Mamiya RB67 100-200mm zoom lens, what say you?

[harlequin]

Hello Team,

I Notice the zoom lens is available at much less cost than a prime lens for the rb, I have a few questions...

A) for portraits, where crazy sharpness is not required, anyone have experience with this optic, pros, cons?

B) construction wise, it looks like a kL series lens? Prob a better lens formula?

C) anybody have sample portrait or picture sample taken with this lens...

Do you zoom first and focus second?

Thanks for your feedback!

Be Safe.

Harlequin

 

[Donald Qualls]

Haven't used it or even handled one, but: zooms are virtually always optically inferior to primes for a given focal length -- too many glass surfaces. And while a true zoom is supposed to stay in focus when you change focal length, you probably shouldn't depend on this.

As for portraits, there's a (150mm?) soft focus portrait lens available, and I've seen it for less than the 127mm and 180mm standard primes.

 

[narsuitus]

I also have never used or handled the 100-200mm f/5.2 Mamiya RB67 zoom because I prefer prime lenses.

Before reading this thread, I had never even considered a zoom for my RB67.

For individual portraits, I use 5 lenses I use (90, 140 macro, 150 soft focus with 3 filters, 180, and 250mm). However, for the ridiculously low price of this zoom, I would seriously consider the zoom.

Assuming the image quality is acceptable, the main disadvantage for me would be the f/5.2 maximum aperture.

 

[MattKing]

IIRC, it is quite big!
But for portraits I like the idea of choosing a set working distance and perspective, and then adjusting the zoom to fine tune cropping.

 

[Neil Grant]

...but what's the T-number? With zooms there's always a bigger difference between T and the f/ number. Compared to a prime the colors may be a bit 'odd', it'll be more flare prone (at the very least you would expect a mild veiling in the shadows) - and perhaps you'll see some pincushion distortion at the long end. At 1500g it will be a handful and probably fatiguing to use. Can you rent one?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

MAke sure the lens fits on your model of the RB.

 

[MattKing]

MAke sure the lens fits on your model of the RB.

All but two of the RB lenses work on every RB model - the exceptions are the 75mm Shift lens and the 500mm APO lens, which only fit on the Pro-SD version.
With the exception of the 75mm Shift lens, all C and later (post 1978) versions of the RB lenses will also work with the RZ67 and RZ67II bodies.
The RZ lenses will not work with the RB bodies.

 

[mshchem]

I have the RZ version of the zoom. Matt is correct it's massive, requires the included lens support. I never use mine.

 

[narsuitus]

Thanks to this thread, I am now the owner of a Mamiya 100-200mm f/5.2 zoom lens for my RB67. It is big, it is bulky, and it is heavy. There is an optional support bracket for it but my lens did not come with one.

I thought I did not really need this zoom because I already had 90, 140, 150, 180, and 250mm prime lenses. I use my prime lenses for studio portraits and weddings. Hopefully, this zoom lens, during a portrait sitting, will allow me to take full-length portraits, 3/4 length, 1/2 length, head & shoulder, and head shots without changing lenses, sync cords, lens shade, filter, or camera position. I will probably also use it for test shots to determine which prime lens to use for the money shot. If not, I can always use it as a backup for my prime lenses.

Two features that this zoom lens has that my prime lenses do not are:
1. Bellows focus plus focus ring for helicoid focusing - this may be a very useful feature for me. I hope to use the bellows for course focusing and then use the helicoid focus ring for fine focusing..

2. Two cable release connections - my primes only have one cable release connection. There is a switch around the connection that turns the mirror-up feature on or off. This zoom, however, has two cable release connections. One marked "M Up" (left arrow) and the other marked "B" (right arrow). Connecting a cable release to the one marked "M Up" activates the mirror up feature. When the shutter release on the body is pressed, the mirror goes up. Then pressing the cable release in the "M Up" connection opens the shutter.

I have not yet figured out how the "B" cable release connection works.


Mamiya RB67 100-200 zoom by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Donald Qualls]

B seems to imply "Bulb" mode. The (two) lenses I have for my RB67 don't have a true Bulb mode; I have to set T, which doesn't close the shutter until I cock the body again (lens cap recommended to avoid motion blur). A true B mode would be very welcome, and given the shutter is in the lens, I don't see a good reason it doesn't exist (though I suspect it's a mechanical limitation due to the lens having to close shutter, stop down, and then fire shutter when the release is tripped).

Easy enough to check. Useful for better control of shutter drag shooting (more control of when you close the shutter), better timing for long exposures between 1 second and about 5 (difficult to time by cocking the body and mildly tricky with "black hat" or lens cap techniques).

 

[narsuitus]

@Donald Qualls

Thanks for your help.

I discovered that when the shutter speed is set to "T" (timed exposure) and a cable release is attached to the "B" (bulb) connection, pressing the shutter release on the body will raise the mirror and open the shutter. The shutter will stay open until the cable release is pressed.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Mine just arrived today from Japan. It's in pristine condition. It's something to fill the large gap between my 127, and 350 lenses, not so large.

 

[braxus]

Im getting the RZ version of this lens hopefully this week. Its on its way. Is it really necessary to use the lens support with this lens? I dont have one.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Im getting the RZ version of this lens hopefully this week. Its on its way. Is it really necessary to use the lens support with this lens? I dont have one.

Not necessary if your tripod head has a decent platform, like my Gitzo does.

 

[braxus]

Im using a carbon fibre 055 version of a Manfrotto with a 141RC head. Its plenty sturdy.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Im using a carbon fibre 055 version of a Manfrotto with a 141RC head. Its plenty sturdy.

You should be fine.

 

[mshchem]

Im getting the RZ version of this lens hopefully this week. Its on its way. Is it really necessary to use the lens support with this lens? I dont have one.

Without the lens support you are hanging this enormous lens off the front standard of your RZ. I would seriously recommend finding the support or figure out a way to support the lens, a bit of carpentry would do the trick. It's a quite good lens but very large.

 

[mshchem]

It's much easier with the support. If you buy a support they'll have 2 chrome rods that can be added to the cradle to allow you to use the power winder.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Well, of course it's ideal to have the support. I just saw one on ebay so I scooped it up.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Who knows when I'll get it though as my wife informed me that regular air and surface has been suspended due to covid... Oh well... I'm in no hurry. I still have a Mamiya 6 folder sitting over there at my mother-in-law's.

 

[mshchem]

I've got so darn much stuff it took me 15 minutes (or longer) to find this support. I have decided to start the sorting. I'm going to get rid of some stuff.

 

[braxus]

Mail is suspended? PM me the details. Luckily a half a dozen items showed up today. I'm just waiting on one item from the US

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Just to update this thread... I've been using this lens going on 2 years and quite like it. It fills the large gap I have from 127 to 350. Optics are sharp. The support was broken, so I sent it back. I've been working without one but if I spot another, I'll scoop it up. I have one for my 350, but it's too long...