Picked up a C2

P

Pirate

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KEH has had a "Mamiyaflex" with no picture at the bottom of the Body listing for a while now. I took a chance and got it since I loved playing with a friends C2 earlier this year. I love it. The C330 I have is huge but I love that one too. This little C2 is much easier to hold and carry and I don't mind operating everything in a pure manual mode.

So, what's wrong with it..... Well, all things considered, it's darn clean! It appears to have taken a hit at one time and knocked loose a strap lug. I'll have to dive into that and find out how to make it right again. It's loose in the side of the body and if left this way will lock up the lens when retracting it back into the body. I'm just guessing here but I'm thinking it's just soldered to the inside of the body panel. I'll find out tomorrow-ish.
The lens retaining wire was a little loose on the top so I did a little bendy on it and it's much better now.

That's really it. Not much to fix on this, and it was only $60!!!

The WLF I have handy looks to be a late model Type 1. It has the little chrome struts for the front and back panels, and the 80mm sports finder. And it will not mount on this body!!!! I'm going to figure out a way to get this on there. Just need a pair of pliers 😀

Pics coming soon!
 
Excellent.

I've been using my C2 for just over half a year now - it's turned into my most used camera. For an interchangeable lens medium format camera they're excellent value. Mine came with the 3.8 80mm lens, then I thought I'd invest in a 65, then the 135 and just to fill the gap, a 105. I use them all but generally just take the one out and work with that. I've read a lot about the poor ergonomics of the mamiyaflex series but I like the way they function, and once you find a good routine, there pretty fast and flexible.

Look forward to seeing some pictures - puts a smile on my face when I hear of another C2 in use.
 
I walked into Midwest Photo one particular Saturday and JimmyA handed me a a C2. He said "Here, take it." So, I did. I guess a lever inside the body had broken, so the former owner "bolted" a screw and nut arrangement to cock the body. Worked great, Advance the film, cock the body, and then cock the lens. No prob. It was ugly, as confirmed by many, so I recut some leather and attached it, using Elmer's Glue. Then it was quite presentable.

The results were just as good as from my C330s. And so much more fun.
 
A quick photo of the camera in question here:

new_camera_mamiya_c2_tlr_by_dudewithad700-d4yrf6c.jpg
 
Looking at old American newsreels from the late 1950s early 60s shows that these Mamiya TLRs were very popular with photo journalists of the time when I would imagine that nearly every TLR they used was a Rollei product, but that was not so.

Just check the aftermath of the JFK assassination at the Dallas police station on various YouTube videos to see what I mean.
 
The C330F was my favorite MF camera, and I hated to part with it. A month ago, I came across a Paramender going for almost nothing, and decided if I won it, that would be the start of my reconstituted TLR system. So far, that's all I've got, and it may be a while before I can get anything else, but I now have one of the harder to get Mamiya TLR accessories out of the way.

PF
 
The Mamiya C series were used by the photographers at my newspaper in the period between the Speed Graphics and the Nikons. I have a C330s with the 55-, 80- and 180-mm lenses and accessories gathered over the years -- Paramender, prism finder, lens hoods, etc. I think these cameras are the best value in medium format.
 
I got my C2 about 3 years ago and, after a year, got a 330 and gradually all the lenses and several of the accessories, all of which fit both cameras. The C2 is physically the same size and similar weight to the C330, but mechanically simpler. It's the one I pack in my suitcase. The only drawback for me is a touchier film advance (the tiny release button below the winding knob can be hit at the wrong moment) and the lack of parallax indicator.
 
I cannot understand there isn't more love for these cameras. Got a beaten up C220 with a 65mm when I wanted to find out about TLRs and then a C330 as I missed too many photos due to forgetting to cock the lens. Don't think I'd want any other TLR.
 
sfj, just going by feel of holding both, I think the C330 is wider than the C2. I think the sides are thicker on the 330 because of the added gearing for the film crank. The C2 feels much more streamlined in my hand. It's that smaller feeling to me that makes it more desirable to carry it. Think I'll be keeping my 330 more for the studio and the C2 for the outdoor roamer.
 
The Mamiyaflex and C22 have subtle differences in size and film door hinge construction. I have a C22, Mamiyaflex and C220. I picked up a cut sheet film holder not too long which only fits the older models. I shoot Harmon direct positive paper with 'em. More info is of course available at the Mamiya TLR System Summary. 🙂 Love 'em all and will never sell 'em!

http://www.btinternet.com/~g.a.patterson/mfaq/m_faq-contents.html
 
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