Mamiya TLR Conundrum

[dabsond]

First some background. I currently own a Mamiya C220 along with the 80/2.8 and the 55/4.5 lenses. About 5 months ago I purchased a C330 from one of the big used camera websites. This camera came with a 6 month warranty. A couple of weeks ago I was using the C330 and wanted to change film when the lower feed spool knob came off of the camera. I was able to get the film out and I had all the pieces. I got a few recommendations for reputable repair persons and I contacted them. They all said they would not be able to do the repair due to a lack of parts and using the original parts would not work. I can understand it not being repairable. I even understand the camera breaking, they are getting pretty old. I also think the C330's were pretty much professional bodies used hard by pro shooters. Then it dawned on me, contact the seller and inquire if this is covered under the warranty. Sure enough, it was covered. They sent me a prepaid mailing label and off the camera went. They received the camera and let me know it was not repairable. They did have other C330's on their site that were available. I settled on choosing a C330F that was more than what the store credit was worth. I paid the difference and placed the order. Three days later the camera arrived. I unpacked it and it looked to be in really good condition. I opened the camera up and loaded a dummy role of 120, backing paper only. Well, the film advance crank was jamming up and the lens cocking tab was not working. I contacted them again and guess what, the camera is on it's way back for a full refund.

So, here in lies my problem. The reason I want the C330 is the crank film advance, self cocking shutter, parallax indicator and interchangeable lenses, love the 55mm. My C220 has a wobbly film advance, affecting frame spacing a little bit and I always forget to cock the shutter. Do any other of the Mamiya TLRs have the same features as the C330? If they do, might they not have been used as hard as the current crop of C330s on the market?

Looking for any advice or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

 

[MattKing]

The reason I want the C330 is the crank film advance, self cocking shutter, parallax indicator

The older C3 and C33 have some or all of these, but implemented in slightly different ways.
I think there are a lot of C330 cameras still out there, they are quite robust generally and I don't encounter many that have signs of much more than cosmetic wear. And your problem with the first body could probably have been solved with parts from a donor body.

 

[Paul Howell]

I would stick with the 220 bodies, just less to go wrong. Overall when using camera gear that is going on 40 years old finding a lightly used body becomes somewhat harder. It seems that the seller is not doing a good job of QCing their used gear.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I own and use a C3 and C330f. Never had any problem with any of them. Both reliable. But, I think I use the C3 more often than the C330F. I suppose the on ly difference from the c220 is the advancing crank. I would go with C3.

Marcelo

 

[Nokton48]

I have recently bought up a nice system, I went with two of the C22, and two of the C33. Needed 220 film capability, and the C33 was the first version with parallax adjustment indicated in the viewfinder. It took a while to accumulate good ones but it was worth it. All of what I got was inspected, and if necessarily repaired at our local brick and mortar repair shop. So I'm happy with the conclusion. Good value but not too expensive, well worth what I paid in total

 

[Sirius Glass]

I used the C330f for a while and found the parallax marker useful. Keep cycling through bodies until you find one that works correctly.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I used the C330f for a while and found the parallax marker useful. Keep cycling through bodies until you find one that works correctly.

I guess yeah. C330f is, on my experience and knowledge, the best of the models quality/functionality wise. C330s has the same functionalities but has more plastic so not sure if that would be either good or bad. Would stay with the C330f if you like those features.

 

[Steven Lee]

@dabsond sorry to hear about your adventures. Honestly, the story is more about the seller (or maybe bad luck) and much less about the camera. Mamiya TLRs are tanks. I bought two C330s and later replaced one of them with a C220f. All I had to do was to replace the foam. Incredibly rugged cameras. But I only buy from Japan or from KEH with "EX" rating. The frame spacing is not perfectly even on all of them, there's slight variation in spacing but the frames never overlap or even come close.

 

[MattKing]

The basic C330 - no "s", no "f" in the name is so close to the others that it should receive equal consideration. I've had mine since ~ 1976 - it was the store demonstrator at the store I worked at, and my boss gave me a good deal

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

@dabsond sorry to hear about your adventures. Honestly, the story is more about the seller (or maybe bad luck) and much less about the camera. Mamiya TLRs are tanks. I bought two C330s and later replaced one of them with a C220f. All I had to do was to replace the foam. Incredibly rugged cameras. But I only buy from Japan or from KEH with "EX" rating. The frame spacing is not perfectly even on all of them, there's slight variation in spacing but the frames never overlap or even come close.

On that note, I have nothing but good experiences with sellers from Japan on the bay. Great service and items on described quality. No business with KEH so far though.

 

[campy51]

This one here has a lens that needs cleaning but you could swap your lens or just clean this one.

Buy Mamiya C330 Pro Medium Format Film TLR Camera with 80mm F2.8 Blue Dot Lens - National Camera Exchange

Used Condition: EX - ExcellentFully tested and working, in great cosmetic condition with faint cosmetic wear from light use. Optics have internal flaws which will impact image quality. The shooting lens has mold under the front element. Photos are of the item you will receive.

www.natcam.com

 

[grat]

I have a C33, which has most of the features-- parallax indicator, crank, etc.. My copy is in pretty good shape-- I had to replace the bushings that hold the crank in place, and a spring on the WLF. Bill Rogers of Mamiya Repair was most helpful. If you need obscure parts, he's the one to go to.

 

[mshchem]

These are great cameras I've had to replace foam. Never had any other problems. Post #8 makes a good point about sourcing. I've had great experiences with KEH EX or EX+, and I have bought from MAP Camera in Japan. MAP doesn't, in my experience sell lower grade equipment.

Find the paramender and you can do amazing close up work

 

[kl122002]

I would say you better try again in other places to look for a better C330/f/S. They should be like a tank, but they are also aged also in these years. The swapping and trading activities also age them faster than we could imagine.

If you could get a better one, keep it and just don't trade it away so quickly. Like Rolleiflex/Rolleicord you will hardly find them in excellent condition today.

C330s is not an ideal camera to have tbh. The screens are not interchangeable with former models and they are hard to locate today.
And the parts inside are different. Unless you are sure you have meet a really good condition one otherwise I won't recommend to spend too much on this model

 

[Autonerd]

I think you've just had bad luck. I have a C330 on long-term loan from a friend (which had been semi-retired for several decades) and it's in wonderful shape -- works like new.

I have found the best thing for getting a camera I want is patience. I set up a saved search on eBay and watch for a while, including sold listings, which helps me set my target price. If a camera is listed as "used" and it doesn't work, per eBay's definition ("fully operational and functions as intended") it can be returned if it isn't entirely working, regardless of whether the seller accepts returns. I have had to return a couple of frogs before finding princes.

Good luck -- I'm confident you'll find the C330 of your dreams!

Aaron

 

[dabsond]

I finally found and acquired a C330 in great condition. I will be running a roll of film through it this weekend. Fingers crossed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I finally found and acquired a C330 in great condition. I will be running a roll of film through it this weekend. Fingers crossed.

Enjoy!!

 

[Ulrik Christiansen]

First some background. I currently own a Mamiya C220 along with the 80/2.8 and the 55/4.5 lenses. About 5 months ago I purchased a C330 from one of the big used camera websites. This camera came with a 6 month warranty. A couple of weeks ago I was using the C330 and wanted to change film when the lower feed spool knob came off of the camera. I was able to get the film out and I had all the pieces. I got a few recommendations for reputable repair persons and I contacted them. They all said they would not be able to do the repair due to a lack of parts and using the original parts would not work. I can understand it not being repairable. I even understand the camera breaking, they are getting pretty old. I also think the C330's were pretty much professional bodies used hard by pro shooters. Then it dawned on me, contact the seller and inquire if this is covered under the warranty. Sure enough, it was covered. They sent me a prepaid mailing label and off the camera went. They received the camera and let me know it was not repairable. They did have other C330's on their site that were available. I settled on choosing a C330F that was more than what the store credit was worth. I paid the difference and placed the order. Three days later the camera arrived. I unpacked it and it looked to be in really good condition. I opened the camera up and loaded a dummy role of 120, backing paper only. Well, the film advance crank was jamming up and the lens cocking tab was not working. I contacted them again and guess what, the camera is on it's way back for a full refund.

So, here in lies my problem. The reason I want the C330 is the crank film advance, self cocking shutter, parallax indicator and interchangeable lenses, love the 55mm. My C220 has a wobbly film advance, affecting frame spacing a little bit and I always forget to cock the shutter. Do any other of the Mamiya TLRs have the same features as the C330? If they do, might they not have been used as hard as the current crop of C330s on the market?

Looking for any advice or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Just a quick comment here. You can easily fix the wobbly film advance knob. Take away the leather cover on the side, just enough so that you remove the tiny screws. There is a manual where you can see the screw locations. When you have removed the side plate, then it is only a matter of removing a small spring in the knob and tightening another screw there. Then reassemble. I fixed mine in 30 minutes this way.

 

[dabsond]

I will have to give that a try. I have a parts C220 to practice on first.