Yashica 124G vs. Mamiya 220 or 330???

[Al Kaplan]

The Rollieflex, at least the later models, have a mask under the ground glass. This moves up and down as you focus so you won't cut off any heads in your photos.

Mamiya made the Paramender to fit between the camera and the tripod. It allows you to raise the camera by exactly the same amount as the distance between the viewing and taking lenses.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I have a c220 and 2 lenses......standard and w/a as well as a prism finder along withe the waist level finder and hoods for both lenses.

The glass is superb and the mechanics are as good as anything I have used. And I'm sure someone already mentioned this, but the c220 et al, take 220 and 120 film....the Yashica's do not.

I have had 2 124G's over the years and sold them both but still have the Mamyia. If you like TLR's that's the one to get.

 

[Stradibarrius]

What is the difference between the 220 & 330?

 

[Way]

Good place for info about the Mamiya TLRs:
http://www.btinternet.com/~g.a.patterson/mfaq/m_faq-contents.html

 

[Jerevan]

I have a 220 F (last model) at the moment, with a 80/2.8 blue dot. After a few rolls, here is a few of my impressions of this model:

It's a bit heavy, and I am not sure about the placement of the film winding knob - it interferes with focussing, which I tend to do with the right hand.

The shutter button does not have the same feel as the Rolleis. It is also a bit louder, an industrial "plonk" rather than the "snick" of the Rollei. With a bit of bellows extension, it gets harder to use the shutter release as it sits on the side of the lens panel. No hesitation is allowed when you press the shutter. If you press down slightly and change your mind about taking the photo, the camera locks and you need to wind on, giving I got several blanks because of the double exposure prevention kicking in. The manual says you have to switch to multiple exposure and press again, but it is a strange design "feature". The Mamiyas does not suffer from the "bent back" issues of the Rolleis as noted above. Very easy and fast loading.

The great assets are the close focus, a large very bright viewfinder and the different lenses. Overall if you like the TLR idea, the Mamiyas are a great and inexpensive system, especially if you want wide angles. If you need a 80/2.8 lens, the Mamiya is probably cheaper than the Rollei 2.8.

 

[andredossantos]

I really liked the yashinon lens but I found the lack of weight a problem with my old yashica 124g. I found it hard to keep level when hitting the shutter. I shoot 100% handheld.

I sold it and bought a mamiya c330 w/ an 80mm f2.8. While it is super bulky and heavy compared to the yashica, I much prefer the mamiya. There is also this cool level you can push downward to fire the shutter.

 

[wotalegend]

And I'm sure someone already mentioned this, but the c220 et al, take 220 and 120 film....the Yashica's do not.

I have a Yashica Mat 124 and a 124G, both of which take 220 film as well as 120. There was also an earlier, but rarer, Yashica Mat 24 which takes only 220 film and not 120.

It's a bit academic anyway because there are so few films available in 220. Personally I have never used one.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Along with the Yashicamat 24 there was also a 12 which only took 120 film. I think that the 12 and the 24 models were only offered for about a year or so in the very late 1960's.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[ray*j*gun]

Sorry Wat, the only mats I ever saw were 120's.

 

[RCT]

It's funny but I am just considering buying either the Yashica or one of the Mamiya's, so I would also like to know the results of this thread.

Hallo! I can see your dilemma. I do not have a Mamiya c220 or 330, but I have a Yashica 124G. The camera is wonderfully built, but I don't like the lens (80 mm, 3.5) that much. There is a clear barrel effect in the pictures. Apart from that, the camera is flawless.