RZ67 - accept RB lenses (?)

macvisual · Mar 20, 2015

Hi all;

I'm looking to buy a Mamiya RZ67 at some stage soon. Question is, can you fit lenses from the RB67 onto the RZ67 body?

Any advice/knowledge/experience appreciated.

Regards;
Peter
Central Scotland

George Nova Scotia · Mar 20, 2015

Yes, they fit but: you have to still use the mech shutter on the lens &. The infinity focus point is slightly different, you have to extend the bellows slightly.

Alan Gales · Mar 20, 2015

The older RB lenses are said to be not as sharp but the latest RB lenses are said to be as sharp as the RZ lenses. I don't know of any advantage to using the RB lenses on an RZ unless you all ready own some or there is a particular focal length that you want to use that isn't represented in the RZ lineup.

flavio81 · Mar 23, 2015

Alan Gales said:
The older RB lenses are said to be not as sharp but the latest RB lenses are said to be as sharp as the RZ lenses. I don't know of any advantage to using the RB lenses on an RZ unless you all ready own some or there is a particular focal length that you want to use that isn't represented in the RZ lineup.

There are three series of RB lenses:

1. The "non-C", early RB lenses. They only say "Mamiya-sekor"

2. The "C" lenses, distinguished by the green "C" marking. They are multicoated and the optical design was revised on some of the lenses, for example in case of the 90mm and (i think) 65mm lenses. I have a post somewhere on APUG or on photo dot net where i point out the exact differences.

3. The "K/L" lenses which were introduced with the pro-SD. They are significantly more advanced in technology, sometimes faster, and probably have the same optical design to some of the RZ lenses. "K" means compatibility with the RB pro-S and plain RB bodies.

As for sharpness, i own the lenses of the (2) series, and i found them perfectly sharp in general. So i wouldn't worry.

Alan Gales · Mar 23, 2015

flavio81 said:
There are three series of RB lenses:

1. The "non-C", early RB lenses. They only say "Mamiya-sekor"

2. The "C" lenses, distinguished by the green "C" marking. They are multicoated and the optical design was revised on some of the lenses, for example in case of the 90mm and (i think) 65mm lenses. I have a post somewhere on APUG or on photo dot net where i point out the exact differences.

3. The "K/L" lenses which were introduced with the pro-SD. They are significantly more advanced in technology, sometimes faster, and probably have the same optical design to some of the RZ lenses. "K" means compatibility with the RB pro-S and plain RB bodies.

As for sharpness, i own the lenses of the (2) series, and i found them perfectly sharp in general. So i wouldn't worry.

Thanks for the information!

It's the early non C lenses that I heard about that were used on the first RB's that were not as sharp. Of course as I said, this is what I heard. I have no practical experience with these lenses.

flavio81 · Mar 23, 2015

Alan Gales said:
Thanks for the information!

It's the early non C lenses that I heard about that were used on the first RB's that were not as sharp. Of course as I said, this is what I heard. I have no practical experience with these lenses.

The 65mm lens was redesigned for the "C" version and the redesign has a floating system. Thus, it would be certain that the "(1)" (early) version would not be as sharp at certain focusing distances.

The 90mm was also radically re-designed for the "C" version.

xtolsniffer · Mar 24, 2015

I do remember seeing something about not mounting older RB lenses on the RZ due to stronger springs in the shutter. As the RZ lever both cocks the shutter and winds on the film, the older lenses were not recommended as it puts too much strain on the mechanism. I used to have an older version of the 90mm 'C', apparently the shutter blades were a different colour, I can't remember which way round it was, but it was a lot more effort to cock the shutter on that one.

xtolsniffer · Mar 25, 2015

From the RZ67 Pro II Manual...

'Older RB Lenses should be checked before use, to determine if their shutter torque is compatible with the RZ PRO II. Before trying, please send such lenses to the service department of your country's Mamiya distributor.'

There is no such statement in the RZ67 Pro manual...

RZ67 - accept RB lenses (?)

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