Mamiya RZ67 Professional II

The Mamiya RZ67 Professional II is one of those cameras that makes you want to slow down and really think about the photograph you're making.

Introduced in 1993, the Professional II continued the legacy of Mamiya's much-loved RZ67 system, a camera that became a familiar sight in portrait studios, fashion shoots and commercial photography.

And it's easy to understand why.

At the heart of the RZ67 is its beautiful 6 × 7cm negative. Considerably larger than a standard 35mm frame, it captures an incredible amount of detail and gives photographs a sense of depth and presence that's difficult not to appreciate.

But the RZ67 isn't just about the size of the negative. It's about the experience of using it.

You compose through a large waist-level viewfinder, looking down into the camera rather than holding it up to your eye. Focusing is handled through a bellows system, allowing you to make precise adjustments with a satisfying, hands-on feel.

One of its cleverest features is the rotating film back. Instead of turning the entire camera sideways to photograph a portrait, you simply rotate the back between horizontal and vertical compositions. It's a wonderfully practical detail, especially when working on a tripod.

The RZ67 Professional II also belongs to a modular camera system, with interchangeable lenses, film backs and viewfinders that allow photographers to build a setup around the way they like to work.

It's a substantial camera, and that's part of its character. This isn't something you throw into a small bag for a quick snapshot. It's a camera for taking your time, considering the light and enjoying every frame.

For portrait photographers, studio shooters and anyone curious about the beauty of medium format film, the Mamiya RZ67 Professional II remains a particularly special camera.

Best for

• Portrait photography

• Studio photography

• Fashion and editorial work

• Fine art photography

• Still life and product photography

• Photographers exploring medium format film

• Carefully composed, tripod-based photography

What to expect

The Mamiya RZ67 Professional II offers a very different experience from a smaller 35mm camera.

Its large 6 × 7cm negatives give you plenty of detail to work with, whether you're making prints or having your film scanned.

The waist-level viewfinder encourages a slower, more deliberate way of composing, while the bellows focusing system gives you precise manual control.

With a standard 6 × 7 120 film back, you'll get approximately 10 photographs from a roll of film. That makes every frame feel a little more considered.

The rotating film back makes switching between portrait and landscape orientation particularly convenient, and the modular system offers plenty of flexibility for different photographic approaches.

The camera uses an electronic shutter system powered by a battery, so it's worth having a spare when heading out for a shoot.

Developing

The Mamiya RZ67 Professional II uses medium format roll film.

With a standard 120 film back, the camera produces approximately 10 photographs per roll in the 6 × 7cm format.

Colour negative film is typically developed using the C-41 process, while black and white and slide films require their respective processing methods.

Once you've finished your roll, take it to a film lab that processes 120 film for developing and scanning.