Mamiya RZ67 Professional II Medium Format Camera Body (RZ67 Pro II)

Mamiya RZ67 Pro II: the studio medium format standard.

The RZ67 Professional II shoots 6x7cm negatives, the largest of the common medium format frame sizes and one that earns its reputation as a contact-print format. That negative area dwarfs 35mm many times over, and the difference shows in the tonality and resolution a well-exposed frame can hold, whether you're pushing Kodak Portra to its limits or working with slow, fine-grained black-and-white stock.

The RZ system is built around a rotating film back, which lets you switch between horizontal and vertical orientation without repositioning the camera on a tripod head. This matters in studio work, where the camera typically lives on a stand and repositioning costs time. The lens mount uses an in-lens leaf shutter, meaning flash sync is available at any shutter speed, a direct practical advantage for anyone shooting with strobes.

The system's modular design means interchangeable film backs, including 120 and 220 options, can be swapped mid-shoot without losing your composition. Thirty years of production and a large installed base mean lenses, backs, and accessories remain widely available. For photographers who want the genuine 6x7 format and the studio workflow it demands, this is the camera the format was built around.

Who It's For

Studio portrait photographers get full 6x7cm frames and leaf-shutter lenses that sync with strobes at any speed, removing the limitations that focal-plane shutters impose on lighting setups. Large-format-adjacent landscape shooters who want a field-capable system with rotating backs and interchangeable film holders will find the workflow familiar. Film photographers making the move from 35mm who want maximum negative area for darkroom printing or drum scanning have a direct path here. Commercial still-life photographers benefit from the precise, deliberate shooting pace and the flat field performance of purpose-built RZ glass.

Key Features

• 6x7cm medium format negative, largest common film frame size
• Rotating film back for horizontal and vertical orientation without repositioning
• In-lens leaf shutter with flash sync at any shutter speed
• Interchangeable 120 and 220 film backs
• Mamiya RZ67 mount with extensive lens selection
• Modular system design with three decades of available accessories

FAQ

What makes 6x7 format different from standard 645 medium format?

A 6x7 negative is roughly 2.8x larger than 645, giving you substantially more resolution and tonal separation in the final print. The format is specifically designed for contact prints and large enlargements without quality loss.

Can you swap film backs mid-roll on the RZ67 Pro II?

Yes. The rotating back system lets you change between 120 and 220 backs (or different film stocks) without repositioning the camera, a major advantage for studio work where the camera stays mounted.

What's the advantage of in-lens leaf shutters for studio shooting?

Flash sync works at any shutter speed, not just a designated flash sync speed. This means you can use faster shutter speeds with strobes if you need to cut ambient light or control ambient-to-flash ratio more precisely.

Is the RZ67 Pro II still usable for serious work today?

Absolutely. The mechanical design, 6x7 format, and leaf-shutter flash sync haven't become obsolete. The only consideration is finding film and willing labs; the camera itself is as capable as it was in 1995.

How does the rotating film back improve studio workflow?

You can switch between horizontal and vertical framing without moving the tripod head or camera body. In tethered or multi-setup sessions, this eliminates repositioning time and holds your composition lock.

What lenses are available for the RZ67 mount?

The RZ system has dozens of lenses in production and on the used market, from 37mm wide-angle through 500mm telephoto. Availability remains strong because the system was made for three decades and remains actively used.

Does the Pro II version have significant upgrades over the original RZ67?

The Pro II introduced improved viewfinder optics and internal refinements. For practical purposes, both versions perform identically for image capture; the differences are in ergonomics and viewfinder clarity.