Shooting the Medium Format Camera Mamiya RB67

The Mamiya RB67 is a medium format camera that can shoot both 120 and polaroid peel apart film. This is the first time using this camera and so I wanted to give some takeaways and provide a few sample photos from my session. For the photos I used Kodak Porta 400.

For starters, if you’re using this camera then you’re already familiar with film. Also you have to understand that this is a fully manual camera as well, so you must know you’re setting. With film, you get a limited number of shots and it’s on you to know how to read light and set your camera accordingly. Now that we got that out of the way, here’s my mamiyarb67 review.

Before I go on, I’m going to assume that you already know how to use this camera or how it works. If not, you can watch the video below where I show you how my camera’s set up.

Tip #1 Use a Tripod

Using a tripod will really help when shooting with this camera for a variety of reasons, although the main reason is the weight. The mamiya rb67 is heavy and old school. The way the you release the shutter isn’t like a normal 35mm or dslr camera. The slower the shutter speed, the steadier the hand you have to have. Now, if you were shooting with your dslr, I would say you don’t need a tripod because you can manipulate the settings so much easier on digital. Also, you can take a thousand test shots with no consequence. With film…not so much. Being that film is still a fairly expensive process, you really want to take your time and get the most you can get out of each roll. All in all it’ll cost around $30 usd to get everything developed. (that’s buying film and getting it developed)

Tip #2 Use a Lightmeter

Remember that film is still an expensive process. With that being said you want to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck. If you’re not great a reading light and knowing your settings, having a light meter is critical, you don’t want to get your filmed developed just to see that you pictures were too over/under exposed. Now if you’re shooting in a bright setting where you’re using fast shutter speeds, having a tripod may not be as critical. Although if you shooting in lower light situations you definitely want to try to get the best light reading possible.

Tip #3 Advance the Film from the Film Back

Here is where I made a bone head mistake and actually exposed the first frame like 5 times because I wasn’t advancing the film the right way. There’s a lever on the camera that you use to reset the shutter, but it doesn’t advance the film. I didn’t know this going in, so those first fews shots were all a wash. After realizing what I was doing wrong, I was able to adjust and get about a total of 9 images all together.

If this is your first time shooting a roll of 120 film take your time and enjoy the process. Shooting film is where it all started for me and most of the old school guys in the game. Yet it’s been making a comeback. I’ve been seeing younger kids shooting 35mm film and the word from the film developer who processed my roll is the younger generation seem to be getting more and more into it. Maybe it’s the look, maybe it’s the feel, but whatever it is, master your craft and explore options that it has to offer you.