My first Mamiya TLR: a C330f

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 5, 2015

None of my lenses disables the 'M' sync because I use a Graflite and Press 25 flashbulbs whenever possible in preference to harsher electronic flash, when the flash is the primary light. And I'm a firm believer in lightly applied outdoor electronic fill flash for overall contrast control.* My C330S never goes out without a flash attachment.

At least your switches are/were reversible. I hate it when someone epoxies them permanently. It ruins it for the rest of us down the road at the estate sale. After I'm gone someone will thank me anonymously for not ruining their new-to-them lenses.

Ken

* Makes life in the darkroom much easier.

MattKing · Mar 6, 2015

Ken Nadvornick said:
None of my lenses disables the 'M' sync because I use a Graflite and Press 25 flashbulbs whenever possible in preference to harsher electronic flash, when the flash is the primary light. And I'm a firm believer in lightly applied outdoor electronic fill flash for overall contrast control.* My C330S never goes out without a flash attachment.

At least your switches are/were reversible. I hate it when someone epoxies them permanently. It ruins it for the rest of us down the road at the estate sale. After I'm gone someone will thank me anonymously for not ruining their new-to-them lenses.

Ken

* Makes life in the darkroom much easier.

I had a 55mm lens that a previous owner had attached a block that prevented the lever from reaching the M position. If I had wanted to, I could have cut the block off.

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 6, 2015

I have a late-model (black/blue dot) 55mm that just got back from Carol. After her usual excellent voodoo-magic the speeds are now all spot on, except for the 500th, which is as close as it's geometry allows.

The 55mm is approximately the equivalent angle of view (on the diagonal) of a 30mm 135 format lens, based on a 56x56mm film gate. Great for city street sidewalks to give much needed breathing room. I could never use my 80mm Yashica 124G in such close quarters. It felt claustrophobic by comparison.

I really like this lens. Even have the parallax-correction over-plate for the viewfinder for close-up stuff.

Interestingly, there is one variety of the seven basic Mamiya TLR lenses that should never be epoxied under any circumstances. That's the 105mm DS. Instead of only the two options 'M' and 'X' it also has a 'V' setting, which is a self timer, the only lens to have that feature.

Epoxy that guy and you should be incarcerated. After having your fingers broken.

Ken

Roger Cole · Mar 6, 2015

There used to be available self timers that screwed into the shutter release threads where a cable release goes. Then you could attach a cable release to the timer. Not sure if such things are still available though - just in case someone does and you prefer to buy a gadget to work around versus breaking someone's fingers.

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 6, 2015

Well... I think the moral of the story is, please don't vandalize your equipment. The lenses will thank you. And the anonymous future owners of the lenses will thank you even more. Although the epoxy manufacturers might be just a tad upset.

Ken

Too old to care · Mar 6, 2015

Ken Nadvornick said:
Well... I think the moral of the story is, please don't vandalize your equipment. The lenses will thank you. And the anonymous future owners of the lenses will thank you even more. Although the epoxy manufacturers might be just a tad upset.

Ken

This may be true, but when you are making a living with tools (cameras), the last thing you worry about are the next owners. I modified my lenses using the screw because it was the cleanest way to do it. With the C330 it was not much of a big deal, but with my C220 and C3 it was because you had to cock the shutters manually, and that synch lever was very close by.

TheToadMen · Mar 7, 2015

Rather unexpected, but I already got me a 135 mm lens:

I saw an auction on Ebay (Germany) with a starting bid of Euro 11, so I made a maximum bid this morning. Tonight it closed at Euro 71.25 (about USD 86) + Euro 10 shipping costs.
It is offer as "is in perfect optical and mechanical condition, with only minor signs of wear".
Since it has a chrome shutter ring, I guess it is an older model?

I wonder if I will find a 55 mm or 65 mm for about the same price as well? I think I slightly prefer a 65 mm lens, but I'll see what will cross my path first. I don't need both.

pbromaghin · Mar 9, 2015

Nice! I think the 55mm will be more. Probably double.

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

pbromaghin said:
Nice! I think the 55mm will be more. Probably double.

I saw one sold today for USD 163 (Euro 150), supposedly "in new condition". But there will be others.

flavio81 · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
I saw one sold today for USD 163 (Euro 150), supposedly "in new condition". But there will be others.

The 55mm is usually the most expensive of the mamiya lenses on Ebay (save for the 250mm lens); again, i'd discourage you from buying it since the 65mm is more versatile, faster, and can be had for cheaper.

Nice 135mm lens. I love the chrome shutter lenses.

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

flavio81 said:
The 55mm is usually the most expensive of the mamiya lenses on Ebay (save for the 250mm lens); again, i'd discourage you from buying it since the 65mm is more versatile, faster, and can be had for cheaper.

Nice 135mm lens. I love the chrome shutter lenses.

I agree, I also like chrome lenses, shutters, etc. better than all black versions. But I won't be picky on that point. And due to price differences, I think it will be more likely I'll get a 65 mm instead of a 55 mm lens. 65 is wide enough. If I need more, I'll use my old Hassy SWC (also with chrome lens).

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

I found a lens hood for Euro 17. Should fit my 80 mm lens.

benjiboy · Mar 9, 2015

It depends Bert the black lenses take a different size hoods to the chrome ones this looks like a lens hood for a chrome lens, the ones for the black lenses have a black attachment ring http://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-ca...ns-c330-camera.-in-great-condition/1097874773 Generally speaking you have to be careful and do some research before buying hoods and filters for Mamiya C lenses because the the chrome and black lenses take different sizes of both.

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

Then I hope it will fit my 135 mm chrome lens??

benjiboy · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
Then I hope it will fit my 135 mm chrome lens??

I think it probably will Bert because the 80 mm hood for my black blue dot lens fits my black blue dot 135mm lens but I'm not absolutely certain.

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

benjiboy said:
I think it probably will Bert because the 80 mm hood for my black blue dot lens fits my black blue dot 135mm lens but I'm not absolutely certain.

Thanks for the help/warning. I'll try it when I receive it. And if not I'll find someone else in need to give it to.

benjiboy · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
Thanks for the help/warning. I'll try it when I receive it. And if not I'll find someone else in need to give it to.

It's a pleasure Bert, and also please note the focusing screens for the C330S don't fit the C330F they don't have a metal frame around them.
P.S. when you mount the 135mm lenses don't forget to set the knob on the left hand side of the camera to 135 to set the correct parallax correction for the cursor on the screen.

flavio81 · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
I found a lens hood for Euro 17. Should fit my 80 mm lens.

This one fits the lenses that have the 40.5mm filter thread, which are the 80mm and 105mm *chrome shutter* lenses as far as i know.

Now, Graham Patterson's excellent "Mamiya TLR FAQ" will probably tell you if the chrome 105mm lens has a 40.5mm filter thread, but i think it does not.

The lens hood you have bought is a very good buy since 40.5mm accesories are not that easy to find. I own an identical Mamiya hood and love it, it looks so classy once fitted to the TLR.

benjiboy · Mar 9, 2015

The correct hood for the black 80 mm lenses is this one http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mamiya-Origi...ens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item234ba4and is much larger than 40.5 it's 48mm

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

benjiboy said:
The correct hood for the black 80 mm lenses is this one http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mamiya-Origi...ens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item234ba4and is much larger than 40.5 it's 48mm

The ad said is was 41 mm and I knew I should have measured it. Oh well ... never mind ....
I'll get me another one.

Anyone in need for a good Mamiya 41 mm hood?

Edit: to cover it up: I could always buy an extra chrome lens with the right lens size

flavio81 · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
Edit: to cover it up: I could always buy an extra chrome lens with the right lens size

For what it's worth, my chrome 80mm lens is contrastier than my black 80mm lens (which i've sold since.) Coatings in the black 80mm lens look thinner (or less pronounced) than on the 80mm. They are of a different color as well. This is intriguing to me.

Now, the difference might not be due to coatings but due to a re-computation of the lens. For example the chrome 80mm might have been optimized for maximum contrast and sharpness in detriment of bokeh and resolution, while the newer black 80mm lens might have been optimized for maximum resolution and bokeh in detriment of sharpness and contrast.

There was a post on the Robert Monaghan forum where a Mamiya TLR enthusiast (and, i think, author of books on the subject) claimed to have heard the Mamiya engineers tell him, directly, that "the chrome lenses were commercial formula lenses, computed for maximum resolution and contrast", while the black lenses "were recomputed to be less harsh at the request of wedding photographers, which were the main users of Mamiya TLRs at that time."

It is possible, although I think that comment might have been spoken by Mamiya engineers regarding the 105mm lens specifically, which indeed was changed to a formula with smoother bokeh.

TheToadMen · Mar 9, 2015

flavio81 said:
For what it's worth, my chrome 80mm lens is contrastier than my black 80mm lens (which i've sold since.) Coatings in the black 80mm lens look thinner (or less pronounced) than on the 80mm. They are of a different color as well. This is intriguing to me.

Now, the difference might not be due to coatings but due to a re-computation of the lens. For example the chrome 80mm might have been optimized for maximum contrast and sharpness in detriment of bokeh and resolution, while the newer black 80mm lens might have been optimized for maximum resolution and bokeh in detriment of sharpness and contrast.

There was a post on the Robert Monaghan forum where a Mamiya TLR enthusiast (and, i think, author of books on the subject) claimed to have heard the Mamiya engineers tell him, directly, that "the chrome lenses were commercial formula lenses, computed for maximum resolution and contrast", while the black lenses "were recomputed to be less harsh at the request of wedding photographers, which were the main users of Mamiya TLRs at that time."

It is possible, although I think that comment might have been spoken by Mamiya engineers regarding the 105mm lens specifically, which indeed was changed to a formula with smoother bokeh.

"You see, woman? It does perfectly make sense to have different types of the same lenses!!!! It's just like your shoes."

BTW: You're feeding my GAS. You know that, don't you?

flavio81 · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
You're feeding my Gas. You know that, don't you?

So, did you get the PRISM FINDER and the PISTOL GRIP, which in combination they turn the machine into an AK47 of medium format shooting?

You MUST buy them !!!

And how about buying your SECOND C330 body? You NEED a backup.

Did you know the latest-model C220 is the lightest of the Mamiyas? So you may WANT to BUY one of them as well.

What about other Mamiyas? The RB67 might be the best medium format SLR system, and it has a lot of ACCESSORIES !!

Sirius Glass · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
"You see, woman? It does perfectly make sense to have different types of the same lenses!!!! It's just like your shoes."

BTW: You're feeding my GAS. You know that, don't you?

GAS is the reason you come here. You want to be enabled and encouraged. Now go get the 55mm and 250mm lenses. The 65mm lens is not worth having. I had it and trading it in was what sent me to Hasselblad!

flavio81 · Mar 9, 2015

TheToadMen said:
"You see, woman? It does perfectly make sense to have different types of the same lenses!!!! It's just like your shoes."

You know, i own a lot of standard lenses: Nikon 50/1.8, Nikon 50/1.8 pancake, Nikkor-S 58/1.4, Canon FD 50/1.8 S.C, Canon FD 50/1.4, Canon EF 50/1.8 MK1 (two of them), Canon EF 50/2.5... Also, i own quite a few 35mm lenses: Canon FL 35/2.5, PC-Nikkor 35/3.5, PC-Nikkor 35/2.8, Canon EF 35/2.0

It does make perfect sense.

My first Mamiya TLR: a C330f

Ken Nadvornick

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