What would you choose?

Another Film User · Feb 23, 2015

I primarily shoot landscapes and am looking to choose a medium format camera. I bought a Mamiya RB67, a Graflex Norita, a Zenza Bronica etrsi, and a Mamiya 645af cheaply from a defunct shop and am trying to decide which to keep. The RB67 and 645af need repair, but the sale of the others could pay for it. All the lenses on them are pretty standard kit, so they don't play too much into it. I was leaning towards the Bronica or Norita for the sake of portability, but they don't seem quite as sturdy. I intend to shoot with them all before I decide but was wondering what experiences others have had with them. Thanks!

Here's a crappy cell phone picture for the sake of having one.

fastw · Feb 23, 2015

Landscape - RB, otherwise 645AF.

frank · Feb 23, 2015

I think, based on what I can remember reading, the norita will give you access to some interesting lenses. No comment on the reliability of the body because I have no personal experience with it.

Edit: its a fast 80mm f2 full of character, perhaps not suitable to your style of landscape photography.

Info here: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/norita66.html

Alan Gales · Feb 23, 2015

Of the cameras that you own I would prefer the RB67 over the Bronica or Mamiya 645. I like the larger rectangular negative for landscape. I don't know anything about the Graflex Norita.

Fixcinater · Feb 23, 2015

Keep the RB for maximum versatility and highest quality, then sell me that Norita!

j-dogg · Feb 23, 2015

RB67 hands down no contest, get the 50mm lens.

What's wrong with the RB? It's fully mechanical not a whole lot can go wrong with them

film_man · Feb 23, 2015

I'd keep the Norita if you don't have another square camera, it is a different format compared to the 6x7 & 645 rectangulars. So that's one. For the second camera I'd keep the RB67 as I love mine. If you want smaller vs the RB67, between the 645 cameras I had a ETRS and while it is a capable camera I just found it uninteresting so I'd take the Mamiya over that.

Besk · Feb 23, 2015

Keep the RB67 - Of the ones in questions, it is a far more flexible camera in the long run for landscapes. And, ultimately more reliable - once repaired. If it is almost worn out maybe not the best choice however.

Europan · Feb 23, 2015

I’d sell them all and buy myself a large format camera for landscapes.

elekm · Feb 23, 2015

For landscape, I wouldn't shoot 6x4.5 with a large camera unless it has a rotating back or if the film runs vertically.

gzinsel · Feb 23, 2015

ya, sell them all, and buy a LF. Im pretty sure(not 100% sure) ALL 4x5 cameras have the ability to change from vertical to horizontal.

MattKrull · Feb 23, 2015

elekm said:
For landscape, I wouldn't shoot 6x4.5 with a large camera unless it has a rotating back or if the film runs vertically.

ETR-S (I'm certain) and M645 (I believe) both use vertical film runs, so you shoot in traditional landscape format. It was the 645 rangefinders than ran horizontally giving you a portrait orientation.

Since I mostly use my ETR-Si for portraits, it can be a bit of a pain... That said, I love my ETR-Si and I'd keep it over the M645 AF, because I find no value in AF for landscape work.

Like everyone else, I'd hold onto the RB67, if and only if, you have the ability to take advantage of the bigger negatives. My enlarger only goes up to 6x6, and as time goes on, I'm less and less a fan of scanning my negatives. If you can't get teh benefit of the bigger negative, keep the ETR-S or Norita and carry less weight.

removed-user-1 · Feb 23, 2015

Keep the RB!

If I had to choose from those four, I'd keep the RB67, sell the rest to finance any needed repairs and lenses. I'd also get a waist-level finder. That prism is huge and heavy. Great camera for landscapes with a tripod.

horacekenneth · Feb 23, 2015

Aren't Norita's pretty valuable?

jspillane · Feb 23, 2015

What kind of repairs are we talking about for the RB and Mamiya? RB's are so cheap, you may be able to get a good copy for less than it would cost to fix one (depending on the issues). Norita's are definitely rarer and more valuable than the other cameras (but you may have a hard time tracking down lenses.)

For landscape if you have good transport (car, etc.) the RB will come out on top. I find the RB/RZ a bit bulky for my by-foot transit purposes, and I like square negatives, so I would probably keep the Norita and sell the rest.

Also, there is a very compact 40mm lens available for the Norita that could be worth tracking down for landscape purposes.

snapguy · Feb 23, 2015

olde

These cameras are pretty old, are they not? How they performed in someone else's hands in the past has little to do with how they will work for you in the future. We can't crawl inside your brain, and would not want to, so we don't really know what would suit you the best. Pick the one that works the best and goes along with your photographic style.

whlogan · Feb 23, 2015

All the votes here appear to say keep the RB and mine is the same. The beast is a brick and a ton to carry and will produce the best negatives you will ever get and you will never, ever regret your choice and I regularly shoot it and the Bronica. HAVE SOME FUN, TOO!!!

Logan

vpwphoto · Feb 23, 2015

Use the one that works.

You say the Bronica works? Use that! I'd like to keep my camera repair person busy, but there are too many unused working cameras, and you say you have two?
Use what works, if the RB is broken, it may be a high use RB, that isn't worth fixing. Most RB's have had a lot of film thought them.

cliveh · Feb 23, 2015

Sell all of them and get yourself a Hasselblad.

LMNOP · Feb 23, 2015

I own an RZ67 and 645AF. If I could only have one it would be the Mamiya RZ67 no questions asked, even if it was downgraded to an RB. Big negatives, sturdy construction, fun as hell to operate

What would you choose?

removed-user-1

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