Praising the RB67 Pro S -- Hail the Emperor of Medium Format

Sirius Glass · Jan 3, 2016

I would like to see what you have done with a fisheye. I passed up not one but two opportunities last month to buy the Hasselblad fisheye. I just do seem to be able to think of enough uses for it especially since I have the Hasselblad SWC and the WideLux F7.

Trail Images · Jan 3, 2016

I would like to see what you have done with a fisheye.

Hi S. G., here are two images that are single image takes with the 37mm fisheye. I've also made several pano images that are 3 image stitches in PS that I've never posted on APUG for obvious reasons of using PS to "glue" them together.....

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

paul ron · Jan 3, 2016

hey paul, i love this lens. it doesnt get much use but when it does, it'll blow you away.

180° view is amazingly clean unlike the classic fisheyes, its not an eyeball view.

Ashfaque · Jan 3, 2016

Hi TI,

Will it be possible for you share them somewhere else as well? I can't see them now as I don't have APUG subscription.

Trail Images · Jan 3, 2016

Ashfaque, I'll send you a PM with a link to my website. I wish I could just link the two images here, but the site does not show the individual addresses, I just noticed that oddity?

Ashfaque · Jan 3, 2016

Thanks a lot, Trail Images.

Sirius Glass · Jan 3, 2016

Trail Images said:
Hi S. G., here are two images that are single image takes with the 37mm fisheye. I've also made several pano images that are 3 image stitches in PS that I've never posted on APUG for obvious reasons of using PS to "glue" them together.....

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Thank you. Most of what I have seen has be special architectural shots, forests, and photographs of camera store inventory that shows the photographer's shoes.

CropDusterMan · Jan 3, 2016

Wayne said:
Tilt-shift in an RB?

No. Tilt shift on RZ Pro II...used it with a 140mm for close portrait work to keep lips and eyes sharp.

mweintraub · Jan 4, 2016

One thing the Mamiyas have over the Hassy is being able to wind the new film without first setting it up in the back before mounting. At least that's how I remember the RB. The RZ and Bronica SQ-A are that way. Load film, line dot/arrow, load then wind on body until (1).

Roger Cole · Jan 5, 2016

paul ron said:
you'll get to appreciate this camera once you get the hang of it.

i was out in the woods today shooting old trees with my fisheye. im about 2' from the tree n have the entire height in my prism.

as im setting up, an enthusiastic digital bird watcher walks up behind me and was very curious about my camera.

hahahahaha i took my RB off the tripod n the guy jumped back as if i had a death ray gun. i reset it n let him see the vf, he was blown away when he looked in the prism. he said it seemed so big n looked like it was in 3d.

we may be seeing him here looking for a camera soon.

Not to in any way denigrate the RBs (I kind of want one someday) but this experience times several is very common in large format, combined with "why is it upside down?" But first they ask how old it is and if you can get film for, then they ask why you put your head under the cloth, then you show them and "WOW!" or the like. That's with 4x5. I imagine 8x10 might make some digi-snappers heads explode when they got a look.

Alan Gales · Jan 5, 2016

Roger Cole said:
Not to in any way denigrate the RBs (I kind of want one someday) but this experience times several is very common in large format, combined with "why is it upside down?" But first they ask how old it is and if you can get film for, then they ask why you put your head under the cloth, then you show them and "WOW!" or the like. That's with 4x5. I imagine 8x10 might make some digi-snappers heads explode when they got a look.

I've got an 8x10 and a 4x5 back for it. Both 8x10 and 4x5 of course have their advantages but I really enjoy looking at the 8x10 ground glass. When I show people they are usually pretty amazed!

Roger, as you well know, when the pros went digital and sold all their medium format gear there was a glut of it on the market. Now you don't see near as much of it. Quite a bit is coming from Japan until the supply is depleted. My point is that if you are interested in an RB I would buy one now while there is still a nice supply on Ebay. Prices are quite low on both cameras and lenses. I know when I bought my RZ just a few years ago there were quite a lot of RZ items for sale and now not near as much. Some of it has actually gone up a little in price too.

Roger Cole · Jan 5, 2016

Alan Gales said:
I've got an 8x10 and a 4x5 back for it. Both 8x10 and 4x5 of course have their advantages but I really enjoy looking at the 8x10 ground glass. When I show people they are usually pretty amazed!

Roger, as you well know, when the pros went digital and sold all their medium format gear there was a glut of it on the market. Now you don't see near as much of it. Quite a bit is coming from Japan until the supply is depleted. My point is that if you are interested in an RB I would buy one now while there is still a nice supply on Ebay. Prices are quite low on both cameras and lenses. I know when I bought my RZ just a few years ago there were quite a lot of RZ items for sale and now not near as much. Some of it has actually gone up a little in price too.

I probably will in the next six months or so. My finances are in recovery mode after a divorce. (You know why divorces cost so much? Because they're WORTH it! ) Other hobbies have suffered too. I let my pilot currency and medical expire and haven't flown in nearly three years, but I'm going to change THAT too. Time to live for me again. (To be fair it wasn't just the divorce but the preceding 2.5 years that drained both my finances and my energy.)

I ought to start a thread about RB versus RZ. I'm only vaguely aware of the differences (RB mechanical, RZ battery dependant, RZ a bit bigger and heavier, no? some lenses work on both and some don't...) and would need to decide between them.

One reason I've held off is that, while I love working with the view camera, given the PITA factor of sheet film in general and dust problems in particular, I'm afraid if I do I'll all but give up 4x5!

Wayne · Jan 5, 2016

Roger Cole said:
One reason I've held off is that, while I love working with the view camera, given the PITA factor of sheet film in general and dust problems in particular, I'm afraid if I do I'll all but give up 4x5!

I haven't given up 4x5 or 8x10, and the RB is so much easier to use it keeps me photographically active when I might not feel like lugging around the bigger gear. Its quicker to set up and quicker to shoot. But nothing beats sheet film so it still going to get used. It actually makes for a nice variety, which is stimulating

flavio81 · Jan 6, 2016

Oh Brothers, our fellow Theo Sulphate has seen the light!!

Praise the Mamiya RB67, and the RZ too... for they are the saviors of medium format photographers, for they will reliably cope with very slow shutter speeds without any camera shake; for they offer you generously more picture area, for they will not seize and lock unexpectedly (Damn on those infidels who have not read the user manual.) Let's also praise the Sekor lenses, their designers never forgot that good sharpness needs to be partnered with beautiful bokeh.

Truly a gift from the heavens! Repent if you use the swedish clunky machines!! Go Mamiya!

{Currently own two RB67 + the 50, 90, 127, and 180 lenses}

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2016

flavio81 said:
Oh Brothers, our fellow Theo Sulphate has seen the light!!

Praise the Mamiya RB67, and the RZ too... for they are the saviors of medium format photographers, for they will reliably cope with very slow shutter speeds without any camera shake; for they offer you generously more picture area, for they will not seize and lock unexpectedly (Damn on those infidels who have not read the user manual.) Let's also praise the Sekor lenses, their designers never forgot that good sharpness needs to be partnered with beautiful bokeh.

Truly a gift from the heavens! Repent if you use the swedish clunky machines!! Go Mamiya!

{Currently own two RB67 + the 50, 90, 127, and 180 lenses}

Nah. The RBs, the RB67s and the RZs are all just johnny-come-lately wantabees. Got with the original and avoid the cheap imitation copies. Even the SL66 has more class than the R boys.

LMNOP · Jan 6, 2016

I gotta say, the RZ has never let me down. I started with RZ gear, and just recently started shooting a Hassy. SO many limitations by comparison, as mentioned by Theo, and I am a living example. I love the rotating back, placement of controls, back loading ease, and don't even get me started on the instant film back. That is a viable image right there, and on the Hassy, its just a tiny, off center square, total waste of instant film. On top of the preferences, Mamiya gear is more affordable!

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2016

LMNOP said:
... and on the Hassy, its just a tiny, off center square, total waste of instant film. ...

???

flavio81 · Jan 6, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Nah. The RBs, the RB67s and the RZs are all just johnny-come-lately wantabees. Got with the original and avoid the cheap imitation copies. Even the SL66 has more class than the R boys.

I'd say the RB is more like an "inexpensive, important improvement over the shortcomings of the original with the side-effect of larger size and weight"

than a

"cheap imitation copy".

The SL66 is out of this discussion, it is the King.

LMNOP · Jan 6, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
???

With the RZ67, on a sheet of FP100-C - you get a nice square image that fills the vertical space, with even black bars on either side. Not only does this serve the practical function of a text exposure, but its a nice image, often times I shoot those just for fun.

From what i have seen, the Hasselblad provides a smaller square that is off-center and doesn't look as pleasing as a stand alone print. Surely, someone must know what I am talking about.

Wayne · Jan 6, 2016

cost-effective vs needlessly expensive

Sirius Glass said:
Nah. The RBs, the RB67s and the RZs are all just johnny-come-lately wantabees. Got with the original and avoid the cheap imitation copies. Even the SL66 has more class than the R boys.

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2016

Wayne said:
cost-effective vs needlessly expensive

No, not really, when you are just going to sell all the stuff off and replace it with the Hasselblad system in the end.

markbarendt · Jan 6, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Nah. The RBs, the RB67s and the RZs are all just johnny-come-lately wantabees. Got with the original and avoid the cheap imitation copies. Even the SL66 has more class than the R boys.

I don't care nutt'n 'bout has'n class, I'ze just wanna get da girl an dat big ol' RB tool does turns em on.

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2016

With 6x6 you do not need a rotating back to screw with.

mweintraub · Jan 6, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Nah. The RBs, the RB67s and the RZs are all just johnny-come-lately wantabees. Got with the original and avoid the cheap imitation copies. Even the SL66 has more class than the R boys.

So, the 1000F or original 1600? How do you like it?

Edit to add:

*a-hem* I think you mean the original Rollei (1929)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolleiflex#Original_Rolleiflex

Roger Cole · Jan 6, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
With 6x6 you do not need a rotating back to screw with.

Nope. But if you crop to a rectangle (as I do maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of my square images shot with my Yashicamat) you end up with 6x4.5 or so crop, depending on aspect ratio of the cropped rectangle of course. 6x7 is nearly twice as big. And you don't get 7x7 Fujiroids as discussed above.

BUT - I could walk around and shoot handheld with a Hassleblad about as easily as with my M645 Pro. Not so an RB or RZ. Oh yes, you CAN use them handheld, but I wouldn't want to carry one around all day, or even a couple of hours.

Praising the RB67 Pro S -- Hail the Emperor of Medium Format

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