Mamiya C330 review - amazing camera! Very well engineered medium format TLR shooting 6x6 on 120 film
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- Let's cut to the chase - this is an amazing camera. It's beautifully designed and really well put together. Everything is easy with the C330, loading 120 film easier than loading 35mm.
And the reason? Well, it is 'only' 40 years old... compared to other TLRs which I've shot with which are pushing 70 years old. And 30 years is a lot of design improvement, a lot of engineering improvement, a lot of machining improvement. And it shows.
But as you'll see as I go through the review... I'm not 100% that all this improvements make it a better camera. At least, not for me. Once again, as I test out a camera and as I shoot more and more, I learn not just about the cameras, but about me as well.
I was pretty sure this was the camera for me when I bought it. But having put a few rolls through it, I'm not sure it is.
Aaaanyway, take a watch, let me know what you think of the camera, and my views of it!!
Link to Simon Forsters 3D printed lens caps (no promotion, I paid in full for mine, but was impressed by the quality!) - www.ebay.co.uk/str/itsfozzyph...
Back in 72 I used to have one of these while I was at art school. I loved this massively overbuilt camera because it allowed me to try out all the different disciplines of photography. I was dead lucky because When I went to uni I sold my car and bought this along with the rest of the lenses. The 180 pair is an amazing portrait lens and of course is perfect for the ubiquitous wedding shoots. It's funny, the parallax never bothered me. I would always pick a detail at the top of the frame and then transfer it down level with the indicator at the last moment. The 330 is a professional camera, that's why everything works perfectly. It's not a consumer product. My package was stolen out of a mate's car. I cried a lot that week because I knew I'd never replace it. I'm 66 now and maybe I'll hunt down an S on e-bay.
It definitely is a fantastically versatile camera, that's for sure. Throw in the interchangeable lenses and it can literally do anything. And that's not something you find often in a 120 camera. Having had some time to think on it, it might be that that's why I didn't feel a great affinity with it. Because I wasn't able to assign a "role" to it, because it does everything so well. So I can't identify where it fits into my 'stable' of cameras. I can look along the line of other cameras that I keep in my collection and use regularly, and I can say "that one's good for X, and that one's good for Y". But the C330 can do everything really well... so keeping it would make a few of my other cameras that I love obsolete!
That sounds like the perfect way of handling the parallax on this camera. I didn't get as far as trying to figure out a way to work with it, but that sounds like the way to go! None of the other TLRs that I've had will allow you to focus close enough for parallax to become a factor, so it's not something I've ever had to think about before!
Definitely keep looking for another one! Especially if you have that history with it. Holding it will bring all those memories flooding back!
I did most of my start of a professional career with the C330. I gave mine a name "Black Betty" and I loved what she gave back to me. I’ll never ever sold her. To this day I haven't hold many cameras that I enjoyed working with more than the C330. Thanks for the great review!
It is most definitely a great camera. And for professional work I am totally convinced it would be a great choice. Reliable and versatile, free from too many quirks or foibles... perfect for professional work, but for me as a hobbyist, I guess I am looking for a certain amount of quirks! Something I discovered while shooting with this camera in fact! Didn't know it before, know it now! Thank you for your kind words.
Great demonstration, plus funny at the end !!
Thanks for the no-hype review.
I’ve been using a Bronica ETRSi to get acquainted with 120 film, and how to process it, and I love the craftsmanship of the Bronicas, but always in the back of my mind is the complexity of the body and lenses and the cost of the inevitable repairs. The Mamiya C series was my second choice as those Sekosha shutters are relatively easy to service and the whole lens assembly can get replaced in a few seconds.
Plus that bland, quiet shutter allows you to sneak up on all sorts of things!
Love the channel and I’m very glad I found it.
Cheers.
Glad you found the channel, thanks for watching!
I truly think there is a camera for every personality out there. I love my bronicas, and I was able to technically evaluate this mamiya and realise that I just didn’t love it.
But bronicas are over engineered, for sure. You only have to take the side of an S2 or S2A to realise that. I think there’s all sorts of reasons the C330 wasn’t for me… the shutter sound, the images it takes, the original design intentions…
We’re lucky with vintage cameras that we get to choose from several generations of design! With modern cameras, if you need something that keeps up with the current tech, then they’re essentially all the same thing at their core.
How have you got on with the ETRSi? I’ve never tried one… never had a real itch for 645. One day I’ll probably do it!
Lovely camera and enjoyable walk and talk. I have the C2 & C3 so there was no need to go any further along to the C330. All work similar and are as equally heavy. The C2 is narrower and 195 grams lighter than the C3 with the same 80mm lens. The Mamiya TLR C series are all beautifully made and work flawlessly. Having a medium format camera that works so well is unnerving I suppose. You want something to be difficult or not preform as expected. These are just great cameras and kudos to the Mamiya designers for coming up with a beautiful mechanical time machine. Sorry you and the C330 did not get along. At least you went your separate ways without any lawyers involved :) Thanks for taking the time to produce this video. Cheers from Nova Scotia, Canada.
It really is a great camera. That really is plain to see, there is no doubt about it! I am almost certain that I’ll come back to this at some stage in my life. But it’s a little too expensive to sit on a shelf waiting for that day!
This whole review was an interesting experience for me. This is a camera I really should like… but for some reason I’m not excited about it. And that was a surprise. And it informs my next move a little!
I think the best thing I can do is move it along and let someone else enjoy it!
thx for this video, i just bought one of these as a replacement for my 6x6 system. seeing it in action makes me confident I did not buy crap
Definitely not crap. These are fantastic cameras, really really good. This one wasn't for me, but not because it wasn't top quality. I just went off the TLR set up, preferred SLRs. But it is a really great camera.
Great and honest review, thank you!
Thank you! I try to just tell it how it is, not sugar coat things and be honest about my feelings with a camera. Sometimes it's not popular, like with this one! (check out the other comments!), but that's ok. Not every camera suits every photographer.
Nice review and thank you for the lens cap shout out! Less hideous and harder to find colours also available ;)
Ha ha, hi Simon! Yes, other colours available, I did of course actively choose the orange for precisely the reason that I'd never lose it. Enjoyed the last LFPP ep, looking forward to the next one!
I've had my C330 for about a month now, sold my lovely RB67 (as it was a bit too heavy!). I get what you are saying about this camera, but the reasons you don't like it are exactly the reasons I love it! :-D I don't mind the size and weight (coming from the RB67) and I wanted to go out there and it take beautiful pictures, which this does without any faffing around. Thanks for your review, keep up the good work!
I couldn't agree more! It's clear this is a great camera, and does exactly what you're saying - great pictures with minimal faffing. If I was richer I'd keep all the cameras, and pick up whichever one I wanted to use each day. But alas, my lottery tickets keep coming up short, and I have to keep the camera inventory limited. I was still sorry to see it go! And I often wonder if it was the right decision. But hey ho!
Now... an RB67 is high up on my wishlist. I'll definitely be looking at one of them soon!
I have the c22. One of the early models. It has the same lens as yours and does take wonderful pictures. I also own a rollieflex 3.5. It also takes wonderful pictures. But I always gravitate back to my Mamiya. It's like that friend who's always there and ready to have a great time with
I love having that camera that you really get on with. For me it wasn't the C330, but everyone has their favourites! I have that kind of relationship with my S2A, it's the camera that stays close while others come and go!
Mamiya was THE camera brand for working professionals in the ‘70s and 80’s. The RB67 was the workhorse of most portrait studios. The Mamiya TLRs were great cameras for wedding photographers.
I feel amazingly blessed to recently come across a C220. Been having a ball playing with it. I ordered the same lens cap, but in black. 🤣
Trivia: The remnants of Mamiya Corp. were purchased by Phase One who make medium format digital cameras and the excellent Capture One RAW development software.
No way, so Phase One has kind of incorporated the Mamiya history into it? Fascinating, I didn't know that. Alas, I am not rich enough to have ever been able to look at a Phase One back, but I have used Capture One when shooting digital tethered in studio. Great piece of software.
RB67 is high up on my wishlist! I'm watching eBay and other auctions, waiting for one to come up at a good price, and at the right time that I have funds available. An RB67 will feature on this channel at some point!
I was so impressed with Simon Forster's lens caps, they fit like a glove! I hovered over the black option for a while, before going for the shocking orange. And it has already helped me find it in a sea of black plastic parts in my workshop! Not for everyone though!
And MAC (formally Mamiya America Corporation ) also imports Sekonic light meters).
Great overview of this beast 😀 As you know I’m a TLR nut too! This looks beautiful mate but to big and heavy for my style of work. The yashys just have so much soul too aye!
The size and weight definitely would take some getting used to. But as a piece of engineering, you can't help but admire it. Others have said in the comments here that there are issues with the C330s, but the one I had seemed in good shape, and what struck me was the number of little operational quirks that had been sorted between a 1950s TLR (635) and this late 70s TLR. Definitely an experience getting my hands on one, and it helped pin down in my head what I like about the 635 that I maybe didn't realise before... and you've got the right word there - soul!
I love my Minolta SLRs but my C330 is an amazing camera. The sharpness with my 105mm lens is incredible.
It definitely is an amazing camera! I am actually regretting selling it now. I had a feeling I would eventually. I need a high quality mechanical-only camera for a project, and this would have been perfect... shame! Definitely one to keep if you have one!
My friend who was a wedding photographer used the 65mm lens on his C330.
I also was a wedding photographer and used 2 Yashica Mats back in the 1960s.
I used a pair of Rollei bayonet 1 diopter close up lenses to get down to about 18 inches. Parallax corrected with a prism in the viewing lens.
I think the 65mm lens on this camera would be pretty special.
I had some Bay 1 close up lenses that I was using with my 635. They do the job, but it's a little cumbersome, having to take them on and off. But better to have the option than be unable to focus on anything close!
Many wedding photographer paused the Mamia TLRs as they could see if people blinked prior to dslrs
I don't understand what you want that this camera doesn't give you.I had a C 220 50 years ago and loved it but 2 kids and no darkroom made me sell it I've gone digital since 2003 but it always felt like the girl who got away
I finally said the hell with it and bought a pristine C33 recently,
after all I'm not getting any younger I'm 77 and I'm having a blast
I always felt like a junior Ansel Adams with it and it's nice to bring those memories back
Great review, I have the. C330 and C220f. Both are large system cameras. I find the lenses to be very sharp, the leaf shutters are quiet, the cameras are heavy and have a lot of quirky settings. One should read the manual to learn the steps. Do I like the Mamiya C330 and 220f?, yes, they are capable cameras.
This C330 is definitely a capable camera! More than capable, it's really a very well engineered piece of kit. I'm really glad I got a chance to try it out.
Believe it or not, I did flick through the manual before I started! That may not have been totally apparent with all the things I missed! Oops...
Is there much difference between the 220 and the 330? I didn't go deep into the history of the 220, I only really read up about the progression of the 330 series, and what changed between the models.
I carried or rather lugged one of these around for a semester in college. I live in Michigan, USA and for the majority of the time it was extremely cold. I remember trespassing in a train yard to capture images of train cars covered in graffiti in negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit, hoping I wouldn't get frostbite as my fingers had been numb for over 15 minutes holding the mostly metal body. I absolutely love this camera, but I've come to the point where developing the film and printing the images is more have than it's worth. I loved your video. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! It's certainly a big heavy and mostly metal camera. I actually quite liked that about, it feels sturdy and not like I'm going to break it if I try to do something quickly. But I was not shooting in -10 degrees! I don't think that sort of temperature would have done anything for my opinion of the camera! Wow. I'm not surprised you couldn't feel your fingers! I bet you got some great images though... ?
I once borrowed a C330 few years ago, and just bought a C3. Yes significantly bigger than Rolleis, but also usually more affordable, and having interchangeable lens is nice. I know Rollei made wide and tele adapters, unfortunately they also cost much these days.
If you want to 6x6 system without spending much money, Mamiya C TLRs are among the good options.
Thank you for all your excellent videos- always so well done and informative. By the way, do you happen to have a website or reseller link for the Mamiya 3D printed lens caps? I’d like to support your friend/acquaintance.
I've watched your video multiple times and I enjoyed it. I have two C-330's. I think if you had the prism finder, you would like the TLR much better!
Love my C330f, i have the 80mm lens and its so sharp.
They really are amazing cameras. Tack sharp for sure! You don't get that kind of sharpness on any other TLR that I've tried.
I bought my C 330 Professional f several years ago with 105 mm lens. It is a purchase I have never regretted as the images have always been spectacular. The combination I have is a great portrait package though the square format sometimes throws me off.
It's definitely a wonderful camera. I find the square frames are great for some things, such as portraits, and less good for others, such a landscapes. I'm not sure I could survive with just a 6x6 camera. I enjoy using them, but I feel like I need the variety of frame sizes with other cameras, just so I have a choice when I head out shooting.
If you had to pick 3 lens for the 330, what would they be? I will be using it for landscape shots. Thanks
Hello! Does the Mamiya 330 use a specific film spool size? I bought my c330 s from e-bay (mint condition) however, it did not come with a spool. The spool from my Pentax 645 Nii doesn’t fit. Thank you for your help!
Hey, did you fix this? The 330 takes 120 films, all the spools are the exact same size. I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work. Unless you have some sort of unusual back for your 645. I don't know if they made a 620 back for the 645? That would cause problems, for sure. Actually, reading about it now, looks like they made a 120, a 220 and a 70mm back for the 645. You don't have a 70mm back for your 645 do you?
@@the120ist Yes! I was able to fix it. Now, I’m enjoying my Mamiya C330 S. I was influenced by you to get me one. No regrets. I also started a CZcams channel- grain_eyed_photography, I’m a novice however. I love shooting with film. And thank you for your reply.
Happy Capturing!!!
Hi from Florida. I have a C330, my entrance to TLR. I love the camera, however, I'm noticing my images are consistently soft. I have the 80mm and 55mm lens. Can you provide any guidance for how to calibrate focus? I appreciate your smart, easy-to-follow approach. Keep up the fabulous work.
Have you changed the foam pads under the waist level finder?
I've just bought this fella's older brother, the C3. I wanted a C330 but just couldn't afford the current prices- and there's not enough difference to justify paying twice as much. It's the exact same lens though. I'm hoping it's as good. I hope I won't find it characterless- but maybe as it's my first TLR I won't feel the same.
You know what, this video was the start of me falling out of love with TLRs. Can't tell you why. And my positivity for the format may well come back in the future. The camera is great, the lenses are great. I have nothing bad to say about it. I'm just not digging the TLR form right now. I used to enjoy it, and then I didn't. Who knows! I'm sure I'll be back to them soon enough. Probably just as I sell my last one, knowing my luck!
I’ve only had my C33 for about 40 years, haven’t decided whether to keep it or not.
Hello, is it possible to mount the lenses for C3 on the C330?
Yep, they should be identical!
how do you replace the viewing glass
Sorry it’s taken me a few days to get back to you. I don’t have the C330 any more, so I can’t look to check. But from memory I think you need to unscrew a couple of screws, remove a silver metal frame that sits on top of the glass. Does that make sense? If not, let me know and I’ll find the answer from someone who knows!
I have a C220 which I think is lighter than the C330. I haven’t used it much since I bought a Bronica SQAi but it’s a great camera and would never sell it.
I think that's right, I haven't tried a 220, but I think they are a little smaller and lighter than the 330. There's no doubt, the 330 is a great camera, and I'm sure the 220 is too. I think I've kinda gone off the TLR form! I was using a few TLRs when I made this video, but since then I've really started to lean more toward SLR type cameras. Each to their own and all that, if TLR is what someone likes then these cameras are a must have.
What could have been done to avoid parallax in the TLR design would be to allow the entire view finder/mirror/film holder assembly (one unit on vertical rails) to slide down, so as to view through the lower primary lens during the composition process. The one short coming of the Mamiya TLR series was not having removable film backs. Attached behind the camera body, this would give the necessary clearance for the view finder/mirror assembly to move up and down when needed or for more critical focusing. When properly composed, the assembly would be returned to its normal TLR orientation to expose the film through the lower primary lens. Another advantage, would be not having moving mirror vibration during exposure. With creative engineering this could have been done. A twin lens reflex could have become a through the lens reflex...albeit, temporarily and especially in a modular camera design such as the Mamiya C330 professional series.It would have been a game changer, at least, in the era of medium format film photography. It would have so cool for those dedicated TLR users.
But surely what you have just described is an SLR, essentially? The whole thing about TLRs is having the two lenses - the viewing lens and the taking lens. If you are able to shift the viewing screen down and view through the taking lens, then there's no need for the viewing lens at all, and one has an SLR.
That said, however, I don't disagree... I much prefer an SLR for exactly those reasons!
Ah man. One of the most versatile cameras in my armoury. Nice vid mate.
Not sure it’s a good idea putting it in the microwave though mate. (1min23)
1min17 sorry
🤣🤣 yeah it does look a bit like that. Maybe I will get the slider out after all…
It definitely is a versatile camera. I haven’t put it on eBay yet… hesitating. I have a feeling it will still be here in a month…
12mins9 you can turn the latch to lock the back so you don’t accidentally open it by knocking (just incase you didn’t know)
I worked that out a couple of days ago, after finishing the vid! I knew there the knob did twist, but didn't look properly at it until after I'd finished. But thank you!!
Guess you either love or hate the c330 and I'm firmly in the "love" camp with it's super sharp lenses and all round versatility.
Tip! Mamiya c lenses came in 1st and 2nd versions with the 2nd version being more expensive, BUT... the 1st versions are sharper!
How can that be you ask, surely the 2nd versions are improved optically on the 1st versions?
Nope. The main market for the c series of cameras were professional wedding and portrait photographers and a lot of them were complaining that the lenses were TOO sharp (showing up skin imperfections on brides and models is not necessarily a good thing?), so when Mamiya brought out the 2nd version lenses, they toned down the sharpness ever so slightly.
So if you want to save money and get the sharpest lenses, buy the 1st versions.
I wouldn't say at all that I am in the hate camp! I genuinely thought the C330 was a great camera. It just didn't get me excited! I shot that first roll through it and I didn't find myself excited for the second roll. So, for me that means it's time to move it along to the next person who will love it more than me!
That's really interesting information about the second lens versions! Did not know that. Thanks!
Nice Video - thanks. I adore my C33, but agree it doesn't have the ideosyncrasies of a naughty child, say, my 1936 Rolleiflex. I bought mine from an ex-fleet street journalist - and that makes sense as it's a great scientific instrument. also #cough# Diane Arbus
best of luck
I do love an idiosyncratic camera... god help me. But I've generally fallen out of love with TLRs, for now at least. Maybe I'll come back to them one day.
First I want a C330f, but then I got a very good offer for a C220 with two lenses.
Now I'm more satisfied with that as a C330f because I have to do everything including cock the shutter.
Meanwhile I have all lenses, can repair them and got a second C220 wich was my spare parts warehouse... but now I have repair it too and got 2 working cameras.
The weight? Perfect for me, I love heavy cameras. (My Nikon F3 was first complete with the MD4 motor drive...) The size? Nice... Functionality? Well, the cameras are both from 1969, but there is nothing to complain! I know my GH 5 will not work in 3 or 4 decades...
If you sell your C330f...you will cry one day, I promise...🤣
A cool video, well done pictures and many animals on your walk. Thanks for that 👍
So you also think I should keep it?? Ahhhh... so many people saying I should keep it and not sell it. I have some thinking to do!
I'm with you, I don't mind heavy cameras. The Bronica S2A with the prism finder is more than 2kg, and I like the feel of it in my hand!
@@the120ist The S2A is a beast 🙃 I have an idea: give your C330 to a friend, between 3 and 8 month. But he/she must decide the amount of time...
@@StudioBonn It's a good idea! This C330 has now been sitting on my desk in front of me for two weeks... if I'm going to sell it surely I would have done it by now?!?
@@the120ist A hard decision... If you sell it and a few months later you would buy a "new one"...would it be the same? Other scratches, sounds, marks and...the few... I'm glad to be with my C220 and don't want to give her a go... she's mine! 🥰
@@StudioBonn It's gone!! I sold it... I think it was right... not too many regrets yet. And it means I can start looking for the next camera i want to try. Lots of possible choices!
Want to buy that
It's a great camera, definitely worth saving up for!
It had an Optional spot meter but today I would use a modern meter.
Lots of great meters coming out at the moment. I picked up a Reveni Labs spot meter, have you seen those? Really enjoying mine at the moment!
@@the120ist Have not seen that brand. Using Seconic L-508.
@@jsteinberg48 I have a Sekonic L-308 as my standard light meter and flash meter. Reveni Labs is a pretty young company based in Ontario I think. Definitely Canada somewhere. The owner Matt starts most of his products on Kickstarter. They've got a couple off light meters now, one is a tiny cold shoe meter, the second a really innovative spot meter. All super affordable, Definitely worth a look - www.reveni-labs.com
what is your lens set on?
How do you mean? The shutter speed / aperture etc?
I had a C330f with normal and wide angle lenses. I loved everything about it, as you've mentioned. BUT... it was too damn big and heavy, so I sold it. I still use Autocords and Rolleiflexes, which by comparison are tiny.
Yeah it really is huge! I didn’t realise until it arrived just how big it is in comparison to pretty much every other TLR! I wouldn’t have minded the weight so much, I shoot on the Bronica S2A all the time and that’s even heavier. It’s hard to put my finger on why it just didn’t do anything for me. Who knows!
Bueno, buenisimo, It would be better in......French or much better in Spanish! But the speepch ...slower! Super class! Long live the slowness of Mamiya, Thank!
Thank you! I shall try to improve my Spanish until it's good enough for a CZcams video... might take a few years!
Hi, are you planning to sell the camera on ebay? I might be interested in purchasing it.
I was going to, haven’t yet! Drop me an email, hello at the120.ist
Had it for one roll. I laugh myself it's so perfect it's dead boring. But after experiencing P6, kiev's and other medium formats. and looking at pictures I took I must say it was rally goddamn perfect. I stand in awe to see how much deteail it has even wide open at 2.8, even in bad lighting. Especially in portraits where you can see edge sharp single hairs of photographed person. I love ideas of compact waist finders, but no doubt C330 was the best camera I had. The only con, as someone already wrote, is it's wieght. I was constantly afraid that I will drop it or it will break from my belt and crash on the ground.
Ahhh you’re making me doubt myself! Do I keep it then? And sell something else?
I spent some time thinking about what sort of shoot I would pick up the C330 instead of the S2A or Y635… or even one of my 4x5 cameras. And that’s where it falls down for me. I don’t think it fills any niche that I don’t already have covered.
Now that I’ve said all of this, I’ll sell it and quickly wish I hadn’t!!
@@the120ist Haha, honestly I think about rebuying it myself now. But I hunt for Bronica recently, and I can't decide which one - SQ or ETRS. I dig idea of modularity and tune camera for myself. I know this disease too well, with metastasis to all pockets and accounts. It's like fishing - Buy it, kiss it and release to the market :D. After all this adventures what can I say is each one of us must find "that one" camera. I know you are the one who takes the picture, but I had that with Kiev88 in the very moment I took it in my hands. With all consciousness that it's fawlty piece of metal I kind of liked the way you took pictures with it. I didn't try hasselblad though - only stood nearby, and yes - that shutter sound is really very pleasant, but honestly I think at that point I'd rather invest that amount of money in reliable digital camera than in HB.
Back at the C330 - it has options to customize however with S2A and Yashica I'd rather stay with those two. All in all - Mamiya is reliable piece of art, but you could really feel it in the back pack. I said I think about buying it again, but honestly just to keep hobby alive I'd rather choose something else. Bronica for many lenses, interchangable film backs and that waistfinder, quasi-hasselblad experience. Yashica for size and that really awesome swirly bokeh as I can see. Being in swirly bokeh department - Lubitel took my heart, and it's really cool, little travel medium format friend, although trying to focus anything on it takes a bit of patience.
In a perfect world it would be awesome to catch 'em all. Like pokemons.
@@Voyta2 Ha ha!! Pokemons. I like that! I seem to be on a mission to collect them all at the moment... I really need to stop!
Hassleblads and Leicas are on my black list. I have no doubt they are great cameras, but the whole world is fighting over them, so I'm going to leave them to it and look elsewhere. I'm looking for that unexpected gem, a camera that you have to work a bit harder to find the beauty in!
Really interesting that you like the Lubitel! I have two - a 166b and a Lubitel 2. The 166b has light leaks that I absolutely cannot find! I've tried a few times taping up bits of the camera, but I'm totally confused with it. Haven't tried the Lubitel 2 yet, but I'm fully expecting it to be as difficult to focus as the 166b! I think perhaps it's time to get that out and give it a try. Video on that one coming soon!
@@the120ist I had luck that mine weren't leaking, however first one I bought had misaligned lenses - which occured after first roll. I managed to repair that myself - thanks to its main failure itself which was broken teeth on the lens gears. However as they are rather tightly assembled can't get idea where leaks might occur. I sold it recently so can't look at it at the moment. But from experience with Kiev film backs I managed to find leaks in unexpected openings and holes with my LED bike lamp pushed against filmback tightly to see where light might appear. Ofcourse in complete darkness. Then insulating tape was universal solution.
Also I don't know how expensive they are in UK, I bought mine for around 20-30 GBP so maybe easier would be to buy another one :D But at the same time as I write that I also want to say that repairing it yourself and finding out that you managed to do that properly is the major part of that beautiful journey.
I completely agree with you - I also love to find something interesting in niche. As I mentioned Kievs were those gems for me. Can't argue with that they are complete mechanical mess and because of sound their make you think each picture is the last one you take - but have to be fair that if the camera works properly it can take really amazing shots.
Tip for everyone who's reading this and hesitate what to buy and done research via google only - I found myself that flickr is a great place to see samples of camera/lens/film you want to buy. Typing in "Volna 80mm" or "Lubitel 166 bokeh" will bring tons of great examples of what to expect before ordering something on ebay.
@@Voyta2 I've never tried a Kiev... maybe I'll start watching on eBay for one at a good price. But in the meantime you have inspired me to get the Lubitels out again, and see what I can do with them. I might do a youtube video of trying to find and fix the light leak!
Nice done !
Also a 220 film can be put in: the counter and the
pressure plate need turning 90 degrees.
Another back for sheet film is also for sale.
Every TLR has its parallax problem and can be
solved by a paramender.
You can make your own paramender by rising
the centre pole of your tripod an amount equal
of the distance between the centre of the two
lenses of the TLR.
It is not always correct to think the 80 mm is
the standard lens.
In some countries the 105 mm was sold to be
the standard lens.
But most of the time the C330's were for sale
without a lens; that was the standard.
For professional cameras standard lenses do not exist
CLEAN THE CAMERA BEFORE LOADING A FILM.
After closing the back, you need to turn the knob.
A close up at 1 : 1 needs an extra two stops.
Where is your exposure meter?
The camera is not huge it is great.
LACK OF CARACTER ..............................?
Buy a TLR Linhof Technika 4 x 5 with lenses and filters.
A Hasselblad 500 C/M, lenses, auto exposure lenses,
backs, prismas, tubes, filters, accessories etc etc.
Sigmund Freud asked: Was will das Weib?
Jaco van Lith is asking you: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Ha ha! That’s the big question isn’t it? What do I want??? There is no doubt it is a great camera, that is 100% clear. The big question for me was - in what situations am I going to pick this camera off my shelf over one of the other cameras that I own… and the answer to that was, I don’t know! I don’t do pro shoots on film, so I don’t have that need for a ‘perfect’ camera. If the C330 was worth £20 I would have kept it, for sure. But they sell for good money, and it’s too good a camera to gather dust on my shelf. So I made the tough decision to move it along. And I already have another camera that I’m excited about using (coming soon). So, it’s entirely personal choice… nothing against this great camera!
Good tip on the paramender technique, thanks! And in answer to the question about exposure meter - I use a meter on every shot. I don’t tend to include it in the video unless there’s something interesting or different going on, but I always carry it!
Thanks for you comments, as always!
I've used but never owed the Mamiya TLR. It was marketed as a studio camera, based on size, weight and handling. It was far more flexible in use than other TLRs. The lenses made during the early era, C3 or C2, were at most "average" quality, not even close to a Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, etc., but what it delivered was good enough for most uses. Over the years, Mamiya upgraded existing lenses, so at the end of the run, they were much better. By then, Mamiya wanted its customer base to switch to the 645 series and the RB67, so terminated TLR manufacture. Back then, there were so many in the used market that bodies and lenses were quite a bargain. The idea of paying as much for a Yashicamat 124G as for a C330 is just laughable.
I was really impressed by the C330, image quality and the abilities of the camera. People have definitely picked up on that though, and they are still holding their value pretty well. Interesting that the early lenses weren't great, I didn't know that. I wonder how many of those are still circulating!
@@the120ist Mamiya's business in the 1950s. apart from one very innovative 35mm rangefinder model under its own name and a forgettable 16mm sub, was making cameras for other makers to sell as low-end models at cheaper prices. My Nikkorex F was an example. After Nikon dropped the Nikkorex models as diluting their brand quality image, Mamiya did little to no revision and sold that same SLR under its own name, though Ricoh, Argus and one or two more. Mamiya was the king of the "not prime time" makers. The TLR C models were Mamiya's first effort to establish a professional vendor position, and they did very well with it, although by then, the TLR concept was practically dead. Rollei survived on its reputation; Mamiya on its prices. Mamiya made lenses in the same quality level as its historical products, but when the TLR caught on big time, they rapidly expanded the lens offerings and upgraded the existing. The early lenses were chrome mounted. the late were all black. Stick with the black lenses.
I owned my C33 for precisely one roll of film. Too chunky and close focus was gimmicky. Much prefer my Yashicas, which fit in the hand beautifully.
Interesting, so you didn’t find yourself using the close focusing much? I’ve always been a little frustrated with the Y635 that I can’t really take a satisfactory close portrait. But what I do get from it just feels more alive than the images I was getting with the C330. I may regret it, but I think it’s going on eBay.
To me, the Mamiya C cameras combine the disadvantages from TLRs and SLRs: They have the parallax error of TLRs and their lack of switchable backs, and it has the size and weight and cumbersomeness of a SLR. If I need to use exchangeable lenses or backs, or the parallax error is not acceptable, I`m willing to accept the disadvantages of a SLR. Otherwise, I enjoy the form factor, the unobtrusiveness and the simpleness of a TLR. So what makes the Mamiya C unique among TLRs comes with a price, which I'm not willing to accept. I generally favor TLRs over SLRs for a reason, and exactly those reasons are negated by the Mamiya.
I hear you! I'm not taking anything away from the camera at all, there are a thousand cameras that are worse in every way, but the reason I said I didn't want to keep it is pretty much what you said... I have my Yashica 635 which is what a TLR should be for me - small, lightweight, simple, bulletproof. And I have my Bronica S2A, which is heavy and loud, but flexible - interchangeable lenses and backs, close focusing, no parallax issues etc.
If I want to shoot one way I pick up the Yashica, if I want to shoot the other way I pick up the Bronica. So when do I pick up the Mamiya? I came to the conclusion that the answer was probably "never"... so it went on eBay, and I haven't regretted it.
Each to their own of course, whatever floats your boat! But despite everything it has going for it, the C330 wasn't the right camera for me!
The C330f is not a walkabout camera. It is a professional camera that needs a deliberate mission in mind before you use it. It's "character" is its supreme versatility and image impeccability and it's image quality rivals any 6x6 on the planet. If want a TLR you can slide in your jacket, get a Yashica 124.
I hear you. And no doubting the image quality for sure. But is it not a camera for a walkabout? I think some would disagree. For sure it's best suited to a more controlled environment, and was perhaps intended for such, but are we saying it is only a studio camera? Surely that was not the manufacturer's intention?
@the120ist Sure you can walkabout with the c330. It is just not optimized for that. A nice 6x6 folder would work a little better I think.
I says carry both. 😇
Lol. Me again, the indicator, if it reads 2 then you add 1 stop, 1.5 is half a stop. Again, just in case you didn’t know. Keep going mate!
That I did not know!! So what I said was wrong! Thanks for letting me know, I'll put a correction in the description!
@@the120ist yeah it’s confusing. I wasn’t sure for ages but the lack of a 1 made me always question. Also, where the X is was a bit too soon to add 1 stop. Did a load of testing (1 roll) and got the answers I needed.
Anyways. Be sure before you sell it. I missed mine and then bought it back at current prices. Sure they’ll still go up. Awesome work mate
@@MrFamilybob You know, I didn't even spot that the top one was an X, but you're right of course. Ok, I get it now. Thank you again!
I am pretty sure there will be a point sometime in the future when I regret selling this... but it just doesn't fit into my stable. It doesn't fill a hole. Who knows. All I know for sure is that I can't keep them all!
You are getting better and better at this. It really is an exceptional camera, the pictures are great, but it looks a little clumsy and clunky for my taste, that, and it's overall size and weight and the fact that it is 6 X 6 format, personally I wouldn't have given it a second look, sorry officianado's. I have several pseudo and actual TLR's and I have to say I don't like to use them, mainly because of the waist level finder although some do have what is laughingly known as a sports finder, basicly two holes to look through in the pop up shield surrounding the actual finder, all a bit Heath- Robinson to me, consequently I will never buy another TLR camera no matter how good the claims, so there :-) I have just added another 6 x 9 format camera to my collection, a French made KINAX Cadet f=100 Kior Anastigmat 25 50 100 & B f6.3 to f22, a typical folder although a little down the pecking order on quality, lots of corner light leaks on the bellows, they have just recieved their third coat of black flexible fabric and leather paint spray, they look good , so far so good. If I have to spray on any more I won't be able to close the camera up :-) also it dries quickly, but takes days to cure as it remains tacky for some time, so be warned if you try it yourselves. Nice to be back, a great video. Cheers
Thank you! Yeah the C330 was an interesting one, and ultimately not for me. But I'm glad I got to try it. I can see where the thinking was in the design - a single camera body for late 70s pro photographers that could cover all bases and sturdy enough to cope with the punishment of professional work. It definitely delivers on all that. The trade off, of course, is that it's big and heavy. But as usual, despite my best efforts, I didn't really use the camera in the setting for which it was designed. The C330 was probably more aimed at studio work, or at the very least, tripod mounted location work. Not a Sunday morning amble through fields taking snaps of cows! But that was what I was doing that day. It gave me a feel for the camera though, and told me enough to form an opinion!
I'm 100% with you on the sports finders. The C330 had one, my Y635 has one, plus a few other cameras I own, and I've never used it. I don't see how you can frame with any level of accuracy. But I'm sure people manage it!
Interestingly I have enjoyed, and still do enjoy, the WLF workflow. But I posted a video a few months back using a prism finder on my Bronica for the first time, and I was surprised at how much of a difference it made. Sounds stupid when I say it, but being able to hold the camera at eye level again suddenly made me realise how much I missed using a camera at eye level. Duh!
Fixing bellows is a job I have yet to tackle. I've been lucky with the folders and other bellows cameras that I've had, they've generally been in pretty good shape. But I won't be able to avoid it forever! Expect a video on that at some point in the future!
@@the120ist I will try anything once, women, cars, cameras, exotic nosh, types of music, and fixing just about anything that no longer works, usually on a needs must basis, I just HAVE to try, it goes against the grain to just throw things away :-) I have been re-rolling a couple of 120 films onto 620 spools for use on the Kinax Cadet. The Kinax does have a a very clear pop-up lensed sports finder with a horizontal datum line for guidance, the view looks like any other eye level view finder. To me there are a few downsides to your average medium format camera, the C330 solved one, which was the time lost between shots trying to see the figures through the red windows, bad enough at the best of times, but the printing on the HP4 for instance is VERY faint. You have to cover and uncover the red windows to ward off light polution. It is difficult to do a film change on some cameras in the field [ you managed it well enough on the C330 ] as they are awkward to load and accidents can easily happen. I have a very early Voigtlander Brillant { I guess all others are the same} that once the film is loaded and figure 1 appears in the red window [this is then shut] the counter on the side of the camera is click set to one, from then on after each shot the winder stops automatically on the next one and the counter clicks to 2 etc., which is pretty good for a 1930's medium format TLR. Coating leaking bellows is not ideal and I would only consider it on the cheap and cheerful cameras i use, they do look good afterwards though, if you don't look to hard :-) I look forward to your next installment. Cheers
@@ianwilkinson4602 Right, I have a lot of cameras now, all in various states of disrepair! But I want to get them all up and running and give them all a go. I don't get the chance as often as I'd like, but I look forward to an evening when I can get out the screwdriver and the cleaning tools and set to work on one of those cameras!
Red windows are a pain aren't they. They are all so difficult to see through. I thought maybe I was struggling to see through one on a Coronet Midget because it was filthy, so i took a cotton bud to it and with almost no pressure pushed it straight through... red window no more. I'll only make that mistake once! I think most of them are plastic though, and 50+ year old plastic is both brittle and weak, and usually scratched to hell. I don't think that's helping us see the numbers!!
There will be another vid along soon. I've been hesitating on posting one where I had a complete disaster trying to use off camera flash with large format... but I think my disasters are probably helpful for others to see. So that will probably go up soon!
@@the120ist I am doing my utmost not to buy another camera, I am inundated with them, but I still browse and drool over them. Like you I have cameras to repair, I have a Werra 1 lens to put back together and reassemble the camera, I have a Exa 500 beyond repair, and two Exakta's in a box somewhere in need of very tricky repairs. I found something that might interest yourself though whilst browsing on the usual, there are two Rittreck Optika 6x9 medium cameras made by MKK Musashino, there is only one lens a Koki 90mm Angulon lens and 4 x 6:9 camera backs, some TLC needed, they do look interesting. I think there are 4 days left if you fancy a gander. I bought 2 rolls of Shanghai GP3 100 ISO B&W 127 film from a firm in Devon at a very competetive price. Now all I need is to find enough time between gardening and painting to actually take some photographs :-) Cheers I look forward to the disaster movie in due course.
@@ianwilkinson4602 Thanks for the tip! I headed over to the auction site and looked it up. They look really interesting! Never seen one of those before. So naturally I'm very curious. I'm following the auction... if they're at a sensible price when the auction comes to a close I might jump in. Thanks!
If you are working on a tripod you can use the Mamya Lift, which raises and lowers the camera by exactly the the distance between the lenses, thus overcoming the parallax error. I always use mine for close-up/ macro work.
Splendid camera, but larger and heavier than my tent. Not great for the great outdoors unless you bring it in a wheelbarrow.
Ha ha! That was my feeling on it as well. That is a big old beast! Very pretty pictures from it though.
Well I enjoyed the video, the camera is not one of my favorite 6x6 cameras to use or to repair. It's problematic with misalignment of the focus rail system and the distance indicator linkage in the view finder, prone to light leaks in the bellows and back door assembly. And lastly the film advance gears connected to the crank handle in the "F" version are prone to jam, due in part to some of the metal gears are not all the same material, some steel, some aluminum, some brass - happens most during winter months, when temperatures drop below 50 degrees. The "S" version dealt with many of those issues and did correct most of those problems. So yes you can get close with the Mamiya but there's just too many problems. Me.... I much prefer the Rolleiflex SLX II, It's a single interchangeable lens system with far superior glass to the Mamiya "C" cameras, and this too has some drawbacks, namely it requires a battery retro fit every now and then (which you can get done here -www.akkuumbau.de The only place left that is affordable to get the batteries rebuilt.) And the Rolleiflex SLX II is one of those cameras that's way under rated, under valued, and rarely seen on youtube, but can still be had for a relatively good price. Thanks. Cheers.
Ooh, that Rolleiflex is a whole camera system I don’t know much about. I think I may now spend the rest of the evening reading about it. Thanks for the tip!
Also very interesting that the C330s have so many issues. I must have been lucky to get a fully functioning model. I guessed that because they’re relatively young, in comparison to most TLRs that they wouldn’t suffer as many problems. But that’s really good to know! Thanks 👍
@@the120ist If you do look into an Rollei SLX II (better electronics than the first edition) buying a working camera with a battery and a working charger is recommended, as I said even if the battery is dead and not working its easier to have it rebuilt - will cost about 75 quid. Than not having a battery with the kit, because even a dead or not working battery is very costly to purchase on its own if you can actually find one.
@@clarhettcoalfield3616 Great information, thank you! Not finding too many SLX or SLX2's for sale... or even in the sold listings. These are different to the 600X cameras right?
@@the120ist Yes the newer models will all run you double or triple the cost of an SLX II - Here are some eby codes - 174515942713, 304058980543, 184922910407, I can't speak for theses specific cameras, but it gives you an idea - just place the number into the eby search.
@@clarhettcoalfield3616 Thank you for the codes! Interesting that they don't come up on the .co.uk site, but put them into .com and they do. Weird.
Thank you, I'm going to do some research, but they look interesting! Watch out for a vid one one of those maybe in a few months!
Was he just wandering across random people's fields?
Ha! No! Well, actually yes... but it's perfectly legal. I actually recorded a whole section explaining what I was doing, but I cut it because the video was already almost 20 mins!
Here in the UK there are public footpaths all over farmland throughout the country. Farmers by law have to allow access to walkers and maintain those paths and gates. But it's a slightly archaic system, like everything over here, and the paths are often not marked, or even look like paths. The only way to know if you're on a path is by looking on the maps called Ordnance Survey maps, which were originally made in the 18th century! They have now, thankfully, released an app which ties in with the GPS on your phone.
Whether the paths are marked or not, every farmer knows exactly where the paths are supposed to be, and if you stray off one a farmer will suddenly appear from behind a bush and start yelling! It's happened to me a few times!
I only left the path twice while shooting this, once to get the shot of the hay barn, and once when I genuinely lost the path and a kind horse rider let me through her stable yard to rejoin it. It was her horses that started following me!
Maybe I should have left that part in the video!
so basically you think its a bit shit
Ha ha!! That may be a little over simplified!
I genuinely think the C330 is a spectacularly well engineered camera. It is so so good at what it does.
My point is that what it does… isn’t something I yearn for!
That hideous colour is same as my jacket but as I’m highly prone to just wondering off it should make me easier to find if in fact anyone wants to find me. Great video mate love that camera never used a tlr but I’m gonna📷❤️📷
Thank you! Definitely try a TLR, it's an interesting experience. Shutter sounds are quiet and far less satisfying, as there's no mirror crashing out of the way, but away from that I've had good experiences with the ones I've shot. Even this C330 was a joy to use, I just didn't click with it!