During a trip to New York City, I stopped by Adorama, which was literally just a few doors down from where I was working. I did not expect them to have a selection of vintage cameras for sale.
This Mamiya RB67 immediately caught my eye, not only because it was in absolutely beautiful condition, but because it was the first time I had ever seen one in person. It is huge. Big, heavy, and beautifully built.
I tested it in-store and left with it the same day. There was almost no hesitation. The price was excellent, which made me both excited and slightly suspicious. I was nervous to see the results afterwards, especially because it felt almost too good to be true.
This particular model is fully mechanical and, in the case of the Pro-S version, dates from 1974. The fact that it is still working as perfectly as it is might surprise some people, but it does not surprise me. Mamiya has a strong reputation for reliability and quality, and this camera makes it easy to see why.
The RB67 was designed primarily as a studio camera, and that is exactly where I hope to give it the use it deserves.