pentax 67 vs. mamiya RB67
Thoughts on the two cameras, and why having both might be the answer.
Pentax 6x7 vs. Mamiya RB67. I probably googled that phrase 20+ times before finally pulling the trigger… on both cameras. The Pentax was my first move into the 6x7 format, but I quickly learned the hard way that having a backup is essential—especially with older gear. That led me to pick up the Mamiya RB67 a few months later. It might sound excessive but I don’t regret it.
I’ve only owned the Pentax since October 2024 and added the Mamiya in March 2025. I’m no tech expert, but I wanted to share my experiences so far and lay out some pros and cons of each system for anyone else on the fence.
Why I Switched from 645 to 6x7
To take a step back why I made the switch to 6x7—I first dove into medium format film in April 2021 when I picked up a Mamiya 645 Pro TL with the 80mm lens. It was a super nice transition from 35mm and the camera itself felt very portable. To this day, more than half of my portfolio is shot on this camera and I for sure miss getting 16 shots per roll compared to now only 10. After 4 years with the 645, I was ready for a jump up to 6x7. Part of it was just wanting a larger negative/more detail, plus I think you get a bit more character with the shallow depth of field. The other part of it was just wanting to “step up” and needing something new.
Why I Ended Up With Both
Anyways, through too much research of other trusted photographers, I landed on the Pentax 6x7 last fall—it’s portable, shoots like an SLR, and has some very nice lenses. I had sold the Mamiya 645 and the plan was to roll with the Pentax for the foreseeable future. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I had mechanical issues with this back in February, which led me to purchasing the Mamiya RB67 to use in case one or the other breaks. Why the Mamiya RB67? It’s a great price point for the overall quality, and complements the Pentax 6x7’s shortfalls, which I’ll mention later on.
Pentax 6x7
Lately, I’ve been using this camera for things like model tests and interior/hospitality work. It’s a very solid camera all around. It’s heavy of course but not bad with a strap if you’re on the go. I recently shot a model test with the Pentax 67 and Portra 400, and the way the 105mm renders skin tones always impresses me. I’ve been using the 105mm f/2.4 lens (note: 6x7 has a 0.5 crop factor compared to 35mm for lenses; so 105mm is ~52.5mm) which produces an insanely shallow depth of field when lens is wide open. The thing I like most is just the portability and ability to easily compose and shoot/advance frames, given the quality of 6x7. It just feels quick/reliable and gives you top notch detail. The one thing I dislike is trying to focus closely to your subject and sometimes it’s just not fun to carry around when shooting personal work.
Pros:
Portable and easy to load/shoot/advance film
SLR viewfinder makes it very easy to compose
Shutter speed goes up to 1/1000th
105mm lens is magical
Cons:
Can’t focus on subjects close to camera
Mirror slap, not ideal if trying to shoot handheld at 1/60th or slower ( I haven’t had issues shooting on a tripod yet, and has been fine for interior shots so far)
Slow flash sync of 1/30th, not great for strobes
Mamiya RB67
Lately, I’m using this for a lot of personal documenting/macro shots as well as interior/portrait work when it makes sense. I think for this one, I really like the macro capability and being able to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds with the shutter leaf lens. I’m not as confident shooting this for bigger jobs yet whereas the Pentax I am. One thing I like is just the pure act of holding and shooting with this camera..it just feels like you’re shooting 120 film the right way.
Pros:
Can choose between waist level or eye level viewfinder
Shutter leaf lens allows you to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds
Bellows focusing system for more “macro” type shots
Modular build, rotating film back between landscape and portrait composition
Cons:
Slower operating system, multiple steps to advance film, easy to accidentally double expose (overall steeper learning curve)
Bulky but also makes you feel cool holding it
Viewfinder lines (waist level especially being backwards/inverted) not as easy as classic SLR
Shutter only goes to 1/400th
Final Thoughts
I’m not saying you need both—that’s not always practical. But if you’re stuck between them like I was, I hope this helped lay out the tradeoffs. For me, having both has been the perfect setup: the Pentax 6x7 is fast, intuitive, and great for portrait or commercial-style shooting. The Mamiya RB67 shines when I want to slow down, shoot macro, or get a bit more deliberate with my compositions.
TLDR: Get the Pentax 6x7 if you want a fast, intuitive SLR-style camera that excels at portraits and general shooting. Go with the Mamiya RB67 if you're after macro shots, slower-paced shooting, or want a system camera with lots of modular options that’s built like a tank.
Thanks for following along.
-Kendall