RB67 camera - how to transport in car or on person

[Kodachromeguy]

Hi Everyone,

A friend will send me his Mamiya RB67, which he says he will never use again. I have been out in the field with him but I can't recall which model it was and if he has various lenses, filters, backs, whatever. Regardless, how do you all (y'awl) carry your RBs in the field? It is a big bruiser. Some ideas:

ø Domke F1x (the bigger bag)?
ø A tool bag from Harbor Frieght?
ø Canvas tote bag from LL Bean?
ø One of the traditional Camera bags from LowePro or equivalent? (I tend to shy away from those because they look so camera bag.)

Later, I will probably have questions about lenses or other features.Thanks!

Happy New Year to you all. May the light be inspiring.

 

[MattKing]

My backup bag was a large, higher end, used diaper bag.
But I mostly used a big old no-name camera bag, with one lens mounted, and 1-2 other lenses.
Mine had a neck strap, and I used it cross body with a left hand trigger grip mounted.
It is large and not light, but it is lighter than its size would have you think.

 

[xkaes]

A lot depends on how much other gear you are carrying. When I carry just one lens and film back -- not too often -- I use a shoulder strap. More likely, I have several lenses, backs, a tripod, film, filters, etc, and need a large system bag with a shoulder strap -- if I'm not going far -- or a backpack to put it in for more mobility. You might end up with more than one approach / scheme, as well.

 

[MCB18]

For my last road trip, I just put all my camera stuff in a box lol.

 

[juan]

I use a tool.bag from Lowes made for carrying electric drills, saws, etc. It has a strong shoulder strap and a good reinforced bottom. Camera, one long or two short extra lenses, extra back, film, meter.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I prefer top loading camera backpacks because they ride comfortably on the back, can sit without tipping over and if left open, things are less likely to fall out.

 

[Arthurwg]

I use a dedicated camera back pack but it's very heavy. I don't think I'll be using the camera too far from the car.

 

[Maris]

For my Mamiya RB67 system I use the bag that was made for it:

LowePro Commercial AW MF which looks like the biggest camera bag ever made that was intended to be slung from a single shoulder strap. I've heard it called the "assistant killer".
Mine comfortably accommodates the RB, three lenses, two backs, light meter, filters, lunch, water bottle, raincoat, etc.

After a few years the beautifully engineered shoulder strap came adrift from the weight it carried. LowePro sent me a new one under their life-time warranty. Thanks LowePro.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Buy his bag.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I have my ProS in a large Gitzo camera pack -- don't recall the bag model number, but it was about $300 from B&H (I'd never have spent that much, but I had a gift card for fifteen years at my current job and hadn't found anything on eBay that was big enough). I think it's this one an they offer a larger one just in case you want to carry a spare body and 250 mm or 350 mm lens...

It holds the body with waist level finder and mounted 127 mm, plus 90 mm and 50 mm with mounted 0.45x filter, left hand grip, prism finder, three film backs, lens shade for the 90 mm and 127 mm, and in side pockets several spare or exposed film rolls, 70 mm filter set, other accessories, and a couple half liter water bottles in the top pouch (and room for a sandwich etc. if needed), plus I can hang my carbon fiber tripod on a loop from the side. I could pull one divider and replace the 90 mm or 50 mm and one film back with my 185 mm if I expect to want that The shoulder straps clip together and there's a waist band as well, so even though the full pack weighs over thirty pounds, it's not a significant strain to carry. It does take a minute or so to shuck it off and open it, then I still have to mount a film back and the left hand grip or tripod plate, potentially switch finders, etc. -- but for a camera like an RB67, that's a given anyway; this isn't a Leica or Contax you'd carry around your neck, ready to shoot (I've tried that -- even with just 90 mm and waist level finder, it's heavy and awkward for neck strap only. I'll stick with a folder if I want/need to shoot that way).

 

[juan]

My Lowes bag was $35.

 

[Donald Qualls]

My Lowes bag was $35.

Sure. Can you carry it on a five mile trail without back/shoulder strain, and does it have dividers to protect your body/lenses/back/viewfinders from each other? Mind you, I was looking at the largest eBay bags (under $50, in backpack form, about 20L capacity); those would carry the body, one or two film backs, waist level finder, and probably two lenses (one mounted, one extra), and be easier on the user than a single-strap back. I got the Gitzo because I got the anniversary gift from my employer at just the right time. I also got another backpack from them at the same time ("pick one from this list of gear"), and I think I can fit my Graphic View II, several film holders, and a couple mounted lenses into it...

 

[pthornto]

The larger think tank retrospective series will work ok as a shoulder bag- I use a retrospective 40 with the strap crossbody and it is heavy but works for shorter walks. They don’t sell the 40 anymore but I also have a 10 and it will take the camera and just one other lens.

But I do want a backpack for hikes!

 

[juan]

As for the Lowes bag, it has a shoulder strap made to extend over the opposite shoulder from where the bag hangs So the weight is distributed well. I’ve walked several miles with it but probably not five. It is not a backpack. It has a Firm divider down the center lengthwise so I put camera with one lens one one side and extra lenses on the other. It’s not padded so I use lens wraps. It has various pockets on the interior and exterior for film, meter, waist level finder, etc. it’s so useful I’m sure they don’t make it anymore. Ha. My point is to take a look at these bags and see if one will work.

 

[Rayt]

I just use whatever handy. When I had my 4x5 Ebony I carried it to the field in a Tumi leather briefcase I used for work with some foamy partitions underneath. Seems whenever discard a camera bag I always kept the partitions. I have used styrofoam coolers for larger kits. Not with the ice of course. The styrofoam provides adequate cushion. Camera backpacks are generally prefered if you plan on hiking.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Never ever put you gear on the floor of your car, the vibrations (engine and (bad) roads) can be detrimental for the fine mechanics!
Put on the seats and attach it with the safe belt!
This was the explicit advise of an experienced Hasselblad Belgian Agency repairs man, and I never disregarded it as we had a lot of cobblestone roads here...

BTW, I have a Thule camera backpack which is very ergonomic.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Never ever put you gear on the floor of your car, the vibrations (engine and (bad) roads) can be detrimental for the fine mechanics!
Put on the seats and attach it with the safe belt!
This was the explicit advise of an experienced Hasselblad Belgian Agency repairs man, and I never disregarded it as we had a lot of cobblestone roads here...

BTW, I have a Thule camera backpack which is very ergonomic.

That is good advice. But carpeting and a foam pad can help dissipate the vibration. Many camera bags are well padded on the bottom.