Just Sold My RB67 Kit

Neil Poulsen · Sep 20, 2020

Well . . I finally did it. I sold my RB67 kit. Prices have ticked up a bit in the last couple of years, so I didn't do too badly. Did I take a loss since purchase? Oh my dear, yes.

It really came down to selling this RB67 kit, or selling my Mamiya Press Universal kit, and the Universal won out. These are really nice systems. Of course, they are made for handheld. For more studied compositions on a tripod, my kit includes a ground glass attachment with a viewer that makes it possible to focus using a loupe directly on the ground glass. Using some of the proceeds from the RB sale, I'm replacing two press lenses with the 100mm f2.8 optic, and a blue-dot 150mm lens. Both are said to be sharp lenses. I also have a 65mm and the 250mm f5 lenses.

I think that, for medium format, I will do just fine.

Donald Qualls · Sep 20, 2020

If you can only keep one, and like to shoot hand held at least part of the time, you probably made the right choice. You have a little broader choice of formats with the Press Universal (that covers 6x9, IIRC, giving you 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 with appropriate roll film holders), and the camera is surely significantly lighter than the RB.

For myself, I've recently gotten a Graflex 22 for my RB 67 to go along with the 6x4.5 and 6x7 backs that came with it, and I'm starting to build up a lens set (got 90mm and 250mm at present, plus a 2x teleconverter I'm still on the fence with). I have many other cameras for hand held shooting -- folders from before and after the War in 6x4.5, 6x6, and 6x9, one excellent TLR, and a bunch of various 35mm folders, RF, and SLRs -- so I'm happy enough putting my RB on a tripod and handling it more like large format without the movements and film holders (but with much greater ease of shooting many frames when the situation calls for it). The ability to shoot macro with 90mm and shorter lenses with no additional bits is very appealing, too -- just have to remember to give bellows extension corrections.

narsuitus · Sep 20, 2020

Many years ago, I bought a lot of medium format equipment that contained two Mamiya Universal cameras with lenses. At the time, I was very satisfied with the Mamiya TLR cameras I was using so I sold the Universal cameras but kept the other medium format equipment in the lot.

Based on my brief experience with the Mamiya Universal and my current experience with the RB67, you probably made a good decision for your needs. I, on the other hand, would have kept the RB67 because my needs are different from yours. I rely on medium format Fuji rangefinders for handheld field work with normal and wide lenses. I needed a good medium format camera for portraits, product shots, macro, and telephoto work.

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 20, 2020

I'll never part with my RB67 kit. Never!

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2020

Cash in now and sell the Mamiya Press at a profit and jump to Hasselblad.

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2020

I have a Press System, 2 Universal bodies, 1 press body, ground glass back, 3 backs, 4 lens, 2 wides the 100 and 150, sets of filters. In my book a well exposed 6X9 negatives beats a Hasselblad 6X6 negative. What I dont have is the 250mm, every once in a while I get the itch, just never really needed it as I shoot landscapes.

moto-uno · Sep 20, 2020

OMG , did some one suggest there's a better camera than a Hasselblad !!!!! . I know , I already own it , drum roll , Kowa Super 66 . Peter

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2020

I have a Super 66 as well, there are time when I want to use a SLR and Kowa meets my needs. The Kowa system is not as extensive as Hasslbald but meets my needs. I use to do book covers for a couple of publishers, one art director made using a Hasselblad part of the contract, so I rented. I like the how the Kowa loaded much better than a Hasselblad, lens might not be up to Zeiss but so close doesn't matter with Tmax 100 or Ektar 100, Kowa glass will relove 200 LPMM. Maybe if I was a fashion shooter a motor drive body or wide for industrial, shift lens, just never needed more than the Kowa 66.

juan · Sep 20, 2020

Have you been looking around on eBay yet?

Ariston · Sep 20, 2020

Good for you - I took all the photos to get ready to sell my RB kit, but couldn't pull the trigger. Maybe down the road. They are still so cheap that it is worth more to me in my hands than the money would be worth to me in my pockets. I understand your choice, though. I don't really even try to use the RB handheld, and it definitely isn't coming on any hikes with me.

MattKing · Sep 20, 2020

Every time I read the title to this thread I wonder if it should be a title to a Blues song....

Stephen Power · Sep 21, 2020

Neil Poulsen said:
Did I take a loss since purchase? Oh my dear, yes.

Houses usually appreciate in value, so if you sell your house at a loss, it's called 'negative equity' and is usually caused by a recession. If you sell your camera at a loss, it's called...buying and selling a camera. They don't appreciate in value, they are not houses and should not be thought of as such.

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2020

Stephen Power said:
Houses usually appreciate in value, so if you sell your house at a loss, it's called 'negative equity' and is usually caused by a recession. If you sell your camera at a loss, it's called...buying and selling a camera. They don't appreciate in value, they are not houses and should not be thought of as such.

Cameras hold value much like a sieve holds water.

rayonline_nz · Sep 22, 2020

Ariston said:
Good for you - I took all the photos to get ready to sell my RB kit, but couldn't pull the trigger. Maybe down the road. They are still so cheap that it is worth more to me in my hands than the money would be worth to me in my pockets. I understand your choice, though. I don't really even try to use the RB handheld, and it definitely isn't coming on any hikes with me.

Similar feeling with me. There is still some attachment. I have used my up my slide film now, and not yet bought anymore. I have some C41 and BW still and then I will re-evaluate. I have a Hasselblad 500CM as well. For a bit of hiking I could use the Haselblad. I have hiked with the RB67 maybe 6hr return including photography but it was tiring. I would never go overseas with the rB67 and a tripod. I am sure I can get it done, put it on your back and set out to arrive there 45min before sunset after deciding on a location. There are easier cameras out there.

I also don't do portraitures and I don't do product or any indoor photography. The RB67 is a beautiful camera. It is more straightforward than than the Hasselblad to load the film, you just open and close that door right. You don't have to slide it back into the film mag cassette, you don't have to wind the film up, you just advance the lever. The viewfinder is larger, with the loupe on the WLF you can still see all 4 corners. Rotatable back. Bellows focussing closer. However none of these benefits really make or break to me. It is a lot cheaper but in today's world, a 2 or 3 lens kit with the Hasselbald isn't that bad.

I closed a credit card I had for the last 23yrs, I hardly used it. The last 6 months I didn't use it once despite them charging me a bi annual fee on it. A strange feeling after I closed it and I was hesitant. Would I miss it so much and reapply for the card, nope.

moto-uno · Sep 22, 2020

^^ I'm assuming that you haven't checked the prices of used film cameras of late ! I've recently sold a Mamiya 7 and a Fujica Gl690
on these camera forums for WAY more than I paid for them 5 or 6 years ago , and I had bidders from around the world within 1 day
of posting . I even believe Hasselblads are up in value . Peter

Ariston · Sep 22, 2020

moto-uno said:
^^ I'm assuming that you haven't checked the prices of used film cameras of late ! I've recently sold a Mamiya 7 and a Fujica Gl690
on these camera forums for WAY more than I paid for them 5 or 6 years ago , and I had bidders from around the world within 1 day
of posting . I even believe Hasselblads are up in value . Peter

It's funny - I don't want to sell my RB because it isn't worth much, so I'd rather just keep it; and I don't want to sell my Hassy because it is worth too much, so I know I could never afford to replace it.

It's pretty clear I am just making excuses.

gordrob · Sep 22, 2020

I had the opportunity to pick up a RB67 Pro S and three lenses last weekend for cheap but after having a serious look at it the weight of it was too much so I passed on it. I already have a Mamiya Universal and Super 23 with the 50mm, 65mm, 100mm f2.8 and f3.5 and the 250 f5 and an assortment of roll backs mostly 6x9 and the odd 6x7. I mainly shoot landscapes so it suits my needs. With the 50mm lens it makes a great point and shoot camera. I also picked up a bunch of replacement and repair parts for the roll backs and bodies so I am set up for a l;lot of years to come with this system.

Donald Qualls · Sep 22, 2020

If you'll haul the camera and lenses around some, then a Universal or Super 23 is a far better choice. If you're like me, and unlikely to ever get more than a quarter mile from your car when shooting away from home, that makes less difference. Price for a MF SLR, along with the 6x7 format, was what decided me. Even if the Super 23 and Universal were a third less with the same accessories, I'd have preferred the RB just for being an SLR.

Just Sold My RB67 Kit

Neil Poulsen

Donald Qualls

narsuitus

Andrew O'Neill

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Sirius Glass

Paul Howell

moto-uno

Paul Howell

juan

Ariston

MattKing

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Stephen Power

Sirius Glass

rayonline_nz

moto-uno

Ariston

gordrob

Donald Qualls

Just Sold My RB67 Kit

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