Got Mamiya RB67 Pro S for cheap. Whats its actually worth?

NZed · Nov 14, 2012

So I found and bought this locally:

Mamiya RB67 Pro S Fully functioning
Comes with:
Waist level view finder
150mm Soft focus. No rings and all that accessories. Lens has one small spot of fungi(i believe).
120 Back Light seals pretty tacky
220 back Light seals pretty tacky
Polaroid Back
Original Metal Carrying case

All this for 250 CAD.

Is it worth it at all?
Good deal? Bad deal?

thanks!

fmajor · Nov 14, 2012

For me, if a lens has fungus it's a door-stop (aka worthless). For my purposes/criteria, the pkg is over priced b/c there is no "clean" lens.

I'm pretty hesitant with anything that has fungus - who knows how much fungus could be residing in the camera body or elsewhere.....? No thanks. Sorry.

flatulent1 · Nov 15, 2012

No, not really worth it. The only things there of any use are the body, WLF, and the 120 back. 250CAD sounds a bit much for that these days. You still need a clean lens and have the 120 back serviced. Say another 150-300, depending on the lens. If you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, you could clean up the back yourself and get some seals cheap; cleaning the lens has its own drawbacks. And as fmajor said, who knows how much fungus could be residing in the camera body?

I just paid $300US for a Pro-S, 90mm C lens, and two 120 backs, all clean and in good condition, ready to use. I may have overpaid, but not by much.

NZed · Nov 15, 2012

so i just bought an overprice doorstop?

ChristopherCoy · Nov 15, 2012

NZed said:
so i just bought an overprice doorstop?

Well, in a dark alley it could also be used as a weapon.

NZed · Nov 15, 2012

Wow this is great to know. Now anybody have any ideas what could this go for? On Craigslist and eBay?

MattKing · Nov 15, 2012

It is not a great deal, but you can get a usable 127mm or 90mm lens for it, and a new set of seals for the back for not much money, in which case you will have a really good camera.

thegman · Nov 15, 2012

Depends, I've had lenses in which the front element was very noticeably scuffed, but the results were fine. If you run a film through it and like the results, there is no problem. I believe you can stop the fungus spreading by killing it with UV light, i.e. bright sunlight.

grantlyd · Nov 15, 2012

As a comparison, I just bought the following kit for $350:

EX+ Pro-SD body with WLF
LN 127mm K/L lens
EX 120/220 Pro-SD 6x7 Power Drive Back

NZed · Nov 15, 2012

grantlyd said:
As a comparison, I just bought the following kit for $350:

EX+ Pro-SD body with WLF
LN 127mm K/L lens
EX 120/220 Pro-SD 6x7 Power Drive Back

KEH?

paul ron · Nov 15, 2012

Are you using it professioanlly or as a hobbest?

Replcae the seal, use it to death n enjoy the hell out of it. It's a good deal regardless of fungi n all that nonsence. That is a great camera and you wil find out why soon enough. That soft focus lens is a PIA to focuse since it has to be done at ƒ8 in order to see sharpness. The preview is a sticky type so you can leave it in the preview mode untill you are readu top shot then flip it over n set your stop to ƒ4 for max glow or stop down one to reduce the glow a bit.

The other discs allow you to use it at other stop downs without actually stopping down the iris.. but you loose some of hte glow that way as well.

Get a 90mm ofr general use, a 180 for portraits and the 50 is an amzing lens every RB owner should have to say his kit is complete.. it is awsome.

tkamiya · Nov 15, 2012

Well....

Since you bought it and it's all yours, of course it's a good deal.... Now that you bought a kit, you'll find it elsewhere cheaper but that's besides the point. Stick a film in it and see what you get. You might have some light leak issues and that's not unusual. You can buy a seal kit from Jon Goodman (who is a member here) and you can do it yourself.

I'm a bit concerned about the fungus if that is indeed fungus. It can eat the coating and etch permanent mark on surface. You might want to bring it to someone to get checked out. Just keep in mind, you can buy that lens relatively inexpensively from KEH and elsewhere if repair cost is going to be high.

Seriously, don't worry any more about the deal. It's already yours. Enjoy it and get the most out of it.

That's what I intend to do with my RB-SD.

ChristopherCoy · Nov 16, 2012

NZed said:
KEH?

Keh.com

Best used camera seller on the web, and the standard by which used gear is measured.

grantlyd · Nov 16, 2012

NZed said:
KEH?

Yup at KEH, the body from their website for $149, lens from their ebay site for $149 and a 'BGN' back for $50.

I was so surprised about the BGN back, it thought it was going to come looking like it came out of a blender or something, but it looks practically new! There is only minor marking on the batter cover, and seems to be light tight.

I just had to be patient and wait for the right stuff to come up....

Jeff Kubach · Nov 16, 2012

You could check out KEH. You could replace the seals and you have a great camera. It is worth it

Jeff

pbromaghin · Nov 16, 2012

grantlyd said:
I just had to be patient and wait for the right stuff to come up....

This is how it seems to be all the time for camera and darkroom gear. If you're in no hurry but keep actively searching, really good stuff will show up at really good prices.

Ric Trexell · Nov 17, 2012

I replaced my seals with felt from Wal-Mart

I had two Pro S's at one time and replaced the seals in both with a pad of black felt (really sort of like cloth) that I bought at Wal-Mart. I dug out the gooey stuff and cut narrow strips with my haircut scissors and jammed it down in the trough of the backs. You can find a drawing on the net of where it goes. I sold one of the cameras and I have used the other for a couple years with no problems. As for the fungus amoung us, it depends on how much you have. A little around the edge will probably not be a problem. If you are handy, you can probably take the lens apart and clean it yourself if it is bad. What do you have to lose? (Well, other than a few springs and maybe ball bearings.) Just don't dig into the shutter and you will probably be okay. My cameras had the 127 lens and that or a 90 are the most common. You can probably find .pdf files on repairing the lense as there are files on repairing the whole camera out there for free. Have fun and enjoy it. Ric.

NZed · Nov 17, 2012

Well guess what guys! The fungus i suspected is NOT fungus!

I tried wiping off with lens cloth and it didnt work so i thought it was fungus. But then i just risked it and used my nails(yes my nails) on the lens and it came out!. Very clean lens!

Thank god its not fungus!

tkamiya · Nov 17, 2012

GREAT! Now go shoot!

By the way.... fungus usually happens on inner element where you cannot reach. They will wipe off with the usual lens cleaner but when it gets bad enough, it will take the multi-coating with it. You'll probably need new seal so my suggestion will be to just test with one roll and see what you get.

fmajor · Nov 18, 2012

NZed said:
Well guess what guys! The fungus i suspected is NOT fungus!

I tried wiping off with lens cloth and it didnt work so i thought it was fungus. But then i just risked it and used my nails(yes my nails) on the lens and it came out!. Very clean lens!

Thank god its not fungus!

YAaaa!!!! I'm happy for you! Yes, you have a good deal there (especially since you don't have to replace the lens). They are great cameras to use and i hope you make and enjoy hundreds of beautiful images with it.

Got Mamiya RB67 Pro S for cheap. Whats its actually worth?

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