New to Medium Format: My new Mamiya RB67 Pro SD

houdel · Jul 9, 2013

Hello all. I am somewhat new to Medium Format - I say somewhat new only because I did own a Yashica D TLR back in my college years, but that was nearly a half century ago! I have been a Konica 35mm SLR collector/enthusiast for a number of years, and begrudgingly admit to owning a DSLR which I use mainly to take photos for items I am listing on Ebay.

I recently decided to take the plunge into medium format and have acquired a modest Mamiya RB67 Pro SD kit. So far I have the Pro SD body, KL 90mm f/3.5 lens, a brand new KL 127mm f/3.5 lens, WLF & prism (non CDS) finders, three Pro SD 120 backs and two Pro 120 backs. I'd like to get a Pro SD 120/220 motorized back and a 175mm shift lens (good luck finding that for a reasonable price).

My primary interests are landscape and architecture (hence the 175 shift lens). I might like to take a foray into portraiture at some time in the future.

I've posted photos of my kit on Flikr, here is a link if you are interested in seeing what I have:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/houdel/sets/72157634461336620/

mgifotografie · Jul 9, 2013

Have fun with your new set. I recently started with medium format and am impressed by the look of 6*7

Jeff Kubach · Jul 9, 2013

I like my RB67.

Jeff

tkamiya · Jul 9, 2013

That's not a modest kit! You have pretty much top-of-the-line kit...!

Enjoy!

Sirius Glass · Jul 9, 2013

Welcome to APUG

Enjoy!

Where are you?

Pumalite · Jul 9, 2013

You'll love your Mamiya RB6X7 Pro SD kit. I've had one for many years.

Alan Klein · Jul 9, 2013

I love my RB67. May I suggest a strong tripod and cable release. Good luck and welcome. Alan.

SpunkySpine · Jul 10, 2013

Nice choice - Nice Kit. Welcome to APUG.

Alan Gales · Jul 10, 2013

Welcome to APUG. Nice outfit. I used to own an RZ67 which is similar. You will love those big 6x7 negatives.

No problem owning a DSLR. It's just another tool. I'd hate to be taking Ebay pictures with my 8x10 and scanning them. It would get quite expensive and time consuming!

houdel · Jul 10, 2013

I'm in Chase, MI (aka East Overshoe) a tiny place that doesn't show up on the maps much. Northwest lower Michigan, not too far from Michigan's western shore of Lake Michigan, about 35 miles east of Ludington (which is a large city right on Lake Michigan).

tkamiya · Jul 10, 2013

Hi,

It helps if you enter your location in your user profile. This is an international forum, so we have no idea where you are.... Often, it is necessary to know your approximate location when responding to your post or making suggestions. Anyway, enjoy your RB. I wish I used mine more often.

houdel · Jul 10, 2013

Sorry about that. I had just signed up on the forum and didn't get my info entered before I posted my message. I will take care of that tout suite!

Nathan Riehl · Jul 10, 2013

I started MF with a Yashica-D as well, as you can see from my icon there. I love my grey bodied version. Got it in absolutely perfect condition for only about 100 USD. Had the original leather case for it too. I'm hoping soon enough that I can afford a Mamiya SLR kit though. I want to get into that world as quickly as I can.

houdel · Jul 10, 2013

I bought my Yashica D new from K-Mart around 1967-1968. Don't recall what I paid for it, probably $20 or so, as a college student that's about all I could afford at that time in my life. I don't remember what I did with it but I sure wish I still had it now. I might just have to buy a used Rollei to replace it in a few months when my budget has recovered from the RB67 experience!

gus. · Jul 13, 2013

Congrats, Houdel! I just recently purchased my first MF body in an RZ and LOVE that thing! I took instant film of folks at 4th of July and they were a hit! Might wanna get a polaroid back if only just for fun. They're not pricey.

houdel · Jul 19, 2013

I fell into the RB67 by accident. When I started looking for a MF camera, my first thought was Hassleblad. We had one at work on a job I had many years ago and I used it a few times, so that was the first thing to pop into my mind. It popped out real quick when I found out what Hassy gear was going for. So I hiked on over to the Manual Focus Forum and read up on what they had to say about MF there. Most of the posts recommended Bronica or the RB67. Bronica didn't do much for me so I started looking for a RB67.

I quickly settled on the Pro SD and found one I liked on Ebay. Interestingly the seller was in South Korea, but even including the shipping it was as cheap as ones from US sellers and from the photos it looked pretty mint. It took one day to get from Seoul to Chicago, sat in customs for three days, and I got it the day after it was released from customs. It was as nice as it looked in the photos and I am very happy with it.

The forum I was on didn't mention the RZ67, but then again it is the MANUAL Focus Forum! RZ lenses and backs seem to be less expensive than RB gear but I think the RZ might be too modern for me! My biggest problem now is focusing but I plan on getting a split image focusing screen next month so that problem should be solved.

The focusing screen and a heavier tripod should fill out my kit. I'm thinking of a Slik 700DX, has anyone had any experience with this tripod? I'm pretty sure I want a pan head; ball heads may be ok on a lighter camera but I think a pan head is a wiser choice for the RB.

KennyMark · Jul 19, 2013

houdel said:
I'm in Chase, MI (aka East Overshoe) a tiny place that doesn't show up on the maps much. Northwest lower Michigan, not too far from Michigan's western shore of Lake Michigan, about 35 miles east of Ludington (which is a large city right on Lake Michigan).

Livin' the life on US-10! And when life is boring, one can always wander over to Irons or Peacock.

I was in your neck of the woods earlier this week. Pretty as ever, but pretty hot this week.

One should use caution however, when describing Ludington as a "large city" so as to avoid setting visitors up for disappointment or confusion!

houdel · Jul 19, 2013

Yes it has been very hot here this week. I haven't been out of the house all week except to go to the mailbox. As for Ludington being a "large city", at least they have traffic lights there. That's more than you can say for ALL of Lake County. Not a single traffic light in the entire county that I am aware of!

benjiboy · Jul 19, 2013

A hearty welcome Houdel, from another retired former professional engineer (British Institute of Mechanical Engineers), I hope you enjoy your Mamiya Gear as much as I have mine over the last 25 years.

Sirius Glass · Jul 19, 2013

Welcome to APUG houdel

brucemuir · Jul 19, 2013

Yep, welcome Houdel

houdel · Jul 19, 2013

Thanks all for the kind greetings!

KennyMark · Jul 20, 2013

houdel said:
That's more than you can say for ALL of Lake County. Not a single traffic light in the entire county that I am aware of!

Houdel, try driving through the intersection of Washington and Michigan in Baldwin without stopping while one of the boys in brown (who's office is a 7 iron South of there) is watching you. Then try explaining that Lake County has no traffic lights and let us know what she or he says next.

houdel · Jul 21, 2013

KennyMark said:
Houdel, try driving through the intersection of Washington and Michigan in Baldwin without stopping while one of the boys in brown (who's office is a 7 iron South of there) is watching you. Then try explaining that Lake County has no traffic lights and let us know what she or he says next.

No problem if you are going north to south or south to north, its only flashing yellow in those directions. But I should have been more specific; I meant the full red-yellow-green traffic lights, not the traffic signals that flash red in one direction, yellow in the other. But even at that, Lake County has only three red-yellow flashing signals that I can think of.

taroger · Jul 21, 2013

Your RB67 looks really nice. I have the slightly smaller Mamiya 7 and Mamiya 645 Pro TL. I usually take the Mamiya 7 because it is so convenient. The glass is amazing. Can easily use handheld, but it produces great landscapes on a tripod, and with the transparencies scanned to maximum resolution at a pro lab.

New to Medium Format: My new Mamiya RB67 Pro SD

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