Were there Mamiya RB 65mm lens variants?

<p>Hi gang!</p>

<p>I'm interested in getting into the Mamiya RB line-up (i'm a self-admitted Rokkor Snob and dSLR user, but wanting to expand my horizons). I'm looking for a wide-to-somewhat wide lens and have read the 50mm varies quite a bit with some compromises to be made with soft-ish corners, questionable QC, etc.</p>

<p>I'm not meaning to insult those for whom the 50mm performs spectacularly, but trying to find a reasonable balance for what i'm interested in photographing (landscapes and some architecture/street).</p>

<p>So given that all that precursor, the 65mm seems like a good focal length for me.</p>

<p>Are some Mamiya 65mm lenses better than others? Which? Why?</p>

<p>Thanks so much,</p>

<p>frank</p>

<p>There are at least 3 that I can recall. There were two old versions, and a later version. The later version used a floating element to insure edge sharpness at all distances. The two earlier lenses had only coating changes between them.</p>

<p> As I recall, all three used 77mm filters, and all were F4.5 ,and they all have similar Seiko shutters. Stopped down 2-3 stops, it is my experience that there is little difference between these. But my experience with the 65MM lens, was shooting weddings with flash at F11.</p>

<p>For landscapes etc, you'll be real happy with any of the lot. These lenses are sharp, but use a tripod, especially at speeds slower than 1/250th.</p>

<p>Were the versions:<br>

1) non-C<br>

2) C<br>

3) K/L</p>

<p>Thanks for the information and advice!!! I'm asking only to learn which, if at all, of the variants is superior to any other. With my 35mm gear, there are some optical formulas which have a significant increase in IQ. Since this lens would be most used for landscape, it seems i should do well with any of the variants.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The Mamiya RB system was made for pros and there are no bad lenses.<br>

Also the 50mm is excellent, maybe some people didnt understand the proper use of the floating element.<br>

The only reason to choose the 65 over the 50 is that the 50 is very wide and the 65 is more versatile.<br>

In terms of 35mm film you can compare the 65 to a 28 and the 50 to maybe a 20.<br>

Best is to have both.</p>

<p>Regards</p>

<p>Martin</p>

<p>Thanks Martin - very, very helpful information!!!</p>

<p>I have been looking at a Mamiya catalog for the RB system which illustrates the differences at each focal-length and this have been very helpful. However, it's of the same scene (again, very helpful), but not the landscape sorta photography i'll be using my RB for.</p>

<p>So, I've been searching for 6x7-to-35mm format focal-length comparisons for FOV. It seems most users equate the 65mm to "about" 32mm on 35mm format (having made a strictly mathematical interpolation) . However, some users have said it seems kind of wider than that, but didn't offer another comparison.</p>

<p>Do you have any images or could maybe point me to some that illustrate these differences?</p>

<p>I can understand a 28mm (on 35mm format) because i have one and see how i like it. I've also read where other users compare the 6x7 50mm to a 24mm on 35mm format, but the 50mm seemed a little wider than 24mm to me (i also have a 24mm for 35mm format) and your comparison to a 20mm on 35mm seems to "fit" for me.</p>

<p>I'm a few months out from any buying, but i want to have my choices made so i know what to shop for and to know "reasonable" prices on what i'm shopping for.</p>

<p>Thanks again!!!</p>

<p>I have a complete RB lens system from 65mm to 250mm. I also shoot large format. Unlike wide angle lenses in large format - which are very versatile in that format, medium format wide angle lenses are really specialty lenses anyways (for the Mamiya RB, I am referring to 75mm down to the 37mm Fisheye) in retrofocus design and without the advantages of shifts that you have in large format).<br>

<br />The Big Big picture is that the RB system (and all other Medium Format systems without shift capabilities) are really optimized for portraiture, with a secondary use for nature photography. For serious landscape and architecture work, you need shifts and lenses without barell or pincushion distortion (the Mamiya 65mm and 90mm KL lenses I own both have noticeable barell distortion that shows when shooting buildings.<br>

<br /> Consider all RB lenses in terms of how useful they would be for portraiture and nature scenics. In that sense, I feel the 65mm is a group portrait lens, and a fine nature scenic lens. I do not feel the 50mm lens on a 6x7 or 6x8 medium format SLR is aversatile. A 50mm lens on the Mamiya 7 rangefinder (because that design has almost zero barrell distortion) is going to be more versatile, but still a relatively specialist focal length.</p>

<p>Thanks so much Andre!</p>

<p>I am more and more thinking the 65mm, at least at first, is going to be my "Nature" lens. I've been comparing the FOV as close as i can using both my 28mm and 35mm format-35mm lenses mounted each on their own camera.</p>

<p>It seems to me that while the 28mm is very wide (though not as wide as a RB67 50mm which, as i've read, is close to the 24mm FOV on 35mm format) it is still a rather wide-angle lens, while the 35mm lens is pretty versatile. An added bonus is that the 65mm FOV is still 3degrees wider than the FOV of the 35mm lens so i should be in pretty good shape with it.</p>

<p>I'll probably not get into architecture unless i'm asked for a specific project (aka $), so i'm hoping the 65mm and a 127mm would be good 1st lenses for my foray in the RB67.</p>

<p>Thanks again!!!</p>

<p>Frank, all images on this attached this contact sheet are Mamiya RB 65KL lens.</p>

<p>On the lower left and right corners of all frames there is mechanical vignetting due to front UV filter and the longer 6x8 back.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Andre!</p>

<p>I really like the width - looks plenty wide to me! I dunno, but with an aspect much wider than whats presented here, it's hard for me to maintain simplicity in the frame.</p>

<p>I like it. I want it. Now i have to wait.</p>

<p>I'm currently living abroad, but once back "home" in the US i'm gonna do some shopping!!!!</p>