Scanning v/s Digital backs for a mamiya Rb67?

analoguey · Jul 26, 2013

Hello!

I have recently started shooting a mamiya Rb67 about 6 months back -and its been fun ever since!
I chanced upon links to digital backs and the idea of using them with the mamiya.
My question would be would it make sense to try or test any of the older backs on the rb67? I have seen a couple on eBay and am wondering if I should go that route, or would a better idea be to just scan them for now, invest in an RZ or Afd body/kit n then go the digital back way?

I am not currently in a full analog workflow - though eventually, I might be. And, current idea is to shoot and print more than bother about whether it's hybrid or not.

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analoguey · Jul 26, 2013

To add - I have been shooting 35mm film a while longer and that I'd prefer to be just shooting film - then printing off scans.

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selmslie · Jul 26, 2013

analoguey said:
…My question would be would it make sense to try or test any of the older backs on the rb67….

Given the prices for digital backs, the only justification for them would be a significant volume of professional output. In other words, they are just too expensive for casual use.

I have given digital backs some consideration and, since I can scan very fine grained film with a scanner, there does not seem to be an economic justification for low volume work.

I have an Epson V750 with an aftermarket carrier from betterscanning.com (under $1,000 combined) that gives me results almost as good ad my Coolscan 9000 that I got five years back for just under $2,000 (no longer made). With T-Max and Portra films I can make huge prints if I want to.

Among other benefits, I feel no compulsion to upgrade my equipment to keep up with advances in digital technology, which is the ugly side of the digital world.

L Gebhardt · Jul 27, 2013

The crop factor is a concern when trying to fit a digital back to a medium format system. You lose a lt of wide angle options, especially with the 6x7 systems.

selmslie · Jul 28, 2013

L Gebhardt said:
The crop factor is a concern when trying to fit a digital back to a medium format system. You lose a lt of wide angle options, especially with the 6x7 systems.

Good point.

Another source of minor irritation is that the film holders that come with the V750 are flimsy, tend to crowd the edges of 35mm film and provide only three focus distances. You need the a betterscanning.com holder to get the whole image and for more precise focus adjustment.

lenny · Jul 28, 2013

Get yourself a nice drum scanner, maybe a Howtek 4500, and blow away what a digital back can do. They run about $1500 or so on Evilbay these days.

Lenny

analoguey · Jul 30, 2013

Hmm. Thanks for that info.
So I stay away from stuff like the H5s or P25s?

Also, drum scanners tend to be big, I presume? Or aren't they? I would need them shipped to India, so shipping costs matter!

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lenny · Jul 30, 2013

analoguey said:
Hmm. Thanks for that info.
Also, drum scanners tend to be big, I presume? Or aren't they? I would need them shipped to India, so shipping costs matter!

Of course that would be a concern. However, there are many scanners in India. (Yes, I know its a large place, I've been there.) You might find one near you and give it a try. I know of a couple of others that shipped them to the Arabian peninsula somewhere. It is possible...

Best of luck,

Lenny

analoguey · Aug 1, 2013

I shall ask around. The places I have been pointed to seem to have flat beds.
Drum scanners look wayy too complicated to buy. (even more to ship) - unless I'm gonna be an expert on them, not much fun in that, looks like - too many learning curves.

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chuck94022 · Aug 2, 2013

Get the new Plustek. Simpler than a drum scanner, better than the Epson, pretty good quality scans from what the reviewers say.

analoguey · Oct 28, 2013

lenny said:
Of course that would be a concern. However, there are many scanners in India. (Yes, I know its a large place, I've been there.) You might find one near you and give it a try. I know of a couple of others that shipped them to the Arabian peninsula somewhere. It is possible...

Best of luck,

Lenny

Trying that. Not much luck. Which scanner would you recommend?

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Scanning v/s Digital backs for a mamiya Rb67?

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