Really enjoying the TLR experience

moggi1964

moggi1964

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,430
Name
Morris
Edit My Images
Yes
Cannot believe it has taken me all this time to discover the joyful experience of shooting film with a TLR and the Mamiya C3 in particular.

I must remember to remove the yellow filter when I swap from FP4+ to Portra 400 though. Can't wait to see those shots. :rolleyes:

Anyway, here are a couple of pics of the camera, pics taken with the camera will follow in the next few weeks, pretty busy arranging a home move.

20211116_132728.jpg
Glass still needs a clean

20211116_132643.jpg20211116_132552.jpg
 
That C3 looks in great condition. Wish I'd experience TLR with something like that and not with camera that had a super dull focus screen.

How have you found focusing?
 
MrDrizz said:
That C3 looks in great condition. Wish I'd experience TLR with something like that and not with camera that had a super dull focus screen.

How have you found focusing?
Click to expand...
I've been astonished how easy the focus has been with the clear image plus the magnifier for critical focus (faster than F/8 has been my rule so far - results pending).

The focussing mechanism is so smooth and I like that it can be controlled from either side of the camera.

I've been very luck with the condition of this C3 given I bought it on the basis of two pictures of it.
 
I like TLR cameras. I find that looking down at the viewfinder and having the image reversed left to right improves my compositional skills versus an eye-level viewfinder.
 
I have owned several TLRs, from Yashica D and 635 to a Mamiya C330S. I absolutely loved using all of them. The TLR experience is unique and to be savoured!
 
That C3 looks fabulous, and the lens as well.

I'm also hot for TLRs.

For my self inflicted Christmas present I bought a C330f to add to the Mamiya collection. It arrived this morning. I've just loaded a film into it and wound it on to frame 1. The weather and time of day are not conducive to taking pictures right now but I'll run off a film tomorrow. So far the camera is behaving really well.

The seller only had a low auction site rating, 100% but only 66 transactions, maybe that is why there was no other interest. I looked over the listing a few times and a few times more and took the plunge. A bonus is that the camera came with a late version standard 80mm lens.

The Mamiya TLRs seem to represent the zenith of functionality vs form in cameras, I haven't explained that very well but what I could be saying is that they are uncompromisingly functional and robust with probably no consumer appeal in the broader market.

If I had to advise, I would have told Elon Musk to shoot a Mamiflex towards the outer edges of the universe rather than a Tesla. Aliens won't be impressed by a Tesla but might with a Mamiaflex.

I'll post a picture or two of the camera in the next couple of days and the photos will come later.
 
I've had a couple over the years, the most versatile was the Mamiya C330 with it's interchangeable lenses that I had use of at work. For my own they've been Yashicas a few years ago I bought this one for my daughter but she wasn't using it so rather than keep borrowing it I bought it back from her. Its now loaded with Tri-X.

Yashi 10-11-21.JPG
 
There is just something about looking down into this huge viewfinder and seeing this incredible image in front of you. I'm not sure I will ever get blasé about that aspect of the camera.

Peter, the concern about shooting a Mamiya out there was that it would likely cause more damage than a Tesla if it collided with an astral body :) The C3 could likely pass through a gas planet without any damage to planet or camera.

I paid £147.84 for the C3 with the 80mm and the 135mm lenses at auction including fees and shipping. I then bought the lens hood from Mr Cad for £15 (highly recommended retailer for old stuff if you aren't familiar with the site). I got a couple of rear lens covers 3D printed for £18 shipped from simonforsterphotographic.co.uk. Great quality, I got an orange one foe one lens set and a red one for the other.

I just order a fabulous looking strap setup from Deadcameras in Portugal. They have a Black Friday 20% discount currently and the feedback and reviews suggest the items will be top notch. I got this one for £76.83 with the discount.

I'll need to be busy on eBay offloading all the extra stuff I have but boy is it worth it.
 
I'm another C330f owner, and like John much prefer a waist level viewfinder as an aid to composition. Big and heavy the Mamiyas might be, but I think it's a small price to pay for the results that they give.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top