Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Film Cameras
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The Mamiya C series TLR cameras are excellent photographic tools. The "C" family was born in 1956 and the C220 in 1968. They're called "vintage" today but its performance is outstanding even today in the digital era. Composing picture in a large focusing screen is much easier than through a small hole. The camera is all mechanic (no battery is needed to operate it !!!) so it not serves the demands of automatization of today's digital photographer (what else: you need a light meter, too).The camera sturdy and heavy like a tank (don't drop it because the floor will be broken) but the picture quality is excellent. This is the ONLY medium format TLR camera with replaceable lenses!! If you consider the very low price then this is one of the best camera which will serve even my grandson. The only thing you have to replace is the foam of light insulation but this cost pennies. I can recommend it to all those who are still familiar with the film photography and want to have a high quality and inexpensive camera.Read full review
The C220 or C330 are superb medium format cameras. They are the only TLR 6x6 cameras to offer the possibility of switching lenses. It is also a great camera for close-ups & portraits. When taken care of, mecanics barely need to be fixed or replaced. They are build as tanks but I would never let them fall on the ground though. (it would be a shame !) Most of the lenses coming with (55mm-65mm-80mm2.8-105mm-135mm-150mm-250mm) will produce very sharp images with beautifull bokeh; this is why those cameras were extremely popular for weddings. The wide angle 55mm pars my Nikon 24mm 1.4G in terms of bokeh and you could get the whole Mamiya C set for the single price of the 24mm 1.4 lens or even less. I especially love the 80mm 2.8 (brightest lens) & 105mm for portraits. Just trow some Fuji 400X ekta film in it, expose for the highlights, & you will be blown by the details & colors. The process may be longer than snapping with a digital camera but keep in mind that 120 film rolls take 12 shots only, so in the end, you need to be carefull & will improve your skills & every single of your shot. Finally, when scanning them directly after developpment (to avoid dust), no need of obvious Post production like on a digital raw file, the contast curve & colors are alrea there : you'll save time at the higher end, for better shots in terms of detail & character & color depth. Last but not least, lenses are extremely lightweight & the cameras inexpensive, so you may carry 2 extra lenses + 1 mounted on the C220, or 2 bodies with mounted lenses. Flash syncronisation is at 1/500 for all shutter speeds, just hook a little cable or radio comander system & be ready for high speed sync. Those cameras are not suited for extreme action shots (some skilled photogs may overcome this problem though) those cameras are made to encounter people without effraying them, they'll always put a smile on a face, Mamiya TLRS are about poetry. www.florianhossfeld.comRead full review
I bought Mamiya C220 for high resolution film scans (25+ mpixels) as the Mamiya C220 is one of the cheapest routes into medium format film. The camera is much lighter and should be cheaper than the Mamiya C330, but is missing automatic shutter cocking, parallax error indicator and big film wind crank of the C330, which are minor inconveniences IMHO and worth it for the weight saving. If you want to do hand-held get a C220, if you mainly use a tripod have a good look at the C330. The latest lenses are the best, black barrels with a blue dot on the shutter cocking lever and the glass should have a slight purple sheen, these are the later coated lenses. Earlier coated lenses have a slight orange sheen.
Bought this item to add to my collection. Did not require lens as I have already got two spare sets therefore the item was perfect for my requirements. I am pleased with the purchase as it is in vgc, clean and in perfect working order.