Medium Format Workout with the RB67

[Soeren]

Doesn't mamiya have a 6x8 motorized back for the RB Pro or Pro S system? How much smaller is it than the fuji 680 neg size?

 

[MattKing]

The 6x8 back only gives you a (nearly) 6x8 negative if your camera has the 6x8 compatible revolving adapter (many do) and even then, you only achieve that size in one of the two orientations - portrait, IIRC.

Otherwise, the corners vignette.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

You deserve my highest respect.

I have wet dreams over the GX680; i would love to have one.

Likewise.

 

[Tjack]

Having a good strap with extra padding on neck or shoulder area helps.

 

[quixotic]

Does anyone use the Fuji GX680 hand held? Amazing camera with an amazing array of lenses and accessories. I have carried mine all over Canada and it is heavy but the results are worth it.

I had a gx680 for a couple of years, but i never carried it very far. However, the largest framed photo in our living room was done with it (2' x 3' of Westminster Abbey in BC). I used a berlebach tripod with it always. gx680's are abundant and dirt cheap now, but I would never go back, due to the weight (and the insane beeping when inside a church). But I miss the larger chromes, so last week, I ordered an RZ67 with a 75mm shift lens. I suspect it'll weigh about 2/3's or half of what the gx680 weighed. It won't have quite the rise that the gx680 had, but perhaps I'll be able to lug it around a bit further. And I might even be able to use my carbon fibre tripod instead of the heavier and more unwieldy berlebach.

 

[paul ron]

Having a good strap with extra padding on neck or shoulder area helps.

absolutely a requirement. dont get a narrow optek strap, get a wide one preferably the mamiya straps.

 

[Simon Benton]

I had a gx680 for a couple of years, but i never carried it very far.

It is a heavy camera and even though I am now 72 I still find I can carry it around. I use it mainly with soft focus lenses - I have a wonderful Verito in a Gx680 shutter - and I find hand held and being able to move camera quickly allows me to get the best effects. I use it on a tripod when taking static subjects but I prefer hand held. I also have a RZ67 with a range of lenses including soft focus (Imagon) and it is a good camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

So after purchasing the RB67... well, it's definitely a heavy sucker. I have recently also learned that I'm the kind of person who can't really work with the flipped image when looking into a waist level finder. Therefore, I needed to put the RB67 prism finder, which weighs probably as much as one of my Sigma lenses.
...

I too do not like the flipped image, so I used a prism on the Mamiya C330. For that reason, I bought a prism when I bought my Hasselblad. I have never used the wlf except as ballast to balance out the camera pack.

 

[dugrant153]

After some work, I'm starting to slow down and use the WLF... simply because the sheer weight of the prism and handgrip makes it so I can only carry it around for moments at a time. It's heavy and it's also very chunky too, making it difficult to store away quickly without disassembling it.... OR by making is so my backpack can only have two things: my wallet and the RB67 w/ prism finder. Nothing else :/

The WLF definitely throws me off still but I'm now forcing myself to use it. The weight savings usually means that I can bring a Leica, a light mirrorless digital and an extra film back as well as the RB67 + WLF... and yes, the wallet too.

Some shots:
http://steadyfoxtimemachine.tumblr.com/

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I'm convinced Mamiya made the RB67 prisms from the armor of scrapped Soviet T-34's.

 

[paul ron]

I'm convinced Mamiya made the RB67 prisms from the armor of scrapped Soviet T-34's.

they were tank gun sights.