Tilt/shift question about Mamiya Rb67

bimaneg · Oct 26, 2013

I was wondering if there is some adapter or a special way to get tilt and shift movements on the rb67, if anyone here has experience with this; I just discovered an rz67 adapter but it is really too expensive.

EdSawyer · Oct 26, 2013

Pretty much the tilt shift adapter and the short barrel lenses on the rz are the only choice.

epatsellis · Oct 27, 2013

or.....

DSCF7015.jpg by epatsellis, on Flickr

TareqPhoto · Oct 27, 2013

epatsellis said:
or.....

DSCF7015.jpg by epatsellis, on Flickr

And from where i can find or buy that movement bellow for my RB/RZ film back and whatever lens i can use?

DanielStone · Oct 27, 2013

sell your RB67 stuff and buy a GX680

All front movements are available(no rear): rise/fall, shift, AND tilt

bushpig · Oct 28, 2013

TareqPhoto said:
And from where i can find or buy that movement bellow for my RB/RZ film back and whatever lens i can use?

It's custom. I remember finding that out. When I picked my jaw up off the ground, I found the guy made it himself. It can use any of the RB lenses or backs.

analoguey · Oct 28, 2013

epatsellis said:
or.....

DSCF7015.jpg by epatsellis, on Flickr

Glad this topic came up.
I am trying to do something similar with a Toyo as well. For both the 67 and as well as 35mm digital. Can you let me know what might be the hiccups I could face when attempting something similar?
Also, I tried looking up for the document you mentioned elsewhere but I couldnt find it.

TareqPhoto · Oct 28, 2013

bushpig said:
It's custom. I remember finding that out. When I picked my jaw up off the ground, I found the guy made it himself. It can use any of the RB lenses or backs.

I am not good at custom building or DIY, but if you have a link about how to do it then it may be a big help, wish if it was something ready to buy rather than custom making.

DREW WILEY · Oct 28, 2013

By the time you factor in the cost and added weight of something like this, you're going to be way better off buying a real view camera. And
the lenses will be more appropriate for movements too. Same reason the Hassie ArcBody belly-flopped. About the most practical or portable thing in an MF SLR with limited movements (front tilts) was the old Rollei SL66. Then various MF technical cameras have been made, some of which will accommodate your Mamiya back.

EdSawyer · Oct 28, 2013

Agree with Drew. A real 4x5 is a better choice. I have the rz tlt shift setup, it's well made but really limited compared and clumsy compared to even a basic 4x5, and way heavy to boot.

Alan Gales · Oct 29, 2013

I agree with Drew and Ed. You can pick up a real nice Cambo or Calumet lightweight 4x5 monorail for $200.00 or less. If you don't mind if the camera is old I have seen monorails go for as low as $50.00 on Ebay.

Many times you can get a great deal on a 4x5 monorail with a 210mm lens, film holders, etc. included.

TareqPhoto · Oct 29, 2013

Good idea, maybe i should look at a monorail or view camera instead then, was thinking to use MF roll films over sheets, but i also can find that roll film back for LF too, just was curious about that tilt/shift adapter.

I will test a digital back i bought for my LF, the problem i had one before but only accept small size bodies due to one ugly knob on that holder preventing to mount bigger size DSLRs, but another problem is that with 2 lenses i tested [150mm & 72], both turned to be a very macro lens and only focus very few centimeters distance closer [about 3-6cms from the subject].

DREW WILEY · Oct 29, 2013

Achieving precise focus with tiny capture surfaces and typical camera movements is pretty tricky, and often needs very precise gearing or a
helicoid lens mount. It's even harder with a roll film back than with full-sized sheet film. Part of the issue is mechanical, the other part just
visual. And having lenses very close to the film plane can be pretty tricky too. So just any clunker of a cheap view camera probably won't be very satisfactory. You need something rather well machined which will accept a bag bellows - unless you are working with very long focal length lenses. The best telephotographer I know actually uses a heavy 8x10 metal Toyo G view camera with a 35mm digital or film cameras, and Apo Nikor process lenses up to 600mm (not 35mm lenses), on a big wooden tripod. The system is heavy but very rigid, and has to be. Not every roll film back is well made either. I personally use Horseman 6x9 backs when I do this kind of thing, and the presence of movements
allows me to obtain better focus than any dedicated medium format lens system. But except when I need the portability of roll film, I'd much
rather be using full-sized 4x5 sheet film.

TareqPhoto · Oct 29, 2013

Giving up then?

DREW WILEY · Oct 29, 2013

A chinchilla might have a fluffy mane, but it's still not a lion. If you want a lion, buy a lion.

bimaneg · Oct 30, 2013

thank you all for the replies, all we know that the fast road is to get a view camera, that's the most simple and natural way.... of course, (i'm building one right now) ... but it is not the topic issue, I was just wondering if there is a way to get it in MF camera and specially in the mamiya's world. I saw this brand that produces some adapter but only for mamiya 645, and then i found this, maybe it can works.

k_jupiter · Oct 31, 2013

DREW WILEY said:
A chinchilla might have a fluffy mane, but it's still not a lion. If you want a lion, buy a lion.

If you buy a piano, you own a piano. If you buy a camera, you are a photographer.

tim in san jose

k_jupiter · Oct 31, 2013

Buy a 2x3 View camera with a Universal back, take the front plate off a busted up rb67 and mount it on the front standard, fix up a cocking mechanism for the in lens shutter and go to town. All the great Mamiya optics with full movements. Be aware there are several thousandths film difference between a Mamiya back and a Singer/Graphics back. Might want to modify your GG on the View Camera.

tim in san jose

epatsellis · Oct 31, 2013

You can tune a piano, but you can't tune a fish....

the whole solution came out of one client that was insistent on me providing 6x7 trannies to be stripped into existing artwork, and having a drawerful of RB bodies and parts, as well as having a few Toyo's worth of parts lying about. When I finally convinced that client to go to digital, my 4x5 scan back got quite a bit of use. Several years later, new AD, new vision and MF and "small" sensor capture are now used.

erie

Alan Gales · Oct 31, 2013

DREW WILEY said:
A chinchilla might have a fluffy mane, but it's still not a lion. If you want a lion, buy a lion.

I had one but I had to get rid of it. The damn thing ate the neighbor's dog!

k_jupiter · Oct 31, 2013

Alan Gales said:
I had one but I had to get rid of it. The damn thing ate the neighbor's dog!

Awfully big chinchilla or awfully small dog.

Alan Gales · Nov 1, 2013

k_jupiter said:
Awfully big chinchilla or awfully small dog.

Watch it! You are going to have Drew scared of chinchilla's.

Tilt/shift question about Mamiya Rb67

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