Mamiya C220 or C330?

flavio81 · Oct 13, 2021

Old Gregg said:
Speaking of two shutter buttons on the C330. I swear, the right-side one (which you push down) requires one or two more stops of light to counteract the handshake. Maybe it's just my inferior motor skills, but I found my handheld results to be much more consistent, in terms of handshake, if I force myself to only use the front/corner button. It kind of makes sense, to expect the push-in movement to be less disruptive than the push-down one.

Yes, that's what i didn't like about the C220: the right-side button. The front/corner button is better, and when combined with the other one, even easier.

MattKing · Oct 13, 2021

The side button actually causes less (potential) camera movement if one is using the camera on a tripod or even a table top.
So I do make use of both.

pentaxpete · Oct 14, 2021

I did a VIDEO about my 'Gift' 330F Professional with the 80mm f2.8 'Blue Dot ' lens and 135mm f4.5 'Blue Dot ' lens compared with my C220 Professional here :

grahamp · Oct 14, 2021

If one's hand span is big enough, the softest way to use the side release is to put the thumb on the release and one or two fingers under the base of the camera, and squeeze. That keeps the vertical displacement to a minimum.

Nokton48 · Oct 22, 2021

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

grahamp · Oct 23, 2021

The C33 was the first to integrate the film advance lock and automatic shutter cocking in the form found in the C330 sub-series. I used one for years but eventually settled on a C330 and C220 pair. In many ways the focus scale plate that the C33 uses is better than the rotating rod on the C330. The same basic design was carried over to the C220 ( http://grahamp.dotinthelandscape.org/c220.html ) with changes for newer lenses.

I don't have documentation to prove it, but one of my correspondents tells me that the C33 varies a bit internally over the production run, and not just for the 220 back additions. It is definitely the heaviest of the camera bodies, but that extra inertia does help a bit with suppressing minor camera shake when hand holding.

Nokton48 · Oct 27, 2021

Old Gregg said:
@Nokton48 never handled the C33. why is it your favorite? what did they change from 33 -> 330 -> 330f -> 330s? The internet sources are too vague: "more plastic" and "better screens" mostly.

It's been a while, but I preferred the way it handles and operates, compared to the later cameras which I also owned. OK So I bought a C33, C33 Porrofinder, Mamiya Grip, 220 Back, and black 80mm lens for a good price. In another deal I bought a 105mm bkack DS lens. Also the 80/105 black hood and a nice clean Stovepipe viewfinder.

Yesterday I bought a nice C22 body which I have never owned, but appears to be a nice addition and it matches the C33

Mamiya C220 or C330?

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