Sharing some TLR love...

[xtolsniffer]

Just finished developing the latest batch of HP5 plus from my Mamiya C220 and wanted to share some TLR appreciation. From about 1993 I decided that the RB67 was the camera for me, but was always far far too expensive, even beaten up ones. Then when studio and wedding photographers started dumping their onto the secondhand market I managed to pick one up for not much money. It's a great camera but not really the sort for casual 'going out for a walk' photography, especially with the family. Not wanting to give up on MF, I found a decent C220, not really expecting great things, but it's lovely! I have the C220, an 80mm and 55mm all in a smallish camera bag and it's a very light setup. The quality is outstanding, it's hand-hold able and you only lose a little negative real estate compared with the RB67 (56x56 mm compared with 56x67). I find I now pick it up in preference to the RB67 most days. It also has the advantage that shooting infra-red is easy as the filter is just over the taking lens so you can still see what you're pointing at!

 

[R.Gould]

I love tlr's, I have 4, Rolleiflex Rolleicord and 2 Microcords, one with a bright Oleson screen fitted, I love taking them out, camera some film and lens hood/filters plus Rolleinar lenses, no big heavy bag with lenses and other thin

 

[absalom1951]

I have a Minolta Autocord which was recently cla'd and 2 Ikoflex's. I enjoy using them. The case on 1 Ikoflex is held together with leopard simulated duct tape , very stylist.

 

[ME Super]

I have a Super Ricohflex. A real sleeper of a camera, if you can get one that the focus isn't frozen up on. Mark Hansen works on these, and has at least one himself that I understand he enjoys using.

By "real sleeper of a camera" I mean surprisingly good optics and quality, but for not much money because most people don't know how good they really are. And, OP, you're absolutely right about using it to shoot Infrared!

 

[David Brown]

A C220 and 2 or 3 lenses is no more weight and barely more volume that an equivalent 35mm kit. It's my go to for walking any distance with a camera bag. Although I still consider the RB67 my "main" camera.

 

[DWThomas]

Yes! My most recent film camera acquisition was a Yashica Mat 124G and it's my go-to when I want good results but without the burden of a kit of Bronica gear. I have actually enjoyed using it well enough that I treated it to a CLA with Mark Hama for Christmas! If it works as well for the next 35 years ---- I won't likely know!

 

[Dennis-B]

I've always had at least one TLR in my inventory. My first was a used Minolta Autocord, which I used for weddings. That, coupled with a Honeywell 700 served me for a number of years. I then owned a Yashica 635 and a 124G. Both were good cameras, even though the lenses weren't quite as sharp as Rollei's.

When I got serious about weddings, and before the 645, I used a C220 and a C33. Both were reliable, and nearly indestructible. I kept them as back-ups when I went to the Mamiya 645 Super. I bought a C330s last year, and added a few lenses, and it works like a charm; not quite as sharp as my Hasselblad, but then it didn't cost a grand used.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have had Mamiya C33 and C330, a Konica Omega Flex, (not really a TRL, unless using the 45 degree finder, it's direct view. Last 20 or so years I have Yashica 124 and a couple of Ds. I shot a lot of book covers with my 124 and Ds. Much lighter than my Kowa 66 and super, easy to carry when shooting 4X5.

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

I have a bunch of them, all rolleiflexes: Automat, 4x4, gx, fx-n.

I just love the feeling and the special vision they give me!

 

[ransel]

I have had several Mamiya "C" series cameras - my current is the C220. I have enjoyed all of them. By far, my favorite lens is the 80mm f/2.8. I have had a 55mm, 65mm, 135mm, and have disposed of all but the 80mm. Shooting wide open it is magical.
BTW - due to my tired old eyes I have a chimney finder permanently mounted on mine - makes focusing a pleasure instead of a chore.
BTW2 - I also have a Yashica D that usually has a roll of film in it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I loved inheriting my father's Mamiya C330 with the 65mm, 80mm and 350mm lens, prism and every accessory in the known world because I traded it in for a Hasselblad and was much happier. No more flipping the camera from side to side setting the aperture on one side and the shutter speed on the other.

 

[film_man]

I have a Rollei 2.8FX. I love it. Small, light, fast to focus, accurate meter plus gets people talking when they see you with one. It was my sort of last attempt at using a TLR after trying a C330f, which was great but I didn't get on with the handling very well. Can the 2.8 be improved? Well the loading is a bit slow compared to other cameras but beyond that I think this is the one camera I'll just keep forever. Well, that and the Nikonos V.

 

[IanBarber]

ust finished developing the latest batch of HP5 plus from my Mamiya C220 and wanted to share some TLR appreciation. From about 1993 I decided that the RB67 was the camera for me, but was always far far too expensive, even beaten up ones.

I have just bought my first TLR which is the C220 with an 80mm lens. I have been told to buy a 135mm as it really gives great bokeh when close up.
Are you from Yorkshire UK @xtolsniffer as I am from Doncaster Yorkshire UK

 

[xtolsniffer]

Hi Ian, yes, Yorkshire, near Selby! I occasionally regret not getting a C330 with the built-in parallax indicator and interchangeable screens, but the main incentive to get a TLR over the RB67 was the weight, and the C220 is lighter enough than the C330 to make a difference I think. I'm sure if I saw a good C330 for a decent price I'd be tempted though...

 

[markjwyatt]

I have a C330f and a C220f (as well as a C2). I have not used them in years, but intend to pick them up again at some point. They were some of the most enjoyable cameras I have used.

 

[xtolsniffer]

I might look out for a decent 180mm, I'm not that much into mild tele shots, but it might be fun to play with, expand my shooting horizons a bit...

 

[pentaxpete]

I was GIVEN a lovely Mamiya C220 by a now-deceased Camera Club member -- i got the Blue Dot 135mm f4.5 Sekor set off E-bay (Don't tell the WIFE--- !! ) I had not used it during our horrible Winter -- now when i took it out the 135mm Shutter sticks occasionally. I went into Basildon Hospital for 3 weeks for a Bowel Cancer operation -- now I cannot carry 'Heavy Loads' so will have to 'rest' the C220 kit ---- !!!

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

I think it was 1996-1997 when I bought my C330 Professional. Although over the years I bought many other cameras that surpass its format and its overall quality, I have always considered and still consider it an absolute "keeper" from which I don't think I'll ever part. Technically, I like how Mamiya engineers conceived a TLR with interchangeable lenses, it makes it so much more versatile than other TLRs. It's compact and light enough to be carried around even in challenging trips, with the assurance that the pictures will be outstanding. It also looks great and people like to be photographed with it.

@ Pentaxpete: my best wishes for a fast and complete recovery!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I did like the 250mm lens with the Mamiya C300. I had the 65mm, 80mm and 250mm lenses, but I think that the 55mm, 80mm, and 250mm lenses would have served me much better.

 

[macfred]

My first TLR was a C220 with 80mm lens - unfortunately I gave it away to buy a Bronica ETRSi kit with 3 lenses, AEIII finder and speed grip.
These days I have a Rolleiflex 3.5F - love it. Won't be my last one - I'm interested in a Rolleicord Vb or in a Rolleiflex T.

 

[xtolsniffer]

I was GIVEN a lovely Mamiya C220 by a now-deceased Camera Club member -- i got the Blue Dot 135mm f4.5 Sekor set off E-bay (Don't tell the WIFE--- !! ) I had not used it during our horrible Winter -- now when i took it out the 135mm Shutter sticks occasionally. I went into Basildon Hospital for 3 weeks for a Bowel Cancer operation -- now I cannot carry 'Heavy Loads' so will have to 'rest' the C220 kit ---- !!!

Well I hope everything turns out fine you're up and out and about soon Pete, I got a C220 because it was a less heavy load than my RB67 so I guess it's all relative!

 

[Thorpelyon]

I was GIVEN a lovely Mamiya C220 by a now-deceased Camera Club member -- i got the Blue Dot 135mm f4.5 Sekor set off E-bay (Don't tell the WIFE--- !! ) I had not used it during our horrible Winter -- now when i took it out the 135mm Shutter sticks occasionally. I went into Basildon Hospital for 3 weeks for a Bowel Cancer operation -- now I cannot carry 'Heavy Loads' so will have to 'rest' the C220 kit ---- !!!

My goodness... you get more cameras given to you than anybody else I know! I’m very jealous.

 

[Agulliver]

Just yesterday I was given a Lomo Lubitel 166 Universal, and contrary to expectations I love it. I put a test roll of Fomapan 400 through it yesterday, as much as anything just to check there are no light leaks and that everything works as it should. Being a sunny day I was shooting at f11 to f22 most of the time but there was one indoor f4.5 shot. Focus is spot on, I like the brilliant viewfinder and as my middle aged body doesn't kneel and lay down as it once did having a waist level finder is a boon for those low angled shots. Happy to report that the camera is working 100% as it should, and I'm going to take it to a London park today with some colour film.

I was never really much a fan of TLRs, my previous experience was helping a friend get his Rolleicord working and running a test film through it in 645 format. Honestly I wasn't too impressed but the unfancied Lubitel really does a cracking job. At f11 and smaller the entire negative is sharp, no vignetting and in B&W at least lovely contrast and detail. Maybe I got lucky, as I understand the QC on the lenses wasn't great

I hear you with regard to "heavy loads"...my main photography partner cannot carry anything with a long lens due to tendon damage and fatigue....there's I with a Kiev 6, Nikon D7100 and Praktica BX20S around my neck simultaneously on long shoots all with big lenses and she's struggling to lift her Pentax K1000 to her eye