Mamiya C Explained

Camera Name:Mamiya C series
Image Alt:Mamiya twin-lens reflex cameras for 120/220 rollfilm. The two cameras shown in this image are the C3 and C33.
Maker:Mamiya
Type:Twin-lens reflex
Lens Mount:Mamiya C
Lens:Interchangeable
Complens:seven focal lengths, from 55mm to 250mm
Sensor Type:Film
Sensor Size:56mm56mm
Filmformat:120 film
Fadvance:manual, knob or crank
Frewind:manual
Focus Type:manual
Emode:manual
Metering:in optional viewfinders or external
Shutter:in lens (leaf)
Shutter Speeds:1– or + B
Viewfinder:ground glass, waist-level
Production:1956–1994
Predecessor:Mamiyaflex

The Mamiya C series is a line of twin-lens reflex medium-format system cameras manufactured by Mamiya between 1956 and 1994. It was developed from the Mamiyaflex series of cameras built from 1949 to 1956. The Mamiya C series was initially aimed at the professional market.

Common features

Unlike most TLR cameras, the Mamiya C has interchangeable lenses. The upper and lower lenses come off as a unit, and are available in at least seven different focal lengths. The lower lens of each unit has an aperture diaphragm as well as a leaf shutter. A flash sync terminal is part of the lens unit, and the delay can be set to M or X mode. The camera has an interlocking baffle that enables lenses to be changed without exposing the film.

Focusing is performed via a bellows system on the front side of the camera. Early models had separate film advance and shutter cocking mechanisms; on later models the shutter was automatically cocked as the film was advanced. There is no metering in the camera body, so an external light meter is necessary; later models were compatible with optional accessory viewfinders that had built-in meters.

Models

While the basic shape remained the same, the bodies increased with size over time. Two of the early models were branded with "Mamiyaflex" on the nameplate attached to the viewfinder; all of the other C series cameras were branded with "Mamiya". The first in the C series, the Mamiyaflex C, was introduced in 1957 as a follow-on to the earlier Mamiyaflex line, which had included the Automat A (1949) and Automat B (1954); the primary innovation of the C was the introduction of an interchangeable lens mount. The Mamiyaflex C was accompanied with 80mm, 105mm, and 135mm lenses.[1] The C2 was introduced in June 1958 and is distinguished from its predecessor with a second focusing knob on the left side of the camera. In addition, two more lenses (65mm, 180mm) joined the line.[1]

The "Mamiyaflex" name was dropped for "Mamiya" when the C3 was introduced in February 1962; the C3 featured updated styling, adding the name above the lens mount and switching to a gray leather body covering. At this time, the lenses used a new shutter mechanism with a faster minimum speed.[1] The C3 also moved to a crank for film advance, speeding up camera operation.

The line was split in the mid-1960s with the C33 (April 1965) and C22 (March 1966) models. C22 had fewer features, which also made it lighter than the C33.[1] The main distinguishing feature was the C33 had more automated operation, where winding the film also cocked the shutter automatically;[2] the C22 required two separate actions.[3] Both were the first Mamiya C TLRs that were able to use 220 film, but a different back was required.[1]

The C220 (April 1968) and C330 (October 1969) models were developed from the C22 and C33, respectively, with updated styling (the prominent nameplate now had chrome lettering on black) and a built-in switchable pressure plate to enable the use of 220 film.[1] Weight was reduced as well. The final two lenses (55mm and 250mm) also were introduced at about this time.[4] [5]

The later C330f, C220f, and C330S were refined versions of their respective base cameras, and carried the letter annotation on a nameplate below the lens mount. One of the changes from the C330 to the C330f, for example, was the inclusion of a focusing track lock on the latter.[6]

Mamiya C twin-lens reflex cameras
Name Intro. Film Winder Shutter cocking Dimensions Ref.
120 220 Size (W×H×D) Weight
data-sort-value="C000" C1956knob manual114 mm x 164 mm x 103 mm1,540 g
PF1957? ?knob? manual???
data-sort-value="C002" C21958knob manual?1250g
data-sort-value="C003" C3 1962crank manualNaN×NaNlb[7]
data-sort-value="C033" C33 1965crank automatic?1810g
data-sort-value="C022" C22 1966knob manual?1480g
1968knob manual118×1150g
1969crank automatic?1465g
C330f 1975crank automatic122×1390g[8]
C220f 1982knob manual123×1150g
C330s 1983crank automatic123×1340g[9]
Notes

Lenses

Lenses for the Mamiya C series have been grouped by users into three different series based on the shutter model and the color of the shutter housing: first chrome, second chrome, and black. Most lenses can be used on most bodies, but some combinations won't allow for automatic shutter cocking. The first chrome series had Seikosha-MX shutters with speeds from 1 s to  s. The second chrome series had Seikosha-S shutters with speeds from 1 s to  s, plus Bulb. A few chrome shutter lens had a Seikosha-SLV shutter. The black series had Seiko shutters, except for the 80 mm 3.7 lens, which had a Copal shutter.

Mamiya-Sekor lenses for Mamiya C TLR [10] [11] [12] [13]
ApertureChrome BlackOptics[14] Filter dia.Weight
1st (Seikosha-MX) 2nd (Seikosha-S) SeikoComp. Min. focus Subject coverage
55mm4.5–229e/7g 70°30′ NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on46mm330g
65mm3.5–326e/5g 63° NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on49mm340g
80mm2.8–325e/3g 50°40′ 1feet NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on40.5mm?
46mm310g
3.7–324e/3g40.5mm?
105mm3.5–324e/3g 41°20′ 1feet NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on40.5mm?
5e/3g46mm336g
135mm4.5–454e/3g 33° 2feet NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on46mm370g
180mm4.5–454e/3g 24°30′ 4feet NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on49mm?
5e/4g 620g
250mm6.3–646e/4g 18° 6feet 1feet49mm630g
Notes

Accessories

The Mamiya C series were marketed as system cameras, and over time a wide array of accessories were offered. Not all accessories are fully compatible with all camera bodies.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Mamiya C Professional . November 1973 . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Mamiya C33 . Ehrenreich Photo-Optical Industries, Inc. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Mamiya C22 . Ehrenreich Photo-Optical Industries, Inc. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  4. Web site: Mamiya C220 . Ehrenreich Photo-Optical Industries, Inc. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  5. Web site: Mamiya C330 . Ehrenreich Photo-Optical Industries, Inc. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  6. Web site: Mamiya C330f C220 Professional . July 1975 . Bell & Howell / Mamiya Company . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  7. Web site: Mamiya C3 professional . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  8. Web site: Mamiya C330f C220 Twin-Lens Reflex Camera System . August 1978 . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  9. Web site: Mamiya C330S C220f Twin-Lens Reflex Camera System . August 1988 . Mamiya Camera Co., Ltd. . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library . 2 June 2020.
  10. Web site: Mamiya C330 Instructions . Mamiya Leaf . 2 June 2020.
  11. Web site: Mamiya C330 Professional S Twin Lens Reflex . a photographer's garden . 2 June 2020.
  12. Web site: Mamiya TLR Interchangeable Lenses . Smith, Robert . medfmt.8k.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20030822163624/http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/mamiyaclens.html . 22 August 2003 . dead.
  13. Web site: Mamiya Twin Lens Reflex Interchangeable Lenses . Monaghan, Robert . medfmt.8k.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20030820150453/http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/mamiyatlrlens.html . 20 August 2003 . dead.
  14. Web site: Mamiya C330 Depth of Field Tables . Mamiya Leaf . 2 June 2020.