Where did all the RB67s go?

[KinoGrafx]

I let go of my RB kit 2 years ago, now kind of missing it, and looking around currently see that it is almost impossible to find one. Mine was only $200 from CameraWest (a great store, but not exactly the bargain hut) a few years ago. Where the hey did they all go? Did some blogger do a popular post that suddenly made RBs the must-have camera???

 

[rick shaw]

They were all adopted into happy loving homes.

I just checked my supplier who used to have an abundance of them and they are sold out.

So ya, apparently the word got out.

 

[narsuitus]

Where the hey did they all go?

They all went to YouTube.

 

[KinoGrafx]

They were all adopted into happy loving homes.

I just checked my supplier who used to have an abundance of them and they are sold out.

So ya, apparently the word got out.

Well I guess it couldn’t happen to a better camera

 

[NB23]

Plentiful on ebay.
My search returns 524 “mamiya rb67” items for sale

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Plentiful on ebay.
My search returns 524 “mamiya rb67” items for sale

Pricing and selection is indeed reflective of significant changes on the market, with some crazy sellers trying to pull a fast one on uninitiated buyer. Ebay UK returns mere 84 hits, most from Japan. RB67 was never a big seller in Europe though and US has more of related hits (293 as of this), but this is not just cameras, a lot of it is accessories, $40 lens caps etc.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

They're all in Japan.

 

[Ariston]

They all went to YouTube.

You win the award for the best answer. Congratulations!

 

[Wayne]

They bottomed out 2-3 years ago and seems like bodies have recently been going up in price and down in number.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

I still have mine. Works like a champ

 

[Ernst-Jan]

I got one recently, but I paid quite a bit more than the amount you mentioned
Pro S, 3 backs, 50, 65 and 90 lenses. I just sent it of to some Mamiya technicians to have all light seals replaced and CLA.
I was surprised that I had to pay to same for this as for servicing a M645 and 2 lenses...

 

[Donald Qualls]

I know one came to my house -- and as the animal rescue folks say, it "found its forever home." Since then, two additional lenses, a teleconverter, metered chimney finder and plain prism have followed it, along with a number of caps, a 220 6x7 film back (it came with 6x7 and 6x4.5 120 backs) and a stray Graflex 22 that is none the less loved just as much as the pedigreed accessories.

If I could only keep one camera, I'd have to think long and hard between the RB67 and its pals, vs. my Graphic View. Others would just have to go.

 

[juan]

Two bodies and a bunch of lenses are living in my photo closet.

 

[Wayne]

Two bodies and a bunch of lenses are living in my photo closet.

Ah-hah! There, we've found the missing RB's! This has been a sly bit of detective work by the OP!

 

[Luckless]

Not sure. My local camera shop had one. Was a bit pricy, and bundled with a lens that wasn't super high on my priority list, but I had been giving it a pass hoping for a better value deal to pop up eventually.

This thread reminded me that I've probably missed the boat on any 'sensible' price [aka, cheap and undervalued bargains] from what film camera prices were back when I was finishing up university.

Decided to double check the price and make plans to drop in after work, and... its gone.

 

[flavio81]

Demand rose a lot in the last 3 or 2 years. I've had many people calling me looking for a RB67. I since sold one of my two bodies and several lenses. Kept one RB with 50. 65, and 180 lenses.

 

[dutchsteammachine]

Demand has gone up for a lot of medium format bodies.

I got my M645 and RB67 3 years ago before the price hike. COuld easily sell them for a profit now.

M645 is my go-to medium format body.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I still have mine from 35 years ago. I:m waiting for the prices to go back up to what I spent back then before I sell.

 

[Kino]

Assuming the following is in good shape and operational, what would a good ballpark price range be for this set?

Mamiya RB67 Pro S body
Chimney Finder
Waist Level Finder
120 film back
Polaroid back
macro extension tubes
140mm Macro f4.5 Mamiya- Sekor C
90mm f3.8 Mamiya- Sekor C
75 f4.5 SMC Takumar 6x7
65mm f4.5 Mamiya- Sekor C
50mm f4.5 Mamiya- Sekor C

I don't know why there's a SMC Takumar 6x7 lens in the set...

 

[Digger Odell]

Assuming the following is in good shape and operational, what would a good ballpark price range be for this set?

Mamiya RB67 Pro S body 150
Chimney Finder 75
Waist Level Finder 150
120 film back 120
Polaroid back 40
macro extension tubes 40 ea
140mm Macro f4.5 Mamiya- Sekor C 150?
90mm f3.8 Mamiya- Sekor C 150
75 f4.5 SMC Takumar 6x7 ?
65mm f4.5 Mamiya- Sekor C 180
50mm f4.5 Mamiya- Sekor C 230

I don't know why there's a SMC Takumar 6x7 lens in the set...

These prices are what I have seen recently on ebay. Usually, you can buy a kit for less, but then you don't get exactly what you want. Make sure all the shutters work, and there is no fungus in the lenses. Expect to have to replace the light seals on the film back (depending on model).

 

[Kino]

Thank you, Digger! I haven't really shopped for this system before, so the advice is appreciated.

 

[MattKing]

Make sure, if you can, that the back is either an "S" back or (even better) an SD back, if you want the safety interlocks.

 

[Sirius Glass]

RB67s are being very quickly bought up so people have freed up money to upgrade to Hasselblad.

 

[Digger Odell]

I bought my kit about 3 years ago. It was a S body, W/L viewfinder (old style) a 90mm non C and a 180mm non C, two film backs, and a big old sturdy Halliburton case for 500$. I thought I got a pretty good deal. I have since sold the 2 lenses, they both went to guys who were in their 20's. I fear the days of dirt cheap, high quality, film items are in the twilight. I have had good luck with KEH on some things. I bought 2 bodies (as is) and they both only needed light seals to be functional. Once you narrow down what you want, search eBay completed listings for pricing. Some of the less desirable things are still reasonable, eg non S or SD backs, non C or K lenses. Replacing lights seals is easy, but time consuming removing the old adhesive. They aren't making any more, and stuff does get ruined. I tipped over my rig once and it cost me a W/L finder and a body. To help justify your purchases, find an original sales brochure, then run the prices through an inflation calculator! A person could go a long way with a body, w/l finder, 1 back and a 90 or 127mm lens.

 

[grat]

They became a fad on youtube + reddit with the new "I shoot over-exposed film 'cuz I'm cool" crowd. The prices vary wildly, but the ebay price history site says digger's prices are pretty fair for a buyer. A seller could make a mint off of such a system.