Mamiya RB67

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The RB67 is a professional medium format SLR camera by Mamiya. It takes lenses with the RB mount. Lenses are equipped with leaf shutters and focus is set using a bellows arrangement, so the camera body itself is quite simple and fully mechanical.

Due to its heavy weight (almost 2kg for the body alone) the RB67 is often said to be unsuitable for use hand-held. This isn't necessarily true - with a decent neckstrap the RB67 can easily be used on the move.

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Anatomy of an RB67 image by Raphael Borges (Image rights)

Backs

The usual size for an RB67 back is 6x7, hence the name. Mamiya backs are also available in 6x4.5 and 6x8 (only compatible with the RB67 Pro-SD). Backs from other manufacturers that have the Graflok fitting may be used.

Use of Polaroid instant film is also supported either using a Mamiya Polaroid back, or a Polaroid Land Pack with a P adapter.

Lenses

Original

The original lenses were released along with the RB67 Pro in 1970. They only have a single anti-reflective coating.

C

The C lenses were released with the RB67 Pro-S in 1974. These lenses are multi-coated.

K/L

The K/L lenses are a slightly newer design with better coatings than the C lenses. The K/L is a code to indicate which bodies the lenses are compatible with. K indicates the Pro/Pro-S bodies and L indicates the Pro-SD bodies.

L

The L lenses are compatible with the Pro-SD only, due to the fact they need a larger "throat" to mount on the camera. The only L lenses are the 75mm Shift lens and 500mm APO lens.

Bibliography

• Kamera no ayumi. Zen nihon shashin renmei sōritsu 50-shūnen kinen (カメラのあゆみ・全日本写真連盟創立五〇周年記念, History of cameras, commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the All Japan Association of Photographic Societies). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1976. No ISBN number. P.107.
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.133 and 169.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.648.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 2171.

Links

In English:

• Mamiya RB67 at medfmt
• Mamiya RB67 at photoethnography.com by Karen Nakamura
• Mamiya Cameras Instruction Manuals - English @ www.orphancameras.com
• Mamiya RB67 Guide

In French:

• Mamiya RB67, RB67 Pro S on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand

In Japanese:

• The 6×4.5 and 6×7 SLRs in the Camera Museum of the Mamiya official website, covers the RB67 Professional, RB67 Professional S and RB67 Professional GL