The Mamiya RZ67 is a professional medium formatsingle-lens reflexsystemcamera manufactured by Mamiya. There are three successive models: the RZ67 Professional, RZ67 Professional II and RZ67 Professional IID. RZ67 is a modular camera system, meaning lenses, viewfinders, ground glasses, film winders and film backs are all interchangeable. It is primarily designed for studio use, but can also be used in the field. The RZ67 Sekor lenses have built-in electronic leaf shutters which are cocked and triggered from the body. Focusing is performed with a bellows on the body instead of the lenses. The camera accepts 6×7, 6×6 and 6×4.5, 120 and 220 film magazines and Polaroid as well as Quadra 72 4×5 sheet film backs. Mamiya RB67 backs are also supported via the G-Adapter. The film speed is set on each RZ back via a dial. There are two versions of the 6×7 and 6×4.5 backs; the model II versions have a second film counter to always show the film count on the top. The RZ67 operates on one 6 V silver oxide 4SR44 battery, or 6 V 4LR44 alkaline battery. It can be used in emergency mode fully mechanically with a fixed 1/400 sec shutter speed. Multiple exposures are possible in the M-mode. Mirror flip up is supported. The body has one standard flash hot shoe on its left side, one plug for a standard remote shuttercable release, and a socket for an electronic shutter trigger. The RZ67 measures 104 mm × 133.5 mm × 211.5 mm with the 110mm lens, and weighs approximately 2.4 kg. The flange distance is 105 mm. The RZ67 name is adopted from the model name of the Mamiya RB67, which was first introduced in 1970, thus the RZ67 also takes backs which can be rotated 90 degrees to provide a horizontal or vertical composition. The orientation is shown in the viewfinder with black guides. The viewfinder also hosts LEDs informing of the state of the camera. In addition to manual operation, the RZ67 is able to operate in AEF mode with an AE viewfinder, which transmits exposure information directly to the body. In RBL compatibility mode, the RZ67 is able to use RB67 lenses. The biggest difference between RB67 and RZ67 is that the RB67 is completely mechanical. The RZ67 has also mechanical couplings between the parts, but the shutter is electronic, and parts are able to transmit exposure information with electronic couplings. In addition, the RZ67 has plastic exterior body, which makes it somewhat lighter.
An additional knob was added to the right side of the focusing unit for fine tuning of the focus
Shutter can be adjusted in 0.5 EV steps
RZ67 Professional IID :
Has an integrated interface for communicating with digital backs
Minor internal mechanical improvements
Lenses
There are a wide variety of lenses available for the RZ67:
Three Wide-angle lenses:
3 Normal lenses:
Eight Telephoto lenses:
Seven Specialty lenses:
Most RB67 lenses which are mechanical only
All lenses have internal electronic Seiko #1 shutters with a maximum 1/400 sec speed, PC-type X flash sync plug, T-switch for long exposures, a plug for standard remote cable release for B exposures, depth of field preview lever, distance scale, aperture adjust ring. In "B" mode, the RZ67 models will expose up to 30 seconds. In "T" mode, the camera can expose indefinitely without drawing power from the battery. Most lenses, except for the 37 mm, 75 mm shift lenses and the 500 mm lenses have 77 mm filter threads on the front of the lens. The 75 mm shift lenses and the 500 mm lenses have 105 mm filter threads. Some lenses have a floating element; focusing these lenses involves setting a subject distance ring on the lens after focusing with the bellows.
Accessories
Waist level viewfinder with a magnifier loupe
AE prism, prism and chimney viewfinders
Vertical split image, matte, matte with corners, checker, microprism, crosshair and rangefinderspot microprism ground glasses
Variable dioptre flip-up magnifier for RB and RZ prism finders
Bellows front hood extension for G-3 bellows lens hood
100–200 mm zoom lens mounting ring, prevents G-3 from rotating when zooming
Gelatine filter holder for 50–350 mm lenses
Adjustable sun shield plate
Metz SCA 395 flash module
Hot shoe PC flash adapter
Quick shoe for fast attaching and detaching for tripods
Mirror-up dual cable release
External battery case for keeping battery warm in cold weather
Electromagnetic cable release
Left hand grip and U-shaped Aerial Grip, these attach to the electronic coupling on the body
Adjustable flash bracket
Infrared transmitter and receiver
Tilt/Shift adapter for 75 mm and 180 mm SB lenses, with special electronic cable release adapter
Ground glass for Tilt/Shift adapter
Power winder, winds 1 frame per 1.5 sec, uses six AA cells, attaches to the base of the body
1.4× tele converter for best use with 90 mm, 110 mm, 127 mm, 140 mm, 180 mm and 100–200 mm lenses
45 mm and 82 mm auto extension tubes, electronically coupled
short barrel spacer for use with the 75 mm and 180 mm short barrel lenses without the Tilt/Shift adapter at infiniti
viewfinder masks for the 6×6 cm and 6×4.5 cm backs
Polaroid also made a radio transmitter and receiver for the RZ series.
Famous photos
Arguably the most famous photo taken with this camera is the "Bliss" photo used as the default background for Microsoft Windows XP. Seen by many millions of people every day, this photo was taken by photographer Charles O'Rear in 1996.
