Mamiya Press Super 23 or RB67. Have a great kit for each platform but only need one. All purchased from 100% positive-rated Japanese eBay seller in Mint condition. No haze, fungus, or balsam separations on my optics!
Anyway, I’m torn, want to hear (informed, if available) opinions.
I like the somewhat larger 6x9 Press negative and the more “photographic” image quality of the Press system lenses—almost like a small LF kit. Sort of a gray area between MF & LF. The con for this system is I don’t much care for rangefinders and the beast is utterly non-automatic, with a dozen ways to unintentionally multi-expose or leave frames blank.
I have long loved the utter perfection of the RB67 system and lenses. It’s also a beast but I much prefer the reflex system over rangefinders. Moreover, even with a marginally smaller negative size, the Sekor K/L lenses are beyond perfection; Zeiss doesn’t compare. Images have a three-dimensional quality no other system, analog or digital can match. Almost too perfect! The con is weight and difficulty in field use over the Super 23.
I need to sell one or the other. My workflow is a tedious grind, being a rank amateur. I’ll pick something I want to photograph, and wait for the position of the moon, local weather, or whatever to get just what I had visualized. I might take a month to expose a roll of film then develop and scan it. I also have several film backs to switch stock easily. Pathetic.
That said, anyone ever agonize over selling a Leica for a Nikon? Had remorse over the decision later but coped anyway? You’d think a bugshutter with 70 summers on the right side of the turf wouldn’t need advice, but it’s MF, you know?
Your comments are appreciated!
Cogito ergo Bebop a Lula
Anyway, I’m torn, want to hear (informed, if available) opinions.
I like the somewhat larger 6x9 Press negative and the more “photographic” image quality of the Press system lenses—almost like a small LF kit. Sort of a gray area between MF & LF. The con for this system is I don’t much care for rangefinders and the beast is utterly non-automatic, with a dozen ways to unintentionally multi-expose or leave frames blank.
I have long loved the utter perfection of the RB67 system and lenses. It’s also a beast but I much prefer the reflex system over rangefinders. Moreover, even with a marginally smaller negative size, the Sekor K/L lenses are beyond perfection; Zeiss doesn’t compare. Images have a three-dimensional quality no other system, analog or digital can match. Almost too perfect! The con is weight and difficulty in field use over the Super 23.
I need to sell one or the other. My workflow is a tedious grind, being a rank amateur. I’ll pick something I want to photograph, and wait for the position of the moon, local weather, or whatever to get just what I had visualized. I might take a month to expose a roll of film then develop and scan it. I also have several film backs to switch stock easily. Pathetic.
That said, anyone ever agonize over selling a Leica for a Nikon? Had remorse over the decision later but coped anyway? You’d think a bugshutter with 70 summers on the right side of the turf wouldn’t need advice, but it’s MF, you know?
Your comments are appreciated!
Cogito ergo Bebop a Lula
