Mamiya C33 pro

I saw one of these today, pretty cool, pretty heavy but in very nice

condition. I was stunned by the close focus of the bellows and can

see some real possibilities with this camera.

 

Any comments as to the use or image quality of the lenses? The store

has a 65mm and 135, the camera comes with an 80mm set. I would love

to see any pictures you may have to post (taken with the 65 in

particular)and comments about it.

 

Thanks,

Todd

Todd,

I had the Mamiya C33 pro and C330 pro also, with all the lenses you mentioned. I have negatives taken with the 80mm of MIT which I can find easily, but 65 negatives would be harder to find. I shot a restaurant and bar with the 65mm for their postcards in the 60s, which would have been the C33, I believe. That would be tougher. I'll look. I still have the box for the C33 filled with slides.

 

Lenses were very sharp and under-appreciated in those days. It was a kludge, but I used it mainly on a tripod.

I have very early Mamiyaflex C2 with the 'chrome' lenses (the black ones are supposed to be better). I would think that any other Mamiyaflex would be better than mine.

 

I have the 80mm and 135mm lenses - I use the 80 more, and sometimes feel that it would be nice to have a 65 for landscape shots. BTW the 80mm is the 'standard' lens - loosely about the same view as 50mm on a 35mm system. (A 'standard' lens on any format is equivalent to the diagonal of the film image. 43mm for a 35mm frame, and about 78mm for a '6x6' frame, etc.)

 

These TLRs are nice - and a relatively inexpensive way to get into MF.

 

Here are a few shot I have taken with mine (a variety of neg and slide film)...bear in mind they were scanned on a consumer flatbed scanner.

 

http://www.anycities.com/reinders/photopages/experiment/6x6/6x6.html

Kind of a kluge but produces fine results. I've used my C330 principally as a studio camera and shot off a tripod. It was especially nice for wedding formals. It's a little fragile and the bellows and the heft make it not really suitable for field work.

Water Cart at Heritage Park by Mr Reinders does look very nice though.

 

Go for it if the camera and lenses are in good condition. It's slow and it will force you to plan your shots. I suspect it's pretty inexpensive. You won't be disappointed

Nice stuff, Andre.

Wasn't there some kind of tripod gizmo you could get for these that would allow you to focus on a closeup image with the viewing lens, then crank up a lever to replace the viewing lens with the taking lens?

 

Gene

i have a C220. with an 80 and 65mm lenses. like the above said, if everything is in good condition, go for it...great stuff at a really good price range. get a side grip for it too. If the 33 allows the one with the locating pins fo keep things from coming undone, get that one. Makes the cam a whole lot more managable with hand held shots.

I use a C-2 or C-330 on an almost daily basis for field and general photography use, Lens are availible from 55 to 250 mm and there overall quality is exceptional. I've owned my C-2 since 1960 and its never failed me or been in the shop. So I guess what i'm saying in they really get a glowing endorsement from me.

<a href="http://www.btinternet.com/~g.a.patterson/mfaq/jpg/grip1.jpg"><u>this grip</u></a> btw <a href="http://www.btinternet.com/~g.a.patterson/mfaq/m_faq-mamiya.html"> <u>that site</u></a> is any exellent source of Mamiya TLR info

Thanks guys, thanks for the links and the photos!

 

Todd

Todd..<p>I've had a C33 for about 20 years. I have the chrome 80mm and the black 55mm. The black lenses are newer and just a tad sharper but not much. She sounds like a meat grinder with a bone stuck in it when you wind her (definitely not a Rolleiflex) but I've probably put 6 or 7 hundred rolls through it without a problem.<p><a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2454671&size=lg">This shot here</a> is about 15 years old with the 80mm. The one below was a few weeks ago with the 80 also.<p>They are great for macro work. You will definitely need what Mamiya called a Paramender, goes between the camera and the tripod, focus and compose then turn the lever and it jacks the camera up so the taking lens is where the viewing lens was. If I can find a macro shot here somewher I'll post it also.<div></div>

Diane Arbus used a three or four lens set up with this camera for years. I think she at least had a 55, a 80, & a 135. Seem to remember another lens though. The best part is that the bodies last a long time. Since the shutter is in the lens, you can trash a shutter or a lens and not ruin the body for use. Couple this with the popularity of the camera as a wedding photography camera and you have readily available replacement lenses and accessories. The wides are more expensive, the "silver" lenses (i.e. made with silver chromed rather than black bodies) are less so, but I have seen good and bad images come from either one. Heavy but then again, Arbus was famously petite and she hauled her kit all over NYC. And she had a big eggbeater flash on hers. So no whiners.

You need a cart and two asses to carry a Mamiya TLR system. BUT! the images are excellent and the close focusing ability tempted me as well. I mean, that's the biggest drawback of a rolleiflex: can't go close enough. Add this to a 55 or 65mm wide lens and the perspective you get makes you sell your SLR kit.

 

The 135 is a Tessar type, it has a very very good touch for portraits. It also has an aperture on the viewing lens, to see DOF, by the way... (although useless at f/8, due to dim image) I know a guy here who had a few exhibitions in local pubs, using a C220 and 135mm... fantastic images.

 

I don't know about this shop, but the prices on these kits are also very good lately.

"Wasn't there some kind of tripod gizmo you could get for these that would allow you to focus on a closeup image with the viewing lens, then crank up a lever to replace the viewing lens with the taking lens? "

 

Gene, i think you mean the "paramender". Handy gizmo indeed, if you have the time to use it.

Todd, I don't know what you already have, but take note what has been said above regarding the weight and bulk of the Mamiya C-series. They are built like a brick s*^~!-house and will last several lifetimes with normal use. Definately a tri-pod camera. But if, like me, you are looking for an easily carried "user", you may be better off with a Rollei/Yashica or a good folder like an Iskra.

I never got along with my mamiya tlr. I think it was a c330. I had a black 65, 80, 180 if I remember correctly. Anyway, I never thought the lenses were as good as my rollei, the camera was big and heavy, just never "felt" right to me. I sold it and kept using the rollei. With used mf prices being what they are, I can't help but think a used slr might not be a better solution if you think you really need interchangable lenses. If the store will let you try it out that would be the way to go.

I never understood why so many people complained about the weight.....until I looked at Patterson's site. I have the C2 - 1250 g. (body) Compared to my Elan 7N with grip and batteries - ~800g (body), or my Nikkormat FT-2 at 780g (body), not too bad. I looked up a 1Ds Mark II - 1215 g. (body)

 

I frequently 'walk around' with my TLR, and hand hold many shots....but Patterson's site lists the C33 (the heaviest Mamiyaflex) at a whopping 1810 g (body only)!!!!!!!

 

...add a flash, a lens, and a side grip - I can only imagine....I would kick my kids out of the wagon to make room for the camera!

 

CE Nelson - Thanks for the kind words. :)

After starting off with a Rollie, I got a C3 about 12 years ago because of the

interchangable lenses. Over the years, I would upgrade to the newer models

and add lenses as the budget allowed. A couple of months ago I got the

C330S, which was the last model produced and now have the 55, 65, 80,

105, 135 and 180mm lenses (all the later black versions). I probably use the

80 and 105mm the most, but I find all the lenses in the system to be good.

Yes it is heavier than most of the other TLR's, but the ability to go from 55mm

to 250mm is worth it.

 

I'm at work now and only have access to the shots in my PN folders, but will try

to post some pics here.<div></div>

With 65mm lens:<div></div>

with 105mm lens:<div></div>

with 105mm lens (image tones in Photoshop)<div></div>

I'm not sure if Mamiya produced any lenses for their TLR's with aperatures in the viewing lens, macro without DOF preview is a bit of a guessing game. Nice that you can do it if you want to, but if macro capabilities are a main reason for buying this camera, you may be disappointed.

 

I'll try to post some pic's made with the 65mm tomorrow. It's a very sharp lens (but my scanner isn't, be warned), and I like its semi-wide view for general photography. I have the black one, and have never had any problems with flare.

 

I bought it with that lens because I find the 80 a bit narrow for my taste, and other than the wide angle Rollie, it was my only choice.

 

My camera is a Mamiyaflex C, a bit lighter than the C33, but the same layout. I can't say I like the ergonomics much, but I've never lost a shot because of them, and I use it mostly hand-held.

One from the 65<div></div>

When he got old, Paul Strand (like Ansel Adams and Brett Weston) switched to a 6x6 roll film format. In his case it was a Mamiyaflex TLR with the bellows and interchangable lenses (I don't know which model). It is shown in the Video about him, always on a tripod, and with the porroprism finder.

Is that a 9 speed Shimno block :-)