Review of my first MEDIUM FORMAT camera | Mamiya C330

[@jamesprivet]

Loved the first shot at in the shade with pigeons silouette.

[@bencushwa8902]

My first "real" medium format camera was a Mamiya C330s. I love it, definitely a great first medium format camera I think. The parallax correction makes shooting at close distances (and correcting my exposure) very intuitive. I have the same 105mm f/3.5 DS as well, and it's the only lens for the C series with a self-timer so that's a fantastic reason to have one (as if you need more reason than the image quality). I also have the 135mm f/4.5, and while I prefer the 105, the bokeh on the 135 is really unique, almost painter-ly. I just picked up an RB67 too, and I'm really curious to see how the two cameras render relative to each other.

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

Very good review. Yesterday I bought the successor of the C330 the Mamiya RB67 Pro SD. It is my first medium format camera and I am really excited. Grüße aus Erfurt.

[@therealsirrobin]

Thank you Dan. The RB is nice too but even heavier. 😄

[@GrantTheftRealAuto]

my C330 Pro S weights at 1.670 kg with 80mm F2.8 lens. I enjoy using it so much.

[@nicolasb.3809]

Great video as always. I have recognized my city over there, some shots were taken in Montpellier !

[@certs743]

Great video and nice camera. I recently bought the older and slightly smaller C2.

[@pushingfilm]

Very nice Robin. Great camera and I like the new production/editing style.

[@therealsirrobin]

Thank you Hashem! ☺️👍

[@theblackmanarmedwithacamera]

I LOVE MY C330 VERY MUCH! GREAT VIDEO REVIEW!!!

[@rikardpersson9493]

Thanks for another entertaining and interesting video! I totally agree with you - the Achilles of the C330, although otherwise a superb camera, is its weight! I have both a C330 and a Rolleiflex 3,5 E3 which at 1 kg is roughly half the weight of the Mamiya. 99 times out of 100 I bring the Rollei just because of that - it is lightweight and feels much more nimble! (Btw most Rolleiflexes have great functioning automatic parallax compensation.)

[@therealsirrobin]

Thank you Rikard! 👍 Yeah, those are lovely and they look so iconic. However, my next MF camera will probably be a rangefinder.

[@ccoppola82]

Great camera. It rivals my Hasselblad. One thing to not is that when the bellows is extended, make sure you adjust your exposure

[@therealsirrobin]

Yes, similar to other cameras that are using a bellows.

[@malcolmxedmonds]

I would strongly recommend the Mamiya 6 or 7. Great lenses light body and rangefinder simplicity. A bit plasticky but that works in your favour as a light walkaround MF camera. Only drawback is the 1m minimum focus but for environmental portraits with the 65mm lens it’s a compulsive combination!

[@miracleyacht__1538]

Only problem is that they cost more than 3000

[@malcolmxedmonds]

@@miracleyacht__1538 Sure agreed on that Sweg Ster they aren't cheap anymore but an M6 with a 28mm Summicron as a comparison is a lot more than the price you quoted. If you are looking for a Street friendly Medium Format camera then these are some of the best with a beautiful leaf shutter that allows you take very quiet shutter and sharp images at very low shutter speeds even 1/15 is even possible if you have very steady hands. The aspect ratio takes a while to get used to like any new camera and it's so quiet that sometimes I have to check if it's taken a frame with the advance lever!

[@therealsirrobin]

There are several options in my list and the Mamiya 7 is one of them. 😀

[@jhogan54321]

Hi. Did you ever get around to doing the video on the C330 with flash? That would be someting I would crtainly like to see. By the way, excellent videos! Thanks

[@CoreFineArt]

I'm too poor for the 330. I picked up a c3 and love it!!! Being poor, the lenses aren't in tip top condition. Have a 135 and a 200. Really want to get nice clean ones but maybe in a couple of years. Anyway, do a video on the c3 if you can get ahold of it :)

[@comfortablyblind6853]

Even though it's not a Mamiya, I adore my Argoflex! My Lubitel 2 ain't bad either.

[@SinaFarhat]

That is a great looking camera! I would however object to the weight as I enjoy allot more my "lightweight" rolleicord III at around 1kg and the slightly heavier Yashica mat 124g that I massaged in to working again, both cameras are great use! Keep up the good work!

[@therealsirrobin]

Thank you very much Sina!

[@mp3remix171]

I have my trusty yashica tlr, love the look of tlrs!

[@solkels_z4794]

hey have you used the mamiya 105/3.5 sekor? how does the sekor compare to this DS?

[@TheLol509]

this is a spectacular video, thank you!

[@_brushie]

I gotta say, every video I see for the c330 the lenses seem to flare like crazy. I think your video is the first showing the camera with the lens hood which seems like a necessity if you're not looking for the flare look.

[@Being_Joe]

The parallax issue kills me when you want to make close ups. I have the C220 with the 80mm f2.8 and I always forget about the parallax and end up with compositions I was not going for. I have thought about selling it over they years but every time I see the images I can make it just can't do it. I'm actually going to pickup a RB/RZ so I have better control of the final framing. I have a love hate but mostly love relationship with the C220 (Mamiya lenses are great and something about the 6x6 format that is good for some projects).

[@therealsirrobin]

Parallax on my rangefinder doesn't bother me that much since you cant get super close but on the Mamiya TLRs it can become an issue.

[@MetalDEmpire]

The c330 (I think the c220 as well) has parallax correction guides. you just need to set it for the lens that is mounted, and the bar that moves down from the top left side of the ground glass is your top frame line when close focusing.

[@Being_Joe]

@@MetalDEmpire No such thing on the C220. The C200 had a set parallax line and you have to guess. Well, these are instructions on how to use but that really in only needed on close up macros. It is not that big of a deal if you know what is up. It is a nice camera but when I use it I do think it would be nice to have SLR style.

[@toulcaz31]

Having a Pentax 6x7 MLU, the C330 weight is manageable 🙂. Something I noticed is how difficult it is to find lenses in good condition. So many have haze or fungus issues. I wonder why.

[@therealsirrobin]

I have no experience with other lenses and mine seems to be in very nice condition. 👌

[@terrycullinane9437]

Even the newest Mamiya TLRS are at least 20 years old so like any older cameras/lenses they can suffer from fungus & haze etc

[@richardsimms251]

Thank you for a great video. RS. Canada

[@DNNSBMN]

Is also my first 6x6 bought it about 6 years ago. Last year I finally got a good deal on a 105mm f3.5ds. Does yours also focus on infinity with the bellows extended?

[@therealsirrobin]

I don't think mine does that.

[@wilsonlee5372]

I have a Yashicaflex TLR and it already feels kinda annoying to carry around, I can't imagine how heavy and bulky the C330 is compared to mine 😅 Also, holy crap! I love the pictures you took with it

[@therealsirrobin]

Haha, thank you Wilson! The Yashica is tiny in comparison. 😃

[@sitrep2418]

Yes please make a video with flash

[@therealsirrobin]

👍

[@madrouault3]

Hi, Did you use a meter for exposure

[@therealsirrobin]

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

[@danthomson9340]

How does it compare to the Yashica mat 124?

[@hiltsyartnstuff1142]

It's heavier, but you can basically do macro with the close focus of the bellows. I have a Mamiya C3, and I also have 3 Yashicas. I think the pictures are sharper on the Mamiya but not by much and it's still hard to tell. I have the 80mm 2.8 and also 135mm lens for it.

[@neilpiper9889]

You can use this camera on a tripod and reload film without taking it off the tripod unlike a Rolleiflex or Yashica Mat.

[@TomVestvik]

Have been daydreaming of a Hasselblad lately. Trying to keep it a dream …

[@therealsirrobin]

Dreams sometimes become a reality. 🤞

[@TheSchnauzie]

Nice video Robin

[@therealsirrobin]

Thank you Marcel!

[@Interweb76]

Just borrowed one from a friend last night. Just sat down to scan the negs this very minute and here you are posting the video 33 seconds ago! Weird

[@therealsirrobin]

Great! Do you like the camera?

[@lemon58421]

Yes there is a mirror but he doesn’t get up 🙃

[@gabrysgabriukas]

I sold it and now regret it :)