Mamiya C220 and portraits of 100 strangers.

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 21, 2021

Hello all

First post - I am new to this forum. I started shooting film about 1 and a half years ago, when I pulled out my fathers old cameras from the bottom of a closet. Among them was a Mamiya C220 and a Minolta Autocord. I decided to get learn how to use them and it has been such a joy shooting film and learning the development process as well.

Are there any others here who regularly shoot the C220? I'd love to see some of your favorite shots and hear about how you use it. I have started a little challenge for myself - a series of 100 portraits of strangers, combined with first name and their favorite music. It is a great way to practice technical skills, communication and this 6x6 type of portrait composition.

Here are a few samples, developed in DD-X 1+9 dilution.

Name: Maureen. Favorite music: Scylla and Sofiane Pamart. C220, Delta 100.

Name: Sushma. Favorite music: Anne Marie, To Be Young (Pop). C220, Delta 400.

Name: Diego. Favorite music: Led Zeppelin. Autocord, Delta 400.

Name: Nicky. Favorite music: Rozenberg (Hiphop). C220, Fp4.

Name: Andrea. Favorite music: Ari Ari. C220, Fp4.

Name: Clarissa. Favorite music: Lil' Wayne. C220, Fp4.

Name: Samuel. Favorite music: Bob Marley. C220, Tmax 100.

What have you been using you C220 for? Which lenses do you find attractive and do show samples or links to your work

Best regards,
Ulrik

FotoD · Oct 21, 2021

Well done! Beautiful light and composition. You include just enough background / environment in the frame to give the subect some context, clues to who they are and what they do. Don't stop at 100 portraits!

macfred · Oct 21, 2021

Welcome to Photrio, Ulrik!

Great series of portraits - very well executed. I already noticed the photograph of Maureen (#1) on flickr a day or two ago. Nice to have you here.

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 21, 2021

FotoD said:
Well done! Beautiful light and composition. You include just enough background / environment in the frame to give the subect some context, clues to who they are and what they do. Don't stop at 100 portraits!

Thanks FotoD. I use the 80mm 2.8 lens for the portraits, which makes it possible to include some background.

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 21, 2021

macfred said:
Welcome to Photrio, Ulrik!

Great series of portraits - very well executed. I already noticed the photograph of Maureen (#1) on flickr a day or two ago. Nice to have you here.

Thank you macfred

narsuitus · Oct 21, 2021

Nice camera, nice images, and nice project.

Years ago, I used Mamiya TLR cameras (C220, C22, and C3) with 55, 80, and 180mm lenses to shoot weddings, portraits, and products.

I eventually replaced my worn Mamiya TLR cameras with Mamiya RB67 SLR cameras with 50, 90, and 180mm lenses.

Here are two portraits shot with the C220.

Portrait by Narsuitus, on Flickr

jvo · Oct 21, 2021

welcome to photrio...

your work is excellent - real insight glimpse into your subjects world! great photo and darkroom technique.

i never did as good after a year and a half!

Nokton48 · Oct 22, 2021

Welcome! Very well done All!

I had a small studio back in the 80s and I used primarily Mamiya C's. I started with the C33 (my favorite) and eventually I owned every model, and all the lenses and lots of accessories. Later I traded it all in one fell swoop, and migrated back to Hasselblad. Now I am retired and I miss my C33! A nice one just came up, complete with close to mint 80mm black lens, C33 Porro Finder, and an extra 220 back all in decent condition. I pulled the trigger on it yesterday. Later in the day I bought a mint Stovepipe Magnifier, and a close to mint 105 DS lens. Just need a lenshood and I'm all set. For knockin around the street I preferred the Mamiyaflex C2. But the C33 is a great camera and I miss having one! So here we go again

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 23, 2021

narsuitus said:
Nice camera, nice images, and nice project.

Years ago, I used Mamiya TLR cameras (C220, C22, and C3) with 55, 80, and 180mm lenses to shoot weddings, portraits, and products.

Very nice shots! I guess used the 180mm lens for these? Thanks for sharing.[/QUOTE]

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 23, 2021

jvo said:
welcome to photrio...

your work is excellent - real insight glimpse into your subjects world! great photo and darkroom technique.

i never did as good after a year and a half!

Thank you very much James

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 23, 2021

Nokton48 said:
Welcome! Very well done All!

I had a small studio back in the 80s and I used primarily Mamiya C's. I started with the C33 (my favorite) and eventually I owned every model, and all the lenses and lots of accessories. Later I traded it all in one fell swoop, and migrated back to Hasselblad. Now I am retired and I miss my C33! A nice one just came up, complete with close to mint 80mm black lens, C33 Porro Finder, and an extra 220 back all in decent condition. I pulled the trigger on it yesterday. Later in the day I bought a mint Stovepipe Magnifier, and a close to mint 105 DS lens. Just need a lenshood and I'm all set. For knockin around the street I preferred the Mamiyaflex C2. But the C33 is a great camera and I miss having one! So here we go again

Great . I look forward to see your C220 images, if you post them going forward! I have the 50, 80, 135 and 250 from my dad, and then I found a 180 myself on ebay, which I haven't used yet. Usually I just carry the 80 for the portraits and the 50 for wider images.

narsuitus · Oct 23, 2021

Ulrik Christiansen said:
Very nice shots! I guess used the 180mm lens for these? Thanks for sharing.

Yes, I tend to use the 180mm for head & shoulder portraits and tight face portraits.
I tend to use the 80 for full-length and half-length portraits.
I tend to use the 55 for group portraits and environmental portraits.

Scott_PdP · Oct 24, 2021

These are really nice images and your project is interesting and encouraging. I just purchased a C220 but I won't be able to take possession of it until December when I get home. If someone has the time, I could use a couple of specific measurements from a C220. Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread. sabridges @ gmail.com

Mesi

markjwyatt · Oct 24, 2021

Great shots! I used to use a C330f and a C220f as my maion cameras (80s and 90s). I am revising them and want to start using them again more. Here are a couple of old shots of mine, plus a newer one:

Chris, Profile by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Life Imitating Art Imitating Nature by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

bench, surreal by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 25, 2021

Scott_PdP said:
These are really nice images and your project is interesting and encouraging. I just purchased a C220 but I won't be able to take possession of it until December when I get home. If someone has the time, I could use a couple of specific measurements from a C220. Sorry, I don't mean to hijack your thread. sabridges @ gmail.com

Mesi

Thanks Scott. What kind of measurements are you seeking?

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 25, 2021

markjwyatt said:
Great shots! I used to use a C330f and a C220f as my maion cameras (80s and 90s). I am revising them and want to start using them again more. Here are a couple of old shots of mine, plus a newer one:

Thank you Mark.

Interesting and very nice images, especially the last one. It looks like some IR film?

/Ulrik

Scott_PdP · Oct 25, 2021

Easy ones I hope. The diameter of the focus knob and the length, width and height of the camera (assuming viewfinder is closed and bellows is closed.)

Very much appreciated.

markjwyatt · Oct 25, 2021

Ulrik Christiansen said:
Thank you Mark.

Interesting and very nice images, especially the last one. It looks like some IR film?

/Ulrik

Thanks, Ulrik. The last one was Rollei IR400. I took the photograph early spring this year.

Moose22 · Oct 25, 2021

markjwyatt said:
Thanks, Ulrik. The last one was Rollei IR400. I took the photograph early spring this year.

I like it. It inspires me, too.

I was given an IR filter and a roll of IR film with my C330. This photo made me immediately see a scene I can take -- bench, trees, grass.

How did you develop this?

calico · Oct 25, 2021

Really lovely portraits, Ulrik!

I don't use a Mamiya (I use Hasselblads and Contax 645 for portraits), but I'm a huge fan of Denis Dailleux who I believe uses the Mamiya C330. I've always been tempted to buy one because of that. You can see some of his work at Agence VU here, if you're interested:

https://agencevu.com/photographe/denis-dailleux/#series

What is your screen name at flickr? I noticed someone above said you post there.

markjwyatt · Oct 25, 2021

Moose22 said:
I like it. It inspires me, too.

I was given an IR filter and a roll of IR film with my C330. This photo made me immediately see a scene I can take -- bench, trees, grass.

How did you develop this?

Thanks @Moose22 . My notes indicate I used HC110, B (1:31), 6 min. at 20 Deg. C (adjusted according to the same site for small changes in T- did not record the actual T, likely 21-22 Deg. C). With a 720 nm filter, I metered as ISO 12 (Rollei IR400, expired 2015). This is consistent with the 400(6)/HC110 recommendation on the Massive Development Chart (my first roll was at ISO6 equivalent and a bit too much exposure, but I do not see a reason to change development times, instead I adjusted ISO and like where I ended up). YMMV.

Here are shots from the two rolls. The March ones were metered at ISO 6, teh April at ISO 12. Both were developed the same: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=157638541@N07&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Rollei IR 400&view_all=1 , both the same batch of film.

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 26, 2021

Scott_PdP said:
Easy ones I hope. The diameter of the focus knob and the length, width and height of the camera (assuming viewfinder is closed and bellows is closed.)

Very much appreciated.

Okay, I can do these measurements. I don't know if I can make it tonight, if not it will be tomorrow evening.

/Ulrik

Ulrik Christiansen · Oct 26, 2021

calico said:
Really lovely portraits, Ulrik!

I don't use a Mamiya (I use Hasselblads and Contax 645 for portraits), but I'm a huge fan of Denis Dailleux who I believe uses the Mamiya C330. I've always been tempted to buy one because of that. You can see some of his work at Agence VU here, if you're interested:

https://agencevu.com/photographe/denis-dailleux/#series

What is your screen name at flickr? I noticed someone above said you post there.

Thanks for the Denis Dailleux tip! They look fantastic! I will spend some more time with them the coming weekend - thank you!

My flickr albums - film album is at the bottom, the rest is digital:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrikchristiansen/albums
ig. @ulrikchristiansen42

/Ulrik

Scott_PdP · Oct 26, 2021

Ulrik Christiansen said:
Okay, I can do these measurements. I don't know if I can make it tonight, if not it will be tomorrow evening.

/Ulrik

Thanks. I'm not in a hurry. I appreciate your time.

calico · Oct 26, 2021

Ulrik Christiansen said:
Thanks for the Denis Dailleux tip! They look fantastic! I will spend some more time with them the coming weekend - thank you!

My flickr albums - film album is at the bottom, the rest is digital:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrikchristiansen/albums
ig. @ulrikchristiansen42

/Ulrik

Thanks! I just followed you there. (Kat)

Mamiya C220 and portraits of 100 strangers.

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