I've spent part of this week making photos with one of my RB67 Pro S cameras and a 140mm f/4.5 Macro lens. This is a very nice combination. For someone wanting to enter medium format photography and have a high quality robust modular system, the RB67 Pro S is exactly what to get and cannot be surpassed. Bodies, lenses, and accessories are plentiful and inexpensive. It's not hard to find them in very good working condition.
I praise the RB67 Pro S (and SD) from the perspective of someone who owns, uses, and has enjoyed Hasselblads for over 20 years (I have the 500C/M, the 501C, the SWC, and the 553ELX, plus lenses from the 50/4 CF FLE to the 250/5.6). They are solid well built cameras for demanding professional use.
Yet, the RB is so enjoyable to use. I think it is better. Why? Lots of simple things that make it better overall:
- Closer focusing with all lenses, with compensation for exposure indicated
- A larger negative, with portrait or landscape orientations readily chosen
- Same set of interlocks Hasselblad has, plus preventing you from dismounting an uncocked body and lens.
- Equally modular in terms of backs, adapters, screens, prisms, etc.
- Easy double exposure if you want it
- A place for the dark slide!
- Focus lock
- After 10 exposures, you're done with the roll! (yay!)
The RB has some disadvantages:
- Weight and size
- Film is advanced separately from body cocking (actually, I like this)
- No motorized version
- Doesn't use Zeiss lenses (but in the final print will it matter?)
- Pre-release isn't as simple as with Hasselblad
- After 10 exposures, you're done with the roll! (so soon?)
Certainly weight and size would be one criteria where someone wouldn't like using the camera. Also, it just doesn't feel like a Hasselblad - and that may be important, since a photographer has to like his tools.
However, I like the feel of the RB. For what I've paid for my two bodies, all the lenses, the backs, it's a bargain and it does the job beautifully.
I praise the RB67 Pro S (and SD) from the perspective of someone who owns, uses, and has enjoyed Hasselblads for over 20 years (I have the 500C/M, the 501C, the SWC, and the 553ELX, plus lenses from the 50/4 CF FLE to the 250/5.6). They are solid well built cameras for demanding professional use.
Yet, the RB is so enjoyable to use. I think it is better. Why? Lots of simple things that make it better overall:
- Closer focusing with all lenses, with compensation for exposure indicated
- A larger negative, with portrait or landscape orientations readily chosen
- Same set of interlocks Hasselblad has, plus preventing you from dismounting an uncocked body and lens.
- Equally modular in terms of backs, adapters, screens, prisms, etc.
- Easy double exposure if you want it
- A place for the dark slide!
- Focus lock
- After 10 exposures, you're done with the roll! (yay!)
The RB has some disadvantages:
- Weight and size
- Film is advanced separately from body cocking (actually, I like this)
- No motorized version
- Doesn't use Zeiss lenses (but in the final print will it matter?)
- Pre-release isn't as simple as with Hasselblad
- After 10 exposures, you're done with the roll! (so soon?)
Certainly weight and size would be one criteria where someone wouldn't like using the camera. Also, it just doesn't feel like a Hasselblad - and that may be important, since a photographer has to like his tools.
However, I like the feel of the RB. For what I've paid for my two bodies, all the lenses, the backs, it's a bargain and it does the job beautifully.
