Mamiya RB67 Pro S kit

[chassis]

Does anyone have and use the 75mm non-shift lens? Comments on performance? This is on my future lens list. It fits well between the 50 and 90 which I have.

 

[Skai King]

Hi all,

I just joined APUG and hope to contribute, absorb and participate. This thread got my attention because I too recently got hold of a Mamiya RB67 SD Pro. It came with the 127mm. I've added the 180mm and am waiting for delivery of both the 50mm and 65mm.

As others have stated, all of the lenses Mamiya offered are great, with a nod to the multi-coated (C and later) variations. Ctrout, if you use LightRoom for your 5DM3 images, you might find it helpful to check the focal length you use often, assuming the RB would cover some of similar situations.

My background/story. I purchased new in 1983 an RB67 w/90mm and the 150SF. I only held onto the system for a couple of years as I was also trying to support and feed systems of Hasselblads, Nikons and a Sinar F+ and a 4x5 capable darkroom. Too much, so the Mamiya had to go.

I continued with the three formats until the late 90s when I was about to make a big geo move and the 4x5 system went along with the darkroom. Digital came into my scene in early 2001 and made the switch to Canon in early 2003 and still use Canon professionally to this day.

Around 2012, the lab I've used for 20+ years announced they no longer would be processing film which was a wake up call. Even though I had not exposed a single roll of roll film in over eleven years, I 'knew' I always could. Not so! A propack of Fuji NPH was secured and I took my time running a roll through a Hasselblad. Dust, scratches, long delay in receiving the processed/scanned film finally put me at ease with my move from film.

Ha! 2017 comes along and I got the itch to take a slower more determined approach... and I really missed the larger sensor/film area.

So here I am, ready to deal with what I know film brings to the table. I'll still use my 1-Series Canons and the fast lenses for much of my photography, but look forward to enjoying film again.

Back to the OP lens selection. At the prices these days, it's not like you have to mortgage your house to pick up another lens.

Skai

 

[ctrout]

I have gone through my exif data in the past to determine my mos used focal lengths and although it did help me settle on the best kit for my digital gear, I use the Eos system very differently than I would use the Mamiya. The 5D3 does get used for some head/shoulders portraits but I fell in love with the results and bokeh that I get from the 70-200 F2.8 L IS lens, especially at 200mm and f 2.8. I also use it with the 100-400L II for BIF and other wildlife, nothing that I will ever use the Mamiya for. I do shoot the occasional landscape/scenic shot with my Eos gear and I am usually at 24mm with the 24-105L, wishing that I had either a 20mm prime or the 16-35mm L.

I think the 37mm would be too wide for my taste as well as too expensive but the 50mm would get me really close to the 24mm perspective that I am used to from my 35mm experiences. I bought the 127mm as kind of a compromise between the standard 50mm and the 85mm that I have never used but heard is a great focal length in 35mm for portraiture. I will probably also eventually get a 90mm and the 180mm to give me more options in this range. The 250mm will probably be the longest I would ever consider because I think I would like it as a portrait lens and if I go any longer, I think that the cost and the weight would outweigh the advantages I might perceive.

In summary (I feel like I'm writing a college paper again), I think that my heavy reliance on zooms in the 35mm and digital realm has spoiled me to a literally infinite range of focal lengths from 24-896mm with near-prime quality. As a result, I don't think I will be happy with a 3 lens kit. I will probably end up with the 50, 65, 90, 127, 180, and 250mm lenses in my kit. I know myself far too well to expect anything less.

 

[David T T]

I've had the C versions of the 50, 65, 90, 127, 180, and 250mm lenses. All great, though I sold the 50 and 250mm when I was strapped for cash. My "light" kit is the 65 and 127mm and three film backs. My full setup is the 65/90/127/180 plus 7 120 backs (Pro SD) and 2 Polaroid backs (color and B&W). I always use the waist level finder. The full rig plus speedlights, stands, and modifiers is great fun on public trans! This would also be the case with any camera though, and I definitely am hooked on the multiple backs.

Every year I grow to love this camera more.