Photography Asked on February 23, 2021
I’ve just purchased a Mamiya RB67 ProS camera (fulfilling a long standing dream to own and use a medium format SLR). It came with a 90 mm f/3.8 Mamiya-Sekor C lens, and two 120 film backs, one for 6×4.5 and one for 6×7 cm. As far as I can tell without having shot and processed a roll yet, everything appears to work correctly.
I found a YouTube video recently showing “how to” shoot long exposures (longer than 1 second) — which is different from most other cameras and lenses I’ve used (since 1970). The “common” way is to mount the camera on a sturdy tripod (or similar steady support), set the shutter to “B”, and use a locking cable release to open the shutter and hold it open for the required time, then unlock the release to close the shutter.
The RB67, however, has only “T” shutter above “1”, no “B” setting. I’m used to “T” meaning the shutter will open when I press the release, and close when I press again, but in the RB67, the shutter opens and then the shutter release locks. Recocking closes the shutter, and the only other way I’ve found to close the shutter (based on a YouTube video) is to turn the shutter speed ring off the “T” setting. This works the same way whether I set the “mirror up” release on the shutter, and trip the shutter with it, or if I try to do everything with the release on the body.
The same video told me I’d otherwise need a dual cable release to use the “T” setting for long exposures. However, I haven’t found any information (so far) about how to actually use the dual cable release, either with or without the mirror pre-fire, to shoot long exposures on “T” with the RB67. I don’t yet have such a release, but my attempts to simulate using both releases in “T” have resulted in the same results the video maker had — having to turn the speed ring off “T” or cock the body to close the lens.
I've had my RB67 Pro for a few years now, and have occasionally done long exposures using two separate cable releases. Mamiya's double cable release is no different, as it is virtually a 2-in-1 cable release. You may as well use a hairpin to set off the shutter when the lens is in mirror up mode.
So, unfortunately, the only way to close the shutter in T mode is to either turn the shutter speed ring, or by advancing the cocking lever on the side of the body. This is regardless of whether you are or are not using two cable releases. If you're afraid of moving the camera doing this, I recommend covering the lens with a lens cap to prevent any motion blur from you touching the camera.
Correct answer by timvrhn on February 23, 2021
After watching all the YouTube videos as well as reading all the blog posts. And eventually reaching the conclusion that answer doesn’t exist online. I turned to the Mamiya manual and after some trials and errors I figured it out.
The question is how to shoot long exposure (T) while using lock up mirror function without touching your camera.
It must be noted that this is how it works on my Mamiya RB67 Pro SD and a KL 127mm lens, so it might be different on a pro S and C lenses.
I use a Mamiya dual cable however it is possible with two separate cables.
This gives you the usual feel of bulb modes on other cameras.
The B button can also be pressed with your finger to close the shutter. ( however you are touching the lens and might as well press on the lever slightly, approximately same amount of shake if not more than later)
Obviously this can be done with two cables instead of half pressing on a dual one.
Also ( which is an overkill but you can use three cables and never touch your camera after cocking it all together, hence one cable for body, two cables for lens).
Hope this helps. Let me know if this works on C lenses as I’m looking to pick up 50mm and as far as I know they don’t exist in KL version.
Answered by Mark R. on February 23, 2021
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