Mamiya RB 67 Lenses?

blackstrat85 · Mar 2, 2011

New member here, and it appears it's been awhile since this thread's been tapped. Anyway, I drag my RB gear on a plane monthly to shoot large industral equipment. I have great results with the 50. I use the 127, 37 and 250. I'd like to find the new 210 APO, but the cost will probably have me putting my money towards the Linhof I'm saving for.

timk · Mar 2, 2011

65 and 127 for me, if I had to pick a third the 250, which is basically the kit I have at the moment (which I'm in process of selling)

I probably use the 65mm most often

hpulley · Mar 2, 2011

I got the 65mm, 90C, 127mm and 180mm with my Pro S body and a few backs. I thought they sounded close but I use all of them. The 65 I use a lot, the 180mm is great and both 90mm and 127mm too both because they're f/3.8 and for their utility. I have been thinking about a 250/350/360 to go longer but so far I haven't done so. For telephoto it seems like 35mm is simpler much of the time though the 180mm can be a wee bit short even for portraits so I'll probably get a longer lens at some point.

darkroom · Mar 2, 2011

65 and 180

smcclarin · Nov 4, 2011

Just added a 127C Minty to my 50C User and 90C User lenses, and I still prefer my 50C it produces mind blowing wide angle clarity to the corners and ludicrious DOF when you go hyperfocal! LOVE IT!

Pumalite · Nov 4, 2011

50 and 180.

Alastair_I · Nov 4, 2011

I have the 90 C, 180 C and the 360 non-C.. first choice has to be the 180 C as it's rarely off the camera.

kimmo7 · Nov 5, 2011

Right now I only have 180mm K/L and I need wider lens.

markbarendt · Nov 5, 2011

Most of the time actually my plain Jane 90 works really great and gives me a really nice working distance and enough context. There are a few situations where I have thought a bit wider might be nice, but not enough to get me to spend my money or carry a third lens.

When I want a narrower view the 150SF suits me well.

olleorama · Nov 5, 2011

My favourite by far is my new to me 127 K/L. After that it's a tie between 90C and 180 K/L

Jeff Kubach · Nov 5, 2011

I bought my 90c a while back but I still like my 50c only because I'm a wide angle type of guy!

Jeff

smcclarin · Mar 7, 2014

after reconsidering: 50mm C lens and a 180mm C lens and I could live on. (I thought My 127mm C was awesome till I took ports on the 180mm C and was astonished with sharp eyelashes from a 13 month old sitting in a highchair in morning light) ...but a 2X doubler thrown in the mix would double the fun now wouldnt it!!!

roby02091987 · Mar 12, 2014

keithwms said:
...cut... Then I depinned an rz 110/2.8 and I use that on the rb for close focus, it is a very nice little thing, too bad it's not in the standard rb lineup.
...cut...

Hi!

I've read your post and I noticed that you've used and RZ lens on an RB body... how is that possible? What do you mean by "depinned"?
I knew that RZ lenses have and electronic shutter, how is it possible to use them on a completely mechanical body like an RB?

I ask because i'm quite interested in this.

Thanks in advance... and sorry for my english

Trail Images · Mar 12, 2014

If only two I'd say 65 & 140 Macro. The 65 is my most used lens for general open landscapes. The 140 is a nice reaching a bit lens as well as excellent Macro work too. I have all the "C" lenses from 37 to 180. I use them all too.

paul ron · Mar 12, 2014

I do have a full line of lenses but my favorites are the 50mm and 180mm.

film_man · Mar 14, 2014

I have the 65, 90, 127 and 250, all KL. I would take the 90 and the 127. The 90 because I love a normal lens for nearly everything, the 127 because I love it for portraits or when there is enough space outside. The 250 is too long for practical daily use, the 65 is wide and I just don't like using wider than normal unless I have to.

omaha · Mar 14, 2014

I've found that my 90C (and maybe this is just an anomaly of my particular lens) produces some amazing texture and tone to the photographs. Funny thing, because when you examine it, the elements look all grungy around the perimeter, like there is some separation or something. But its an awesome lens.

I use my 50C quite a bit too. I like taking full body portraits with it from ground level. I love the perspective it gives.

Monday317 · Jan 13, 2020

I started with a fine K/L 180mm, and bought a K/L 90mm, then got great deals on a K/L 250mm, and a C 50mm.

The 50 is a superb wide angle, the 90 a fine (mathematically correct) normal & current go-to. The 250 seems better for portraits than the 180 for which I maintain great respect. All these have the floating element ring, so even the maligned 50 is a sharp performer if used correctly.

Problem is, I am from the Olde School where one was taught the very best way to “master” photography was to own one camera, one lens, use one film, one developer and so on. This made the shutterbug become intimate and therefore instinctive when using these tools; to mold a distinctive style based on the chosen format & lens.

As a result, on occasion I consider chucking the extra glass, glomming onto a 127mm and going back to my roots. In my formative 135 years, my weapon of choice was a Nikon FM fitted with an AIS f/2.5 105mm Nikkor, and indeed, I got pretty good with it. The 250mm has a similar angle of view, but then there looms the superb L 210mm APO...

GAS is a terrible thing, isn’t it?

Deleted member 88956 · Jan 14, 2020

removed-user-1 said:
Question about 50mm lens

Keith,
I currently have the 65 and the 127. I was considering a wider lens; why do you not recommend the 50? Thanks in advance!

Never mind - I just saw your followup.

Not sure why consider lens choice on a single input of negativity, especially when that is based on use with 6x8 back, which is one that is kind of dubious in the RB line up anyways (it cannot be rotated). Sure, there will be a few more dissatisfied users of the 50 and possibly, it might be the one lens in the whole RB stable that may have drawn some not so universally spectacular feedback, if you look around. But, if you can get it at good price, you will also sell it at that or better. Try it, I think it is worth it.

I personally would choose 75 & 127 for basic set as far as OP question goes.

narsuitus · Jan 14, 2020

Brad Bireley said:
If you could only have 2 lenses for a Mamiya RB 67 what would they be?

Originally, I started with the following three medium format cameras:
Fuji 6x7cm rangefinder with 90mm f/3.5 normal lens (left)
Fuji 6x9cm rangefinder with 65mm f/5.6 wide-angle lens (right)
Mamiya RB67 SLR with 150mm f/4 SF-C telephoto lens (center)

If forced to replace one of my Fuji rangefinders with a second Mamiya lens, I would replace the Fuji 65mm with the Mamiya-Sekor C 50mm f/4.5 lens.

Medium Format Kit by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Monday317 · Jan 14, 2020

Witold said:
I personally would choose 75 & 127 for basic set as far as OP question goes.

Were you coming down from 4 x 5? Those are basically the same FOV as the vaunted 210mm & 150mm as favored by worshippers of Saint Ansel.

M Carter · Jan 14, 2020

I've seen enough disliked for the 50 over the years to wonder if there's some ample variation? I love mine, it's a fantastic lens. Perfectly sharp in the corners, just a great dramatic look for the right subjects.

I couldn't have shot this without it (I have the 65 which I love, but the 50 just brings some mojo for me).

Deleted member 88956 · Jan 14, 2020

Monday317 said:
Were you coming down from 4 x 5? Those are basically the same FOV as the vaunted 210mm & 150mm as favored by worshippers of Saint Ansel.

No Saints I follow, except those from NO when they are playing NE.

75 and 65 is a toss, but I guess I liked it more because it was far harder to acquire.

Neil Poulsen · Jan 16, 2020

keithwms said:
65 and 127.

After that, the 210.

I would definitely not go for the 50.

Ditto.

Monday317 · Jan 16, 2020

Witold said:
No Saints I follow, except those from NO when they are playing NE.

75 and 65 is a toss, but I guess I liked it more because it was far harder to acquire.

I admire your spirit on both counts!

Mamiya RB 67 Lenses?

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

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