Mamiya C33 TLR with 80mm lens

FrankB said:

55mm lens for my C330 (with my 80mm S and 180mm Super)

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Same as mines...! Good setup!

Ain't it funny how these threads get reborn at the most appropriate times!

I ordered a KEH "bargain" C330 this weekend. The one I have now is pretty beat up--the mirror silvering is getting flakey, the light seals are petrified gunk and there's a lot of tape holding it together but it still functions fine and doesn't fog film. I decided to treat myself to another body since the prices are so low. Funny thing, I also ordered a hood for my 55mm (been needing that) and it cost MORE than the C330 body!

I expect my wife will be a bit peeved. I'm hoping to smooth it over a little. She likes to take snapshots but hates carrying around the EOS Rebel and thinks the Rollei Prego 90 is too complicated. She likes the Olympus XA but never remembers to focus so I bought her an Olympus Stylus Epic. Maybe she will let me play with it too.

Bit of a beast.

FrankB said:

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...!

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Hi Frank, congratulations I've had one for many years, and have been more than happy with it, I bought it rather than the 65mm lens which I considered too close to the 80mm standard lens in angle of view. The Mamiya hood for the 55 mm which I bought new at the time is a huge square contraption about 1 1/2" deep and 4" square with a hinged top and a real beast, but if you didn't get one with the lens I recommend you try to get one.

PS Just seen the weather forecast, should be a sunny day tomorrow, happy shooting.

Dear Nicole,

You said "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."

An amateur making suggestions to a professional is rather strange, I apologize for any potential annoyance in advance. I did not quite get the "flat" part. Do you mean flat in terms of tonality or in terms of DOF? The Mamiya TLR does not have DOF preview, thus consultation with DOF charts is necessary (if that was the problem). And yes, the black lenses are better than the chrome ones.

I've recently gotten a C220 body, 80 mm (black) lens, grip, wlf, 2 lens shades, porrofinder, some filters, caps, step-up rings and all relevant literature for ~400 USD (all equipment in mint condition) including a CLA of the lens. And I've added a 65 mm lens (mint, black) for an additional 125 USD, which was a killer deal IMHO (and 6 months warranty!). All I need is a nice spot-meter. Just love the minimalist, machine-like (well it actually is a machine) look of this "brick". I have never used a camera that is so easy to operate. The only problem I have is during composing. The problem is not really the horizontally reversed image in the wlf, but the "rolling" of the image when I change my horizontal positioning wrt the subject.

A few days ago I finally got time to take it out for a spin. It is hand-holdable, but a neckstrap is a must. At ~1.3 kg you start to feel its weight after a few hours). I took some architectural shots from the inside of glass domes with very heavy back-lighting (actually I was shooting directly facing the sun, and amazingly there is no glare!). The contrast seems head-on, although I haven't yet done a proof print. I need to brew up some dektol for that, my year old bottle is not up to it (I just checked it, looked just like Cabernet Sauvignon-I haven't printed in almost a year, omg!). But I'll be printing again. My graduate career seems to be going the way of Bush's ratings, so sharp negatives and good prints might be less depressing...

regards,

Serhan

Serhan nice of you to write. When I wrote 'flat' I meant not enough contrast for my liking. I don't have a lens hood for my one and only 80mm chrome lens so that doesn't help. A wonderful instrument!

Dear Nicole,

A way to get around the lens shade problem:46 mm -> 52 mm step-up ring + 52 mm shade. I am assuming you already have the shade from your 35 mm setup. Might block some of the viewing lens depending on the size of the shade. Alas I'm stating the obvious...

Oh-just checked BH. The chrome 80 mm lens-if I am correct-has a filter diameter of 40.5 mm, step-up rings go for as low as 25 USD. Oh, just checked again-KEH has a genuine Mamiya 42 mm shade (for the 40.5 mm filter diameter chrome 80 mm lens) for 39 USD, but shipping to Australia might be a bit steep. All these mm's...they make me yearn for M&M's...(schleichverbung?)

regards,

Serhan

The push on plastic lens hoods that the Ukrainians make for 40.5mm lenses on the FEDs and Zorkis are a perfect fit for the 80mm, and only a few bucks.