Would like to join the 67 club. Pentax 6x7 or Mamiya RZ67?

[abruzzi]

RZ67II AE-2 finder weights 940g. Or for the USA over 2 lbs. Or 2£3s2p °F/acre•ft/inHg

Dang. I have a 4x5 camera that weighs less than that. Of course its not auto exposure, or auto anything for that matter.

 

[moggi1964]

Love my RZ67 Pro II and use it as a walk-around camera with an Optech USA strap.

Very versatile! Don't have the AE prism attachment (very large, heavy and expensive) so I just add a little lightmeter to the side for most scenarios.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Same with the RB. Makes a nice walk around camera, as long as the prism finder is left at home!

 

[Arthurwg]

Note that the metered chimney finder for the RB comes in two versions: CDS and PD. I believe the PD is the later model and is said to be more reliable. A plus is that the metered chimney also eliminates the need to calculate bellows compensation for close focus work.

 

[Lachlan Young]

Dorothea Lange carrying her Graflex Super D with chimney finder. She's even tougher than Annie.

Something I've noticed is that it's only ever a particular strata of men who spend ages complaining about how heavy certain medium format SLRs are, but that recent-ish RZ & P67 ownership seems to be majority women in my experience. Make of that what you will.

 

[Paul Howell]

Well not a 6X7 but 6X8, one of the Fuji GX680 series will also work and there is a metered finder. These can be had for under a $1000. Like the RB 67, heavy, all pro build, nice range of lens. I've thought about buying one to replace by very old and well used Kowa SL66, just seems too heavy for field work, I think it was designed for the studio.

 

[Hassasin]

Under what circumstances did you use the chimney finder, for close up work as well?

I almost never use a chimney finder with RZ67II. They are nice, but without the ability to fold down, pretty hard to carry around.

All true, yet chimney I find a lot more advantageous to focus and compose with (RB67). So at times I take that size inconvenience before anything else. It is not a heavy piece which is important to note.

 

[MattKing]

Note that the metered chimney finder for the RB comes in two versions: CDS and PD. I believe the PD is the later model and is said to be more reliable. A plus is that the metered chimney also eliminates the need to calculate bellows compensation for close focus work.

The PDN chimney finder uses a silicon blue cel, rather than the older CDS, so it has that advantage.

If there only were an actual 67 TLR

Would a 4x5 TLR do - it could take 6x7:

 

[warden]

The PDN chimney finder uses a silicon blue cel, rather than the older CDS, so it has that advantage.


Would a 4x5 TLR do - it could take 6x7:
View attachment 393483

They say a three foot tall TLR isn’t practical. You don’t say!

It’d be fun to try one though.

 

[Hassasin]

The PDN chimney finder uses a silicon blue cel, rather than the older CDS, so it has that advantage.


Would a 4x5 TLR do - it could take 6x7:
View attachment 393483

Thanks for this piece of nostalgia. Gowlands (never used nor had one in hand) always reminded me of ships with riveted hull structure (that was still being done at least in late 50's). Which is not exactly a nock on how they look or were built (riveted hulls lasted longer than most welded constructions that followed and what is more important, they were designed to look good too, which cannot be said of anything in commercial shipping since about mid 90's).

I always had Beseler enlargers in same kind of technical museum (I did use those and never felt different about my opinion), although looks were not on par with anything good, yet functional and sturdy without a doubt.

 

[Paul Howell]

When in college in the 60s we got tour of the LA Playboy studio, they were not shooting that day or maybe just that afternoon. At the time they had a Growland 4X5 as well as view cameras up to 8X10. The tour guide told us that some of photographers liked the Growland as they could view the subject with no blackout right up to exposure. Konica Omegaflex worked just as the Growland wide angle it is a 6X7, but no meter.

 

[Arthurwg]

Would a 4x5 TLR do - it could take 6x7: View attachment 393483

My next must-have camera! Where can I get one??

 

[Paul Howell]

Growflex's show up on Ebay from time to time.

 

[Prest_400]

Team GW690 chiming in because back in 2014 I went long lengths as of which of the titans to choose. At a point I was comparing the Fuji RFs to the Pentax 67 series, liking their 35mm like form factor but enlarged. Veering towards the Fuji RF because of weight differences. Back then I could get a newer generation Fuji compared to an older P6x7 or 67 and it ended being so, with a GW690III from Japan. As a bonus (and now curse) it's the biggest standard of the medium formats. However nowadays prices for the once underrated Fuji GW's have gone up!

Although not the same ratio, and without meter, perhaps the lighter Fuji GW690 (ii or iii) would work best.

I admit that my favorite medium format camera is hands down Fuji GW690III. LOVE IT!!!

Had the GW690 as my one only medium format for about a decade. Interestingly nowadays I started to appreciate 6x6, and Fujis philosophy of having a 6x9 and 645 line makes sense in how they compliment.
As of shooting, I now tend to stop down a bit. Such 6x6 appreciation comes on the way of Folders and TLRs and for optimal sharpness in the triplets and Tessars I also started to stop down. Anyways f5.6-8 in medium format still has it's DoF characteristics prevailing, and helps in lessening missed focus.

 

[GregY]

Team GW690 chiming in because back in 2014 I went long lengths as of which of the titans to choose. At a point I was comparing the Fuji RFs to the Pentax 67 series, liking their 35mm like form factor but enlarged. Veering towards the Fuji RF because of weight differences. Back then I could get a newer generation Fuji compared to an older P6x7 or 67 and it ended being so, with a GW690III from Japan. As a bonus (and now curse) it's the biggest standard of the medium formats. However nowadays prices for the once underrated Fuji GW's have gone up!



Had the GW690 as my one only medium format for about a decade. Interestingly nowadays I started to appreciate 6x6, and Fujis philosophy of having a 6x9 and 645 line makes sense in how they compliment.
As of shooting, I now tend to stop down a bit. Such 6x6 appreciation comes on the way of Folders and TLRs and for optimal sharpness in the triplets and Tessars I also started to stop down. Anyways f5.6-8 in medium format still has it's DoF characteristics prevailing, and helps in lessening missed focus.

I was given a Fuji GL690...& subsequently had GW670/690 w 65mm & 90mm. My favourite was the GW680lll. They were until not so long ago $450-500....and now have doubled.

 

[Michael Mutmansky]

The PDN chimney finder uses a silicon blue cel, rather than the older CDS, so it has that advantage.


Would a 4x5 TLR do - it could take 6x7:
View attachment 393483

I knew someone was going to bring up Gowlandflex cameras in this discussion... the 8x10 in the right photo is insane.

 

[GregY]

Same with the RB. Makes a nice walk around camera, as long as the prism finder is left at home!

although it pretty much takes up an entire carry-on bag.....
i'll take the Rolleiflex for "walking around" instead....

 

[Mike Bates]

I have a GS-1 with several lenses, finders, and other accessories. While no camera is perfect, I love that camera. All of the people photos in my gallery were shot with it. It doesn't have the f2.8 lens you want, but the 100mm f/3.5 will get you plenty thin depth of field if that's what turns your fan. I prefer my entire subject in focus, so I work more around f8 or f11, especially with studio strobes. The PG lenses are superb.

The GS-1 with the AE prism finder and the speed grip is very hand-holdable and still much smaller and lighter than an RB or RZ with a chimney finder. The RB and RZ cameras have built in bellows, which is awesome for close range work. I don't do much of that, so no big deal to me. They also have rotating film backs, which are awesome on a tripod in the studio. I have a Bronica rotating tripod adapter for the GS-1, which is ridiculously priced when you can find one, but solves the rotation problem on a tripod. If you are hand-holding with a prism finder, the rotating backs just add bulk and weight. The RB and RZ cameras are terrific work horse cameras, but they are substantially larger and heavier than the GS-1.

I've never owned the P67, but I've handled them. They feel awkward in my hands. It's not just the size. The Fuji 6x7 and 6.9 rangefinders are also giant, but they handle much more naturally to me. It may just be a personal preference. I've seen some beautiful landscape photos from the P67, but they were firmly mounted on tripods and mirror lockup engaged.

I also own a Fuji Gx680 with an assortment of lenses, finders, and such. I have a 6x7 film back for it. It's a clown camera in size compared to the other cameras being discussed. It makes the RZ look svelte. It's a studio queen that belongs on a sturdy tripod. I know some people carry them around, but they're just crazy or gluttons for punishment.

 

[mshchem]

I picked up a nice Fuji GW680III not long ago. That is a nice compromise vs 6x7 for my taste. You can contact print all 9 negatives onto a single sheet of 8x10 paper.

 

[Paul Howell]

My next must-have camera! Where can I get one??

Not a growland but here is a TL 4X5 on ebay

 

[film4Me]

Mamiya Standard 4 Me

Customized, 6x7 back, Sekonic 208 reflective and incident metering, clipped into handles cold shoe when needed. Change backs anytime for color neg, slide, or B&W. An array of lenses from 50mm to 250mm. Accepts sports finder for 6x7 and 6x9. LoL What more could one ask for?

 

[Prest_400]

I was given a Fuji GL690...& subsequently had GW670/690 w 65mm & 90mm. My favourite was the GW680lll. They were until not so long ago $450-500....and now have doubled.

I picked up a nice Fuji GW680III not long ago. That is a nice compromise vs 6x7 for my taste. You can contact print all 9 negatives onto a single sheet of 8x10 paper.

Ditto, for colour work and keeping the format large, I'd like a GW680. An extra frame is useful nowadays. IIRC the only difference between the 670-680-690 models is the film gate and counting mechanism, for which the 6x7 version feels like "why not go all the way" with its smaller gate.

I travelled to Asia with my GW, a 8kg carry on luggage allowance isn't that much once one considers camera+film+other essentials. I'd guess a Mamiya RB/RZ or surely GX680 kits hit the limits easily already. I know also Drew Wiley is satisfied with the Fujis considering them a P&S compared to Large format. But back to topic, it isn't the use the OP wants to have.

Have only handled a RB and it's surprisingly ok with the WLF. With a slower approach to shooting, its form factor is no problem. I'm planning a Roadtrip and know someone that had a RB, which I'll try to lend if possible. Then it's the car doing most of the effort carrying it.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have stayed out of this, but thought I'd just give my little bit of experience into this. I have and have had the P67, RB67, Koni-Omega 67, Mamiya 23, Hasselblad and Bronica GS1 67. The battle between the RB67 and P67 for me was which one would I likely grab, for my style photography, when I walked out the door. The answer to that is that I still have the P67 and the RB67 is gone. I bought the RB67 from an artist friend whose health was failing rapidly. He loved that camera to pieces, but could no longer handle its size and switched to a then new Canon T90 35mm. I was shooting weddings at the time and was using a Bronica S2A and was looking for something that made a whole lot less noise during the ceremony. I shot one wedding with the RB67 and that was it for me. I then went to Hasselblad and was finally satisfied that I had what I needed for my wedding business. I kept the RB67 for a few more years and really liked it and its lenses for my own use until I picked up a P67 and four lenses at an estate auction for a very good price. I still have two P67 bodies and eight lenses. Why? Simply goes back to what I would likely take out the door when I leave the house. That, and I just love the Pentax lenses and think it's very hard to beat them. That said, if I had to get rid of all my 6X7 cameras and keep just one it would be the Bronica GS1. Of course I would buy at least two backup bodies just in case. But I have backup bodies for my Hasselblad and P67 also. I have the metered prism finder and speed advance grip, along with the 50mm and 110mm macro. It makes a very easy and portable outfit for the size negative it produces. I really can't fault either the body or lenses.
I think the choice the OP has to make depends entirely on the style of photography they do. Both camera systems can do what the other can do, but for certain things one outfit works better than the other. In a studio environment the RB67 wins hands down. In the field I'd give the edge to the P67. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

PS. I forgot to mention that I have had most of the Fuji 67 and 69 cameras, which are excellent also, but not systems cameras.

 

[mshchem]

Mamiya Standard 4 Me

Customized, 6x7 back, Sekonic 208 reflective and incident metering, clipped into handles cold shoe when needed. Change backs anytime for color neg, slide, or B&W. An array of lenses from 50mm to 250mm. Accepts sports finder for 6x7 and 6x9. LoL What more could one ask for?

View attachment 393638

View attachment 393639

These are great cameras, shutters can get slow (like RBs, Fujis etc etc) These were favorites of wedding photographers back in the day, leaf shutter allows fill flash at all speeds.
Fill flash is an amazing thing

 

[mshchem]

Pentax 67 has the "Land of the Giants" form factor that is inescapably cool.

Pentax 67 lens tests on the Pentacon Six & the Pentax 67 45mm-600mm