Sheet film holders and Mamiya RB

M Carter · Oct 10, 2017

Can anyone clue me in on sheet film and the RB (not talking the Quadra back) (which I think was RZ only)...

Don't know if I'd really seek a setup out, but I don't have a clear understanding from looking at old Mamiya accessory charts. Do they use the R-adapter, or attach directly to the body with the adapter removed? Are there several models? I assume functionally it's somewhat similar to shooting 4x5 - load holders and shoot, etc. So one would need the back, and a few holders? Adapters? What would a 'complete kit' be if one appeared used? Are extra holders out there?

Looked at an earlier thread here but still corn-fused. (And preemptively, I'll address the inevitable "why not shoot 4x5" comments - yes, I have a 4x5; no, I don't have a range of lenses for it; I'd like to build up a library of cloud negs for darkroom sky replacement, and I'd like to have a range of contrast to them. The RB is a lot more portable than my 4x5; etc. etc., just seems like a potentially cool solution to me, and seems kinda cool to have).

mweintraub · Oct 10, 2017

Not sure if it's like my new Mamiya C series sheet holder, but it looks like there are two different types. G lock and P adapter types. I think the P adapter ones need the Focusing screen holder (spring based) like LF uses.

Page 8
http://ianbfoto.com/downloads/Brochures/Mamiya RB67 Professional Brochure.pdf

edit: looks like the C series holder will work on the RB too. Nice. (I thinking of selling it if you're interested)

voceumana · Oct 10, 2017

There is a Type J holder that takes either 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 using an insert, or 6.5 x 9 cm without the insert. It's quite an elegant device, and very well made. It provides a pressure plate, so either film option is in the proper optical plane. I own one, but haven't used it. It looks like it might be finnicky to load using the insert. Not easy to find. It fits directly on the RB67 Pro-S--not sure if anything is required for earlier models.

juan · Oct 11, 2017

I’d shoot sheet film with my RB67 by using the few 2x3 slotted Graflex film holders I’ve been able to find, and by using Grafmatics. There were two types of 2x3 Grafmatics made, but both fit the RB.

EdSawyer · Oct 11, 2017

I think I have a box of 5 of the Type J holders if anyone is interested. Also the adapter to use them on an RZ67 too.

WilmarcoImaging · Oct 11, 2017

What are the options to process 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" film these days? Will the sheets fit into a normal Paterson-style reel?

mweintraub · Oct 11, 2017

I've used my holders to hold Instax Mini film.

juan · Oct 11, 2017

WilmarcoImaging said:
What are the options to process 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" film these days? Will the sheets fit into a normal Paterson-style reel?

I use hangers.

darkroommike · Oct 11, 2017

You can not use unmodified Graphic sheet film holders with an RB-67, however, someone once modified Graphic holders to work by milling a slot down the side of the holders so that the slide-locks could engage. (I have a couple, somewhere.) This was actually a thing you could buy but I suspect anyone with a router table could do the thing. The two I have are Fidelity plastic holders.

Processing would be in trays, the adjustable "Yankee" type tanks or with hangers in 4x5 hard rubber tanks.

There's no practical advantage over roll film but sheet film processing is "fun".

voceumana · Oct 12, 2017

The advantage is that you can develop individual frames for best result. There are still, I think, a few films unavailable in roll film that are made in sheets. Of course, the sheet film base is stiffer than 120.

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 12, 2017

How do you see the view on the ground glass for sizes larger than the standard 6x7?

juan · Oct 13, 2017

Alan Edward Klein said:
How do you see the view on the ground glass for sizes larger than the standard 6x7?

You don’t. You get 6x7.

darkroommike · Oct 13, 2017

voceumana said:
The advantage is that you can develop individual frames for best result. There are still, I think, a few films unavailable in roll film that are made in sheets. Of course, the sheet film base is stiffer than 120.

"2x3" is practically unobtainable, you can get some Ilford and Arista from Freestyle. B&H also lists just Arista (wonder where they are getting it? LOL).

mweintraub · Oct 13, 2017

juan said:
You don’t. You get 6x7.

Aren't they really 7x7 cameras with masks for whatever orientation the back is rotated?

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 13, 2017

I thought you could get backs of 6x8 and 6x9 as well????

darkroommike · Oct 13, 2017

Alan Edward Klein said:
I thought you could get backs of 6x8 and 6x9 as well????

Sort of, depends on the camera body and adapter but the so called 6x8 backs do not make a full 6x8 image but you get 9 shots per roll not 10 which (to me) is a perfectly satisfactory thing. It was introduced to compete with the Fujifilm GX680 series. 6x9 backs still don't produce full 6x9 images.
There is a revolving adapter and a P-lock adapter (for the Polaroid back, and the P adapter could be further adapted to use M-locks that held the very nice Mamiya Press backs, weird that separate adapters were needed for horizontal and vertical shooting.

Sheet film holders and Mamiya RB

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