Mamiya RB vs RZ

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joe mama - 08 May 2007 04:25 GMT

I'm debating ine of these systems for portraits and landscape work, and
would like any first-hand input as to the pros and cons of either system.

Particulary in regards to lens quality and durability of the cameras.

thanks

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Noons - 08 May 2007 04:58 GMT

> I'm debating ine of these systems for portraits and landscape work, and
> would like any first-hand input as to the pros and cons of either system.
>
> Particulary in regards to lens quality and durability of the cameras.

I've got a RB but I'd now go with a RZ. At the time I got my RB,
RZs were still too expensive in epay. Now they are considerably
cheaper, more convenient and lenses are of better quality unless
you can find a full set of K/L ones for a RB.

So I'd go with a RZ.

Mind you, the RB still blows away any smaller format with just
about any lens: that image size is just mind-blowing!

Sure the RB is all mechanical and the RZ needs a battery.
So what? Take a spare!

Anyways, just my 0.02 worth.

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joe mama - 08 May 2007 05:07 GMT

> I've got a RB but I'd now go with a RZ. At the time I got my RB,
> RZs were still too expensive in epay. Now they are considerably
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Anyways, just my 0.02 worth.

thanks for the cents. does the battery soak fast? and do the K/L lenses work
on either system?

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Noons - 08 May 2007 13:39 GMT

> thanks for the cents. does the battery soak fast? and do the K/L lenses work
> on either system?

I wouldn't know: as I said, mine is a RB.
K/L lenses and sekor-C lenses will work in the RZ
AFAIK, but you lose all the nice remote control and
linked metering: just a simple all manual
procedure. Which probably is not a problem
in a studio anyways.

The 127 K/L is the sharpest of my lot, with
the 180 sekor-C a close second and the
50 sekor-C as maybe the softest.

But sharp in this format is not the same
as say in 35mm or digital small sensor,
these things are very relative: even a
very soft lens would produce amazing
images with a 6X7 format. My softest
lens beats anything I can use in 35mm
by a country mile.

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maja@dwf.de - 08 May 2007 14:57 GMT

> The 127 K/L is the sharpest of my lot, with
> the 180 sekor-C a close second and the
> 50 sekor-C as maybe the softest.

I have an 80cm x 100cm enlargement from a Delta100 landscape
made with the 50mm Sekor-C at my wall. You can (easy) identify
the make of the tractor about 1km away (it is about 2x3mm sized,
an MB-Track). The lens is about as soft as armor plate.

You're right of course... there are sharper lenses from Mamiya (like
the 43mm for the Mamiya 7 or the 50mm for the Mamiya 6), but I wouldn't
call any of them "soft".

Martin

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maja@dwf.de - 08 May 2007 08:19 GMT

The RZ is more convenient. Thats about all.

RB and RZ are made for professional usage. This means shooting countless
rolls of film every day. You won't wear a RB or RZ fast...

The K/L lenses are said to be better than the older Sekor-C. I tried a
RZ with a 180mm K/L lens against the 180mm Sekor-C in my RB and found
the quality identical... if you can view the strands of a woolen coat at
the edges of a 60x80cm portrait with a loupe, thats good enough for me.
Both cameras did that.

I'd go for a RB ProS or ProSD with Sekor C lenses. This outfit is dirt cheap
and more than good enough for everything you'll do in a studio. With the
rest of the money buy a Mamiya 7 for landscapes...

Martin

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MLIDDELL - 08 May 2007 22:43 GMT

> I'd go for a RB ProS or ProSD with Sekor C lenses. This outfit is dirt cheap
> and more than good enough for everything you'll do in a studio. With the
> rest of the money buy a Mamiya 7 for landscapes...
>
> Martin

Exactly what I did. The 2 compliment each other very well.

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darkroommike - 09 May 2007 03:04 GMT

My two cents? Go with the RB! RB's are mechanical
beasties, Copal shutters, anyone can work on them, parts can
be cannibalized and there are many fewer proprietary
electronics than will someday be no more.

Note that my aesthetic is more for the 6x6 but for the same
reasons cited above I prefer a 500CM to a BronicaSQ
darkroommike

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tendim - 16 May 2007 16:08 GMT

> I'm debating ine of these systems for portraits and landscape work, and
> would like any first-hand input as to the pros and cons of either system.

I used my RB for portraiture and still life, and just recently started
doing landscapes with it. Amazing system, and I've never been
disappointed with the lenses or camera functionality. Do yourself a
favour and track down the Mamiya double cable release, and only by C
or K/L lenses.

> Particulary in regards to lens quality and durability of the cameras.

The RB is built like a tank. I've been interested in the RZ because of
lens selection (K/L Wide vs. RB's C Wide), but I don't like using
batteries. I've been caught short on more than one casual event with
my EOS batteries dying out on me. True, you can "carry a spare" but
those recharageable batteries only recharge so long. The only battery
I carry is a AA for my light meter.

You might want to get the left-handed grip as well. When I started
using that I used the camera more and more because I could (easily)
handl-hold it; and the grip trigger couples with the camera shutter
release so you have one hand for holding/shooting, and another for
cocking/focusing.

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