who handholds their RB67???

[stradibarrius]

I agree the view in the WL is outstanding. It is like anything else, just learn to use it. I love this camera and look for reason and opportunities to use it. For some reason when I use this camera, compared to my super duper digital, I feel more calm and enjoy the experience more. I guess it is obvious that the camera forces you to slow down some.

 

[Wilcoxson David L.]

I have an RB but usually use it like my 4X5, always on a tripod. I don't mind the weight, but I feel that if I'm going to tote the thing through hill and dale, it's going on a tripod. Why carry all the weight for unsharp photos? If I wish to handhold MF, I take my Rolleiflex. It's much lighter, and the lens is wicked sharp. I also put the Rollei on a tripod, but I don't mind handholding it. It seems more ergonomic (to me anyway) to handhold the Rollei as the RB. On a tripod with a cable release, both the RB and the Rollei shine.

 

[photogolf]

Been while but shooting hand held is okay for me. I do have a tripod I brought for it.

 

[philosomatographer]

I recall a discussion on this topic a month or two ago. Although the RB67 is heavy and unergonomic, it is a superb hand-held camera because there is almost no vibration (people always seem to confuse noise with vibration - yes, this is not a quiet camera).

The well-damped and slow mirror, together with the leaf shutter, and heavy body held against the waist, make it more stable hand-held than any other camera I have personally used.

I posted this example in the other thread too: Taken hand-held with 65mm lens wide open at 1/8s - this image is absolutely sharp in the in-focus area (I back-focused a bit, light was very poor, so crisp detail is in the shop, and not on the human subject)

This hand-held 1/8s image has more resolution and detail than what I have ever been able to coax out of a carefully setup 35mm (film or digital) shot, that's for sure.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I recall a discussion on this topic a month or two ago. Although the RB67 is heavy and unergonomic, it is a superb hand-held camera because there is almost no vibration (people always seem to confuse noise with vibration - yes, this is not a quiet camera).

I find the loud <<ka-thunk>> of MF SLRs a rather pleasing sound.

Steve

 

[Toffle]

I find the loud <<ka-thunk>> of MF SLRs a rather pleasing sound.

Steve

I love my GS-1. It kicks like a shotgun.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Gotta love that adrenalin rush!

Steve

 

[timk]

I have tried it handheld before and it's been ok though I don't have the L grip and it makes it hard to handhold the camera + use a light meter at the same time. A metered prism or a good sense of exposure is probably a must for handholding it like this unless you have 3 arms.

 

[funkpilz]

Of all the people I've seen use an RB67, maybe 10% of them were using it on a tripod.

 

[geek]

I just recently started using a a Mamiya RB, and I tent to use it 50/50 handheld or on tripod. Handhold is faster then struggle with the tripod, but for most stuff I prefer using the tripod, I need to get used the the waist level finder and until that, I find it easier on the tripod to get everything straight. Even when I most likely will it use quite often handheld, I will try to force myself to keep it on a tripod more often, when I go for 6x7, I want to get the most out of it, so I don't have to hurry anyway.

 

[Alan W]

I almost always use my rb67 on a tripod.If I want a 6x7 neg on the run I'll bring along my rapid omega,its a whole lot faster to focus compose and shoot.

 

[EricO]

I handhold my RZ. The flash grip and the wide camera strap helps.

 

[Alexander Ghaffari]

I do it all the time. I like the L-grip a lot, but when I shoot 25 ASA film, I usually use a tripod.

 

[EdColorado]

Another hand holder here. I like to wander and grab shots and the tripod just slows things down too much. If I'm out in the mountains shooting scenics then I'll use the tripod but the rest of the time its hand held with the multi angle grip and a big fat Optec Pro strap.

 

[Xmas]

I'm with Ed it is designed to be used 1/15 or slower off a tripod for large scenic shots but you can use it like a 'leica' if you want, motor, grip and strap helps.

Noel

 

[mamiya_madman]

I do when i (often) forget my tripod. Really can make you think about compostion not having a tripod.