Don't Sell Your RB67.

[Neil Poulsen]

It's too late!

Jeepers. I've been engaging in multiple transactions lately and was thinking that, I could sell my RB67 kit for a little extra cash. Of course, the operative word is "little." What a great camera system. After checking Sold Listings on EBay, I'm not sure that I could give it away. Oh well, maybe better to keep it after all. At least, it takes great pictures.

Perhaps there's someone that I can sell into servitude? Hmm.

 

[summicron1]

If it doesn't say "Leica" or "Hasselblad" you are pretty much doomed to giveaway prices. On the plus side, look at all the cool cameras you can buy cheap!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Cheer up, the word on the street is that RB67 make excellent door stops and serve well as a wheel chuck when wedged under a tire to keep a vehicle from rolling down hill.

 

[Chadinko]

Cheer up, the word on the street is that RB67 make excellent door stops and serve well as a wheel chuck when wedged under a tire to keep a vehicle from rolling down hill.

Those one-megapixel cameras are great for that.

 

[etn]

If it doesn't say "Leica" or "Hasselblad" you are pretty much doomed to giveaway prices. On the plus side, look at all the cool cameras you can buy cheap!

I would add "Rolleiflex" to that list but hey, 20 years ago we mere mortals could only dream of medium format. Now everyone can get into MF for cheap. And even get a Rolleiflex or Hasselblad for a bit more cash (but still less than a DSLR which will be worth peanuts in half a dozen years!)

 

[Geoffrey Swan]

I am the very proud owner of a Mamiya RB67 Pro SD - recent purchase with an assortment of lenses, backs etc etc... and I am very happy indeed to have such a wonderful mechanical beast to enjoy in my image making. Do NOT sell.. treat yourself to some B&W film and get out there and shoot some great pics.. beats digital any day

 

[blockend]

I have a bunch of cameras in perfect working order and excellent condition. Very few of them are worth the effort of posting for the cash they'd bring in. According to YouTube every teenager now has a Leica and a Plaubel Makina. If it ain't got the right name on it, it's landfill.

 

[onre]

RB67 is one of those systems that go for a lot less than their mechanical and optical quality would suggest.

I can relate to what blockend wrote above. It's sort of lucky too, though - one can fill his camera cabinet with very usable and high quality pieces of hardware for next to nothing. I'd imagine that all my cameras and lenses together cost less than a new full frame DSLR body.

 

[Trail Images]

After using a RB67 ProSD for almost 30 years now I'm glad the prices are rock bottom. I can always "use" more pieces in the kit......

 

[480sparky]

Go ahead and sell it. I'm sure there's someone who would love to have an über-cheap/great camera.

 

[mweintraub]

Those one-megapixel cameras are great for that.

Or locked up Hassys.

 

[Chadinko]

Or locked up Hassys.

I wouldn't know... I've never been so super-rich I can afford a Hassy. Always had to make do with cameras from the other side of the tracks.

 

[Cholentpot]

I have an M645 because it ONLY a super 35mm and thus 'stupid' and got a great price.

On the other hand...15 frames!

 

[tedr1]

Yes, sell your RB, drive the prices even lower, so I can load up some more

 

[summicron1]

I would add "Rolleiflex" to that list but hey, 20 years ago we mere mortals could only dream of medium format. Now everyone can get into MF for cheap. And even get a Rolleiflex or Hasselblad for a bit more cash (but still less than a DSLR which will be worth peanuts in half a dozen years!)

forgot rollie, but yeah -- in fact, a bit ago someone gave me a 12-year-old canon dslr, top of the line in its day, but I had no use for it and I finally ended up giving it to my kid to play with. The local university didn't want it -- too old, they said, and useless for teaching purposes.

Meanwhile, they were visibly lusting over the 60-year-old leica around my neck.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've taken some fine images with mine. The optics are fantastic. I will never part with mine whilst on this planet.

 

[480sparky]

Just this morning, I got an email stating an image I have posted online for sale had sold. I took it with my RB67 and 250mm lens 2 years ago.

 

[Prest_400]

They are quite cheap. Add a Japanese source and some MF cameras go for nuts, too bad about shipping! Alert: The Pentax 67 is becoming hyped (that grip and 105!) and been seeing a lot of it, though haven't followed the prices.

forgot rollie, but yeah -- in fact, a bit ago someone gave me a 12-year-old canon dslr, top of the line in its day, but I had no use for it and I finally ended up giving it to my kid to play with. The local university didn't want it -- too old, they said, and useless for teaching purposes.

Meanwhile, they were visibly lusting over the 60-year-old leica around my neck.

And don't think about ever getting a Contax 645...
I have to agree that the digis obsolescence curve can be steep. IMO and with some generalization 2006-08 until now models are still quite useful. Ironically, in my local classifields (Spain) all DSLRs are crazy overpriced. On the other hand, midrange AF 35mm SLRs are really cheap and devalued also. I got an F80 kit for 40€ but spotted cheaper ones.

A cheap nice camera makes for a nice seaside machine. I had tons of fun with the cheap F80 which I even got into the sea, inches from water.

I also would like a Rolleiflex, Plaubel Makina, or such lightweight MF machine... Leica I don't lust or, having a Fuji 6x9 which obliterates in many dimensions the Leica! (pun)

 

[RattyMouse]

They are quite cheap. Add a Japanese source and some MF cameras go for nuts, too bad about shipping! Alert: The Pentax 67 is becoming hyped (that grip and 105!) and been seeing a lot of it, though haven't followed the prices.

And don't think about ever getting a Contax 645...

I'd really love to pick up a Contax 645, but the prices on those cameras is just amazing. I'm not 100% sure how old they are now but the idea of dropping $3k+ on a piece of electronic gear no longer supported is pretty frightening. That's a lot of money to pay for a 645 camera. But that 80mm f/2 lens! Wow.

 

[Ian Grant]

30 years ago I toyed with moving from a Mamiya 645 system to an RB67 but went to a Wista 45DX instead because in terms of weight and bulk I felt a light weight 5x4 camera with movements would be a better option. I already used a heavy 5x4 monorail camera for work so knew the jump in image quality.

I've not changed that opinion, I have used RB67 cameras a few times over the years and about 10 years when I realised many places I wanted to photograph had a no tripod policy I did think again but found using 5x4 hand held was just as easy and for my use more practical as I can still use movements hand held.

Using a 645 reflex is as mentioned above is more like an over sized 35mm camera, an RB67 is less practical, I think many others agree and move straight to LF and hence the lower than might be expected demand for RB67 keeps their price down.

Ian

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

They are quite cheap. Add a Japanese source and some MF cameras go for nuts, too bad about shipping! Alert: The Pentax 67 is becoming hyped (that grip and 105!) and been seeing a lot of it, though haven't followed the prices.

I bought my kit when I lived in Japan, does that count? My wife is Japanese, so if I ever decide to sell, I'll get her to do it!

 

[flavio81]

Sell mine? NEVER!!

 

[flavio81]

Cheer up, the word on the street is that RB67 make excellent door stops and serve well as a wheel chuck when wedged under a tire to keep a vehicle from rolling down hill.

I love your sense of humor. Siriusly.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Having started in medium format with Hasselblad, and still using them, I consider the RB67's better in every way:

- at least equal in terms of image quality
- more flexible format for portrait & landscape
- additional interlocks (won't have typical Hassy jam situation)
- closeup focusing with any lens
- at least equal reliability
- (just my guess here) easier to maintain & repair

I still like my Hasselblads, but an RB67 system is one of the greatest bargains in medium format today.

 

[Prest_400]

I'd really love to pick up a Contax 645, but the prices on those cameras is just amazing. I'm not 100% sure how old they are now but the idea of dropping $3k+ on a piece of electronic gear no longer supported is pretty frightening. That's a lot of money to pay for a 645 camera. But that 80mm f/2 lens! Wow.

Indeed, it's all about that 80mm f2! At $3K I'm sure I'd move towards getting a Rolleiflex (2.8), Mamiya 6/7 or a GF670/Bessa III. There is something attractive about lighter weight Medium format. Infact I decided for the Fuji 6x9 in 2014 because of bang for the buck and not wanting to carry a camera with such a prism.

Or instead get about 3 to 8 kits of different MF cameras.

It may make a sense for some manufacturer (As Cosina-Fuji did) to do a run of exquisite niche MF cameras. Someone could put a f2.8 into 6x7 again.

I bought my kit when I lived in Japan, does that count? My wife is Japanese, so if I ever decide to sell, I'll get her to do it!

Oops, the idiom got me here and misattributed its nuance. Nuts for the low prices, $300 for a decent kit, wow. I don't think the Japanese factor may help much more. Japan does seem like a wonderful place to buy gear, but sadly not film since a few years back. I recall looking at the low prices they had a while ago on all things film plus the Yodobashi refrigerators.