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

Kirks518

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2013
Messages
1,494
Location
Flori-DUH
Format
Multi Format


I was just measuring what was sitting around, the way it was sitting around.
 

cb1

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2015
Messages
111
Location
D/FW, TX
Format
Multi Format
Hello all~ I just replaced the light seals on my ebay RB67. Most of the old foam was gone. It took a couple of slow-n-easy hours to get it done. I'm very pleased. It is nice and quiet now when I release the shutter.
The only seal that was not included in the kit was the seal that is on the back of the rotating back where it connects to the body. All the other seals were included.

Life is good, now where is that film.....
 

Roger Cole

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
6,069
Location
Atlanta GA
Format
Multi Format
I was just measuring what was sitting around, the way it was sitting around.

I get it, but it's interesting - my M645 Pro with back and winder grip and the lens are about all I'd want to carry around, and I don't like doing that for hours - for that it's either my Yashicamat 124 or one of my small Pentax 35mms, the LX or MX. I have the 55, 80 and 150 for my M645 and the 150 isn't much bigger than the 55. The 80 (2.8, dunno about the 1.9 I lust after) is the smallest of all but again not by a huge amount.
 

mweintraub

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
1,730
Location
Dallas, TX
Format
Medium Format

I've done "Street" with the RZ67 in it's basic form: Body, WLF, 110mm (180mm in bag) and back (polaroid or 120). It's not bad. It's actually really enjoyed it.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=85058704@N00&view_all=1&text=fp-3000b
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,391
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Yes. Most recently I was back to handling thread mount Leicas and M Series Leicas, but other than the feel of operating a Leica it does not give me anything that I do not already have in Nkon slrs and a whole lot less. The Hasselblads get to travel with the Graflex and Speed Graphic.
 

Wayne

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,614
Location
USA
Format
Large Format
So whats the secret to remembering the orientation of the film back? I have a Pro-S body and back, and when I compose something in one or the other I often forget to rotate the back to that orientation, or vice versa. I know there is a way to address this (at least on later cameras) but I either forgot or never knew what it is.
 

flavio81

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2014
Messages
5,073
Location
Lima, Peru
Format
Medium Format

Mmm... The red lines tell you, in the viewfinder, which orientation you're in. I've never had any issues with this. You can also sense it by feel by just touching the back...
 

markbarendt

Member
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
9,422
Location
Beaverton, OR
Format
Multi Format
Mmm... The red lines tell you, in the viewfinder, which orientation you're in. I've never had any issues with this. You can also sense it by feel by just touching the back...

The older bodies don't have the lines
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,140
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

Wayne

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,614
Location
USA
Format
Large Format
You can also sense it by feel by just touching the back...

haha, if I remembered to check before each explosure I could just look at the back!

That's a typo but its sort of pretty descriptive of the results when I do it so I'll just leave it. I think I just coined a new term
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,140
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
My bad; I have the Pro

With a Pro body, you need to get into the habit of glancing down at the back. If the winder isn't on the top, the film is in portrait orientation.

Where it gets to be a real challenge is when you have a 6x4.5 back mounted. Because portrait orientation is the norm, and landscape is when the back is turned.
 

flavio81

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2014
Messages
5,073
Location
Lima, Peru
Format
Medium Format
Where it gets to be a real challenge is when you have a 6x4.5 back mounted. Because portrait orientation is the norm, and landscape is when the back is turned.

EXACTLY!! But then the 6x4.5 back requires the 6x4.5 mask, where you don't have more "red bars" anymore, so you need to double-check.
 

Roger Cole

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
6,069
Location
Atlanta GA
Format
Multi Format
Why would you want to shoot 6x4.5 on an RB67? Maybe if that's your only medium format camera and you want to extend your film supply, maybe.

I have an M645 Pro I like a lot. I'd just use it.
 

Wayne

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,614
Location
USA
Format
Large Format

No no you don't get it. I can rotate the back, look in the finder and by that time I've already completely forgotten about the back.

I need help. I may need to get a Pro-S, if that's what it takes.

I think having the finder with both landscape and portrait lines hurts me, because can frame either way in my mind and it doesn't necessarily correspond to the back. I'm used to large format, where you KNOW if you've rotated the back.
 

Trail Images

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2010
Messages
3,216
Location
Corona CA.
Format
Multi Format
Wayne, I use 4x5 & RB67 ProSD. As I learned my RB world originally on a Pro body, I just learned to look at the winder location. This may not be what you wanted to hear, in that case just buy the upgraded product that seems to be your goal at this point.
However, to date I use my RB all the time and still look at the winder / back orientation. Seems to work best for me working that way.
 

paul ron

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
2,706
Location
NYC
Format
Medium Format
when you advance your film between shots, you'll realize where the back is.

oops... paul, you beat me to it.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,140
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Why would you want to shoot 6x4.5 on an RB67? Maybe if that's your only medium format camera and you want to extend your film supply, maybe.

I have an M645 Pro I like a lot. I'd just use it.

Several reasons.

Leaf shutters.

Rotating back.

Built in bellows.

Most important, my 6x6 slide projector, and the relatively high cost of E6 film and processing.

Not to mention more shots on a single roll, and all those shots fit on the same Printfile page.

I use my 645 Pro and like it too a lot.

But those 6x7 black and white negatives are wonderful, so if I am going to be shooting both black and white and colour transparency on the same outing ....
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,391
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format


If you shot 6x6 you would not have this problem. Check out the Mamiya C330, Rollei or Hasselblad.
 

Wayne

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,614
Location
USA
Format
Large Format
when you advance your film between shots, you'll realize where the back is.

oops... paul, you beat me to it.


No, I won't. I need a visual reminder when I'm looking through the finder. 30 years of looking through finders that tells me the film orientation is not overcome merely by willing myself to remember. Every 110, 35mm, Brownie 120, rangefinder and field 4x5 and 8x10 camera I've ever owned tells me the orientation when I look through the finder/GG. Very strange that they somehow overlooked that detail on the RB.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…