Mamiya RB67 Vs Mamiya 645 Pro TL

[QuinnRobot]

£1.79 definitely sounds worth a shot until I can afford the real deal, although I'm sure some people must be rolling their eyes at the thought ofme using an iPhone app to help me take analog photos!

I downloaded a neat looking one just called light meter which is kinda cool but I haven't got a clue how accurate it might be!

 

[Kiruna69]

Bumping this old thread because this annoys me

No...To me that's just wrong, sorry to say this. It's just off and wrong in every way. If you buy a nice old medium format camera you also should get a light meter.
Then you can use it the way it was used back in the 70's, 80's or whatever...Back in it's glory days. The way it was supposed to be used! The real deal!

And also...light meters are way cooler than phone apps Especially the cheap ones with analog scales, old Weston meters and similar. They are just awesome!
Light meter phone apps are for wankers if I can use a somewhat rude expression. I mean no harm Don't go that way!

There are lots of cheap light meters for sale, and they are way better and way cooler than an app!

 

[narsuitus]

If you buy a nice old medium format camera you also should get a light meter.

Why waste money on a light meter when you can use the Sunny 16 Exposure Guideline?

 

[film_man]

Why waste money on a light meter when you can use the Sunny 16 Exposure Guideline?

Because you're indoors...?

 

[narsuitus]

Do not need a light meter when using flash indoors?

 

[bushpig]

Bumping this old thread because this annoys me

No...To me that's just wrong, sorry to say this. It's just off and wrong in every way. If you buy a nice old medium format camera you also should get a light meter.
Then you can use it the way it was used back in the 70's, 80's or whatever...Back in it's glory days. The way it was supposed to be used! The real deal!

And also...light meters are way cooler than phone apps Especially the cheap ones with analog scales, old Weston meters and similar. They are just awesome!
Light meter phone apps are for wankers if I can use a somewhat rude expression. I mean no harm Don't go that way!

There are lots of cheap light meters for sale, and they are way better and way cooler than an app!

You're sorry of forcing your views on others. I would never tell someone they shouldn't do something because I'm not a fan of it. When it comes down to it, using an app is no different than using a dedicated meter. It's preference. Some people might prefer having to haul less gear with them. I'd argue that when hiking, for example, using your smartphone makes more sense than adding more weight to your bag. Sometimes every ounce counts.

With the kind of argument you're introducing, there's no end. It's just wrong too use meters. It's way cooler to use sunny-16. It's wrong to use roll film. It's way cooler to use wet plates. That's how photography should be! Etcetera.

It's awesome that you have a passion for this art form. And it's fun to discuss passions and opinions. But just as there's more than one way to skin a cat, there's more than one way to create a photo.

 

[Huss]

But just as there's more than one way to skin a cat, there's more than one way to create a photo.

You should never skin a cat. They do not like it.

 

[Soeren]

You're sorry of forcing your views on others. I would never tell someone they shouldn't do something because I'm not a fan of it. When it comes down to it, using an app is no different than using a dedicated meter. It's preference. Some people might prefer having to haul less gear with them. I'd argue that when hiking, for example, using your smartphone makes more sense than adding more weight to your bag. Sometimes every ounce counts.

With the kind of argument you're introducing, there's no end. It's just wrong too use meters. It's way cooler to use sunny-16. It's wrong to use roll film. It's way cooler to use wet plates. That's how photography should be! Etcetera.

It's awesome that you have a passion for this art form. And it's fun to discuss passions and opinions. But just as there's more than one way to skin a cat, there's more than one way to create a photo.

Well it's called having an opinion. Starting to having a go at people for sharing theirs in the way the phrase their words is, in my humple opinion also wrong as long as it's not salty. I've never seeing anybody sane say they did something because some bloke on APUG told them to.
Re light meters I'd get one and use it. The sunny 16 can be OK but when starting out new with MF I'd definitely go with numbers I can relate to in order to tune in exposure and development to get the most of it instead of guestimating.
When using flash indoors bouncing or through a modifier meters come in handy too.
And may I add if hauling a RB/RZ67 kit around a good light meter is not gonna make much difference overall

 

[MattKing]

I've never seeing anybody sane say they did something because some bloke on APUG told them to.

Oh contraire!
I regularly see posts of people saying - figuratively - "why didn't I think of that - I'll do it that way from now on".

 

[bushpig]

Well it's called having an opinion. Starting to having a go at people for sharing theirs in the way the phrase their words is, in my humple opinion also wrong as long as it's not salty.

I agree. But as far as I'm concerned, calling someone a wanker and saying what they're doing is wrong is not only FORCING YOUR OPINION, it's also pretty salty.
I'm sure that Kiruna69 meant no harm, but he still said what he said. And I don't feel I was "having a go" at someone for "sharing their opinion". Because saying someone else is wrong is not sharing your opinion.

I guess it doesn't matter much anyways since this was an old post, but it's still kinda shitty.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Between the Mamiya RB67 and the Mamiya 645 Pro TL, I would recommend the Hasselblad because of the better availability of parts, service, lens choices and ease of use.

 

[bluez]

Bumping this old thread because this annoys me

There are lots of cheap light meters for sale, and they are way better and way cooler than an app!

I use this one, how is that for cool?

Hand made in Belarus (from Ebay).

I hope someone one day will ask me, and i can tell them that it's a wooden lightmeter.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Excuse me for being a complete medium format novice here and asking what is no doubt a straight forward base knowledge question, but I am looking to get a medium format camera and have settled on the RB67 or 645 series Mamiyas.

But I can't seem to find a comparison of the two anywhere to make things clearer for me.

Whilst I'm new to medium format im definitely no novice to photography in general so I would like this camera to be an upgrade from 35mm rather than just an entry level MF.

I've been offered a 645 TL For £250, is that a good deal or should I hold out and try to go for a RB67 range, or better value 645 range??

Please help!

Many have already stated the size difference in both, negative (somewhat important) and weight/bulkiness (more important). RB67 is a tool box that cannot be taken lightly. I have 2 of them and it is a fantastic camera, love the rotating back etc. But it is a bulldozer size outfit that is often a drag on opportunities, all depends on what you intend to shoot with it. It was long considered a gold standard in a studio, but field work is always a challenge due to size. Large format can actually be quite smaller and lighter.

The 645 is substantially smaller, so for any outing it is likely a first choice between the two.

I would still throw into this Pentax 645. It has its limitations, namely the lack of switching film mid roll with another back, but by design it is compact (no different finders possible) and sweet to operate. Glass quality is at the top and it is a robust system. The original 645 had button controls for everything, many bitch about it, I never have. The 645N ad 645NII went with knobs to a degree and added autofocus for FA lenses (with full compatibility with MF lenses retained). I find manual focusing on 645N much more challenging then on original 645 (I wish I could find the AB82 screen and give that a try), hence I am adding another 645 as they get cheaper (of course cheap is relative, I'm not sure we'll ever see film camera prices at levels of 2008 or thereabouts).

One aspect that may be of importance is that Pentax is just motorized film advance (so there is always some noise in the shooting session), Mamiya 645 leaves the hand crank with MD option.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Between the Mamiya RB67 and the Mamiya 645 Pro TL, I would recommend the Hasselblad because of the better availability of parts, service, lens choices and ease of use.

All the same, Hasselblad has a history of mechanical problems, lens choices aren't any different and given what they cost most will have to limit themselves to a small portion of what's out there etc. I would highly argue the ease of use too. I'm not going into Ziess vs. everybody else glass quality as it is best summarized as discussing their virtues on a level of pixel peeping and not so much pixel peeping. Purely academic differences for 99.9% of applications. If one cannot get a technically superior (if that is the goal) photo with any of the major Japanese glass, the problem is NOT in the glass.

 

[Sirius Glass]

All the same, Hasselblad has a history of mechanical problems, ...

Not true. Any camera can be screwed up by one not following the instructions.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Not true. Any camera can be screwed up by one not following the instructions.

This is also true. Does not invalidate what I said, Hassy is not for everyone and it is certainly not as superior as many make it out to be. It's more of the purported social status upgrade and not in a photographic sense.

I don't mean to misrepresent my own feelings about owning a Hassy. There was a time, in the good days of digital causing all film gear to plummet to the point of a Hassy going down at ridiculous prices in a 300-400 range for complete camera, and that was a time to get one, I just never opted in. These days I would never suggest getting one to anyone who is counting, as it is not worth it from the photographic stand point.

 

[Soeren]

I find it interesting that people buys/recommends high quality bigsize negative cameras like the ones mentioned in this thread and then negates some/most/all the possible jump in quality this sizes gives over 24X36 by sloppiness in exposure etc. There is ofcource a large margin for error in B&W films and process meaning you can screw up and still get printable negs but why splash the cash and have the hassle of carrying a quality medium format camera around if you wont work it properly and get the best possible out of it+

 

[Kiruna69]

I use this one, how is that for cool?

View attachment 216558

Hand made in Belarus (from Ebay).

I hope someone one day will ask me, and i can tell them that it's a wooden lightmeter.

Yes, that's the coolest light meter i've seen I wish I was paying more attention in school during woodwork classes - then maybe I could make something similar

Sorry if some of you got offended - Maybe I was a bit provocative with my reply. I sincerely apologize for that. I did not mean to be rude, and did not mean to force my opinion on anyone. It's just my opinion on light meters vs phone apps.

Cheers!

 

[dkonigs]

Between the Mamiya RB67 and the Mamiya 645 Pro TL, I would recommend the Hasselblad because of the better availability of parts, service, lens choices and ease of use.

Haha... Speaking as someone who has a Mamiya 645 Pro TL, and recently got a Hasselblad 503cw, I definitely wouldn't agree on the "ease of use" part. The Mamiya actually has electronics that link the prism-finder's meter to the camera's shutter, and has a shorter throw on the focus, which I feel actually do make the camera easier to use.
(That being said, the Hasselblad probably does have better lens choices, options, and parts availability.)

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Haha... Speaking as someone who has a Mamiya 645 Pro TL, and recently got a Hasselblad 503cw, I definitely wouldn't agree on the "ease of use" part. The Mamiya actually has electronics that link the prism-finder's meter to the camera's shutter, and has a shorter throw on the focus, which I feel actually do make the camera easier to use.
(That being said, the Hasselblad probably does have better lens choices, options, and parts availability.)

When you own a Hassy you are walking the red carpet of who is who in photography. If you don't, you can't take no picture, or so a hard core Hassy owner would have you believe. There are photos taken with a Hassy and there are the rest of them.

 

[bushpig]

Sorry if some of you got offended - Maybe I was a bit provocative with my reply. I sincerely apologize for that. I did not mean to be rude, and did not mean to force my opinion on anyone. It's just my opinion on light meters vs phone apps.

Cheers!

I absolutely believe you didn't mean to be rude. And it's cool that you can man up and apologize. I'm not offended by weekday you said, but figured that maybe someone else could be. I actually prefer a standalone meter to a phone, but no issues with people using phones.

When you own a Hassy you are walking the red carpet of who is who in photography. If you don't, you can't take no picture, or so a hard core Hassy owner would have you believe. There are photos taken with a Hassy and there are the rest of them.

Hahahahaha!

 

[Deleted member 88956]

...

Hahahahaha!

This is no lie, I used to have a rat in my old darkroom. I called him Hassy because he pooped all over my left-unattended images that were not shot with a Hassy. Since I never shot a single frame with a Hassy, it's not difficult to picture how many got pooped over. Sadly, Hassy passed away from food poisoning so I don't know if he would ever understand the problem with his behavior.

 

[neilt3]

I use this one, how is that for cool?

View attachment 216558

Hand made in Belarus (from Ebay).

I hope someone one day will ask me, and i can tell them that it's a wooden lightmeter.

That is neat .
I'd be interested in the ebay link for one , if there still available as I couldn't find one .

 

[Alan Gales]

I used to be an Ebay seller of film cameras. I've bought and sold a lot of them. Of course I ran film through the cameras before I sold them to make sure they worked. I've shot 35mm, medium format, large format, Polaroid and digital. I even owned and shot a Hasselblad 500/cm for a little over a year.

I've come to the conclusion that the hunk of grey stuff between your ears is way more important then which camera you shoot.