I have an RB67 Pro-S, and its film and shutter levers worked just as you showed in the vid, but one day i noticed that if I pull the film lever it wont advance the film. This lead to several double exposures. I then noticed that I had to pull the small release tab (the one you mentioned for the Pro back), is it really necessary to pull the small release trigger before advancing the film? I thought that lever was like a "film release" in case you wanted to rewind a partially shot roll of film.
@stewmander I can't say for certain, as my backs are just "Pro" backs, not "Pro-S" backs. However, from literature I have read (and from what I can recall) there should be a double-exposure lever on the film back that is supposed to prevent the camera from double-exposing if it's set to single. Consult a manual? There are plenty of sites on the 'net that have it available.
I am having a problem with replacing the film back. I am not trying to slide it on. The problem is, the two slide-lock levers on the back of the camera only slide back and forth less than a 1/4", from your video I see that yours slide the full length of the lever indentations on the revolving back. I have 2 Pro-S film backs. Any ideas what could be causing this? Am I missing something?
I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks so much for the video, it's great!! Keep it up!
@TheOnlineJournalism Is this happening with the film back already on the camera, or with no back at all? If the back is already on the camera, the only thing I can think of would be that the darkslide isn't inserted all the way, and the safety interlocks aren't disengaging. If this is happening with the film back already removed from the camera, then I honestly have no idea what it could be. Perhaps check for debris caught in the mechanism? Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
@Orcinus24x5 I was trying to get the film back onto the cmaera (rotating back). I finally figured it out, I had to push in two tiny round levers(?) on the right-hand side of the rotating back, this allowed the lock levers to move back and forth the full distance and I got the film back on. Thank you!!
@TheOnlineJournalism Ohh, yes of course. I had a major derp moment when I replied the other day, I'm sorry. That's one I should have figured out immediately. :/
@fingerskatebass Anything that has full-manual power output and has the capability to accept a input from a PC flash sync cable will work. There is no hotshoe on this camera. The Pro-S and Pro-SD versions have a cold shoe on the left side of the camera but you still need a sync cord from the lens to the flash. Alternatively, any flash with a thyristor should work for auto-exposure, as long as your settings on the flash match those on the camera (ISO and aperture).
Thank you for this in depth review. I have been looking into getting a true medium format for awhile now, and you have sold me on this version of the Mamiya's. Just wished they weren't so expensive, but hey you get what you pay for. And yes the rotating back is amazing.
@matnils93 Honestly? Probably not. Especially if your only camera experience is with a modern dSLR. Metering and focusing are both 100% manual on this camera, and there are quite a few little things that are easy to forget when taking pictures. Indeed, I have messed up more than one frame myself, and I've been in photography for the better part of a decade.
@Orcinus24x5 what about if you are somebody totally serious about photography with plenty of full manual 35mm exp. who wants to master a new tier in camera body and shooting style? would you recommend this camera in that case?
@MastrBlastr318 Yes, I certainly would. If you think you can handle the weight, that is. This camera with the 127mm lens and the unmetered pentaprism weighs in at about 7.5 pounds. Definitely not something you'd have hanging around your neck as you strolled about. Tripod is pretty much required.
Thanks for the demonstration! I have an RB67 too, but I have a problem: after taking a photo, I advance the film, then try to cock the shutter, but the lever stops about halfway up. Usually it becomes unstuck after several minutes of repeatedly pushing the lever back down, but this is far from ideal. I've noticed that this problem started occurring much more often in colder weather, but I'm not sure if this is a coincidence. Is there a solution, or should I send it in for repair! Thanks!
I have a Hasselblad 501cm, and am really enjoying it. I see that you are using Ektar film, I really think it is a great film but my main film is Portra 160.
Great demo! Really thanks a lot. Without your demonstration i will have a very hard time to find out how my RB67 is going to "fulling working". Thanks again!
Had the RB for many years it was my favourite camera by far and strangle my Father had a 1930's Thornton Picard which was imo what the RB was based on.
I liked the 80mm but for me the 180mm was stunning. What I reallyed loved was the 6X7 ideal format giving 50% more usable negative over 6X6 and the bellows made extention tubes irrelevent. I paid (believe it or not) £300 for the whole kit brand new with the 80mm lens even then in the late 70's it was a total bargain and a wonderful camera to use
P.S. I`m not a Pro, just solid dig Nikon shooter, who wants fresh air in film field, leaning to Mamiya 7II, which everyone seems to get rid of. Would appreciate your answer. Thanks
Thanks! Great vid & vid quality. If i may, 2 questions:1) i`m on fence btw Mamiya 7II & Zeiss 35mm rf. Did my research- 99.99% film shooters get rid from Medformat cams & shoot 35mm whatever film , as if 35mm were 4.3 times larger negative sq.a & far superior IQ at same time claiming the opposite. BTW, in utube vids dig photos as a rule look better than film. Your take on this ? 2) What is Your opinion, if any of Mamiya 7II, compare to Mamiya RB RZ67? Thanks a lot in advance ! Savvy Dig shooter
I know it's been said, but thanks for posting the info. Definitely brings it home more than the manual. I'm inspired to do something similar with my RZ to highlight the differences. They are great cameras, I have a "35mm" DSLR for sports and snapshots, but for portraits and landscapes? They can have my medium format when they pry it from my cold dead hands. :) Well, that or when they stop making film for them.
At least you can drop a MF digital back right on! Assuming you have the $15k. :)
Really, really great demonstration! Now I know an alternative if I'm looking for a medium-format camera and I can't quite afford a Hasselblad yet haha
hey i was curious... when you twist the film back to vertical from horizontal how are you sure to frame it on the waist level? are there lines on the screen so you know how to position your subject? thanks
I have been looking at these camera lately. I want to try photographing with one. What are the major advantages/disadvantages compared to a 35mm SLR? What is the fastest shutter speed? When I order my 35mm Ektar, I see 4x5 print film. Is that for a Mamiya as well? I have a lot of questions about this piece of equipment. I might save up and try to find a used one. The Digital ones are outragous.
@davidg1024 Advantages: huge negative. 4.5 times the surface area of a 35mm negative. Better lenses. Disadvantages: huge, heavy camera. (8+ pounds with a prism finder, 6+ pounds with the WLF pictured here.) Tripod required almost all the time. Fastest shutter speed is 1/400s. 4x5 film is not for this camera, 120 format is for this camera (and 220 format if you have the correct film magazine, but there is very little variety in 220 format film).
Thanks for the great explanation on the floating element adjustment and for mentioning the lenses should be released before being stored! Great info for those of us picking up their camera used and without any documentation.
@jonlbc It's to select the type of flash sync. X is for electronic flash, M is for magnesium flashbulbs. To change the setting, push the switch in, then slide it over.
@jgda9rs The darkslide is put in to prevent accidental exposure of the film, and for when you are switching to a different film magazine in the middle of a roll. For example if you have color slide film in one magazine and B&W film in another, you can swap them without ruining any film.
@jgda9rs Yes, once the magazine is on the back of the camera, it it then safe and possible to remove the dark slide. The camera will not release the shutter if the dark slide is in place.
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! What an excellent instructional video.
I'm new to the Mamiya System and don't have anyone to show me how to use it. I can (and have) read the instructions, but there is no way to actually envision how all these processes work together and certainly not all the things i saw you do here.
Awesome video. I'm looking into buying one of these. Can you share any tips on what to check on a used RB, and how it stacks up against the RZ as a field camera? Thanks
At the moment on ebay, these cameras seem to run anywhere from $150-450, with the average price being $200. This is pretty cheap considering you normally get an excellent lens, camera body and magazine for well under the price of all high end DSLRs.
Though paying the extra $200 does give you the security of a serviced camera system, if you go for the cheaper auction, make sure you budget for servicing.
@lolrofl5 First, it's not 120mm, it's just 120. Simply an arbitrary number they picked. And no, you can't use 120 format film in a 220 back, you have to use 220 film. The difference between the two is that 120 film has a backing paper that runs the entire length of the film, whereas 220 only has a paper leader and tail. 220 is also twice as long as 120 film, so you get twice as many exposures per roll. Unfortunately, there is very little variety in 220 films, 120 has much more selection.
This video has been extremely helpful, I've been looking for a new camera since I broke my pentax ME and been wanting to try medium format. Thanks for making this vid.
Thanks for this. I was considering this or a hassleblad but now I am leaning toward this since it is 6x7 and the Hassleblad is 4.5 I also like that it seems accessories for the mamiya or more available!!!!! Great Video!
This is a gorgeous camera, for my photography course we only used it for studio work, mainly portraits.
but seeing as we finished that unit we got to take it outside and we did 4 long exposures over about 4 hrs (the whole college day), with 2 neutral density filters. we set up about 4 cameras on the college roof, with massive heavy tripods. showing the whole water front, and later we left one on the roof over night, doing another long exposure.
Very cool stuff. Thanks for the overview!
brandonbush1 3 hours ago
I have an RB67 Pro-S, and its film and shutter levers worked just as you showed in the vid, but one day i noticed that if I pull the film lever it wont advance the film. This lead to several double exposures. I then noticed that I had to pull the small release tab (the one you mentioned for the Pro back), is it really necessary to pull the small release trigger before advancing the film? I thought that lever was like a "film release" in case you wanted to rewind a partially shot roll of film.
stewmander 1 week ago
@stewmander I can't say for certain, as my backs are just "Pro" backs, not "Pro-S" backs. However, from literature I have read (and from what I can recall) there should be a double-exposure lever on the film back that is supposed to prevent the camera from double-exposing if it's set to single. Consult a manual? There are plenty of sites on the 'net that have it available.
Orcinus24x5 1 week ago
This thing is a serious hunk of camera!
RobertGoulet298 3 weeks ago 2
Why do you need to rotate the back? The negative is a perfect square. It's not like a 35mm rectangle negative.
obbeachbum69 2 months ago
@obbeachbum69 No, the negative on an RB67 is not a perfect square, it's a rectangle. 6x7 format, not 6x6.
Orcinus24x5 2 months ago
DAM dude your a pro...i just got this camera 2day ..been shooting on the mamiya c330 for the past 8 years ..i think ill be pretty happy
thatbboyAli 2 months ago
I am having a problem with replacing the film back. I am not trying to slide it on. The problem is, the two slide-lock levers on the back of the camera only slide back and forth less than a 1/4", from your video I see that yours slide the full length of the lever indentations on the revolving back. I have 2 Pro-S film backs. Any ideas what could be causing this? Am I missing something?
I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks so much for the video, it's great!! Keep it up!
TheOnlineJournalism 2 months ago in playlist Uploaded videos
@TheOnlineJournalism Is this happening with the film back already on the camera, or with no back at all? If the back is already on the camera, the only thing I can think of would be that the darkslide isn't inserted all the way, and the safety interlocks aren't disengaging. If this is happening with the film back already removed from the camera, then I honestly have no idea what it could be. Perhaps check for debris caught in the mechanism? Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Orcinus24x5 2 months ago
@Orcinus24x5 I was trying to get the film back onto the cmaera (rotating back). I finally figured it out, I had to push in two tiny round levers(?) on the right-hand side of the rotating back, this allowed the lock levers to move back and forth the full distance and I got the film back on. Thank you!!
TheOnlineJournalism 2 months ago
@TheOnlineJournalism Ohh, yes of course. I had a major derp moment when I replied the other day, I'm sorry. That's one I should have figured out immediately. :/
Orcinus24x5 2 months ago
@TheOnlineJournalism haha i just got this camera today and i looked up this video for the same exact problem and u solved it for me THANK YOU
thatbboyAli 2 months ago
Do you have any recommended flashes for the camera.
Thanks
fingerskatebass 2 months ago
@fingerskatebass Anything that has full-manual power output and has the capability to accept a input from a PC flash sync cable will work. There is no hotshoe on this camera. The Pro-S and Pro-SD versions have a cold shoe on the left side of the camera but you still need a sync cord from the lens to the flash. Alternatively, any flash with a thyristor should work for auto-exposure, as long as your settings on the flash match those on the camera (ISO and aperture).
Orcinus24x5 2 months ago
Thank you for this in depth review. I have been looking into getting a true medium format for awhile now, and you have sold me on this version of the Mamiya's. Just wished they weren't so expensive, but hey you get what you pay for. And yes the rotating back is amazing.
lifeofzeno 2 months ago
Would this be a good first medium format camera?
The only camera that I've had any real experience with is the canon 1100D (T3) but I really want to try a medium format camera..
matnils93 3 months ago
@matnils93 Honestly? Probably not. Especially if your only camera experience is with a modern dSLR. Metering and focusing are both 100% manual on this camera, and there are quite a few little things that are easy to forget when taking pictures. Indeed, I have messed up more than one frame myself, and I've been in photography for the better part of a decade.
Orcinus24x5 3 months ago
@Orcinus24x5 what about if you are somebody totally serious about photography with plenty of full manual 35mm exp. who wants to master a new tier in camera body and shooting style? would you recommend this camera in that case?
MastrBlastr318 3 months ago
@MastrBlastr318 Yes, I certainly would. If you think you can handle the weight, that is. This camera with the 127mm lens and the unmetered pentaprism weighs in at about 7.5 pounds. Definitely not something you'd have hanging around your neck as you strolled about. Tripod is pretty much required.
Orcinus24x5 3 months ago
Hi! What does the lever on the film back do? The one that covers or uncovers the red dot...
ReinisLismanis 3 months ago
This is very helpful... Thanks...
GemTraffic 3 months ago
Thanks for the demonstration! I have an RB67 too, but I have a problem: after taking a photo, I advance the film, then try to cock the shutter, but the lever stops about halfway up. Usually it becomes unstuck after several minutes of repeatedly pushing the lever back down, but this is far from ideal. I've noticed that this problem started occurring much more often in colder weather, but I'm not sure if this is a coincidence. Is there a solution, or should I send it in for repair! Thanks!
congoguy 3 months ago
@congoguy I dunno! ¯\(°_o)/¯ I've never had any problems with mine, so I've never had to repair it.
Orcinus24x5 3 months ago
This was extremely helpful! Thank you.
cardboardhut 3 months ago
I'm picking up a LN RZ67 pro ii w/a new 90mm lens and the 120 back in a week and I can't wait to start using my first medium format camera.
addamochs 3 months ago
Just got one of these and these videos were very useful in figuring out how to use it. Thanks for making these.
plushsnail 4 months ago
i love the sound of it, like a machine gun.
yuxin46 4 months ago
This is a real review!
TheShanahg 4 months ago
I have a Hasselblad 501cm, and am really enjoying it. I see that you are using Ektar film, I really think it is a great film but my main film is Portra 160.
111Socrates777 5 months ago
Great demo! Really thanks a lot. Without your demonstration i will have a very hard time to find out how my RB67 is going to "fulling working". Thanks again!
frommanhattan42 5 months ago
Had the RB for many years it was my favourite camera by far and strangle my Father had a 1930's Thornton Picard which was imo what the RB was based on.
I liked the 80mm but for me the 180mm was stunning. What I reallyed loved was the 6X7 ideal format giving 50% more usable negative over 6X6 and the bellows made extention tubes irrelevent. I paid (believe it or not) £300 for the whole kit brand new with the 80mm lens even then in the late 70's it was a total bargain and a wonderful camera to use
trackend 5 months ago
P.S. I`m not a Pro, just solid dig Nikon shooter, who wants fresh air in film field, leaning to Mamiya 7II, which everyone seems to get rid of. Would appreciate your answer. Thanks
111nuthead 6 months ago
Thanks! Great vid & vid quality. If i may, 2 questions:1) i`m on fence btw Mamiya 7II & Zeiss 35mm rf. Did my research- 99.99% film shooters get rid from Medformat cams & shoot 35mm whatever film , as if 35mm were 4.3 times larger negative sq.a & far superior IQ at same time claiming the opposite. BTW, in utube vids dig photos as a rule look better than film. Your take on this ? 2) What is Your opinion, if any of Mamiya 7II, compare to Mamiya RB RZ67? Thanks a lot in advance ! Savvy Dig shooter
111nuthead 6 months ago
@111nuthead I have no opinion of the Mamiya 7II, because I've never even seen one, let alone used one.
Orcinus24x5 6 months ago
@Orcinus24x5 Thank You ! It obviously lacks publicity.
111nuthead 6 months ago
Thank you for this material, man. It is very useful :)
nazgul43 7 months ago
Thanks, that was very educative.
driveslowly 7 months ago
@artwuk Uhmm... yeah, sounds about right. And film, of course.
Orcinus24x5 8 months ago
I'm about to bite the bullet and buy a medium format camera. What are the major differences between the RB67 and the RB67 Pro.
NepomucenoJour351 10 months ago
Thankyou very much for a quick intro to the RB I bought to introduce myself to MF. VERY helpful.
johnbaseley 10 months ago
Thanks for a great demonstration, helped me out tons!!
rapamika 10 months ago
I know it's been said, but thanks for posting the info. Definitely brings it home more than the manual. I'm inspired to do something similar with my RZ to highlight the differences. They are great cameras, I have a "35mm" DSLR for sports and snapshots, but for portraits and landscapes? They can have my medium format when they pry it from my cold dead hands. :) Well, that or when they stop making film for them.
At least you can drop a MF digital back right on! Assuming you have the $15k. :)
TheMindOfPat 11 months ago
Thanks so flipping much!! helped so much cheerz
14Rudderz14 11 months ago
Really, really great demonstration! Now I know an alternative if I'm looking for a medium-format camera and I can't quite afford a Hasselblad yet haha
master777999 11 months ago
this video is awesome!
alexwang100 1 year ago
hey i was curious... when you twist the film back to vertical from horizontal how are you sure to frame it on the waist level? are there lines on the screen so you know how to position your subject? thanks
rob644 1 year ago
@rob644 Yep, there are lines on the focusing screen.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
I have been looking at these camera lately. I want to try photographing with one. What are the major advantages/disadvantages compared to a 35mm SLR? What is the fastest shutter speed? When I order my 35mm Ektar, I see 4x5 print film. Is that for a Mamiya as well? I have a lot of questions about this piece of equipment. I might save up and try to find a used one. The Digital ones are outragous.
davidg1024 1 year ago
@davidg1024 Advantages: huge negative. 4.5 times the surface area of a 35mm negative. Better lenses. Disadvantages: huge, heavy camera. (8+ pounds with a prism finder, 6+ pounds with the WLF pictured here.) Tripod required almost all the time. Fastest shutter speed is 1/400s. 4x5 film is not for this camera, 120 format is for this camera (and 220 format if you have the correct film magazine, but there is very little variety in 220 format film).
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
Thanks for the great explanation on the floating element adjustment and for mentioning the lenses should be released before being stored! Great info for those of us picking up their camera used and without any documentation.
sesopenko 1 year ago
hey thanks for posting this, it was a big help figuring the camera out!
lettergrade 1 year ago
Does this have the bellows when you adjust focusing?
Do all RB67's have these bellows?
mactopolis 1 year ago
@mactopolis Yes, all RB67 (and RZ67) cameras use bellows for focusing.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
What is the X/M switch on the lens? I cant move mine? Help?
jonlbc 1 year ago
@jonlbc It's to select the type of flash sync. X is for electronic flash, M is for magnesium flashbulbs. To change the setting, push the switch in, then slide it over.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
I have a question!
Does it matter whether you cock the film lever or the shutter lever first?
rymdrattan2 1 year ago
@rymdrattan2 Nope, it does not matter what order this is accomplished.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
super video, thanks!
drstrangeluv25 1 year ago
i dont get what the darkslide is for?
jgda9rs 1 year ago
@jgda9rs The darkslide is put in to prevent accidental exposure of the film, and for when you are switching to a different film magazine in the middle of a roll. For example if you have color slide film in one magazine and B&W film in another, you can swap them without ruining any film.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
@Orcinus24x5 oh wow. clever. so, to expose you have to take off the dark slide then?
jgda9rs 1 year ago
@jgda9rs Yes, once the magazine is on the back of the camera, it it then safe and possible to remove the dark slide. The camera will not release the shutter if the dark slide is in place.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
Please be so kind to eplain how you use the depth of field scale please
theredrooter 1 year ago
Thank you very much. I just received one of these as a gift.
I love my Canon but this cam is AWESOME
theredrooter 1 year ago
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! What an excellent instructional video.
I'm new to the Mamiya System and don't have anyone to show me how to use it. I can (and have) read the instructions, but there is no way to actually envision how all these processes work together and certainly not all the things i saw you do here.
Thank you!!!
Originalfmajor007 1 year ago 2
@Originalfmajor007 You're certainly welcome. :)
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
Awesome video. I'm looking into buying one of these. Can you share any tips on what to check on a used RB, and how it stacks up against the RZ as a field camera? Thanks
thejakesh 1 year ago
y are these cameras so expensive?
weezyfan25 1 year ago
@weezyfan25
At the moment on ebay, these cameras seem to run anywhere from $150-450, with the average price being $200. This is pretty cheap considering you normally get an excellent lens, camera body and magazine for well under the price of all high end DSLRs.
Though paying the extra $200 does give you the security of a serviced camera system, if you go for the cheaper auction, make sure you budget for servicing.
fredNielssen 1 year ago
thank you very much sir! :)
stayology 1 year ago
It's like taking apart a gun. D:
Jettie12 1 year ago 2
Many thanks for posting these videos. I just bought an RB67 today, and this was very helpful as a 'crash course' in getting to know the camera.
YouNeedToHearThis 1 year ago
Quick Question: I'm new to medium format, so don't laugh.
But, can you shoot 120mm film, with a "Rotating 220 6x7 Pro back"?
thanks.
lolrofl5 1 year ago
@lolrofl5 First, it's not 120mm, it's just 120. Simply an arbitrary number they picked. And no, you can't use 120 format film in a 220 back, you have to use 220 film. The difference between the two is that 120 film has a backing paper that runs the entire length of the film, whereas 220 only has a paper leader and tail. 220 is also twice as long as 120 film, so you get twice as many exposures per roll. Unfortunately, there is very little variety in 220 films, 120 has much more selection.
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
@Orcinus24x5 Okay, thanks.
lolrofl5 1 year ago
This video has been extremely helpful, I've been looking for a new camera since I broke my pentax ME and been wanting to try medium format. Thanks for making this vid.
tompster 1 year ago
Thanks for this. I was considering this or a hassleblad but now I am leaning toward this since it is 6x7 and the Hassleblad is 4.5 I also like that it seems accessories for the mamiya or more available!!!!! Great Video!
jsween123 1 year ago
This is a gorgeous camera, for my photography course we only used it for studio work, mainly portraits.
but seeing as we finished that unit we got to take it outside and we did 4 long exposures over about 4 hrs (the whole college day), with 2 neutral density filters. we set up about 4 cameras on the college roof, with massive heavy tripods. showing the whole water front, and later we left one on the roof over night, doing another long exposure.
they came out incredibly.
rorrt 1 year ago
@rorrt I would really love to see those images! Could you perhaps share them, pretty please? :)
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
@Orcinus24x5
yeah sure, though the film isnt mine, it was a friends.
I'll ask my friend to scan it in, hopefully before the end of the college year.
but i'll link you to a flickr page as soon as he scans them, and uploads...
rorrt 1 year ago
not a defect with the back, that's normal to have to push level over on the std back.
timickan 1 year ago
@timickan Good to know, thanks! ;)
Orcinus24x5 1 year ago
very informative, Good Job.
bezogreg 1 year ago
I love this camera and this really is a great video.
Surusla 1 year ago
Awesome vid should do more on the rb67.
Damour5H 1 year ago