First roll with RB67 - Do I love this camera?

[bushpig]

Hello everyone, just joined and making my first post! Greets from Philadelphia!

I walk for fun and exercise, and many times walk up to 20 miles at a time. A few weeks ago, having just gotten back into to 35mm film, I picked up an RB67. It's a brute to use, but I have grown to appreciate what it's done for my photography, and the images are as good as I am that day. Getting to the point, I went out by public transportation to the NW boundary of Philadelphia, and shot with the RB67 in Fairmount Park, walking 20 miles back to my house, shooting 3 rolls in total. That's with the RB, the 65mm Sekor C I keep on the camera, the 90mm just in case, my tripod, a Canon 35mm for metering, film, water, and a big lunch I ate halfway through the day.

I was much more tired after this walk than when I have no gear, that's for sure! It was not impossible though, and I'll be glad I lugged that little piggy around when I get my film back.

Welcome, David. I haven't carried my RB for that far yet, but I've done miles, walking around. I'd love to shoot in Philly. I love that city. I almost moved there a few years ago.

 

[David T T]

Thanks folks.

Philly's a great place to shoot, especially in the Fall. I picked a good time of year to back back into film!

 

[bushpig]

Thanks folks.

Philly's a great place to shoot, especially in the Fall. I picked a good time of year to back back into film!

I used to live in Pennsylvania. Williamsport to be exact. East coast is absolutely gorgeous in the autumn. I used to shoot 35mm, but I never got into much color back then. I'd LOVE to shoot some slide film there sometime. I'm a big fan of winter as well. God, I miss the east coast.

 

[Ric Trexell]

It is always about the weight of the RB.

Why do people always complain about the weight of the RB? If you want a nice little light camera get a H'blad and be satisfied. The question should be is, can you make some money with this camera? Certainly it is great for decor photography with a 16X20 being a big seller from what I have read, and easily could go to a 20X24. For the price they are going for, (I know because I sold one on ebay and was sorry I did) they are a great camera to get started in that business. Then after you have sold some pics, you can get into 4X5's. Yes, they are heavy, but if you are using it to make money you have to do a little work. If you are only taking pictures to hang on the wall, they are a little overkill. A 35mm will do just fine for that. Have about 10 copies of your best 5-7 shots made and go to an art show and see if they sell. Read up on the biz on the internet and see what happens. Or put your work on a web page. After you get $200 for your shots, you will look at the RB as a nice light camera. Ric.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I got my RZ because it did commercial work, but I still complain of the weight. Otherwise, I'd probably get a Hassy. Both are lovely cameras with top-notch lenses. I still love using the camera after 25 years and hundreds of rolls of film. I never owned a Hasselblad, only assisted photographers that used them. The film backs are harder to load for me, but the camera feels better in my hand. One is not better than the other, just different.

 

[pbromaghin]

If you're worried about weight, why not try a folding camera? This was done with an old Zeiss 6x6 with Novar lens. It is not much bigger or heavier than an SLR.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I have a Zeiss Super Ikonta IV and it's a beautiful camera. I brought it to South East Asian with the camera. However, I liked SLRs better because of framing and depth of field preview.

 

[paul ron]

I don't have an RZ, old mechanical guy here, but I absolutely love my RBs since I got it when it first hit the streets a hundred years ago.. well it feels like I've been married to em that long. LOVE EM!..

I also reapir em.

 

[Chris Lange]

For what it's worth my dad also still uses his RZs handheld all the time. Always with a compendium shade, a winder, and a prism, I might add.

 

[Alan Klein]

Chris; What film and shutter speeds and lens does you dad use, if you know, when he's shooting hand-held?

Alan

 

[Chris Lange]

Alan,

He uses a 50, 65, 110, 150, 100-200, and 180.

His preferred films would have been either Ektachrome EPR, Tri-X, Portra 400NC or 160NC, but switched to a Leaf digital back for his Mamiyas and Hasselblads back in 2007.

Shutter speeds are all over the map depending on what he's doing. He's been working with camera motion for a while, so those exposures tend to be a 1/4-1/15, and when he's doing normal stuff, it's usually 1/250. In the studio it's always 1/250, too, hooked up to Profoto 7A's.

best,

Chris

 

[Alan Klein]

Chris: What speed does you Dad use, and lens and film when hand-holding without tripod? I usually blur when I try it.

 

[dnjl]

Alan, with a bit of care I can hand hold the 127mm at 1/60th and get consistently good results. You didn't ask me, but I thought I'd chime in

 

[Alan Klein]

Chiming in is good. What speed film?

 

[dnjl]

Chiming in is good. What speed film?

Any speed, although I mostly use ISO 100 and ISO 400 films, both b&w and colour.

 

[mopar_guy]

Alan,
When I hand hold my RB, I use either 100 or 400 speed film. I have used the 90mm, 127mm and the 180mm. I use the WLF and cradle my hands under the camera and brace it against my chest with my chin tucked against my chest. I find this to be more stable than holding a 35mm SLR up to my eye.