Which lenses should be avoided for Mamiya C3

anta40 · Feb 19, 2023

Just purchased a Mamiya C3 with the chrome, Seikosha-S 80/2.8. So far, I'm happy with.
Then I realize that something longer like 135mm for portrait or landscape would be nice.

This is what I read on G.A Patterson's Mamiya page:

Some lenses are known to fail to cock properly on later bodies. This appears to be due to the auto-cocking lever not moving the lens cocking lever quite far enough. At least one case has been recorded of the body cocking arm needing more travel than the lens shutter arm permits.

mfaq-04 2 Lenses, General

So, which lenses aren't compatible with C3?
BTW, I assume the black 135mm works fine on C3?

MattKing · Feb 19, 2023

@grahamp happens to be one and the same as G.A. Patterson, and he posts semi-regularly here.

xya · Feb 19, 2023

As far as I know, the C3 doesn't cock the shutter. At least it doesn't on mine. So there is no issue with any of the lenses...

My 33 and my 330s do cock the shutter automatically, but I never had this problem with any of my lenses.

grahamp · Feb 19, 2023

'Newer' means C33/C330/f/s. The C3 only needs to trip the shutter, as it is manually cocked.

All the shutters (Seikosha-MX, Seikosha-S, Seiko, Copal) should work with the C3, the only issue being the focus scale for focal length lenses introduced later not being present.

I'd skip any (really old) Seikosha-MX shutters, and look for a Seikosha-S or Seiko (black) 135mm.

Nice to know that there is still some use in those Mamiya pages!

Dali · Feb 19, 2023

I experience the cocking issue with a 135mm lens and my C330. Very frustrating as I have to remember to cock the lens shutter manually... unlike the other lenses I have!

Tel · Feb 19, 2023

grahamp said:
I'd skip any (really old) Seikosha-MX shutters, and look for a Seikosha-S or Seiko (black) 135mm.

Ditto that! (And personally I like the 105 best...)

Cholentpot · Feb 19, 2023

The Mamiya-Sekor 18cm f/4.5 will mount on the C3 but not the C33.

I struggle getting things in focus with my copy. I wonder if this time it's truly the lens and not me. 99% of the time it's my fault with these things.

anta40 · Feb 20, 2023

grahamp said:
'Newer' means C33/C330/f/s. The C3 only needs to trip the shutter, as it is manually cocked.

All the shutters (Seikosha-MX, Seikosha-S, Seiko, Copal) should work with the C3, the only issue being the focus scale for focal length lenses introduced later not being present.

I'd skip any (really old) Seikosha-MX shutters, and look for a Seikosha-S or Seiko (black) 135mm.

Nice to know that there is still some use in those Mamiya pages!

Ahh, the page author himself. Actually I was going to email you, instead.
The official Mamiya manuals didn't mention anything about lens compatibility, so gotta look somewhere else.

So, just skip those Seikoshsa-MX lenses, and I assume any black lens work fine on C3?

grahamp · Feb 21, 2023

The compatibility issues usually arise with the sweep of the cocking arm on the auto-cocking bodies. The C3 and earlier and C220/f only have to trip the shutter arm.

*Very* rarely you find a shutter that has been rotated a bit in the lens panel and the shutter trip does not work - either the lens won't mount, or the travel of the camera arm does not trip the shutter. It is usually fairly obvious what is happening and you just have to use a lens wrench to loosen the the mounting a touch and rotate as needed before tightening it. Again, this is rare.

The Seikosha-MX lenses date back to the original Mamiyaflex C. They are as old as I am, and I hope I have worn better!

Considering that there are 10 bodies and quite a range of finders, lenses, grips, etc., it is surprising that there are very few incompatibilities.

Which lenses should be avoided for Mamiya C3

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency