Mamiya RB67 KL 127mm f/3.5 L

I have used this lens for full-length and head-and--shoulders portraits, photos of very large-scale architecture and landscape, and right down to closeups of lillies, a sleeping hedgehog, people feet, and other similarly small-ish subjects. In every case I have been delighted with the results. This lens is by far the most versatile single lens of any photographic set-up I have ever used, and it is also the highest quality of optics, and construction. I have used Hasselblad a great deal, which I continue to use, and many other professional systems from Mamiya, Bronica, Nikon, Canon, Leica etc. Each system has its own 'look' and character. The unique thing about the Mamiya KL 127mm is that it is 'impartial' and amazingly accurate and reliable: its 'look', if it has one at all, is fine, smooth, and of realistic contrast. It's 'look' is the most like 'the real thing' of any lense system I've used. If someone asked me, 'I want to shoot with film, what do you recommend', I would say, get an RB67 with a 127mm KL lens: you may never need another camera or lens in your life, because of the incredible quality of the images, because of the versatility of the 127mm, but also becasue it will probably last longer than us frail humans. One word of advice for a beginner: if you are coming to MF for the first time (from 35mm or digital), you will find that MF lenses are 'darker'. The maximum aperture of this lens is f/3.5, which means you need a decent amount of light - or long exposure - if you're using a slow speed film. Plan ahead with this in mind. An available-light portrait session can be difficult for these large negatives. Try getting fast film, or increase the amount of light. Of course this does not apply with a static subject.

Reliability is like a rock Optical quality is unsurpassed by anything

Would be nice to have shutter speed and aperture coupled - but that's just a gimmick

Mamiya RB C lenses Mamiya M645 lenses Mamiya C330 lenses Hasselblad T* lenses Nikon 35mm

I have never had to have a repair to any of my Mamiyas, but I have had several occasions where I wanted information from Mamiya. They are just fantastic: they go the extra mile, and act fast.

These days it seems like most people seem to gravitate towards the very wide and/or very long lenses, so this and other "standard" lenses seem to be overlooked. I find this ever so slightly telephoto lens to be just about perfect for 90% of my portraiture and fashion work. Wide open or stopped down, things are crisp and beautiful edge to edge. Worth every penny, and it will cost you a lot less than most other lenses in the system, new or used.

The glass is everything a lens should be. Sharp, contrasty, lovely bokeh. A fantastic focal length for 6x7.

As with all RB lenses, new or old, bulb and time exposures are a little finnicky, but for the amount that I use the camera for applications needing bulb or time exposures, it doesn't seem to be an issue much.

KL 65mm and 250mm lenses. Various other lenses by Hasselblad, Bronica, etc.

Never need it for my lenses, but Mamiya in general is a great company to do business with.

This was the lens that came with my RB67 set when I first purchased it about four years ago. I survived on this lens for two years. I found its focal length to be versatile enough for most of my needs. In hindsight, I think that this lens has helped given my work a very distinctive look because most of my other colleagues in the industry are using either something shorter or longer.

This lens has fantastic sharpness and minimal distortion. Even when the aperture is wide open there is still crispness to how it renders detail.

None.

Mamiya RB67 50mm and 250mm, Pentax 67 45mm, 105mm, and 135mm Macro.

Never needed it.

This is a sleeper of a lens, often overlooked and underrated, a great "normal" for a 6X7 camera--like a 60mm on your 35mm camera. Used KL lenses are often great bargains, especially this stellar stepchild I bought for about 25% of new.

An incredibly sharp and contrasty lens, a big improvement over the already good 127/3.8 C.

None. Yes, it's heavy, but so is any lens for the RB/RZ.

All RB/RZ lenses from 50 to 250.

Best in the buisiness.

This lens is worth every penny if you're shooting RB. I tried it and the 90mm in store and found the 127mm to be a better focal length for general photography for me. I've shot both color and B&W through it many times and have yet to come up with any real complaint. Buy this lens and you won't be disappointed.

This lens is sharp, contrasty, and very well corrected for distortion. Of the 3 lenses I have for my RB, this one comes out on top. It's easy to focus and has sufficient DOF for most applications. Shutter and aperture adjustments are crisp and easy to use.

If anything, a bit heavy, but it's a MF lens,so that's to be expected. No real gripes.

Mamiya C 50mm
Mamiya KL 250mm

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