wedding photos. You are much better off with an auto focus auto exposure 35mm for the ceremony and all the candids.
When it comes to delivering your work to the couple and you have shot film, you usually will give them some small machine prints. The ironic thing is that from a 35mm neg you can get a 4x6 machine print where from a 67 MF neg you will get a 4x5 print and from the Rollei you will get a 4x4 print. So the couple looking at the work will see the bigger camera as making smaller pictures than the 35mm camera. And at that size the larger neg doesn't do you any good over a good quality 35mm camera lens.
My working method when doing film weddings is to shoot set up portraits with the MF and then get them printed on 5 inch paper so the prints are larger than the machine prints from the 35mm. Then I will shoot the ceremony and the reception with the 35mm.
Dennis

Klainmeister · Sep 8, 2011

waltereegho said:
Aside from their practical differences, I think it's just good policy to have a backup camera at a wedding.

Bingo.

georgedean · Sep 8, 2011

dpurdy said:
I have taken both a Rolleiflex and Pentax 67 a few times. The reason is I like the Rollei better and I like the square format but the Pentax has changeable lenses, wide angle for a group or tele for some portraits. The truth is that neither is a great camera for most of the wedding photos. You are much better off with an auto focus auto exposure 35mm for the ceremony and all the candids.
When it comes to delivering your work to the couple and you have shot film, you usually will give them some small machine prints. The ironic thing is that from a 35mm neg you can get a 4x6 machine print where from a 67 MF neg you will get a 4x5 print and from the Rollei you will get a 4x4 print. So the couple looking at the work will see the bigger camera as making smaller pictures than the 35mm camera. And at that size the larger neg doesn't do you any good over a good quality 35mm camera lens.
My working method when doing film weddings is to shoot set up portraits with the MF and then get them printed on 5 inch paper so the prints are larger than the machine prints from the 35mm. Then I will shoot the ceremony and the reception with the 35mm.
Dennis

Dennis...I like your thinking.

benjiboy · Sep 9, 2011

To me the answer is neither, the Mamiya TLRs have all the advantages of the Rollie square format plus interchangeable lenses with leaf shutters for fill in flash that stepping back twenty years were standard equipment because of these factors and the fact that they are mechanically very simple and reliable and have a straight film path that keeps the film very flat, I've in the past done many weddings with a couple of these bodys and a set of lenses.
If you are going to shoot weddings whatever you buy before you use it in anger have it professionally CLAd , because there's enough things that can go wrong at weddings you don't get second chances you have to produce results not excuses.

georgedean · Sep 9, 2011

benjiboy said:
To me the answer is neither, the Mamiya TLRs have all the advantages of the Rollie square format plus interchangeable lenses with leaf shutters for fill in flash that stepping back twenty years were standard equipment because of these factors and the fact that they are mechanically very simple and reliable and have a straight film path that keeps the film very flat, I've in the past done many weddings with a couple of these bodys and a set of lenses.
If you are going to shoot weddings whatever you buy before you use it in anger have it professionally CLAd , because there's enough things that can go wrong at weddings you don't get second chances you have to produce results not excuses.

What is CLAd??

laser · Sep 9, 2011

I suggest a totally different view. NOISE. Did you ever hear a RB67 "go off" in a quiet church. Click, Blam, buzz, click Slam, clomp. The Rollei is very quiet. Both the RB and Rollei can make excellent photographs.

I observed one of the top wedding photographers a few times. He is flown around the country by his very up scale clients. What makes him the best? Great photographs, absolutely. However, in addition he knows how to act. He is polite, knows when to speak and when not to. No showboating. You would hardly know he was at the wedding and reception.

Mats_A · Sep 9, 2011

georgedean said:
What is CLAd??

Clean Lube Adjust

r

mats

Mats_A · Sep 9, 2011

laser said:
I suggest a totally different view. NOISE. Did you ever hear a RB67 "go off" in a quiet church. Click, Blam, buzz, click Slam, clomp. The Rollei is very quiet. Both the RB and Rollei can make excellent photographs.

...

This is so true. I love my RZ but the thought of "launching" it in a quiet church......

r

mats

benjiboy · Sep 9, 2011

Mats_A said:
This is so true. I love my RZ but the thought of "launching" it in a quiet church......

r

mats

Ain't that the truth, you'd have the vicar have a heart attack, Rollie and Mamiya TLRs are quiet don't have mirror slap.

Pumalite · Sep 9, 2011

They are so far apart that is hard not to laugh, but, in the spirit of cooperation I'll say they are both excellent cameras. Rollei: German,6X6, light,fixed lens, easy to take on a trip. Tessar or Planar Carl Zeiss lenses. Excellent pics.
Mamiya 6X7: Japanese, 6X7, rotating back, larger negative, heavier, interchangeable lenses, fool-proof, magnifecent pics. I love both of mine.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 9, 2011

Of the many cameras I have no one type elicits more interest, smiles and fun attitude than my Rolleiflex twin lens reflex cameras. I'm sure that can work to some advantage at weddings too.

benjiboy · Sep 9, 2011

rich815 said:
Of the many cameras I have no one type elicits more interest, smiles and fun attitude than my Rolleiflex twin lens reflex cameras. I'm sure that can work to some advantage at weddings too.

The big disadvantage with a Rolleiflex TLR when shooting weddings is it hasn't a wide angle lens ability when shooting groups or telephoto lens for headshots, in the old days a lot of pro wedding shooters took three Rollei cameras to weddings, a standard, a wide angle and a tele so a Mamiya TLR with it's interchangeable lens ability was a much cheaper and more versatile option.

Steve Smith · Sep 9, 2011

Klainmeister said:
Bingo.

They should definitely play bingo at weddings. It would have relieved the boredom of some of the weddings I have been to!

Steve.

Steve Smith · Sep 9, 2011

benjiboy said:
The big disadvantage with a Rolleiflex TLR when shooting weddings is it hasn't a wide angle lens ability when shooting groups or telephoto lens for headshots, in the old days a lot of pro wedding shooters took three Rollei cameras to weddings, a standard, a wide angle and a tele so a Mamiya TLR with it's interchangeable lens ability was a much cheaper and more versatile option.

Whilst this is true, my father spent many years shooting weddings with just a Rolleicord and a Rolleiflex, both with standard lenses.

Steve.

Jeff Kubach · Sep 9, 2011

I almost got married, I gave the girl the ring and she gave the finger!

Jeff

benjiboy · Sep 9, 2011

Jeff Kubach said:
I almost got married, I gave the girl the ring and she gave the finger!

Jeff

Was that a misprint Jeff, was it "married", or buried

benjiboy · Sep 9, 2011

Steve Smith said:
Whilst this is true, my father spent many years shooting weddings with just a Rolleicord and a Rolleiflex, both with standard lenses.

Steve.

It was possible Steve but difficult, the pro from the company who shot our wedding in 1964 used the three Rolleiflexes I mentioned, wide standard and tele.

olleorama · Sep 9, 2011

Steve Smith said:
They should definitely play bingo at weddings. It would have relieved the boredom of some of the weddings I have been to!

Steve.

You have to get the buzz going. It's valid for all situations with a risk of boredom.

Rollei versus RZ67?

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