Despite what others have said this camera is nowhere near as heavy as they make out! I use the grip with mine and even without the eye level prism finder to give me the image, right way round, I find the entire experience a pleasure. The revolving back is lovely when the last thing you need is to adjust everything for vertical shots. The series of interlocking checks and whatnot that others might complain about I actually find important and very useful. There are any number of ways that you can safely avoid firing the shutter by accident, you can lock the focus for repeated shots, you have mirror up option for T exposures and any number of other useful and supportive options which make this outfit ooze class, performance and thoughtful design. The image through the finder demands that you admit 35mm can''t begin to compare with this format, though it has it''s place like other formats. This is camera which makes me feel like I''m standing on the shoulders of giants, and there you can see for miles

All of the traditional weaknesses associated with this outfit I have found perfectly useful and within the bounds of standard plausability in design. I can''t really say that having to wind on and cock the shutter before firing slows me down or delays me in any way. Photographers are always going to miss shots no matter what system they are using, if speed is your main concern then this may be an issue for you. That said I have found it to be no more of a delay than perhaps 2 seconds! If you have a bad back or don''t like carrying equiptment or perhaps want something less conspicuous, then perhaps you could find a smaller looking MF camera, but then you''d miss out on using THIS camera. I really can''t say that I''ve found any weaknesses with this system because I made sure I bought the right system for me

This is actually a review for the RB67 Pro-S because I cannot review it elsewhere. A superlative camera from top to bottom. Right from the moment I picked it up and gazed through the view finder I was seduced. I got mine with the 127mm lens which is a beautiful lens for general photography. This is a serious camera for serious photographers, not necessarily just the pro''s, but it will demand much more of the artist in you than the standard format. Total classy design and not just for the studio either

Customer Service

I have heard great things and am sure the service is there if and when needed.

Similar Products Used:

Various TLR''s

The camera is VERY sturdy, a real workhorse. Despite its size, it wasn't hard to handhold... but others have that comlaint. It uses leaf shutters, so it will sync at any shutter speed. Bellows focusing for closer focusing than normal. Rotating back allows you to shoot vertical or horizontal, no need to tilt camera (and with its size, that's no easy feat!)

I'm spoiled by autofocus and metering, so it takes some time to get used to. It also takes some getting used to having to cock the shutter AND advance the film with two different levers!

The camera is a truly awesome studio camera! I love the large neg size and rotating back! I can honestly say this is a great camera, and if you want to go medium format, this might very well be the camera to get! (BTW -- I use a ProS model, but from what I understand the differences are minimal).

Customer Service

Haven't needed it yet.

Similar Products Used:

None

Good negative size, revolving back.

Extremely complex, easy to jam

I lasted a week with this camera. In the first roll of film the wind-on jammed, so I had to take it to the darkroom to get the remaining shots out. Got some beautiful pictures of my school photography group the following week, gave it to one of the boys to try and he touched a button, the back sprung open and the insides fell into the bushes. Ruined film, result next day was an exchange for a Bronica SQB, which is a delight by comparison: reliable, quick to use.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

Bronica ETRS
Bronica SQB
Fuji GSW690

i've had my rb for about 3 months and have ran about 30 rolls of film through it allready.i've had no problems with it.i chose it because of the reasonable price and reputation given to it by the pros.other brands of 67 format in the same price range don't seem to have the the same great selection of backs or viewers.
the 120 back has acceptional spacing between frames.

i have used a metered view finder but still think a handheld meter works beter.the finder does do a good job but unless u don't have the time i'd recomend metering by hand
of course,as everyone else complains,it is heavy and it took me alittle time to get used to

its a nice, well built camera.i'm confident in recomending it to others
i can't say its the best,but the best would cost a great deal more.
this is why i can't give it a perfect rating but i will say it is the best camera i've owned

Customer Service

haven't needed it yet

Similar Products Used:

pentax 67,yashica a,mamyia c330

Revolving Back, 6x7 cm. image, close focus with 90mm, toilet flushing sound, interchangable backs, cheep priced used accessories, good range of lenses.

The obvious weight. I don't think that the glass is very sharp. I thought that my old Mamiya 645 lens's were sharper. They don't compare to Zeiss glass. I don't concider a focused image as the only qualfied standard of what a sharp image should look like. These lenses are lacking in contrast and resolution that I find in the Zeiss optics. And yes, I do wear glasses and they were just checked......before you asked. I use it for people photography mainly. I get sharper images from Cannon L glass for industrial/commercial photos that don't need to be blown up to poster size. Also the lenses have relativly slow apatures.

Not bad for the buck. I use mine mostly these days as a polaroid body with my two pola. backs. The image crops exactly to a magazine cover and I find that to be a usefull feature that Hasselblad can't do. You get much less grain from the rectangular format than you do from a Hasselblad that is cropped off the sides. The softness of the lenses that I have found can be usefull by not capturing every little line and crack in a person's face. It is like the lenses all have a soft focus filter built into them.....a very slight but noticable....at least for me that is.

Customer Service

Great, although, I used BDC a camera repair place in Madison Wisconsin. They fixed a major problem that I caused. I some how managed to jam the d*** thing just after I bought it. I forced the mirror lever and bent the darn thing forward. I had a 50mm lens attached at the time that I couldn't remove from the body because the body wasn't cocked. I had to send it in so they could take apart the lens from the front and get at the body and repair it. I was quoted over $800.00 from Mamiya......understandably. However, BDC repaired it for less than half of that price lens and body included. The two work flawlessly and I learned a very expensive lesson. "Never force anything". So anyway, I'd say that they charge a lot for the same repair that a small place in Madison Wisconsin can do for a lot less.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad CM, Mamiya 645,, RZ67, Pentax 67.
I own the 50mm, 90mm, & 180mm with two polaroid backs and two 120 film

Sharp glass, bellows focusing, solid construction

Heavy weight, assorted safety interlocks can be confusing

I believe the one we have is the older, original Pro model... A fabulous studio camera with extremely sharp lenses; the bellows focusing makes it excellent for close-up work. The big negatives are VERY sharp and VERY detailed. Rotating 6x7 film format is definitely convenient. CdS Pentaprism head, while inaccurate as a meter, is a pleasure to use for its sharp focusing and pleasing non-mirrored view.

(For just a shot or two, we sometimes us this camera with 6x9cm sheet film in old-style standard [e.g., for baby Speed Graphics, not a Mamiya-made accessory] film holders that fit perfectly on the film plane held by the back-lock prongs, though there's no reason to expect that they should!)

The only downsides with this camera are the sheer weight and ungainliness, making a tripod utterly essential, and the bewildering series of safety interlocks (dark slide out, shutter release, film advance, etc.) that make casual use after some time away impossible without first reacquainting yourself with the camera's quirks.

But overall, a great camera...

Customer Service

no clue

Similar Products Used:

No SLRs, but TLRs like Mamiya C330

Large Negative, Extension bellows allow extremely close shots, durable constuction.

Heavy, complicated exposure index when shooting close-ups, slow film advancement.

The RB67 is a dependable camera with a huge negative, for a medium format,that primarily appeals to studio photographers. A little bit bulky and slow for weddings, but excellent for comercial jobs, because of sharpness and grain quality. I enjoy shooting with this camera. The larger negative allows me to mahe larger prints. This camera is often referred to as "the workhorse of the pros", and it is just that, for the pros. This camera and its equipment are too expensive and processing too hard to find to appeal to amatuers. Also, if you are not in shape it can become heavy quite quickly.

Customer Service

Mamiya has a website that details new information about your mamiya camera. You can also join the Mamiya Owner's group FREE, online, and recieve a newsletter.

Similar Products Used:

Shot with the Mamiya 645 for a year. It was also a quality product, but I prefer the larger negative offered by the RB6

Easy to use, Great Photographs, very sharp lenes and the best wedding Camera on the market. Perfect 8x10 format. Great for double exposures

kind of heavy

If you shoot weddings the best camera to have is an RB 6x7 but carry along a mono pod for the weak at heart

Customer Service

Real good coustomer service

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad ELM,Pentax 6x7

The negs are absolutely HUGE!!! After photographing someone's face with it, I was amazed at the amount of detail it captured. Every single wrinkle was resolved!!! And this is no exaggeration I actually mean you could see every wrinkle!!! Also with the standard 90mm lens you can do macro up to 1:2 half life size without extension tubes

If you are buying one used try to get the Pro-S or Pro-SD. The Original Pro model stopped production in 1974 so there are no parts for from Mamiya. Although you may be able to get some from outside mamiya. The Camera is very heavy at 2.6kg, you'll also need a new tripod if you don't have a particularly strong one.

Oh yeah the T setting is really annoying, you fire the shutter release to open the shutter and you turn the shutter speed dial to close it, this makes it almost impossible to do 2 seconds without shaking it.

A heavy piece of camera which belongs in the studio, built like a tank. Also functions as a weapon!

Customer Service

Mamiya have a great discussion forum where you can ask a question and people discuss it, including a Mamiya technician.

Similar Products Used:

None

extremely durable. I have used the RB as my main platform in a very busy Executive Photo onsite service. I put an average of 50-60 rolls of 220 through it in a typical week. I've only had it 'down' for perhaps two days in 4 years of service. Even when the main body was in the shop, I had a backup and was shooting again in about five minutes. The clarity and ease of use of the controls are excellent.

Heavy weight makes it married to a tripod or shooting stand, primarily an in-studio camera for my uses. That being said, however it is superb in its element. On occasion the synch on a lens may go but that is a field fix item, and quickly repaired, normall it is a matter of the contact spring needing replacement. I kept one on hand after it went on one of my lenses, and haven't had to replace it since (of course, now that I had a spare it stubbornly won't break)

If you need a reliable, day in day out performer, the RB is tough to overlook. I have the 127 and the 180 lenses which are excellent for solo and small group portaiture. This is not a hobbyist camera, but rather geared for a working serious studio. Price tag reflects durability in this case.

Customer Service

RBs when they rarely break, are readily repaired, and most decent sized cities have a technician or camera repair shop who will get the repair done quickly.

Similar Products Used:

'Blad 500C. square format is fine for some uses, but I Prefer the rectangular 6x7 or 6x 4.5 for most efficient use of film.