Mamiya RB67 - anything to look for?

[rpavich]

The RB67 is excellent for handholding down to 1/15s, and in this it has a definitive, conclusive advantage over the classic Hasselblads (500-series) and the earthquake-like Pentax 67 cameras.

In fact i find it more handholdable on slow shutter speeds than my 35mm SLRs..

Oh wow...good to know.

I just purchased a near-mint RB67 Pro-S with a 127mm lens on ebay.

I'm psych'd!

 

[flavio81]

Oh wow...good to know.

I just purchased a near-mint RB67 Pro-S with a 127mm lens on ebay.

I'm psych'd!

Great buy, once you get used to the size and weight you will love it! Unless you don't get used to the size and weight...

The 127/3.8 is a good quasi-portrait lens. (It is not really a "normal" lens but longer than normal)

 

[rpavich]

Great buy, once you get used to the size and weight you will love it! Unless you don't get used to the size and weight...

The 127/3.8 is a good quasi-portrait lens. (It is not really a "normal" lens but longer than normal)

So far, I'm very jazzed up. It's funny. It's a brick and klunky but it's so much of a pleasure to use.

 

[paul ron]

once you get use to it... its hard to use any other camera... you'll always be looking for the clutch pedal.

 

[williaty]

once you get use to it... its hard to use any other camera... you'll always be looking for the clutch pedal.

That's just about a perfect summary of highly capable manual cameras.

 

[paul ron]

oh be sure to ask the seller if its working and if not you will return it!

see the thread on the mirror stuck.

 

[CMoore]

If I can just tag onto to the end of this Mamiya train....... I am looking for my first MF Camera.
Have no idea What/Why to buy.
As long as we are talking Mamiya, would you guys consider the RB (sd) over some type of 645 (Super).?
Thank You

 

[MattKing]

If I can just tag onto to the end of this Mamiya train....... I am looking for my first MF Camera.
Have no idea What/Why to buy.
As long as we are talking Mamiya, would you guys consider the RB (sd) over some type of 645.?
Thank You

This is worth its own thread.

It would be worth your while though to wander first through previous similar threads to see if you can narrow your question first.

I'm certainly not one to ask if you want a single answer - I have a Mamiya 6x6 TLR, a 6x4.5 SLR and an RB67 - and I use them all.

I started with my Mamiya TLR and would recommend that as a good start for others.

 

[CMoore]

Yeah...I hear you. Searching for 645 now.
Thanks

 

[williaty]

I started with a Mamiya C300f TLR as well. Very good place to start. IMO, 645 is a useless format. It's just not enough bigger than 35mm to justify the price increase. 6x6 is great if you're printing square or nearly square. It is, without a doubt, my favorite format. However, if you're cropping 6x6 down to make prints people have frames for (like a typical 4x6" frame), you've basically cropped it back to 645 and we're right back at "not big enough to justify the cost". I have a ever-growing Mamiya RZ67 Pro II setup basically because it'll do damned near everything (even though other cameras might do specific things better, the RZ will do them ALL) and the 6x7 format is nearly crop-less to most normal sized enlargements (5x7, 8x10, 11x14, etc) so you get to use (nearly) 100% of the big film you're lugging around all that metal and glass for.

 

[tedr1]

A lot depends on your enlarger, not all can do 6x7, and you may need a longer enlarger lens, 90mm is standard for 6x7.

I like the rectangular format of the RB67 but it is a monster of a camera to haul around, 645 and 66 cameras definitely have the portability and hand-held advantage over the RB, if you are happy working with a tripod this may not be an issue.

 

[mweintraub]

once you get use to it... its hard to use any other camera... you'll always be looking for the clutch pedal.

Driving my first Auto in a long time. I've almost pushed a hole into the floor boards a few times.

 

[CMoore]

Does and SD back say "SD" on it.?
Is this an SD back.?
Thank You

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182151994339?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Trail Images]

Is this an SD back.?

Does not look like one to me. My SD back has an SD logo on the leather located on the non-winder lever side. Also, the SD backs always seem easy to spot to me by the more squared shoulders of the back. The earlier units seem more rounded, like the look here. I also noticed the condition of this one seems to have the leather pulling away from it on the edges. Maybe a lot of mileage on it?
The revolving back looks like it is correct with the SD logo on it.

 

[flavio81]

If I can just tag onto to the end of this Mamiya train....... I am looking for my first MF Camera.
Have no idea What/Why to buy.
As long as we are talking Mamiya, would you guys consider the RB (sd) over some type of 645 (Super).?
Thank You

Try a RB67. If you don't feel the RB67 is too big or unwieldly then go for it and stick with it, for me it's the perfect medium format SLR.

Otherwise try the 6x6 TLRs (not only Mamiya, also Rollei) and the 6x4.5 machines.

6x4.5 is a good "compromise" format, it is already better than 35mm and the cameras are just slightly heavier than 35mm SLRs, but 6x7 approaches large format (4x5") image quality, so you'll have to decide if you want the "look" of 6x7 and will want to be able to put up with the increased sight and weight.

 

[CMoore]

OK...Thank You.
And.....my sincere apologies to PaulWA. I should have started my own post, and not polluted yours. Did not mean to take up so much of your space.
Sorry About That

 

[Sanju Mathew]

glad you're enjoying the new camera. have you developed the film yet?.... thats going to be a big smile.

btw i have a few bellows hoods if you're interested... pm me?

Hello Paul
I would like to know your thoughts on replacing the elements from a donar lens to the new one, recently I was having an issue with one of the Mamiya Rb 67 127mm 3.5 KL lens, it had the front element damaged, i managed to find a donar lens and replaced both front and the back groups all looks fine so far but I was wondering when I dismantled the donar lens assembly I noticed there was 4 adjusting shims (the shims in between the shutter and the rear assembly) but the receiving lens only had 2, do you think there will be any issues with infinity focus?
Very much looking forward to hearing back from you.
Many thanks
S Mathew

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Kyle, it may be "plenty accurate" but is hard to read and fiddly to do.
And the rotating ring doesn't set the depth of field. It only tells you what it will be if you have correctly negotiated the hard-to -read chart on the side of the camera. But I agree, it can be done....

Alan

Ridiculous to say the least. Probably first time I've read one needs to go into a war zone when dealing with DOF on the RB, but there is always a first.