CAMERA REVIEW: Mamiya RB67 Pro-S

[@AFROTOGRAPHY]

I’ve been shooting my RB67 for 4yrs now. I wish I had a video like this when I started. So many trials and errors I went through. MY TIP FOR NEW USERS. REMEMBER TO TAKE THE DARK SLIDE OUT!!!!

[@CalumetVideo]

I used to have a Bronica SQ, it was a great camera, I sold it for the Hasselblad 500 C/M. I also have the RB67, there are lots of pro and cons. The Pro’s for the RB67, it’s mechanical, great negative wise, the RB67 glass is amazing. I will say aside from the size of the camera, a couple of things to watch out for are the film backs need to have the foam light seals replaced, the lenses are optical great, however, many of the lenses are now older, had a hard professional life and many are found with worn shutters, sticky aperture blades and separation in the lens elements. You really have to go through a lot of lenses to find the good ones. The Hasselblad or Bronica’s is good, but the 6x6 does not work for every situation, cropping leaves a 6x4.5 image with less resolution. I will say the Hasselblad has some great glass, but the system is very expensive.

[@hb4834]

Great video, I watched n gained a great deal of information from it. I recently purchased an RB67 n love it. Yeah, it's a beast, but the pics it takes are amazing, and sharp. My favorite is how close I can get to the subject with sharpness and clarity...with tons of bokeh. The bellows system works as advertised...keep these videos coming...very nicely done.

[@studiojege287]

Great video, I have the same with a 127 lens. It forces you to slow down and that's a good thing but often a bit to much. However, for portraits... it's the best. Got also a TLR and the Bronica S2A (mirrorslap RB67 is nothing compared to that ;) and they are way easier to carry with you. You can't go worng, amazing equipement but also just a tool, use it when best suited!

[@Narsuitus]

The size and weight of the RB67 did not bother me because compared to my larger and heavier 4x5 inch large format view camera, the RB67 was a light weight. The RB67 features I did not like included: no cold shoe or hot shoe to hold my remote flash trigger (newer RB bodies have a shoe) no 140mm lens on the distance scale (newer RB bodies have an updated scale) no 150mm lens on the distance scale (newer RB bodies have an updated scale) no reasonably priced digital back available

[@fepatton]

I’ve been using RBs for decades and currently own two of them. It’s definitely not a camera that holds your hand! It’s really not necessary to put the dark slide in between shots unless you’re regularly swapping film magazines (say from color to B&W). Also, they have a good solution for mirror slap. There’s a nice dual cable release that will raise the mirror when pressed halfway, then release the shutter when you’re ready by pressing it the rest of the way. Cheers!

[@flyingo]

Your thoughts are spot on in my opinion. I’ve had my RB67 Pro S for over 25 years and besides remembering the specific dance steps necessary to shoot (meter, cock shutter, advance film, remove dark slide, rotate shutter button lock collar, shoot), the only issue I’ve encountered was with the film back frame advance lock sticking - its a tiny spring loaded rod that triggers and pokes into the film back from the body once a frame has been exposed. A drop or three of gun oil on it and exercising it frequently solved that. Love my TLRs and Bronica SQ, but nothing feels as “professional” as capturing images with an RB67! Thanks for this!

[@thirtyfiveeyes]

Thanks for this thoughtful comment! I know that issue that your describing and it is something i should have mentioned in this review. But yes this camera is a beast and I'm so glad i got to use it for the time that i did.

[@DominikJa4711]

I bought mine a year ago! Like you said: it’s heavy as hell, but I like to take it out as much as I can. It came with 3 lenses and one had to be fixed (oily shutter) but on the outside everything looked like new. it’s just my favourite camera!

[@FelixReichl-pj1eb]

i also just got myself a mamiya rb67 pro s and i have an important question. i‘ve never loaded the camera with film yet, so i‘ve just practiced the process of shooting with this camera. as you said in your video, the red dot should be covered at all time. but i cant shoot, if the red dot is covered. will it be different if my camera is loaded with film or is it broken?😂

[@Photinos]

Very good for your review of Mamiya RB67, although there is no disadvantage in the vibration of the mirror because it can be raised in the mirror up position and obtain total stability, another advantage is the extension of the bellows that allows close-ups with any focal length of lenses, although in In this sense, the ideal camera is a Rolleiflex SL66 design from the 60s, which is also possible with an inclination that Mamiya does not have and from which it is inspired. Finally, another advantage of the RB is its price.

[@scottnj2503]

I own a Nikon F3, I think the G.O.A.T. of 35mm cameras. Long ago I had experience with Pentax 6x7, Mamiya 645 and 4x5 view cameras. I'm getting sucked into the world of mid format. Thanks for the post.

[@koby1960]

There are light meter prisms available for the RB...btw

[@mikesmith-po8nd]

There is a mirror lock-up if you need to eliminate the slap. There is also a metering finder, but after all these years they have about a 50/50 failure rate, so be sure to get a money back guarantee. Anyway, it was a good, based review, and that's not common today.

[@RickLeMon]

I've had mine for a few months (and a few rolls of film), and so far I'm loving it. I don't have enough experience with it yet to feel like I'm using to its full advantage, but I feel my approach to photography becoming more measured and thoughtful every time I press the shutter release. I think that, even if I never take a good photo with it, I'll be a better photographer for using it Plus, it just sounds so good. Sometimes I take mine off the shelf just to cock and fire a few times. Someday, I'll forget I have film in it and end up with half a roll of pictures of my monitor

[@tommymonolo]

Hey Joshua, excellent insight and info on this beautiful camera AKA the tank. I’m really interested in buying either this or the 645 I’m really excited about getting into to the whole medium format I’m camera mad aren’t we all … Great video man ! Keep up the good work. Oh which one will I get ? I need to watch more videos and make my decision… the rotating back is so appealing… Keep shooting. Tom.

[@RogerMunoz-ci7it]

My thoughts and questions were all addressed both by you Joshua and by the wonderful people who have viewed this very informative video. Having said that, I very. grateful to one and all. Thank you and God Bless you all.

[@nelsonm.5044]

When it was time to buy my medium format camera I considered the RB until I sas the weight, much too heavy to carry for landscape photography because I need to carry it for long hours

[@tompaste387]

No light meter poor baby 🤣 there is a mirror lock-up to eliminate camera shake during slower shutter speeds