Mamiya RZ67, which lenses ?

<p>My Mamiya RZ67 Pro II has arrived, what a beautiful camera, fantastic build quality, it was advertised as mint and it truly is, it looks brand new to me ! I got the 110mm f2.8 lens with it but would like to know what lenses you would recommend for the RZ67 ?<br>

Thanks for any feedback as usual.<br>

John.</p>

<p>Hello John,<br>

what would you like to take pictures of? Where would you like to take your RZ 67II? In the studio only or outdoors (on location)?<br>

this information would make answering your question much easier!</p>

<p>Christoph</p>

The classic set (no matter what camera) contains a standard, a wide angle and a short telephoto.<br>You already have a standard lens. As wide angle the 50 mm (or 65 mm, if you like it a bit less wide. ) would be the choice. For short tele either the 140 mm macro or 180 mm (both not that long, about 70 mm and 90 mm in 35 mm format), or (perhaps better) 250 mm ('equivalent' to a 125 mm in 35 mm format) would be good.

<p>Hi Christoph, I shoot mainly portraits & weddings but would like a lens for landscape/cityscape shooting as well.<br>

I have read that the 65mm is a superb lens ?<br>

John.</p>

<p>John: With my RB67 I have a 50, 90, 180 and 360. However, I would recommend the 180 and 50 (roughly 28mm equivalent) or 65 (roughly 35mm equivalent) for two more lenses. The 360 if you need a telephoto. Frankly, I would shoot with the 110 for awhile. Get use to the camera. See what you shoot with it. There's plenty of time to get more lenses. Keep it simple for now.</p>

<p>Also, get a heavy duty tripod. You're going to need it if you want sharp pcitures. Good luck and have fun. You're going to love how this camera slows you down and gets you to think and have vision. You''re photography is going to improve.</p>

<p>The 110 is a superb lens. On a couple of trips I've brought only my 65 and my 140 macro to save weight/space. When I do that, I invariably wish I had the 110 instead. One day I will learn.</p>

<p>Lenses for the RZ now go for about 10 - 15% of their original cost on the second-hand market, so if you have a couple of hundred bucks to spare, get the best. If you want a 65, look for the L-A version, which has an internal floating element to give improved performance across the field. </p>

I just receivedt a Brand New RZ 180mm portrait and

landscape lens from Japan ebay seller named sanpou for

$185 including shipping. It was factory new with crytal clean

glass elements internally.

 

Don't buy used RZ lenses if brand new ones available for a

song. Look carefully on Ebay and be patient.

 

I prefer buying from Japan sellers. Fungus is the issue. I

have returned brand new RZ lenses that I bougt from humid

Hong Kong and humid southern USA that had early fungal

growth on close examination.

 

I highly recommend the following for your RZ:

 

50 ULD or 65 floating elment

110 2.8 (the ultimate portrait lens)

150 f3.5 (near apochromatic accoring to a Germany

Mamiya) and also the longest focal length that seems well

balanced ergonomically)

180 WN

 

Congrats its an excellent camera!

<p>I'd go with the 180 mm next. There are two versions of it, the regular one and the "short barrel" version, which is optically identical, but needs the short barrel spacer to reach infinity without the Tilt/Shift adapter. If you buy this version, you can later adapt it to the Tilt/Shift adapter in case you go for a lot of landscape/cityscape by just removing the short barrel spacer (which can double as an extension ring, by the way).<br>

The 65 mm with floating element is a very good lens too. If you had the 65 mm, 110 mm and 180 mm, it would mirror most closely the "classic" 35 mm, 50 mm and 90 mm trio of the 35 mm rangefinder era. If you want to shoot a lot of interior spaces, you could swap the 65 mm for a 50 mm ULD, which is equivalent to about a 25 mm in the 35 mm world.<br>

Christoph</p>

<p>I agree with Alan. Get used to the camera first- then get the heaviest tripod system you can manage together with an air release. Forget the double cable or electric release and fire the body with your finger and the lens shutter with the bulb. As for lenses get a 50 or 65 and a 180. Remember that the uld, L-A and apo lenses are superb but the w and w-n lenses are no slouches and much cheaper- mf lenses tend to be used at moderate to small apertures and if that's what you will be doing you might be pushed to see any difference. Every RZ lens can deliver a high quality 20 inch print. </p>

Ebay. Sanpou camera. A brand new RZ, Tessar design, 180mm W-N lens for $160. The guy has a bunch, is located in Tokyo and for all I could tell with

mine, it looked like it came off the Mamiya assembly line in Tokyo. What is there to "think" about?

 

You take time to think about it, ok? When you are "ready" in 1 year it will be up to $900 for a new one from some guy

named Hans in Germany.

<p>I have an RZ67 Pro ii.<br>

I have the 90mm, 180mm and 50mm ULD L lenses. I use them all. I primarily use them all for portraits. </p>

All of Mamiya's lenses are great especially for the prices they're going for these days. Get them while you can!

<p>I really like the 65mm (yes the version with the floating element) for landscapes because it gives me nearly the same field of view as the Schneider 110mm Super Symmar did on 4x5. I never did like a wider lens that much, seems too unnatural and minifying to me. I have a 210mm APO coming next week and I think that's all I need.</p>

<p>While I'd love to get my hands on a 210 APO, I must say that the 180 W-N is stunningly sharp for portraits, if you're shooting head shots. Here's one at full resolution from my Sinarback 54M:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.presquevu.com/apa071.jpg">Portrait of Ade</a></p>