Old TLR cameras

[harold722]

Has anyone used the Mamiya 220 Tlr....comments, please

[VictorM.]

I had one back in the early eighties-it was a great camera-kind of big and clunky, but it paid for itself producing pictures of politicians in both federal and local elections twenty five years ago-I had two lenses, 80 and 135, and both were sharp without harshness-if you want a tlr with interchangeable lenses, a c220 is a great camera. If you don't need the extra lenses, a Rolleiflex, Rolleicord or similar fixed lens tlr is also a good choice. It's hard to answer questions like this (and I mostly do not) because so much depends on the photographer and their quirks.

[David Murphy]

I have a friend that has one from that series, I forgot which model (there were several bodies, but the lenses are interchangable) and he loves it. I had a look at it and I was impressed by the workmanship on it.

[Phoenix Phil]

I have a Mamiya C22 which is the predecessor to the 220. Even though the C330 / 33 has a few more advanced features (and hence more desireable), there are some that like the C220/22 for the simpler and more reliable shutter mechanism. They both use the same lenses so the quality of the pictures will be the same (please note that there are one or two old style chrome lenses that do not work on the new bodies, if I recall correctly). So if you need an inexpensive interchangeable lens TLR, the C220/C22 series is a fine way to get into the system.

As VictorM stated, if you don't need interchangeable lenses, then the other choices he mentions is a good choice. The Mamiya TLRs are bigger, bulkier and heavier. After a day of lugging it around your neck, you will notice the difference.

Have fun.

[Azinko]

These cameras started with the C2 and C3 in the early 60's....went thru C22/C33 versions to C220/C330 which are basically the previous models with 220 film capacity.

The main difference between the two models is that the C3 series has a rapid wind crank handle and C2 has a knob winder.

The lenses are excellent and the built in bellows allows very close focussing so these cqmeras were pro workhorses used in many different fields.

The main draw back for studio/close work is the lack of paralax correction. However, Mamiya did make a crude workaround in the form of a simple gadget which mounts between the tripod and the camera and allows the camera to be moved up the exact distance between the lens centres thus placing the taking lens in the exact place of the viewing lens during composition of the shot.

As already mentioned, these are big, bulky and heavy to cart around all day but are good quality cameras.

[Abbazz]

Harold,

The Mamiya C220/330 are great cameras, of very rugged construction. Many have been used professionally for years and are still in good shape today.

As for lenses, I particularly recommend the 105mm DS and 180mm Super. The 105 has the same field of view as a 58mm lens in 135 (normal-long), and the 180mm FOV is like a 100mm in 135 (short tele). The 105 (5 glass Heliar type lens) is great for waist portraits and the 180 for tight head/head and shoulders shots. IMHO, both are the sharpest lenses of the range. I find the bokeh of the 105 wonderful when used full-open with slow film -- main subject is tack sharp while out of focus areas dissolve in watercolor-like ghostly shapes.

I am not fond of wide angles in 6x6, but I guess it is a matter of personal taste. I have the 65mm and I only use it for close-focus shots -- thanks to the camera's bellows, it focuses down to 26cm (10.5 in.) from the film plane.

Compared to its big brother, the C220 is like a Rolleicord compared to a Rolleiflex: the C220 is a simpler version with a film advance knob, manual shutter cocking and fixed parallax correction marks. The C330 has some niceties like a large film advance crank with automatic shutter cocking and an auto-adjusting parallax correction mark in the finder. But the C220 is lighter and, because of its simpler mechanics, has less parts subject to failure.

For the price of a good coated portrait lens (Color Heliar, or even worse: Apo-Lanthar :bang: ), you can have the full Mamiya setup: C220 body, 105mm DS + two or three other lenses and some spare money to buy film!

Abbazz