Mamiya c330s, which lens to get and where

<p>Bought a mamiya c330s kit with an 80mm lens but the lens was in appalling condition so i sent the lens back for a partial refund, now I'm in the market for another lens, I'm checking ebay and ffordes but they are either overpriced or the chrome versions, i really want a blue dot one. Found one on ebay for BIN 99 pounds and 7 shipping, is this a justifiable to purchase? or should i just wait until one comes on for auction. I'm also trying to figure out which lens i want, the 65mm sounds good but the hoods are hard to find, 80mm is faster, 105mm i heard is quite good but is also hard to find and expensive, 135mm is a good portrait lens but thats about it; i've read that it's quite blurry in the corners and i will be mostly doing landscape, cityscape, portrait work. </p>

<p>I wouldn't worry about the quality of Mamiya TLR glass. These cameras and lenses will produce images second to none, assuming you do your part (focus carefully, stop down a few stops, and steady things against "camera shake").</p>

<p>In the 70's, these were used by many professional photographers. The black newer glass, is said to have a small edge over the older chrome glass. But this likely just better coatings. Stopped down to F8 or so, both will amaze you with their sharpness. The 80 and the 65 were both wedding "standards", back in the day.</p>

<p>I have been shooting a Rollei TLR for 10 years now and love it. About a year ago, I also started wanting a wide angle lens for a square format. The Rollei TLR wide angle was way to expensive so i took my time and put together an incredible kit, one piece at a time, on e-bay. I got a 330 F body in ex+ condition for $65.00. Got the latest single action finder for less than 60 in mint conditon. The finder was the toughest item to get at a good price and I wanted the single action. The 55mm for 152.00 in Mint- condition. And a 135mm lens ( blue dot) for 67 in ex+ condition. Works great. If you are looking for a single lens I would get the 65mm. If you are going to own more than 1 lens, 55 or 65, and 135. Check out KEH for decent prices on lens, although, if patient you can do better on the bay.</p>

I wonder how important the blue dot is. I have an 80mm chrome finish lens and it's a real winner optically, and looks

much better than the black.

<p>I have a C3, a C220 and a C330, all with the 80mm lens. The lens on my C3 is the chrome version but it is amazingly sharp. The lens on the other two is the black version and it may just have the edge on sharpness but it is marginal. I have the 135mm lens and I'd agree that it is a little soft in the corners but for portrait work that doesn't matter to me.</p>

<p>I currently own a 330s with 65mm, 80mm and 180mm lens. In good conditopn the lenses are not real cheap, bought my 65 and 180 for about 150 pounds each.<br>

I have had Mamiya TLRs before and the 180 is an outstanding lens.<br>

The newest 105 have DOF preview.<br>

Regards<br>

Martin</p>

<p>I'm currently using a 55mm on my C330S -- I wanted to go as wide as I could, because why not. It makes the camera a little better suited for fast work, with its more forgiving DOF, though you really have to work up close to what you're photographing. But I really like the wide angle in the square format. I got the 55 from KEH at a reasonable price.</p>

<p>Let's see, I have a maybe nine Mamiya TLR lenses, some duplicates obviously. They all are good lenses, all are the black shutters. The photo industry has known how to make good moderate speed fixed focal length lenses for at least a hundred years now.<br>

I might think the 65mm is slightly softer than some of the others, but only maybe. I have at least one 80 and 135 that I think are exceptionally sharp. Some have the coveted blue dot, some don't. I haven't noticed any difference and only became aware of that distinction about a year ago. I've been using some of this stuff for more than 25 years.<br>

I use a tripod for close to 100% of my TLR photos and usually at middle apertures. Wide open is less sharp for all of these lenses and makes focus and film flatness considerably more critical.</p>