Which Square Camera Should I Keep, Mamiya-Six, or Rolleicord, C330?

[eli griggs]

If I did not have my Hasselblad, a C330, which I once had and used, would be my choice, hands down.

Remember the Rollicord is can be "imitated" as a fixed lens camera by only using one lens board, ie a 75mm Mamiya, or other lens in that series.

 

[MattKing]

Retirement often coincides with a need to down-size.

Or simply noticing that all the while you were working, you acquired a bunch of stuff you neither use nor need.......

An example of where needs and wants can be difficult to distinguish from each other .....

 

[reddesert]

Do you have a coated one? Camera-wiki says 'all Mamiya Six lenses are uncoated'. (For full disclosure, I write a bit for CW, but I didn't write that, so I hoped there was some chance it was true).

Mamiya Six - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

camera-wiki.org

..and yet I find photos of a mixture of coated ('D Zuiko F.C. 1:3,5 f=7,5cm') and uncoated in our pool at Flickr, and a statement on another page that customers could send their own lens to be mounted, which means all bets are off. I'll delete that statement..

(went and did that)
It was a clumsy edit, where someone had written 'all lenses on models I, Ia, ... and III are uncoated' (which may well be true) and someone else had simplified that to 'all Mamiya Six lenses', which we know isn't.

Thanks for fixing that. My notes say mine has a coated lens marked "Takahito Tokyo Zuiko 75/3.5," I would have to go look for it to check that (another reason why people downsize is so they can find things). It is relatively early, marked Made in Occupied Japan (1947-52), and I think is a IV model. I shouldn't have generalized that all Mamiya Six are postwar, as there are some before this period and those likely do have uncoated lenses, but I think they are less common.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The question really comes down to do you want a TLR, TLR with interchangeable lenses, a folder without interchangeable lenses, or, included for completeness an SLR? There is no correct answer, only your personal answer. I have used all four and made my decision.

 

[John Wiegerink]

The question really comes down to do you want a TLR, TLR with interchangeable lenses, a folder without interchangeable lenses, or, included for completeness an SLR? There is no correct answer, only your personal answer. I have used all four and made my decision.

Yes, and we know you just love Rolleiflex over every other camera. Snicker, snicker!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yes, and we know you just love Rolleiflex over every other camera. Snicker, snicker!

I thought he loved the hasselfreeRolleibladflex?

 

[John Wiegerink]

I thought he loved the hasselfreeRolleibladflex?

Andy,
Yes, maybe I was mistaken. I knew it was something like that anyway. Well, we've baited the hook and now just have to wait for the fish to swim by and find it.

 

[Rick A]

Andy,
Yes, maybe I was mistaken. I knew it was something like that anyway. Well, we've baited the hook and now just have to wait for the fish to swim by and find it.

I think Andy was the one who baited the hook, and we've all taken the bait. Are you sufficiently entertained yet Andy?

 

[John Wiegerink]

I think Andy was the one who baited the hook, and we've all taken the bait. Are you sufficiently entertained yet Andy?

Andy wouldn't do that! He's such a nice fellow and would never stoup that low.

 

[Craig]

I do like the Mamiya-Six, but not the film counter window. In dim lighting, it's really challenging. I've wound past numbers with almost every roll.

I think there is your answer. Time to move the Mamiya on to a new home.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I think there is your answer. Time to move the Mamiya on to a new home.

Hard to beat its portability, though!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Andy,
Yes, maybe I was mistaken. I knew it was something like that anyway. Well, we've baited the hook and now just have to wait for the fish to swim by and find it.

Hang on a sec! Gotta pop some corn...

 

[John Wiegerink]

I think there is your answer. Time to move the Mamiya on to a new home.

No need to move the Mamiya-Six if he really likes it. Just switch from using Ilford films to using Foma 100. I've had a bitch of a time seeing Ilford numbers on my folders, but Foma numbers are a breeze to see. When I shoot Ilford film in my older folders I always have a small pocket notebook with me and the pen I use for that has a very small penlight built into the top end. I use the little penlight to see the numbers when I wind on with Ilford films.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Hang on a sec! Gotta pop some corn...

Yup, I'm relaxing on the river bank just waiting for some action. I don't even think I'll have to set the hook on this one. I have to wash the fish smell off my hands before I dive into the popcorn.

 

[Rick A]

I have two C330's. A couple of 80mm lenses, as well as the two other FL's mentioned above. I guess you could say that I am invested in it... at least I was in my early days, until I bought an RB67 (but it's not square).
I do like the Mamiya-Six, but not the film counter window. In dim lighting, it's really challenging. I've wound past numbers with almost every roll.

Mamiya six folders have a film counter on the winding knob, once you load the film and have that set to 1 you don't need the red window. You take the photo, release the advance knob and wind, the camera is supposed to stop automatically for the next shot. Even if you don't reset the counter to 1 the advance still works properly. That's my experience anyway. Yes, I've had issues loading red window cameras, some film backing numbers are truly difficult to see through it.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Mamiya six folders have a film counter on the winding knob, once you load the film and have that set to 1 you don't need the red window. You take the photo, release the advance knob and wind, the camera is supposed to stop automatically for the next shot. Even if you don't reset the counter to 1 the advance still works properly. That's my experience anyway. Yes, I've had issues loading red window cameras, some film backing numbers are truly difficult to see through it.

I don't know if the earlier models had that feature. It's been so long ago since I sold mine I don't remeber for sure if it had it. All I know is mine had flash sync and a very good coated Zuiko "D" lens.

 

[JPD]

I should start a new thread, but since we're on the topic: Which is the best TLR lens? Planar or Xenotar, or...

J/K

I think Andy was the one who baited the hook, and we've all taken the bait. Are you sufficiently entertained yet Andy?

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Which is the best TLR lens? Planar or Xenotar, or...

And you call me condescending.

 

[JPD]

And you call me condescending.

I can't help it. It's the troll in me.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

I can't help it. It's the troll in me.

Oy vez Swedes: Bland Tomtar och Troll.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Let me try it from a totally different angle:

- The square, utilitarian Mamiya TLR looks like something a pepper-and-salt-haired, middle-aged John Sutter character would use, with a tripod, a 1980s Bronco, on a windy and rainy Easter Monday somewhere on Long Island

- The Rolleiflex has a 1930s vibe to is and reminds me of UFA/Babelsberg b/w movies and people in tailcoats or WW2 helmets

- The folder is suitable for funny, agitated and somewhat hyperactive Japanese tourists on vacation in Europe, all clad in navy/cream/grey Mao garb from MUJI

I guess this all did not help at all.

OP: Get rid of all three, and buy a late version Hasselblad V, in pristine condition, with WLF, metered prism, a couple of different A12 backs, a 50/80/150 lens set, the wide late-version strap, a CFV39 digital back, and a Seiconic hand-held. That kit should cover all and everything.

Your
Reza

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Mamiya six folders have a film counter on the winding knob, once you load the film and have that set to 1 you don't need the red window. You take the photo, release the advance knob and wind, the camera is supposed to stop automatically for the next shot. Even if you don't reset the counter to 1 the advance still works properly. That's my experience anyway. Yes, I've had issues loading red window cameras, some film backing numbers are truly difficult to see through it.

I believe mine is a IVB. I don't see a film counter on the winding knob.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I believe mine is a IVB. I don't see a film counter on the winding knob.

View attachment 367495

You refreshed my memory with that photo Andy cuz I remember mind looking very similar. Also, not all "ruby windows" are the same. I have some on old folders that have been hazed with extremely fine scratches that dull them down and make it harder yet to see numbers.

 

[Rick A]

I believe mine is a IVB. I don't see a film counter on the winding knob.

View attachment 367495

If you have one, it will be on the outside face of the knob. You have an earlier version than my old one, mine had "Made in Occupied Japan" on the bottom cover. Does your camera have a lock out button that needs pressed to advance the film?

Mamiya 6 IV Review - The Original 6- by Ray Goodwin

Ultimately, what the Mamiya 6 IV offers is an alternative route into medium format shooting, as well as a camera that differs from the usual crowd.

www.35mmc.com

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If you have one, it will be on the outside face of the knob. You have an earlier version than my old one, mine had "Made in Occupied Japan" on the bottom cover. Does your camera have a lock out button that needs pressed to advance the film?

No lock out button. I do have that function on my Rolleicord, though.