My first Mamiya TLR: a C330f

ruby.monkey · Feb 25, 2015

Rick A said:
Is this the voice of experience or merely parroting what you heard. These are not that heavy, slightly more than Yashicas, but not nearly an RB67. My C-330 with 80/2.8 and metered Porro finder weighs 1.75 lbs loaded with 220 film. My OM-4 with 100-200 zoom is heavier and more unwieldy.

Experience:

R0114730 by ruby.monkey, on Flickr

It's a fine camera and the 105mm f/3.5 DS on it is a beautiful piece of glass, but it's still a hefty piece of kit.

flavio81 · Feb 26, 2015

TheToadMen said:
Another question, I'll go and collect the camera in a week or so. Are there any points to check before I accept the C330f?

Like can I cock and fire the shutter if there is no film loaded?
Are there known weak points to check?

This is the first time I'll see and hold a Mamiya TLR.

You must read the manual!! The camera has many interlocks that prevent the shutter being triggered.

It is available on butkus's website.

TheToadMen · Feb 26, 2015

flavio81 said:
You must read the manual!! The camera has many interlocks that prevent the shutter being triggered.

It is available on butkus's website.

Will do!

Rick A · Feb 26, 2015

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya/mamiya_c330f_prof/mamiya_c330f_prof.htm

Here you go.

TheToadMen · Feb 26, 2015

Rick A said:
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya/mamiya_c330f_prof/mamiya_c330f_prof.htm

Here you go.

printed and next to my pillow ....

blockend · Feb 26, 2015

I still miss my C330 and I sold it in the 1980s! The Paramender is useful if you need to get really close, a bar descend in the viewfinder to indicate parallax error for more general close ups and indicates increased exposure. As someone said earlier there are fail safe shutter locks, so don't be surprised if you can't release it if some part of the system is out of sync.

Someone told me the bellows supports racks are vulnerable if knocked while extended, but I never found it an issue. The "sportsfinder" in the hood is very useful, I used it a lot for street photography. The camera is a bit of a lump, not for sheer weight but handling plus various sticky out bits - it's best with a hand grip or on a tripod. The lenses are lovely. Diane Arbus sometimes used a Mamiyaflex in addition to her Rollei.

Sirius Glass · Feb 26, 2015

The Paramender is a must have close up accessory for a Mamiya C330.

benjiboy · Feb 27, 2015

I've had my C330F for about thirty years and I love it, although it has always behaved perfectly I had it given a complete service about three years ago because I thought it was about time, and it's as good as new now and I still greatly enjoy using it.

Robert Vigurs · Feb 27, 2015

I have a Mamiya C330. This camera is capable of producing crisp, contrasty images. Mamiya lenses are widely respected. As far as weight, I also have a Mamiya RB67. Heavy. But when shooting resting the camera on one knee, the weight is a plus. Stability. I like square image. Just bought a Rollei 2.8 Xenotar. But I will keep the Mamiya C330 in my arsenal.

TheToadMen · Feb 28, 2015

The square format is my favorite too or really panorama like my 6x18 pinhole camera.
The camera is in the mail so I hope to receive it next week ....

benjiboy · Feb 28, 2015

I just came across the receipt for my Mamiya C330F while sorting out some paperwork, I bought it second hand on the 1st of February 1983.

benjiboy · Feb 28, 2015

I just came across the receipt for my Mamiya C330F while sorting out some paperwork, I bought it second hand on the 1st of February 1983 has been used regularly and it has always worked faultlessly for me which makes me wonder how many of the currently produced cameras will have the same reliability record in thirty four years.

TheToadMen · Feb 28, 2015

I hope mine will, though a CLA wouldn't hurt either.

benjiboy · Feb 28, 2015

TheToadMen said:
I hope mine will, though a CLA wouldn't hurt either.

I had mine CLA'd about three years ago because after thirty years use I thought it was about time and it's better than ever now.

P.S. If you get it CLA'd don't forget to ask to have the foam under the focusing screen replaced.

TheToadMen · Feb 28, 2015

benjiboy said:
I had mine CLA'd about three years ago because after thirty years use I thought it was about time and it's better than ever now.

P.S. If you get it CLA'd don't forget to ask to have the foam under the focusing screen replaced.

I was already warned about the foam. I'll check that first. I assume that I remove the waist level finder and then the focussing screen to get to the foam? Is the foam a layer directly between the screen and the body itself?
If so, I'm guessing there is a chance that it might stick to the screen (to be avoided)?

TheToadMen · Feb 28, 2015

BTW: my test films will be a Fomapan 100 ((there was a url link here which no longer exists)) and an expired Fuji NPH400 - just to see if the camera works and the shutter times are reliable.

If so, I'll shoot another roll of Provia 100f, Kodak Portra 160, Ilford HP5+ and Fuji Neopan 100 Acros just for the fun of it.

I hope the mailman will drop it off on Monday .....

Moopheus · Feb 28, 2015

Looks like I might be getting one of these for myself, because why not. Anybody have any particular recommendations for service, or should I expect that any competent repair guy could do a CLA on it?

benjiboy · Feb 28, 2015

TheToadMen said:
I was already warned about the foam. I'll check that first. I assume that I remove the waist level finder and then the focussing screen to get to the foam? Is the foam a layer directly between the screen and the body itself?
If so, I'm guessing there is a chance that it might stick to the screen (to be avoided)?

No, it's between the screen and the metal frame it sits in.

Too old to care · Feb 28, 2015

I worked as a wedding photographer (early 70's to late 80's), first with a C3, later a C220, and finally a C330f that I still have. My backup camera was a Yashica 124 that was certainly lighter, but not nearly as well built. I once mentioned to my boss that I wanted to buy a RB67. He loaned me his to use on one of my assignments, and that was enough. The C330f (or s) is a light weight compared to the RB. Recently I bought a Hasselblad 501C and put the C330 away, not because it is an inferior camera, but I always wanted a Hasselblad. The C330 is a great camera and I really should get mine out and use it again.

benjiboy · Feb 28, 2015

I too used to shoot weddings in those days with my C330F and a C33 as a backup, mamiya TLR's were much loved by wedding photographers because of their reliability, sync at any speed leaf shutters for fill in flash, interchangeable lenses, and lack of moving mirror so you could see if the flash had fired, and all at a fraction of the cost of Hasselblad gear, but still capable of excellent technical quality.
I quit doing weddings more than 20 years ago I only sold my C33 last year because I wasn't using it , the C330F is much lighter and I do still use that all the time.

Marvin · Mar 1, 2015

Back in the day I had a C220 and a yashicamat 124, wish I still had them.

TheToadMen · Mar 2, 2015

it arrived !!!

The camera arrived today.

First quick impression: some minor cosmetic issues (as mentioned), shutter seems okay, glass is clear. Nice to handle the camera, not too heavy. Foam beneath focus screen seems partial missing, but I'll wait till I'm home tonight before I take the camera apart.

So far I'm very pleased with the camera. Onward with reading the manual and testing the camera...

benjiboy · Mar 2, 2015

TheToadMen said:
The camera arrived today.

First quick impression: some minor cosmetic issues (as mentioned), shutter seems okay, glass is clear. Nice to handle the camera, not too heavy. Foam beneath focus screen seems partial missing, but I'll wait till I'm home tonight before I take the camera apart.

So far I'm very pleased with the camera. Onward with reading the manual and testing the camera...

Snap, just the same as mine and mine looks just as good and I've had it for about thirty two years.

flavio81 · Mar 2, 2015

TheToadMen said:
The camera arrived today.

First quick impression: some minor cosmetic issues (as mentioned), shutter seems okay, glass is clear. Nice to handle the camera, not too heavy. Foam beneath focus screen seems partial missing, but I'll wait till I'm home tonight before I take the camera apart.

So far I'm very pleased with the camera. Onward with reading the manual and testing the camera...

This is something you can replace yourself as long as you find the proper screwdrivers. And it's a MUST; you must do it to ensure proper focusing.

For the foam i used the rubber from a mouse pad, cut to the necessary dimensions. Worked perfectly.

Camera looks great, congratulations!

Sirius Glass · Mar 2, 2015

Enjoy the camera.
Buy the 55mm lenses
Buy the 250mm lenses

Shoot film and live long!

My first Mamiya TLR: a C330f

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