FILM STARS Bring on the heavyweights

Mamiya made a multitude of cameras. They included subminiatures, 35mm rangefinder models, 35mm single lens reflexes, an interchangeable film magazine camera, a 35mm half-frame camera, twin lens reflexes, folding roll-film cameras, a press camera, even 8mm cine cameras. But it was when Mamiya turned its attention to roll-film reflexes that the firm really excelled. There were three types, all big and heavy. The RB67 and RZ67, each weighing nearly 3 kilos, shot 6x7cm pictures (actual size: 56x68mm), often considered the ideal format because of the way it scaled up to standard 10x8in printing paper. Meanwhile, the M645 series was smaller but still weighed in at about 1.5kg, and shot 6x4.5cm pictures (actual size: 56x41.5mm). Within each type, there was a selection of models. Here are three of the best-known.

Mamiya RB67 Pro S

GUIDE PRICE £350-450

Systemisation. That’s the word Mamiya used for these cameras. It means that, like all RB67 models, the Pro S is made in a modular