Mamiya C220 vs C33?

[thomob]

I am in the market for a nice entry level medium format that isnt too cumbersome. I have been using a friends RZ67 for the past few weeks and find myself choosing the 35mm over it whenever i go out cause its TOO heavy. I mean common, it weighs a ton, hand held shooting is a massive effort with it.

Although i love the quality medium format gives, it cant be beaten by 35mm.
So I have the choice between a C220 and a C33, the C220 comes with a 80mm f/3.7(unsure of the lens make) for $100 (AU) and the C33 comes with the new version (black) 80mm f/2.8 (apparently the body and lens are in near perfect condition) for AU$250.

wondering what the main difference between the two are and which i should steer towards?

cheers

 

[Neare]

Definitely a good system but if your going for not to cumbersome.. the Mamiya C series are still heavy.

The C220 will be the lighter of the two. Other than that, the main difference is that the C220 has a wind on 'knob' rather than a 'crank'. And the C33 will have automatic paralax compensation.

The newest lenses are marked by blue dots not black. I don't know anything about the f3.7 sorry.

Anyhow, gear for these cameras is cheap to come by. And bellows are awesome, they open up a lot of opportunities.

 

[hans voralberg]

A bit unergonomic but a lot lighter than the RZ for sure 🙂 The C33 will be heavy, but feels better in hand.

 

[ChrisN]

Spend some time playing with the system, checking how it feels in your hands, whether it balances ok, whether the controls fall into place for your fingers, and so on. If you want to use it hand-held, the fit between you and the camera is very important. I had a C330 for a couple of months, and while I loved the results I just found the handling too awkward - it did not fit me. If you buy one and want a Paramender (tripod mount for parallax correction for close-up work) at a fair price send me a PM.

 

[thomob]

Definitely a good system but if your going for not to cumbersome.. the Mamiya C series are still heavy.

The C220 will be the lighter of the two. Other than that, the main difference is that the C220 has a wind on 'knob' rather than a 'crank'. And the C33 will have automatic paralax compensation.

The newest lenses are marked by blue dots not black. I don't know anything about the f3.7 sorry.

Anyhow, gear for these cameras is cheap to come by. And bellows are awesome, they open up a lot of opportunities.

Thanks dude, yeah i think i would prefer the crank system rather than the "knob"

A bit unergonomic but a lot lighter than the RZ for sure 🙂 The C33 will be heavy, but feels better in hand.

yeah i dont feel right taking the RZ out without a tripod.. its just too awkward in shape as well

Spend some time playing with the system, checking how it feels in your hands, whether it balances ok, whether the controls fall into place for your fingers, and so on. If you want to use it hand-held, the fit between you and the camera is very important. I had a C330 for a couple of months, and while I loved the results I just found the handling too awkward - it did not fit me. If you buy one and want a Paramender (tripod mount for parallax correction for close-up work) at a fair price send me a PM.

Unfortunately they are both in Sydney so i cant really test it before i buy them. Might try find one to look at tomorrow..

I love my other (very basic) TLRs so i think i would prefer them over the RZ most definitely! (in terms of hand held use anyway)

Great! I will let you know if i do 🙂

 

[Mackinaw]

Thanks dude, yeah i think i would prefer the crank system rather than the "knob"

My C220 has a crank.

When I decided to take the plunge into TLR'dom, I opted for the C220 over a C330 mainly because of the weight. A C220 is over a pound lighter than a C330. Both are largish cameras but handle pretty good if you use an accessory hand grip. I do love the interchangeable lenses.

Jim B.

 

[Neare]

My C220 has a crank.

Yeah, the C220 has a mini crank on the knob to help turn it. But essentially it's a different winding mechanism internally.

>>>thomob

Personally I'd get the C220 in you situation as your want something easier to carry around. However, I'd want a 80mm f2.8 on that instead of the 3.7. Also depends on the condition as well.

Or you could save up for a rolleiflex 3.5 model. Some of the older models you can get for around $500 and its size and weight are wonderful. It's a tiny thing with gorgeous optics.

 

[grainhound]

The C33 is an older version of the C330, and the 80mm f3.7 is an older and cheaper 80mm lens than the f2.8. These cameras are so cheap these days that you should wait until you can find a later model. They're improved. Hold out for a 330 or 220 and a blue dot lens; they're also improved. I have a C330 and a C220, so don't have any experience with the C33.
This website may help: http://www.btinternet.com/~g.a.patterson/mfaq/m_faq.html It's defiinitely worth reading.
Blue dot lenses were the last made, and get better reviews for IQ than non blue dot lenses.

 

[AgentX]

Personally, I'd get the C220. I believe the simpler, newer internals (film transport & cocking mechanism) mean fewer problems down the road with easier repairs. Although I'm not sure what the quality of the 80 3.7 lens actually is--never seen an example in real life, even. Lenses are so cheap for the C series that if you don't like it, you can probably sell it and get the majority of the cost of a good user-grade 80 2.8.

The wind on the C220 is actually really good--I like it more than the later C220F.

Only thing about the 220 I don't like is the dim screen, but it's the same as or better than a C33 anyhow. You can have a repair shop replace it later on if you like.

Personally, my favorite lenses for the C are the 65mm and 105mm. Most of my shooting with the Mamiya is with one or the other.

 

[Dwig]

Another difference is that the C220 (and sister C330) accept both 120 and 220 "out of the box".

The C33 accepts only 120 unless you have the accessory 220 back panel. If the used C33 has only the 220 back panel, a possibility, then it accepts only 220. Confirm which back is present before buying.

 

[thomob]

Well I have spoken to the guy selling the C33 and he sounds very confident about its condition and he reckons its better than the C330 (?) and the 80mm f/2.8 is the newer model he says (black) although i will ask him about the blue dot?

I find myself still leaning towards the C33, only because the guy sounds very confident and reliable. I havent actually spoken to the person selling the C220 but considering its only $100 and is the f/3.7.. im not as confident.

I thought about maybe i should wait to get find a C330.. but everything i have been reading on the net (even your link grainhound ((thanks for that by the way)) says that the only real difference between the two is very minimal..

I think the less plastic the better aswell?

thanks heaps for all the help guys, 🙂

 

[Neare]

The C3xx's are heavy. Make sure you understand that if what your after is something less cumbersome, they aren't to small either.
And blue dot is the newer version the lenses for sure.

But a camera in good condition is a plus to. However, have you had a look at ebay to see what you can find on there? You might find a better deal for what you want.

 

[thomob]

The C3xx's are heavy. Make sure you understand that if what your after is something less cumbersome, they aren't to small either.
And blue dot is the newer version the lenses for sure.

But a camera in good condition is a plus to. However, have you had a look at ebay to see what you can find on there? You might find a better deal for what you want.

ive been looking at eBay and other online shops alike for the last week or so and i havent seen much.

well i most of the time i think i will always want a medium format on a tripod to get that extra reassurance in sharpness anyway..

is it similiar size/weight to the RZ?

 

[AgentX]

Smaller than an RZ (or at least an RB, which I believe is the same size...) Definitely more portable and easier (for me) to shoot handheld.

If you're mainly shooting on a tripod, the differences in use between the C220 and C33 are even less; even if you don't like the C220 wind mechanism and independent hand-cocking, the difference in slower tripod work is insignificant.

If you are planning on tripod use, especially closer-up, you may look for a Paramender to pop up at a reasonable price.

 

[Neare]

well i most of the time i think i will always want a medium format on a tripod to get that extra reassurance in sharpness anyway..

It's a TLR so there is no mirror flap, you'd be getting perfectly sharp results shooting at 1/60 or even 1/30 handheld.

😉

 

[thomob]

cool, ill see if the guy wants to budge his price down a bit for the C33.

U reckon the difference in final image IQ between the c33 and the rz will be much?

 

[Talex]

I had the C33 until this year when I sold it to another RFF'er. It was very reliable, had a great lens, and produced outstanding results. But it was also very heavy, and not particularly easy to handle. It was much heavier than the Yashica and Minolta TLRs. I found it cumbersome to use, so it sat on the shelf most of the times.

 

[alistair.o]

Just my two pence worth -

I have a C330f and it is a dream to use. Yes it is heavy, so I use it and contol the situation with that in mind. A tipod is great with it, but hand held is also very good. The sound when taking and winding on is almost zero (especially in a street situation) It is a dream to maintain and use (it strips down in modular form to a shell). The lenses are superb and you don't need more than two (80 & 135) and the film choices are obvious. Oh, get a meter!

Hope this helps

Al.

 

[thomob]

Just my two pence worth -

I have a C330f and it is a dream to use. Yes it is heavy, so I use it and contol the situation with that in mind. A tipod is great with it, but hand held is also very good. The sound when taking and winding on is almost zero (especially in a street situation) It is a dream to maintain and use (it strips down in modular form to a shell). The lenses are superb and you don't need more than two (80 & 135) and the film choices are obvious. Oh, get a meter!

Hope this helps

Al.

thanks a lot for your two pence! 🙂 much appreciated.

 

[thomob]

i just got off the phone with him, he isnt willing to budge down but he said he is willing to throw in a filter (i am guessing its the skylight/uv) vinyl case, a printed out manual and some old HP5.

Does $250 for this little package sound good to you guys?