Decided to Go Totally Retro with a Mamiya RB67 6X7 Ca. 1970
Jeffcs
Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Had a cinder block with a lens at least it felt that heavy but the image it produced
Enjoy your rz
Rich2236
Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire
Church Key wrote:
I've been sort of drifting back to film, specifically B&W. Picked up a Pentax LX (the top of line ca. 1980) and several lenses. Took a bunch of nice pics at a Cowboy Action Shooting match. Ended up digitizing them and sending to the participants. Decided I might want to try 120 film, so just got a 1970 Mamiya RB67 w/127 lens and 120 back. Picked it up from Fleabay for $199 shipped from Japan. Bought it on 11/13, arrived on 11/17. It's a monster, all mechanical and metal, weighs 6 pounds. B&H has 120 film. Will dig out my heavy tripod, Gossen meter and shoot some landscapes. At least I'll get out of the house with a specific purpose. Will post results in a while.
Beats having to wait (and pay for) for a Nikon 850; duh!
Church Key
I've been sort of drifting back to film, specifica... (
show quote)
You may have just hit it on the nail head, Church Key...I still have my Mamiya 1000s Pro, with 3 lenses. It takes 120 or 220 film. It is 645 format. Always loved that camera. I just may go back and try it again like you. And have the film also processed in digital form.
Rich...
sb
Loc: Florida's East Coast
Wow - I used to fantasize about getting one of those! If we still had a camera store with film and processing I would still consider it!
d2b2
Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA
bsprague wrote:
Had a Mamiya C330 and all three lenses that I loved. Stupid that I gave it away.
I had the C220. Loved it for landscapes, in particular.
Good luck with the RB67, I have used one in the past, plus the 645 and the twin lens Mamiya. Great cameras.
Church Key wrote:
I've been sort of drifting back to film, specifically B&W. Picked up a Pentax LX (the top of line ca. 1980) and several lenses. Took a bunch of nice pics at a Cowboy Action Shooting match. Ended up digitizing them and sending to the participants. Decided I might want to try 120 film, so just got a 1970 Mamiya RB67 w/127 lens and 120 back. Picked it up from Fleabay for $199 shipped from Japan. Bought it on 11/13, arrived on 11/17. It's a monster, all mechanical and metal, weighs 6 pounds. B&H has 120 film. Will dig out my heavy tripod, Gossen meter and shoot some landscapes. At least I'll get out of the house with a specific purpose. Will post results in a while.
Beats having to wait (and pay for) for a Nikon 850; duh!
Church Key
I've been sort of drifting back to film, specifica... (
show quote)
That's a nice camera. The smaller Mamiya 645 (120 film) is even more affordable today. A young friend bought one of those and uses it regularly in his photography business.
I've have the less glitzy Asahi Pentax K2 DMD (a fancier version of the K2) that I bought new back in the day ($325+) ca. 1981. It had been my main film camera for years.
Church Key wrote:
I've been sort of drifting back to film, specifically B&W. Picked up a Pentax LX (the top of line ca. 1980) and several lenses. Took a bunch of nice pics at a Cowboy Action Shooting match. Ended up digitizing them and sending to the participants. Decided I might want to try 120 film, so just got a 1970 Mamiya RB67 w/127 lens and 120 back. Picked it up from Fleabay for $199 shipped from Japan. Bought it on 11/13, arrived on 11/17. It's a monster, all mechanical and metal, weighs 6 pounds. B&H has 120 film. Will dig out my heavy tripod, Gossen meter and shoot some landscapes. At least I'll get out of the house with a specific purpose. Will post results in a while.
Beats having to wait (and pay for) for a Nikon 850; duh!
Church Key
I've been sort of drifting back to film, specifica... (
show quote)
"Church Key", wasn't that a Surf song?
Great thread. I have had my Pentax 6x7 (also a beast) since 1979 and still use it. Last week I picked up a Bronica ERSi (6x4.5) on eBay for a similar price; it came with a 75mm f/2.8 (normal) lens and I bought separately a 50mm f/2.8 "wide angle." I have a 120 and TWO 220 backs for it, but I think 220 film is a dead issue now unless you find someone on eBay with a stash in their freezer. Have fun with your new beast. I love MF (also have a recently refurbed Rolleicord III). I would love to find a working Mamiya Cabin 6x7 projector. They used to go for well over $1k. I think B&H lists a used one but it is almost $500 and has no carriers. I don't know where you could score the carriers for it.
sb wrote:
Wow - I used to fantasize about getting one of those! If we still had a camera store with film and processing I would still consider it!
Both of my Walmarts locally have a "send out only" program to Fujifilm Pro labs. Put the film roll in an envelope and drop it in the Fuji kiosk. (BTW you'll never hear Walmart say "Send Out Only". I had to research this all myself and acquaint the local store camera sections with it.)
I strarted using this about 15 years ago and still do. Either store... ten business day turn around, excellent pro processing. Half the cost of most labs. no scanning, but low cost for prints and transparencies. Walmart calls you when processing is done and your images are back. Shipping is free on their trucks to the Fuji Lab and back.
Never lost any images properly shot.
Walmart yes, you heard me.
I shot Mamiya and Bronica for a while, but switched to Fujica "Texas Leica Rangefinder" for the 6X9 format (which Fuji WILL process). The GSW690 with the fixed 65 mm lens (wide angle equivalent 28mm) is what I shoot mostly.
Is it really Fuji? I bought some 35mm Velvia with a Fuji mailer. It came back with a Fujichrome box and the slide mounts said Fuji. But the lab address was "Parsons KS" which tells me it MUST really be Dwayne's. What other lab is out there? And they need something to process since they shut down the world's last Kodachrome processing line.
I owned for years a Pentax 6x7, and dearly loved it. It was just a giant 35mm. Shot many landscapes with Fuji film. It, too. was heavy and bulky. Most may not know that Pentax makes adapters to allow use of the 6x7 and 645 lenses work on their DSLRs.
I carried the monster on an extra- padded heavy tripod when hiking. Once dropped the rig when I jumped before walking over a rattlesnake. Put a nice ding on the camera body but it continued to function normally. I wonder if even today's Pro level cameras would have survived that drop?
I have hand held my 6x7 many times. I have the wood grip for it. It is truly a beast. If you're out shooting with it and someone attacks you you can deck them with it with no harm to the camera. I have the 105, 150 and 75 mm lenses for it. I've had it since 1979. Long ago I had the fisheye but used it so rarely that I sold it.
Chicago definitely has film, Central Camera, Dodd and others in burbs.
Congratulations! Sounds like you got a great deal. Looking forward to seeing your photos. Always dreamed of owning one of those beasts.
I occasionally break out my Pentax 6 X 7 and my Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master light meter. This combination of camera and light meter harkens me back to beautiful,
slow and purposeful photography.
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