Mamiya Rb67 or 645 1000's?

MrFus

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I have decide to get a second camera to complement my c330 and I am torn between this two!

I love the 6x6 format on the Mamiya c330 and it fits perfect on my shooting style (close and personal with the subject using as much as possible of the frame), but when it comes to landscape photography the square frame just feels weird!

I will like to see your opinions on this two models so I can make a smart move/purchase!
 

laser

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Larger film image is always better.
 

Andrew O'Neill

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I've been using an RB67 for 30 years. When I'm not shooting large format, it's medium format. That's usually with the RB. If I want square, I'll go with the C330 or Rolleicord. I love the rotating back on the RB (that's what RB stands for). The only drawback is it ways quite a bit but that's okay, because 99% of the time I have it on a tripod (I recently made a film pushing video hand holding the camera. I was beat, by the end of it!). One plus would be no batteries required. 6x7, 6x4.5, 6x8 (motorised) backs are available....and a 6x6, I believe.
 

Eric S

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I have an BR67 kit that I'm planning to liquidate if you find yourself interested. I have a C220 that has been my "go-to" for medium format. I stumbled on the RB kit a few years ago and jumped in head first and have only put 1 roll of film through it. Now, I'm trying to pull together enough $ to make a pricy lens purchase for my dslr.

I will say that the rb67 has a fantastic feel to it. the negs are enormous (I have no experience with large format). I remember considering the 645 but I never got my hands on one. Sorry if I'm not more helpful. Good luck with your journey. Message me if you want to talk about my kit (90mm 3.8, prism & waist level finders, 2 film backs, and a left hand grip)
 

jwd722

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I say go with the RB67. It's heavy but not unbearably so and since you have the c330 you are used to a heavy camera anyway.

With a 6x6 you could conceivably crop down to 645 but not up to 6x7. 6x7 is just enough more real estate and does nice things to landscapes.

I have the RB67and the Mamiya 645 also a c33 and c220. The RB handles more like the "c" cameras with the bellows focusing albeit with one lens instead of two. The RB will also allow very close focusing (for those micro landscapes) even without a macro lens (about seven inches with a 90mm lens). Tubes are available if you want to get even closer.

A "downside"(?) is that most lenses max out at 1/400 sec. but in my experience landscapes usually hold pretty still so its never been a problem.
 

wiltw

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If you do more studio shooting, the RB67 is the camera. If you like to go portable, the 645 is better. The bulk and weight of the 6x7 format camera may initially seem like 'not that much' but folks have tried and eventually found it to be 'too much'. Which side of that fence you fall on is very much up to you.
 

Jeremy Mudd

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I own several RB's, 2 1000S's, and several 645 Pro TL's.

That said, with the given choice of RB67 or 1000S, an Rb67 Pro SD is the better choice. Much more versatile, larger native negative with the ability to shoot other formats like 6x4.5 and also 135mm panos with adapters. Plus having separate backs is nice.

I know there are many here on the forum that will extol the virtues of the 1000S and say its far superior to the Pro TL versions, but to me the 1000S is a headache. Ergonomics aren't great with the prism finder, and the WLF has went to crazy price levels in the past two years to where it costs more than a good body. They are prone to frame skipping as they get older and if they haven't had a CLR. And they are heavy for what they are. Don't forget to factor new light seals in for any purchase as most have been run hard and put away wet.

If you add in a 645 Pro TL as a potential choice, and want portability, it may be the front-runner here. Its lighter than the 1000S, has separate backs, and has the same great lens choices as the 1000S. and no light seals - it has light traps. It can be set up super light with a WLF and a hand winder crank, which is what I like to carry on longer hikes. Add a metered prism and a grip, and it functions like a familiar SLR. I know someone will chime in about the mirror stop being an issue when it breaks, but its an easy fix for DIY folks. The other knock is that some will say its plastic, but if one does a little actual research they will see that it has a metal chassis that's covered with plastic, like modern pro-level DSLR's. I have dropped a few and have been fine. For me my only problems with them over the years has been one that stopped working (turned out to be an easy fix with a youtube video's help), and I had a back go bad. To be fair I had an RB67 ProS body wear out and was not fixable, and several RB backs go bad over the years, so its no worse in that regard.

Jeremy
 

Donald Qualls

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There are 6x4.5 backs for the RB67 as well, so if you like that format, the option is open. In fact, the RB67 is one of the most versatile cameras I've ever used. Any 2x3 Graflok roll film back will work with it, with the loss of double exposure and dark slide interlock function. I have 6x6 and 6x9 backs (Graflex 22 and 23) as well as 6x7 and 6x4.5.
 

Marcelo Paniagua

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Like said, large is always better. I think it depends on how you use your camera. I normally use my ETRS (comparing to Mamiya 645) when I plan to move around much (like hiking, street photography, casual around the house photography ) and would use the RB67 for more planned sessions, like portrait, landscape and arquitecture. I would say use your C330 for 6x6 and 6x4.5 and get the RB67. It is heavy and different than C330 (have and often use both of them) but you will get used to it in no time. Those big negatives are just gorgeous. Also, you can't beat the rotating back. That is incredible useful.

Be aware that, IMHO, you definetly need to get WLF for Mamiya 645, otherwise the handling and ergonomics are weird. I had the M 645 with the prism in the past and sold it since I couldnt get used to handling. This because the WLF for Mamiya 645 is quite expensive.

Moved to Bronica ETRS and had not missed the Mamiya 645. Only thing that I miss from that set is the 1.9 lens. I think it is one of the fastest lens on MF.
 

Marcelo Paniagua

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Also, RB67 has the only non square format fish eye lens in medium format, if you like that kind of things.
 
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Donald Qualls

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Maybe you meant "not square format?" Hasselblad, Praktica/Kiev 66 and Kiev 88 all have fisheyes in the 30 mm range, might be one for Bronica mount, too.
 
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MrFus

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Cool, I'm totally interested on checking your kit, I have not get enough posts to unlock the "conversation" feature on the forum so I can't send you a PM.

It looks like in general the opinion it's that use the c330 for the 6x6 and 6x4.5 and get the Rb67 to enjoy the bigger rectangular frames...
 
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MrFus

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I see your point... The Rb67 is roughly double the weight of the c330, and that little brick is thick babe!
 
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Donald Qualls

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MrFus said:
use the c330 for the 6x6 and 6x4.5 and get the Rb67 to enjoy the bigger rectangular frames...
Click to expand...

Seems very reasonable. I've reached the stage where if I had to choose one single camera for the rest of my life, I'd really miss my Speed Graphic and Graphic View...
 

MattKing

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I used to have all three - C330, Mamiya 645 Pro and RB67 Pro S. I sold the RB due to space constraints. I really miss it. But the C330 and 645 Pro serve me very well.
By the way, my WLF for the 645 Pro is a rarely used accessory. The metering prism finder works well, and with the left handed trigger grip the camera handles wonderfully. If I want waist level finder work, I use the C330, although the prism finder gets more use on it than the WLF gets on the 645 Pro.
I sometimes project medium format slides, so that factors into my liking of 6x4.5.
 

Jeremy Mudd

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Interesting, I feel the exact opposite way.

While I have the WLF and use it for a lightweight set-up for hiking or walking around, the handling and ergonomics of shooting with a WLF on a 645 I find to be restricting if I'm not just shooting landscape-format shots.

Trying to turn the camera on its side for portrait-oriented shots with the WLF can get weird if my brain doesn't do it all of the time. Definitely quicker and easier with a prism finder on there.

Jeremy
 

Eric S

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I had some time today, so I took some photos. Enjoy.

Sold - Mamiya RB67 Pro Kit -SOLD

Mamiya RB67 Professional Kit For Sale Body - Great shape, mechanically. I've had no issues with the shutter release or shutter crank. There are cosmetic scuffs and scrapes which can be seen in the photos. The rotating back mounts, dismounts, and rotates without issue. Lens - 90mm f/3.8 -...
www.photrio.com
 

flavio81

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If you want to do landscapes and portraits, i guess the RB67 is ideal, at least for portraits (even more so for studio portraits), and the larger format would help for landscape, I guess. If you're only going to do portraits the C330 is an ideal machine, with the 105, 135 or 180mm lenses.

I owned the C330 and the RB67 and i've tried the M645 1000s as well. I did not like the ergonomics of the M645. Whereas I got along just fine with the C330 and the RB67 was my favorite camera for many years. Really its only drawback is the size and weight, otherwise it does many things well.

A third option, if you're going to be outside an studio, is the Pentax 6x7 system. Significantly lighter and smaller than the RB67 system, both in camera and in lenses. I sold my RB67 and downsized -- to Pentax 67, and to Bronica ETRSi (6x4.5).
 
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MrFus

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Well, this is kind of annoying... I'm trying to see about replaying your post about the sale and I got blocked by the "You have insufficient privileges to reply here"....
 

MattKing

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MrFus said:
Well, this is kind of annoying... I'm trying to see about replaying your post about the sale and I got blocked by the "You have insufficient privileges to reply here"....
Click to expand...

We have had a rash of spammers and scammers recently target the Classifieds, so access to them is temporarily restricted for new members with low post counts.
Eric S can start a Private Conversation with you, you will see a flag in your Inbox at the top right and you can correspond with each other.
In the meantime I'll draw this to the attention of Sean, the site's owner, who may be able to manually change your access.
 
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MrFus

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Thank you!.. I have refrain myself from posting questions here because I know how aggravating is to see people asking the same basic questions a hundred times! so usually I will spend a couple of days searching online for the same questions or subjects until I get a general answer...
 

Sean

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Hi, you're all set now. Thanks for your patience.

Sean
 
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