Actually keh only has an “as-is” c220 and the C330 with the lens looks like this, and these are “bargain”
Twin lens reflexes are gaining in cost and lack of availability. Even the humble Yashicamat which used to be available for less than £100 a few years ago are selling for what is stupid money as much as £400. The cream of the crop being the Rollieflex but they are even more expensive.
Konica merged with Minolta to become Konica Minolta, Konica Minolta sold the camera factory and patents to Sony but kept the lens factory. Konica Minolta makes all the Sony kit and G lens for Sony, all the patents are owned by Konica Minolta, that includes new E mount lens. In addition Konica Minolta makes industrial lens. Minolta fell behind in film and digital camera design and production after losing a 100,000,000 patent infringement suit to Honeywell over AF tech. Minolta never really recovered until it was too late.
Search ebay for a C22, or a Mamiyaflex C2. They're far cheaper, and they are very nice machines.
Your TLR dillema is easily solved, just ask yourself: Do I want interchangeable lenses?
If the answer is YES, then go for a Mamiya TLR, you'll be satisfied.
If the answer is NO, then it's a matter of budget:
If you have a big budget, go for a Rolleiflex with f2.8 lens. That's the ultimate fixed-lens TLR.
Less money? go for the F3.5 version.
Less money? go for a Rolleiflex T (they're pretty nice too) or a Minolta Autocord
Less money? go for a Rolleicord. They're more compact, and with awesome lenses too.
Less money? A Yashica 124G
Less money? Yashica 635, D, etc. (Note: most have 3-element Yashikor lenses, not as good as a 4-element but still good)
even less money? Another japanese clone similar to the Yashicas.
even less money? A Lubitel 166...
Keeping the camera balanced in this configuration must surely be a hard challenge.
The dedicated left hand shutter release grip makes it even easier.
This looks like a good one on eBay. Write the seller and ask them to press both the wind button and the counter reset button together. If the number resets… buy it in a heartbeat… it’s not the Nikor lens but looks decent
[NEAR MINT] Airesflex U TLR Film Camera 6×6 Aires Coral f3.5 75mm Copal
I don't recall the OP giving us a price range, so the suggestions are all over the map. Another point I wanted to make is that camera dimensions and weight translate to portability in a non-intuitive ways, probably depends on OP's style of shooting. For example:
I do not doubt that Mamiya TLRs are bigger, but they are also less dense than otherh TLRs. The Mamiya C220F that I have is bigger but not much heavier than the Rollei 3.5F, and - with my style of using a TLR with a small shoulder bag - ends up being a functional equivalent in the field. That bag, with a cell phone, keys, extra roll of film and filters ends up feeling the same regardless of which of these two cameras is in it.
I'm pointing this out because in addition to having interchangeable lenses, the Mamiya TLRs have other wonderful properties, namely their ability to focus super close and they're easier to focus with: you can use either hand, and their WLF+screen combination is easier to nail focus. People who shoot Hasselblads, Rolleiflexes, and Bronicas love having discussions on which focusing screen is the best: AcuteMate, Brightscreen, Oleson, Maxwell, ground glass, fresnel, etc... Mamiya TLR users never bother, their screens are already amazing. Even the WLF magnifier is better made than other cameras I've tried: you can "zoom out" by pulling your head back and the image gets amplified more (at expense of not seeing the corners). For some reasons other WLF in other cameras don't do that as well. Basically, Mamiya TLRs are champions of precision focusing in my opinion.
Search ebay for a C22, or a Mamiyaflex C2. They're far cheaper, and they are very nice machines.
Your TLR dillema is easily solved, just ask yourself: Do I want interchangeable lenses?
If the answer is YES, then go for a Mamiya TLR, you'll be satisfied.
If the answer is NO, then it's a matter of budget:
If you have a big budget, go for a Rolleiflex with f2.8 lens. That's the ultimate fixed-lens TLR.
Less money? go for the F3.5 version.
Less money? go for a Rolleiflex T (they're pretty nice too) or a Minolta Autocord
Less money? go for a Rolleicord. They're more compact, and with awesome lenses too.
Less money? A Yashica 124G
Less money? Yashica 635, D, etc. (Note: most have 3-element Yashikor lenses, not as good as a 4-element but still good)
even less money? Another japanese clone similar to the Yashicas.
even less money? A Lubitel 166...
You're right. I didn't give a price point. I would like to stay offer $250, shipping included if possible.
I am a smaller female with small hands. I know that in the same way i don't like to carry a big sketchbook for sketching when I'm out, i will also not take it with meet often if it's big and bulky. While i love the idea of changing lenses, i feel this will be less about that and more about simplifying and seeing what i can do with the limitations of whatever lens i get.
Thanks for helping to clarify my wants/needs. I can see clearly now!
Yes, price range is important. $250 (I'm assuming US$ here) may buy you a good TLR is you restrict yourself to the Yashicas, but you probably won't find a good Rolleicord (the 'flexes will be way out of your reach) or a similar upmarket model.You're right. I didn't give a price point. I would like to stay offer $250, shipping included if possible.
I am a smaller female with small hands. I know that in the same way i don't like to carry a big sketchbook for sketching when I'm out, i will also not take it with meet often if it's big and bulky. While i love the idea of changing lenses, i feel this will be less about that and more about simplifying and seeing what i can do with the limitations of whatever lens i get.
Seriously, ask this guy a couple of questions about the functionality of this camera. If he won't attest to anything, walk away. If he says that the shutter fires, focus works, winding works, offer him $200 total, including shipping- tell him that without any returns you simply can't pay more. In searching Ebay, this comes up near the top which means that he has had it listed for a while and no one has bought it.
Yashica-D, TLR Camera, Medium Format 80mm f:3.5 Lens | eBay
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I have asked questions. Will see what he says...
Can anyone tell me what a CLA would cost for a TLR?
This looks like a good one on eBay. Write the seller and ask them to press both the wind button and the counter reset button together. If the number resets… buy it in a heartbeat… it’s not the Nikor lens but looks decent
[NEAR MINT] Airesflex U TLR Film Camera 6×6 Aires Coral f3.5 75m...
I keep reading great things about the Minolta. It’s definitely on my radar.
Second the recommendation of the Autocords. They are decent cameras and not excessively pricy. If they develop problems, they are not too difficult to get fixed. But I do not use the built-in light meters as they are clunky compared to a smartphone app.
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I would avoid Lubitels or the equivalent China-made TLR (the brand name escapes me),...
What app do you use?
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