Mamiya C33 TLR with 80mm lens

Nicole · Dec 23, 2005

Firstly, I hope all APUG member's Christmas and New Year is filled with fun, laughter and many beautiful memories.

Secondly, last night I picked up my christmas present to me for all the hard work this year. ) I fell in love with an old Mamiya C33 TLR with the 80mm lens. What an awesomely solid, incredible piece of... well... brick. So I couldn't wait to pull it out of it's retirement and today put a roll through and went straight into the darkroom to get to work.

As I said, an awefully good piece of equipment and great value too!

I'll post a few images once I've finished scanning them.

Kindest regards,
Nicole

Lee Shively · Dec 23, 2005

Mamiya TLR's are really nice. The first medium format I ever used was a C330, bought new in 1974. I sold it in an ill-advised move and later bought another one used that had been beat to hell and back. That was many years ago and I'm still using that beat-up old C330 as my poor man's Hasselblad. It's amazing how good the lenses are for what they cost these days. Even the old chrome-shuttered, non-multicoated versions are impressive.

Merry Christmas and enjoy your new present.

SuzanneR · Dec 23, 2005

What a wonderful gift for Christmas, Nicole!! Can't wait to see you photos from it!

mikeg · Dec 23, 2005

Hi Nicole,

I brought a C220 earlier this year and it was one of the best things I've done photography wise. Enjoy it!

Cheers

Mike

David Brown · Dec 23, 2005

Nicole:

I bought a C220 with two lenses while in college (early 70s) to do weddings. It was the only medium format I used for about 20 years. I still have - and use - it! And, I now have 6 of the 7 focal lengths ever made for it. I'll never let it go regardless of what else I spend money on.

The pic of the girl that you've already posted in the gallery is great! (as usual )

Have fun!

David

eumenius · Dec 23, 2005

Oh, that's indeed an excellent gift - my congratulations! I shoot all my MF mostly with C330F, and I've managed to get the whole lens range, from 55 to 250mm, and almost the whole system (paramender, prism finder, hoods, etc.). Amazing optics, tough and good craftmanship, and THE BELLOWS - this means you can do close-ups with your 80mm lens nicely, the camera shows you the parallax error and the bellows factor. Merry Christmas, and may the coming year bring you much fun with your Mamiya!

Cheers from Moscow,
Zhenya

Whiteymorange · Dec 23, 2005

What a strange lot we are. We buy ourselves Christmas presents so that we can "work" with them!

May all your work be as fun, Nicole ,,, and as beautiful. I suppose it helps having very photogenic children around, but I think you'd have made her look wonderful no matter what. Happy Christmas to you and yours.

narsuitus · Dec 23, 2005

Many years ago I shot with the Mamiya C3, C22, and C220. I wish Mamiya had not abandoned these great cameras.

When you get a chance, treat yourself to a wide-angle and a telephoto lens for your camera. In addition to the 80mm, I used the 55mm and 180mm. After all, why have a TLR with interchangeable lenses if you dont change the lenses.

David Brown · Dec 23, 2005

Whiteymorange said:
What a strange lot we are. We buy ourselves Christmas presents so that we can "work" with them!...

Hmmm ...

Let's see, I bought power tools to help build more stuff "needed" in the house; and my wife, a graphic artist, is getting a new computer rig.

Merry Christmas to us all!

David

Blighty · Dec 23, 2005

Welcome to the club Nicole! I had a C330f back in the 80s, traded it and a wad of cash for an RB67. When I got rid of the RB, I promptly got myself another C330f. They are good lenses, but I think the 55mm is the best of the bunch. Very sharp. The trigger grip aids handling and (IMO) the chimney finder aids viewing, although the prism finder may be better in this respect. All the best for Crimbo and have a happy prosperous New Year. Regards, BLIGHTY

Charles Webb · Dec 23, 2005

Congratulations, it is a fine camera and the optics are wonderful!

Don Mills · Dec 23, 2005

Hi Nicole,

You won't regret buying this great camera. I have a C3 and C220 and love them. When not photographing, I use them for driving spikes. Love your work! I'd like to wish you and the other members of this wonderful organization a joyful holiday season!

jovo · Dec 23, 2005

And a happy holiday season to you, too, Nicole.

I'm soooo glad I didn't get rid of my C220 when I was tempted to. I was using my P67 all the time and had just gotten an Omega View, and was thinking that selling the Mamiya would generate a little cash for another 4x5 lens. But....I didn't. I love to bring it on trips. It's the lightest and most portable camera I have and is happy on the lightest tripod as well. It takes wonderful pictures with the three lenses I have (65, 80 and 135) and I enjoy the square format alternative to the other two cameras. I just looked at your posted shots and it seems you've hit it off splendidly with you C33; they're very well done. Enjoy; you've picked a winner!

Donald Miller · Dec 23, 2005

Congratulations. I printed some images twenty years ago that were made with one of these. I agree the glass is great.

Tammyk · Dec 23, 2005

Hi Nicole, I saw your lovely images. I have a C330 and love it too. It's a great fun camera to use.
I got myself some Christmas goodies too (an old Olympus XA ). I think we all have to indulge in that one little thing as only we can for ourselves.

Tammy

johnr55 · Dec 23, 2005

Those Sharp Twin Lenses!

Is the C33 your first TLR? Let me add my congrats--I have the C220f and C330s and also a C2. They are heavy sons-of-guns but you can indulge yourself in a Diane Arbus fantasy. I'm a Rollei and Minolta TLR user also, but these cameras have a feeling of industrial permanence that no other make can duplicate. Style? Heavens, no. Function? Total. You know what I find is the biggest drawback with these cameras? They will attract attention on the street like nobody's business. Lay people assume they're antiques just because of their appearance. Enjoy your quality present with the comfort of knowing that there are enough lenses and accessories to drain your wallet at will!

Ole · Feb 6, 2006

I've "joined the club" too now, with a C3...

If 120 film should disappear totally, it will make a great doorstop!

Don Mills · Feb 6, 2006

Good for you, enjoy!

Nicole · Feb 6, 2006

Thank you everyone for your replies. It's been a few weeks now and I'm still enjoying the camera. It works quite differently to the blad, that's for sure. Only thing is the photos are quite 'flat' in contrast. Need to find some 'black' lenses, lens hood and adjust the film.

cao · Feb 7, 2006

Nicole Boenig-McGrade said:
Only thing is the photos are quite 'flat' in contrast. Need to find some 'black' lenses, lens hood and adjust the film.

I recently bought a C220F and 80 for some street shooting I want to do this summer, and I've shot a number of test rolls to verify camera condition as well as get used to its operation. If you can find the black 80/2.8S which was the last generation of the twin 80 lens, you ought to find it punchy enough; I find it very good in comparison to my 90C and 127C on the RB67. I agree completely about the hood, both for contrast and protection.

Marco Gilardetti · Feb 7, 2006

No doubt. Never experienced a lot with chrome units (except the however mediocre 65mm), but black ones sure rock! Welcome aboard!

MattKing · Feb 7, 2006

Nicole Boenig-McGrade said:
Thank you everyone for your replies. It's been a few weeks now and I'm still enjoying the camera. It works quite differently to the blad, that's for sure. Only thing is the photos are quite 'flat' in contrast. Need to find some 'black' lenses, lens hood and adjust the film.

Nicole, may I suggest that you experiment using the chrome lenses and colour negative film - the combination can be great for portraits.

Matt

kraker · Mar 21, 2006

Ole said:
I've "joined the club" too now, with a C3...

If 120 film should disappear totally, it will make a great doorstop!

Same here, I bought a C3 just over a week ago. Amazing how perfect it still operates, at least 40 years after production. My first steps into medium format, and I *love* it! It's a fine piece of craftsmanship, and a heavy brick at the same time.

Nice to see that at least one standard hasn't changed over 40 years: the screw size and thread of tripod attachements

Ole · Mar 21, 2006

kraker said:
Nice to see that at least one standard hasn't changed over 40 years: the screw size and thread of tripod attachements

The Antique German plate camera (ca. 1910) I just took outside for a walk in the sun has the same tripod thread. That's even more amazing, since it isn't even a metric thread!

FrankB · Mar 21, 2006

Finally acquired a 55mm lens for my C330 which (with my 80mm S and 180mm Super) completes my 3 lens MF outfit.

Now, if the sun would just break through the clouds...!

Mamiya C33 TLR with 80mm lens

Nicole

Lee Shively

SuzanneR

Moderator

mikeg

David Brown

eumenius

Whiteymorange

narsuitus

David Brown

Blighty

Charles Webb

Don Mills

jovo

Membership Council

Donald Miller

Tammyk

johnr55

Ole

Moderator

Don Mills

Nicole

cao

Marco Gilardetti

MattKing

Moderator

kraker

Ole

Moderator

FrankB

Mamiya C33 TLR with 80mm lens

Moderator

Membership Council

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency