Ojito wilderness outing with Mamiya C33

<p>Last weekend, we went hiking in the little known Ojito wilderness near Bernalillo, NM. I took my (new to me) Mamiya C33 loaded with Fuji Neopan Acros and an orange filter and came across some beautiful scenery there. Please click on the images if you'd like to see larger versions (the images are linked to their flickr equivalents).</p>

<p><a title="Ojito Rocks by ...Markus, on Flickr" href=" title="Ojito Rocks by ...Markus, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3234880397_7bd0082e68_m.jpg" alt="Ojito Rocks" width="240" height="240" /> </a> <a title="Dancing Juniper by ...Markus, on Flickr" href=" title="Dancing Juniper by ...Markus, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3395/3235610638_79147deb5e_m.jpg" alt="Dancing Juniper" width="240" height="240" /> </a><br>

<a title="Windswept Brush by ...Markus, on Flickr" href=" title="Windswept Brush by ...Markus, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3234814053_97e9fc57a4_m.jpg" alt="Windswept Brush" width="240" height="240" /> </a> <a title="Juniper Wood by ...Markus, on Flickr" href=" title="Juniper Wood by ...Markus, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/3234841081_96cf8e0568_m.jpg" alt="Juniper Wood" width="240" height="240" /> </a><br>

All these photos were shot with an older type chrome Mamiya 80mm f/2.8 lens whose coating has quite a number of 'cleaning marks'.<br>

- Markus</p>

<p>In the "Dancing Juniper" photo, did you use a hood. It's an awesome composition.</p>

<p>Thank you, Rob. To answer your question, I have a quite large series VI hood that just works perfectly with the 80mm lens on the Mamiya. I never take it off the camera. For that particular picture, the camera was actually in the shade. I was crawling around between the rock face on the right and a boulder.<br>

Here's a picture of the camera with hood:<br>

<a title="G.A.S. attack by ...Markus, on Flickr" href=" title="G.A.S. attack by ...Markus, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3204224249_1a978395a4.jpg" alt="G.A.S. attack" width="375" height="500" /> </a><br>

- Markus</p>

<p>Wonderful, that lens is so sharp it hurts!</p>

<p>Markus: Outstanding B&W images! You are a hardy soul for hiking around with that hefty (and super clean looking) camera. Well Done!</p>

<p>Great series of B&W photos Marcus, the Mamiya TLR's are a very effective, if heavy, piece of kit. I too, love the Juniper shot, but the swirly tree stump is great too...looks a nice place to shoot. If you ever come across the 105 lens, grab it, as they are superb....especially the DS version which has an aperture on the viewing lens for DOF preview. I unfortunately sold most of my Mamiya TLR stuff, only have a very beaten C330 with the 105 left.<br>

Tony</p>

<p>Great photos Markus well worth the hike in this place. You have given us the essence I think of what it feels to be there. I hope to visit one day.</p>

<p>Wonderful stuff.</p>

<p>Lovely images! The weight of the C330 is a non issue for me. My pair see alot more use than my Rolleiflex 3.5e. Thanks for the images. TD</p>

<p>Really wonderful photography. Great work.<br>

I was just in your neck of the woods several months ago. We did 300 miles on ATVs in three days- from Farmington to Navajo Lake to Colorado and back with some other points in between. It's got to be some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen on Earth. I took along my 4x5 as well as my little Pentax dslr for quick shots.<br>

<<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/john.jwphoto/NewMexicoAugust2008">http://picasaweb.google.com/john.jwphoto/NewMexicoAugust2008</a>#><br>

The link above is just a simple little picasa gallery so I could show the snaps to the other guys who went. Nothing there to rival what you posted. <br>

Your shots are really good. Well done!</p>

 

<p>Really great pics! I had a C3, and when I saw the pic of yours, I started feeling bad about getting rid of it...until I remembered that I traded it for a RB67 system.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your comments! John, thanks for sharing your Picasa album. Your pictures show a very green New Mexico, which is quite unusual. Last summer was fairly wet (in New Mexico terms).</p>

<p>I have to agree that the C33 is quite heavy. After using it for a couple of weeks, I just now picked up my Rolleicord Va again, and boy does that one feel light in comparison. However, the weight is not as much of an issue for me, since I am using one of those really broad neck straps. If I ever get into large format photography, I might have to start looking at an ATV, though... The only gripe I have is the type 1 waist level finder. The back flap is a bit fragile and bends easily, as I like to walk around with the finder open. Perhaps I should look for a later type finder that has struts.</p>

<p>I really like the 80mm lens, although I have not really tried it wide open, where I expect it to outperform my other TLRs with four element, mostly Tessar design lenses. The f/2.8 viewing lens plus the fresnel lens in the view finder really make using the C33/80mm combo a pleasure to use. The 80mm lens is indeed very sharp. However, my scanner (an Epson 4490) cannot tease out every detail from the negatives. A friend recently scanned a negative that was exposed with a Kodak Medalist on his Nikon 9000 scanner. What a difference to my Epson scanner (not just in resolution, but also in price.)</p>

<p>The 105mm D/DS lenses indeed look interesting, the earlier ones are Tessar designs, but the D and DS lenses have five elements in three groups (similar to the 80mm lenses). I am wondering if the depth of field preview really works well on a TLR, doesn't it make the image on the ground glass quite dim? For now, I put my money toward a 55mm lens which should arrive in the mail next week. I am looking forward to using something wider than 75mm in 6x6 format.<br>

- Markus</p>

<p>Great pics Markus! The detail is incredible and composition is excellent. The Mamiya C series TLR cameras are a personal favorite of mine. I have a C2 and a C 220, which, along with my Speed Graphic Pacemaker 23, are my most used medium format cameras. The 80mm chrome lens is one I have and does wonderful pictures. It's both sharp and has a certain 3-D look to it that I love. One of my two favorite lenses (the other being a 101/f=4.5 Ektar for my Pacemaker). I also have the Sekor 180 telephoto, which is a very nice lens, also.<br>

Now I feel the urge to get out and drag the old Mamiya with me and do some shooting. If only the wind chill wasn't down around 0 degrees F...<br>

Dave</p>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2319051">>Markus Berndt</a> , Jan 31, 2009; 12:25 p.m.</p>

<p>I have to agree that the C33 is quite heavy. After using it for a couple of weeks, I just now picked up my Rolleicord Va again, and boy does that one feel light in comparison. However, the weight is not as much of an issue for me, since I am using one of those really broad neck straps. If I ever get into large format photography, I might have to start looking at an ATV, though... The only gripe I have is the type 1 waist level finder. The back flap is a bit fragile and bends easily, as I like to walk around with the finder open. Perhaps I should look for a later type finder that has struts.<</p>

<p>Markus,</p>

<p>If the substantial weight of the C33 gets to you but you want to keep using this wonderful system, consider getting a C220 body. It is much lighter (not an awfully lot heavier than your Rolleicord). You only give up the fast wind/self cocking feature and the parallex mask in the viewfinder.</p>

<p>BTW, many 4x5 cameras weigh less than a C33. ;)</p>

<p>Dave :)</p>

<p>Markus,<br>

Those are outstanding pictures with masterful compositions, excellent exposures, and beautiful tones. The camera is a work of art in its own right and judging from the quality of the pictures you've made with it, it's worth its weight!</p>

<p>Wow!</p>

<p>And look at that beautiful blue sky!</p>

<p>Great images, Markus. I venture into the Ojito once every several months. I'm a fanatical pinhole shooter, so I'm usually found with some sort of box camera loaded with paper negatives. Needless to say, I don't get the dramatically dark sky found in your images, because paper negatives overexpose the sky in order to get the landscape adequately exposed (paper is primarily blue/UV sensitive.)</p>

<p>I'll have to try another outing with a film camera and yellow or orange filter.</p>

<p>Thanks for the inspiration.</p>

<p>~Joe</p>

<p>Joe, I've always wanted to take a crack at pinhole photography, but wasn't aware that one could shoot directly on photo paper. I guess shooting with regular film in a pinhole camera one could still use an orange filter and get the dark sky effect (maybe that's what you were referring to).<br>

The Ojito wilderness is really nice, but next time I head down the Jemez mountains in that direction, I will probably explore the area around Cabezon peak.<br>

Dave, thanks for the tip about the C220, it looks like a good and much lighter option. If I come across a cheap one, I will buy it.</p>

<p>Hello,<br />My name is Matt, and this is my first posting to Photo.net. I just registered so I may be in the wrong section for my question. If so, please direct me to the correct area - thanks.<br />I have been a professional photographer since 1962, yes, that makes me an old guy. Anyway, my question is where can I get an honest evaluation of several Mamiya TLR cameras and lens I want to sell. All of this equipment was purchased new by me and served me well over the years and I don't want to see it junked. I chose to ask this question on Photo.net because I have read several posts (like those above) from people who really love and appreciate these cameras. Any information or advice will be greatly appreciated.<br />Thanks, Matt<br />E-mail: <a href="mailto:scuteri@sonic.net">scuteri@sonic.net</a></p>