I can produce contrasty photographs by taking a roll of medium format black and white film like the Kodak Tri-X 400. So out with the big gear and having a fun time.

“A photographer is like a cod, producing a million eggs so one may reach maturity.” George Bernard Shaw

The Mamiya RZ67 is known and widely regarded as the poster child for quality and trustworthiness in the medium format world. For many, it can be a ‘white whale’ camera – I have one, luckily financially obtainable when I got it.

As someone who likes to make portraits, this camera can be a dream.

The Mamiya RZ67 feels perfect in my hands; it feels like a glove.

Part of this might be the waist level finder, which allows you to comfortably carry the camera at different levels, from waist to breast, to compose. Another significant advantage is the rotating back, which is one of the biggest draws to the Mamiya system.

The viewfinder on the RZ67 is super bright. Easy to focus on and an unparalleled photography experience. There’s nothing quite like framing a scene through the enormous ground glass.