You don't wish to walk around with the RZ67?
(I'm trying to convince myself that I can spend all day with 10 lbs. over my shoulder.)
I went to B&H recently, trying to find the MF camera for me...and my top two were the RZ67 and 7II.
Please do not even think about carting about an RZ for hand held work!!!!
MF RF every time. No mirror slap improves slow speed sharpness a lot...lighter....better ergonomically etc There is just no way you can generate the same smoothness from an SLR without the mirror locked up, which i not possible hand held.
I have a Hassleblad and a Mamiya 7ii.A Hasselblad with a sturdy neck strap, A12 filled with 400-TMY2 and Bob's your uncle down to shutter speeds of 1/focal length.
In theory, you could focus with the mirror down (or guesstimate focus, measure the distance, use hyperfocal focusing, etc.), lock up the mirror, then frame the subject in a WLF's "sport finder" or use an auxiliary viewfinder. This is of course awkward and throws away all the advantages of an SLR over other cameras, but it might be an acceptable solution if you want to get maximum sharpness on one or two shots.
Not rotating the camera I guess has its benefits, but once cropped to 645, the 6x7 neg does nudge it appreciably ahead on a 20x16 print in my view. I struggle to see in the square format so for me even a vertical finder like the RF645 is preferable.
10 lbs.?
If you are carrying 10 lbs., even with an RZ67, you are carrying a big kit - lots of lenses and accessories.
No matter what system you choose, if you carry a big kit, it will be heavy (Pentax 110 SLR excluded).
Instead, you should be looking at how light a portable kit can be.
RZ67s are bulky, but when you consider how the built in bellows allows for smaller and lighter lenses, and how the rotating back makes prism finders less important, you may find that a travel kit is more compact than you might think.
To give you an example, I have used a Mamiya C330 for years. I used to shoot weddings with it, carrying three lenses and using a prism finder. With one lens, it is comparatively big and heavy. With two lenses (e.g. a 65mm and 135mm) the kit isn't much bigger, but much more flexible. With three lenses (55mm, 80mm and 135mm), again not much bigger, but very flexible.
The prism finder is important for weddings and other environmental work, but otherwise can be omitted.
I have a left hand trigger grip for my C330 that also works with an RB67. I don't know if it will fit the RZ67.
I find the grip plus the C330 to be very hand-holdable. I've tried the RB67 with that grip, and it isn't that much heavier.
By the way, I do own a Koni-Omega Rapid M with 58mm and 90mm lens. It too is large and fairly heavy. I got it to get into 6x7, and I like it, but there are issues with the film transport/backs that I have that I am not particularly happy about. If I was looking for my first MF camera, it probably wouldn't be my first choice.
I think you should consider the RB67 or RZ67, if you find that you like it. Essentially, I'm saying go with your gut.
I would lean toward a later model of the RB67, because the investment is lower, so once you become fully cognizant of how well or poorly it works for you, you can make a decision whether or not to keep it, and if your decision is that you don't want to, you can most likely get most of your money back.
Hope this doesn't meander too much, and is of some help.
Matt
But, I have no light meter, I like to shoot slides, and I really do not know the sunny 16 rule...so perfect exposure is a must for me. I suppose I could carry around my F100 with me, and forgo the AE prism...but it weighs pretty much the same, and takes up more space.
And much more versatile.Well, I suppose a really nice light meter costs as much as the prism would. And would be lighter.
Well, I suppose a really nice light meter costs as much as the prism would. And would be lighter.
Yeah, you've got that right. You will be wondering why in the hell you purchased the camera in the first place.Try a Lubitel for a change, you would be surprised!
Philippe
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