New to medium format RB67 advice

[nobake]

Hi All,

I bought a RB67 off Craigslist last weekend. I'm sure this is a typical refrain - it was listed as "great condition". I stupidly didn't take time to thoroughly examine the camera (this is the first medium format camera I've touched) and when I got home I discovered three fungus spots in the lens and the frame counter doesn't work (I've run two rolls of ancient film through trying to get it working). When he said no returning it I should have run.

I was thinking about running a new roll of film through it and getting it developed to see about light leaks, scratches, etc. Judging from the condition of the rest of the camera my guess is it will be problematic.

My question is - is it worth the time, effort and money? I'm not crazy about putting another $15 into a marginal camera. However, I kind of wanted to try out medium format.

Also, with the broken frame counter, how should I know when the film is advanced far enough to take a photo? After you close the back is it typically 2, 3, 4 advancements before shooting? The one youtube video I watched had three advancements prior to being ready.

thanks for any advice.
matt

 

[480sparky]

The RB67 is a great camera. A boat anchor, to be sure, but a great camera nonetheless.

The film backs typically need actual film going through them to properly work. Just winding the film advance lever won't advance the counter. When you load the film in the back, you stop when the arrow on the paper backing lines up with an arrow in the back. Then there's no counting or anything.... just start advancing until it stops on 1.

 

[nobake]

I loaded a roll of film and lined up the arrows but the counter didn't work. I'm not sure how it counts the frames or I would try to manipulate the mechanism.

thanks,
matt

 

[MattKing]

I've had to have backs serviced in order to get a stuck counter working again. It is the sort of maintenance that heavily used RB67s require some times.

Can you borrow another back to see if that works on your camera? Can you try your back on another body?

Is the multi-exposure lever engaged?

Have you read the manual?

 

[480sparky]

It 'counts' frames merely by advancing the film lever once. It's already set to advance the film by knowing how far to advance the film/paper mechanically.

 

[nobake]

I don't have access to any other backs/bodies.

Does the RB67 pro (not S or SD) have a multi exposure lever?

And I don't have the manual. I try to search for one online.

Thanks
matt

 

[MattKing]

I don't have access to any other backs/bodies.

Does the RB67 pro (not S or SD) have a multi exposure lever?

And I don't have the manual. I try to search for one online.

Thanks
matt

By the way, welcome to APUG.

For manuals, I recommend Mike Butkus' excellent resource and recommend his requested donation. Here is a link to his Mamiya links: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya.htm

 

[John Koehrer]

yes, you have a Pro but..........
The S and SD do have a multi exposure lever, it's under the axis of the advance lever. If the red dot is showing it's in multi mode.

The first iteration didn't have an interlock and lots of people(including pros) found out the entire roll was on the first, only, and very dense frame if they cocked the camera and forgot to advance the film.
When that happened, the pros answer to the client was always the lab ruined my film.

Manuals are also available as pdf's from Mamiya

 

[MattKing]

And as for a multi exposure lever, there is none on a Pro back, all though there is a release lever.

Your problem could be a simple one that would be cured by simply opening and cleaning the counter mechanism.

 

[nobake]

thanks for the link to the manual. I'll read that.

I'll try to open and clean the counter mechanism.

thanks for the assistance.

It sounds like I should give this a try.

thanks,
matt

 

[film_man]

I've not actually counted but I think once you load film it is three strokes to get to 1 and then a single stroke between each frame. Worst case is you either advance too much or too little after loading so you lose the first frame or run out of film early.

Run a film like that, if you like the camera and you think you want to continue with it and spend a bit of money, lenses and backs are dirt cheap nowadays.