pentaprism for Mamiya c 330

[Neil Grant]

...the wlf has it's limitations so i'm thinking of getting a prism. Does it impair the handling and balance of the camera? I have an RB-type left hand grip. Is
there anything to look out for - like separation? THanks if you can help.

 

[BAC1967]

I have one that came with my C3, I much prefer the WLF for normal use. The prism does add some weight to an already heavy camera, I think the C3 weighs more than the C330, more metal. One advantage of the prism is fine focusing is easier for me. For me the disadvantage is having to hold the camera up to my face, I think the wlf is more ergonomic shooting handheld. If you're using a tripod most of the time then the prism may be the way to go. I think there are lighter weight prisms than my all metal one.

Mamiya C3 by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[MattKing]

I used one for years shooting weddings.
The entire package - camera, prism finder, lens and grip - is fairly large and moderately heavy, but I found/find it ergonomically excellent. I used/use the camera with a shorter than average neck strap, which suits both the prism finder and the waist level finder.
Note that my grip is the trigger grip, which I find to be excellent with both the C330 and the RB67 - it was designed to be used with both. The older C33 and grip shown in Bryan's photo above lacks the additional shutter release that permits use of the trigger grip.

 

[Luckless]

The pentaprism is a decent chunk of weight to add in, but I found it very usable and fairly balanced if the camera wasn't going to extreme angles.
[However, I was typically cradling the camera or using off a tripod without an additional grip.]

It does also mean that the camera is a bit closer up to eye level, but still not actually eye level. This may or may not be a useful thing, depending on the style you're working with. I find the tendency to the naturally lower view point to be an advantage to the look and feel of the images I produce, so my pentaprism tends to sit on a shelf more than it gets used. Especially after I forgot it on the far side of the country...

Watch out for accidentally ordering the mirror viewfinder. I've seen them advertised as the better pentaprism, but they're not the same and give very different viewing results.

 

[narsuitus]

Decades ago, I used the Mamiya TLR with pentaprism, 180mm lens, pistol grip, and flash for shooting night football games.

The advantage the Mamiya had over my Nikon SLR was I could sync the flash at higher shutter speeds.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Watch out for accidentally ordering the mirror viewfinder. I've seen them advertised as the better pentaprism, but they're not the same and give very different viewing results.

The mirror finder was called the Porroflex. It uses mirrors instead of a solid glass prism. I agree with you that it should be avoided; I had one and it was so dim that I could barely focus and the image magnification was low so the whole image though the finder looked small. The real prism is 1000x better. The Porroflex has only one advantage: It weighs almost nothing; but the downsides are so extreme that the heavy prism is worth it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Any prism or Porroflex will improve the handling, usefulness, and capability of the Mamiyaflex CXX or CXXX by getting rid of the left right reversal. And yes either the prism or Porroflex will add to the weight and make the camera more top heavy.

 

[Jojje]

I've fitted a Russian (Ukrainian, should I say.. ) Kiev 88 prism to my Mamiya TLR, added bonus is a working light meter. That said, I use chimney finder more often. Kiev-60 prism fits too, if you take the trouble...

 

[tessar]

The prism finder is heavy but handy for taking pictures from eye- instead of waist-level.