What it is
• Folding 6×7 medium-format rangefinder with coupled RF and collapsing “lazy-tongs” front standard
• Uses 120 roll film for 10 frames at 56×69 mm
• Copal leaf shutter in-lens; quiet, fully flash-syncable across all speeds
• Compact folded footprint with a genuinely flat pack profile
Watch the video of the Plaubel Makina W67 review on YouTube
Format, frames, and film
• Frame size 56×69 mm (classic 6×7)
• 10 exposures per 120 roll
• W67 takes 120 only; no 220 option (unlike the later Makina 670)
Lens and optics
• Wide-Nikkor 55 mm f/4.5, 6 elements in 4 groups, multi-coated
• Field of view ≈ 77° (≈ 28 mm equivalent in 35 mm terms)
• Aperture range f/4.5 to f/22 with continuously variable stops (no click detents on the aperture ring)
• Rendering is modern and high contrast; corners tighten up by f/8–f/11
• Very usable wide-open for low light or subject isolation, with expected vignetting
• Front filter thread 62 mm; the original hood keeps the package slim when folded
• Bayonet/hood spec used here fits the camera’s original profile; standard 62 mm screw-ins work fine
Shutter and exposure
• Copal leaf shutter in lens: B, 1 s to 1/500 s, full-stop detents on speed ring
• 1/500 s maximum; use marked settings for the most reliability
• Full flash sync at every shutter speed
• PC-sync port on the lens panel; top shoe is cold
• Cable-release thread on the shutter button for tripod and long exposures
Viewfinder and rangefinder
• Bright-frame finder with automatic parallax correction
• Finder magnification ≈ 0.52× keeps the view wide and situational
• Effective RF base length ≈ 42 mm (physical ≈ 65 mm), solid focus confidence with the 55 mm
• RF patch is large with soft edge; in harsh sun, take an extra beat for a precise snap
Metering
• In-finder 3-LED system: over, correct, under
• Spot-type readout ≈ 20° central area in the viewfinder, excellent for deliberate midtone/highlight placement
• ISO (ASA) 25–1600 via the tab under the lens; turns smoothly and holds setting
• Practical meter range ≈ EV 4 to EV 18 at ISO 100
• Meter key doubles as battery check; any LED = batteries good
• Batteries: two LR44/SR44 1.5 V cells (total 3 V); consumption is minimal as the meter draws only while the key is pressed
• Blue-heavy scenes at dusk can bias the meter to slight underexposure; consider +1 EV in very blue light or rate your film lower
Focus, throw, and depth-of-field
• Minimum focus ≈ 0.8 m; excellent for environmental portraits and foreground-anchored landscapes
• Short throw from ∞ to 0.8 m; fast but precise once you’re used to it
• DOF scale printed for f/8 and f/22 on the focusing dial
• Hyperfocal guidance from the field:
• f/22 ≈ sharp from ≈ 1.5 m to ∞ (set and forget for deep scenes)
• f/8 ≈ sharp from ≈ 4 m to ∞
Controls and ergonomics
• Right-hand control cluster: focus, meter key, shutter release, wind all under the right hand
• Focus dial is grippy and usable with thumb/index; unconventional position but becomes second nature
• Single-stroke film advance, ≈ 185° throw; winds film and cocks shutter in one motion
• Frame counter on the top with magnifier bubble; auto-resets on back-open
• Collapsing/closing procedure: set focus to ∞ before pressing the front-standard release to reduce strain on the struts and bellows
Back, loading, and transport
• Secure dual-action back latch (safety button + lever); reassuringly solid lockup
• Pressure plate fixed for 120; no 120/220 switch
• Loading is straightforward: leader to take-up, align to mark, close, wind until “1”
• Frame spacing is mechanically positive when wind is healthy; a mushy wind is a service cue
Dimensions, weight, mount points
• Folded size ≈ 162 mm (W) × 115 mm (H) × 56 mm (D)
• Extended shooting depth ≈ 113 mm
• Weight ≈ 1.28 kg body-ready; ≈ 1.3 kg with strap/film
• Tripod socket underneath the sculpted handgrip
• Handgrip design leaves spool-release posts accessible; big boost in security on an otherwise smooth body
Flash and accessories
• Full-speed leaf-shutter sync up to 1/500 s for daylight-strobe control
• Cold shoe on top; use PC-sync for firing
• Recommend a secure 62 mm front cap solution; the original push-on cap is easy to lose
Operational tips from the field
• Treat struts and bellows like precision parts; never force the close—always set focus to ∞ first
• For Zone System or exposure notes, a small paper tab near the aperture ring is genuinely useful
• For filters, adjust ISO instead of mental math (e.g., a 1-stop ND: halve the ISO to keep the LED logic intuitive)
• In deep blue dusk, meter +1 EV or bias toward your midtone reading to avoid underexposure
• Use the quiet leaf shutter and the camera’s mass for vibration-free candid work at surprisingly low speeds
Pre-purchase inspection checklist
• Bellows: inspect corners, folds, and panel junctions with a flashlight in a dark room (back open, light inside) for pinholes or seam leaks
• Struts and latch: confirm they lock positively open and closed; check for any play or skew
• Rangefinder: verify alignment at ∞ and close; ensure the patch is contrasty in daylight
• Meter: LEDs should respond logically across bright/dim scenes; ISO ring must turn smoothly and hold position
• Shutter: listen through 1 s → 1/15 s → 1/500 s for relative accuracy; consistency over absolute perfection matters most
• Transport: single smooth 185° stroke, even frame spacing, firm wind feel (not mushy)
• Battery compartment: clean contacts, snug fit, no intermittent power loss with minor taps
• Accessories: verify hood fit and front-cap security; consider a screw-in cap to avoid losses
Strengths
• Folded compactness with a truly flat profile; deploys fast in the field
• Coupled RF focusing plus a crisp, modern 55 mm optic
• Leaf shutter silence and full-speed flash sync up to 1/500 s
• Clean, purposeful industrial design that encourages immersion in composition
• Metering UI is simple and fast once learned; spot behavior rewards deliberate exposure
Limitations
• Bulk increases notably when extended; mind your bag layout
• Focus dial position is unconventional until muscle memory develops
• Finder/LED readout is not the brightest; alignment to the display area takes practice
• Minimum focus of 0.8 m limits “near-near” wide-angle work compared with some systems
• Meter can bias under in blue-heavy dusk scenes; apply compensation
Use-cases where it excels
• Travel and street where a quiet shutter and fast deploy matter
• Candid environmental portraits at mid-stops with stable hand-holding
• Daylight strobe work leveraging 1/500 s sync for background control
• Deliberate landscape shooting with hyperfocal at f/22 or f/16
Why choose the Makina W67
• You want a wide 6×7 rangefinder that folds flat yet feels like a brick in hand
• You value full-speed flash sync, quiet operation, and a modern rendering lens
• You prefer a fast, meter-focus-shoot-wind loop with zero menu overhead
• You’re willing to care for a bellows/strut mechanism and keep a spare set of LR44s
Bottom line
• A uniquely capable wide 6×7 that rewards confident composition and deliberate metering. Treat the bellows gently, keep the mechanism in good health, and the W67 pays you back with big negatives, modern contrast, and a working rhythm that keeps you in the scene instead of in the menus.