No Rb67 Pro S's on ebay?

Ric Trexell · Apr 3, 2011

I was just checking out a few cameras on ebay and I usually check the Mamiya RB67 (all versions) listings. Today I entered Mamiya RB67 Pro S and the only thing that came up were three listings for light shielding kits. NO cameras or backs or anything related to gear. I then entered just Mamiya RB67 and got that plus filters and shutter releases. Again no cameras. I have noticed that there have been less and less cameras for sale over the last year, but this is strange. Are people that wanted a RB now hanging on to them or is there little demand for them. I realize this could change tomorrow, but it is the first time that I have not seen one or two cameras for sale. I'm not looking for a camera, but I'm always interested to see what they are going for and what accessories are up for auction.

CGW · Apr 3, 2011

Ric Trexell said:
I was just checking out a few cameras on ebay and I usually check the Mamiya RB67 (all versions) listings. Today I entered Mamiya RB67 Pro S and the only thing that came up were three listings for light shielding kits. NO cameras or backs or anything related to gear. I then entered just Mamiya RB67 and got that plus filters and shutter releases. Again no cameras. I have noticed that there have been less and less cameras for sale over the last year, but this is strange. Are people that wanted a RB now hanging on to them or is there little demand for them. I realize this could change tomorrow, but it is the first time that I have not seen one or two cameras for sale. I'm not looking for a camera, but I'm always interested to see what they are going for and what accessories are up for auction.

Saw quite a few, sorry. Often, clueless sellers list Pro S models as Pro models, so it pays to look closely. I'm not sensing a trend, Ric.

MattKing · Apr 3, 2011

A whole bunch of Pro S gear shows up when I run my (saved) eBay RB67 search. Admittedly it is an eBay.ca search, but most of the entries are from the USA.

brucemuir · Apr 3, 2011

It's always better to run generic searches (ie don't limit to a specific version of the same model)
like CGW says there will be mis-listed items and you'll end up with less competition when bidding.

Sirius Glass · Apr 3, 2011

Check KEH.com and Samys Camera. The inventory constantly changes so those places are good for hunting for what you want. Besides, their return policies beat the risks of eBay. YMMV

Steve

j-dogg · Apr 3, 2011

There are two of them on consignment with lenses for 1,000 US in the camera shop up the street. I'm not sure if they are Pro S but they are definitely RB67's.

How do you know if they are Pro S? I know very little about medium format, I do a lot of 35mm SLR's and rangefinders.

hpulley · Apr 3, 2011

Do check KEH, their lens prices are cheaper than eBay, probably bodies too!

$1000 is way too much for an RB67. Check KEH!

CGW · Apr 3, 2011

j-dogg said:
There are two of them on consignment with lenses for 1,000 US in the camera shop up the street. I'm not sure if they are Pro S but they are definitely RB67's.

How do you know if they are Pro S? I know very little about medium format, I do a lot of 35mm SLR's and rangefinders.

Doh, it says "Pro S" on the body, film back, and rotating adapter--subtle, no?

heespharm · Apr 3, 2011

I recently bought a pro s rb67 with 120 back for 51 dollars... Look around

Ric Trexell · Apr 3, 2011

Sorry, it must have been a glitch.

Sorry guys (and gals). I went there now and found several cameras up for bidding. It must have been a glitch this morning to only show three listings. As for going to KEH and others, that is no fun when you can bid on something you will never use, that you had no intention of ever buying, but someone is listing for a fraction of what it is usually listed for so you just have to put in a bid. There is no cure for this, it started 40 years ago when I got my first 35mm camera that I could focus and adjust all those numbers, and I'm still looking for the perfect camera. So far I have been able to eliminate digitals from my list.

Sirius Glass · Apr 3, 2011

Ric Trexell said:
So far I have been able to eliminate digitals from my list.

Sounds like a good start!

Mainecoonmaniac · Apr 4, 2011

Have you considered RZ? I have an RZ and I use RB lenses and a RZ prism on it. Works like a charm, but still heavy.

jpreston · Apr 4, 2011

Although I haven't really noticed a shortage of Pro S's, I have noticed an increase in the prices of the units listed for sale. A couple of months ago I bought a Pro S in EX condition, a BGN (that looks as good as an EX) 65mm non-C, a BGN 90mm C, an EX 180mm C, 120 6x7 power back and a prism all for $450.00. I haven't seen anything close to that deal since then.

Still looking for a 360mm and another 120 back to finish up my kit.

Jeff

CGW · Apr 5, 2011

jpreston said:
Although I haven't really noticed a shortage of Pro S's, I have noticed an increase in the prices of the units listed for sale. A couple of months ago I bought a Pro S in EX condition, a BGN (that looks as good as an EX) 65mm non-C, a BGN 90mm C, an EX 180mm C, 120 6x7 power back and a prism all for $450.00. I haven't seen anything close to that deal since then.

Still looking for a 360mm and another 120 back to finish up my kit.

Jeff

Clean, mint or NOS stuff is getting harder to find, the exception being the give-away KEH prices on popular focal length new KL lenses. Butt-ugly, worked-to-death Pro bodies and backs are still out there for the brave.

Rudeofus · Apr 6, 2011

My impression of the MF used market is that it is very uneven and chaotic. Checking one source once will barely give you an image of what's out there in the market and at what prices. A year ago KEH was flooded with RZ lenses (they even had the 37mm fisheye and the 500/5.6 ! ), then the number of offerings quickly declined. Then those NOS lenses hit KEH, of which most have been sold by now, especially the longer focal lengths. I constantly find offers on ebay at twice the price of what brick&mortar shops ask.

It takes time, dilligence and a sense for the right moment to score MF parts for reasonable (ha ha, 1/10 of original price for top condition ) prices.

phirehouse · Apr 7, 2011

i love the RB67 and check several sources daily, despite the fact that i already have more complete units than i will ever need. it all started with a local craigslist purchase of a Pro S with a 220 back, 90mm "C" lens, and the standard prism without the meter. It was my first venture into medium format, and i was instantly hooked the first time i looked into that viewfinder. I paid $60.00 for it. It was dirty, but functioned perfectly. I posted here looking for help with adding to the kit and purchased some great stuff from B.S. Kumar. Since then i have completely went off the reservation, buying every "deal" i came across. i do believe if you keep looking you will find your deal too. The best deal was purchasing the "as is" camera bodies from KEH. prices ranged from $1.30-$6.80. I bought four total, and three of them worked! i know this sounds crazy, hell even i don't believe it. I am sure this doesn't really happen that often, I just must have been extremely lucky, (I did send the one that did not work in for service to kind of appease the good luck gods, and as a thank-you to KEH). I do need some serious therapy though, as I now have fourteen RB67's not having paid over $100.00 for any of them, (the exception being the body i sent to KEH for service). Please do not look upon this as gloating, but rather as a cry for help. I just can't seem to resist the temptation to buy these awesome cameras. I guess my point is that the deals are out there, please find them before i do....

CGW · Apr 7, 2011

phirehouse said:
i love the RB67 and check several sources daily, despite the fact that i already have more complete units than i will ever need. it all started with a local craigslist purchase of a Pro S with a 220 back, 90mm "C" lens, and the standard prism without the meter. It was my first venture into medium format, and i was instantly hooked the first time i looked into that viewfinder. I paid $60.00 for it. It was dirty, but functioned perfectly. I posted here looking for help with adding to the kit and purchased some great stuff from B.S. Kumar. Since then i have completely went off the reservation, buying every "deal" i came across. i do believe if you keep looking you will find your deal too. The best deal was purchasing the "as is" camera bodies from KEH. prices ranged from $1.30-$6.80. I bought four total, and three of them worked! i know this sounds crazy, hell even i don't believe it. I am sure this doesn't really happen that often, I just must have been extremely lucky, (I did send the one that did not work in for service to kind of appease the good luck gods, and as a thank-you to KEH). I do need some serious therapy though, as I now have fourteen RB67's not having paid over $100.00 for any of them, (the exception being the body i sent to KEH for service). Please do not look upon this as gloating, but rather as a cry for help. I just can't seem to resist the temptation to buy these awesome cameras. I guess my point is that the deals are out there, please find them before i do....

Try the Mamiya 12-step program. Just stay 12 steps away from the keyboard and mouse.Works for me.

smcclarin · Apr 7, 2011

Search "Mamiya RB67" world wide, Some great deals from Ireland and the US, England usually high prices, sometimes search or filter for newest items, buy it now can be a good deal to jump on if you are serious. Me I am constantly looking for good deals and jumping on film backs and lenses. Pro-s Bodies once in a while.

morrishilarian · Apr 8, 2011

KEH had their prices on RB67 stuff shot up. I bought my Pro S body back in end of February for $69 only BGN condition and it's like EX+ or EX on eBay. I was very happy and pleased. But lately the prices are way too expensive. I've been watching KEH. Even the UG Pro S body is as expensive as BGN Pro S body (old price). There must be reasons for the price hikes on KEH.COM.

Sirius Glass · Apr 8, 2011

morrishilarian said:
There must be reasons for the price hikes on KEH.COM.

Supply and demand. I started buying Hasselblad equipment just as the prices were bottoming out. The prices stay low for several years and then last year the prices starting going up. Some have hypothesized that the professional photographers who dumped them for digital cameras, started coming back to film and buying them. Just a theory, I have yet to see anything back that up other than the rising prices.

Steve

Klainmeister · Apr 8, 2011

Sirius Glass said:
Supply and demand. I started buying Hasselblad equipment just as the prices were bottoming out. The prices stay low for several years and then last year the prices starting going up. Some have hypothesized that the professional photographers who dumped them for digital cameras, started coming back to film and buying them. Just a theory, I have yet to see anything back that up other than the rising prices.

Steve

Funny, my buddies and I have had the same thoughts watching the prices take a nose-dive in the 2005-07 years and steadily climb back up. I had a Mamiya Press 23 system and a Fuji GW690III for dirt cheap ($150 former, %550 the latter) and now I couldn't hardly dare find those prices. Maybe the advancements in scanner technology as well? Maybe just the feel of digital? Don't know, but the prices definitely reflect some sort of trend.

Sirius Glass · Apr 8, 2011

Klainmeister said:
Funny, my buddies and I have had the same thoughts watching the prices take a nose-dive in the 2005-07 years and steadily climb back up. I had a Mamiya Press 23 system and a Fuji GW690III for dirt cheap ($150 former, %550 the latter) and now I couldn't hardly dare find those prices. Maybe the advancements in scanner technology as well? Maybe just the feel of digital? Don't know, but the prices definitely reflect some sort of trend.

Tessina 35 L, Nikon N-75, Nikon F100, Voitlander Vito II, Hasselblad 503 CX, Hasselblad 903 SWC, 4"x5" Graflex Model D, 4"x5" Pacemaker Graphic, lots of lenses, Chromega Dichroic D5-XL with color head, 26" wide Araky Dual Dry drum print dryer, a Jobo CPP2 with tanks for 35mm, 120mm and 4"x5" Expert Drum and all the rest of the darkroom equipment for less that the top of the line Nikon or Canon digital body only. The digi-snappers have given us a gift with the digital revolution. Who knows maybe some digi-snappers are finding out that using digital techniques get their fingers dirty and smelly!

phirehouse · Apr 8, 2011

The digi-snappers have given us a gift with the digital revolution.

i agree, and i love it. (and hate it..)

JoelErnst · Apr 19, 2011

I have 2 Mimaya Rb67 ProS cameras in perfect condition. One is in the original case with everything including the instruction manual. The other is in a box with all the equipment as well. My grandfather owned a photography company and we have a ton of equipment (not limited to these two cameras) that we're trying to get rid of. I was going to sell these to KEH but figured I could just sell them directly if anyone is interested. My grandfather has Alzheimer's and we have since put him in an assisted living center and have to sell off his things. I will send you pictures of everything or answer any question you have to the best of my ability. I know absolutely nothing about this equipment. Email me at: Jernst34@gmail.com.

frobozz · Apr 19, 2011

I had him send me a few pictures of the stuff (still hoping for that barn-find Cirkut camera ) and it looks extra extra minty. I suggested he post things in the classifieds here, which would be the best chance of getting this into the hands of someone who can use it, and can pay something between what it's worth and what KEH will give him.

Duncan

No Rb67 Pro S's on ebay?

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