I have the C220 and must agree with other reviewers that a clean camera that you take care of just keeps on going. Mine was traded in by a wedding photographer exiting the business, so it was very clean and included an 80mm and 180mm lens. I added the prism finder (looked at the Porrofinder but it is almost worthless). Low barrier to entry for medium format. Lots of used equipment around. A rotating plate and a slide lever on the counter will move you from 120 to 220 film with no hassle.

The 220 lacks a meter and doesn't cock the shutter when you crank the film forward. I'm still sorting out the parallax corrections because I like to use the built-in bellows for close up work. This is the only area where I see an SLR having an advantage over the C220/C330. Forgetting to return the back plate and/or counter lever to 120 or 220 after using the other size of film can be troublesome. Running a roll of 220 through with the back plate on 120 caused some scratches on the film. Switching the counter lever when the problem was discovered avoided wasting half the roll.

Like most of the other reviewers, I can't find enough to compel me to switch from the C220 to a newer SLR in medium format. My choice would be to add a C330 to the arsenal and round out my collection of lenses (with a couple of back-ups as well).

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Yashica TLR -- way back when I was on high school newspaper. Since then, Mamiya Sekor 500DTL 35mm SLR for 10 years (until it was stolen) then switched to Nikon FM for over 20 years. I value durability and utility.

A good quality camera, with very good lens and a great charme

Weight, of course

Probably my best camera in over 20 years of photography. Photoes are very sharp and brilliant. Despite its weight, it's easy to handle. A Very Very good purchase for photographers who ask the best quality.

Similar Products Used:

None

-Smooth Firing
-Sharp pics w/ excellent color
-Can watch the pic as you shoot. Can catch people with eyes closed, etc.
-More control than a lot of other systems
-AFFORDABLE!
-Decently light...

-Non-interchangable backs
-No motorized drive

One of the better 2 1/4 camera's I've used. SQUARE FORMAT IS soooo much more unique. Doesn't jam up like many SLR. and of course, NO NOISE!!!

Must have one with me at all times!

Customer Service

?? Never had to call!

Similar Products Used:

-RB67 Pro-S
-Hassy 501CM

+Price (Value for money)
+Shutter operation
+Ease of Handling
+Performance of lenses

-Weight
-Not in production anymore
-Parallax

I own a C330f that I picked up in perfect condition, in the original box with plastics and polistyrene intact. This is my first Medium Format camera, and I can just kick myself for not moving up earlier (I was saving for a 'blad).
I've mainly used the camera for location portraiture, and the results are simply superb. After all the automation of my 35mm camera system, I was surprised by the ease of handling of this all-manual camera - it's simple to use and all controls are conveniently placed.

The negatives (Parallax, weight) and positives(shutter, handling), I think dictates to a certain extent what this camera is best to be used for - portraiture/weddings/etc and not sports/wildlife.

The strenghts of this camera system are low price,multipule lenses and large film size. Some strenghts that are not so quickly understood are that the camera and format encourage you to slow down and think about what you are doing and that you are often preceived as more professional(which sometimes helps when you need to trespass a little to get the shot you want).

The Mamiya C3 is very HEAVY.

I got the Mamiya C3 and 135mm lense at a camera show and picked up a 80mm and a 180mm at my local shop, with the grip it all cost less than $350. ANY OTHER medium format system would have cost much more than a guy with two little kids would ever let himslef spend on a hobby. I use this camera for mainly black and white which I develop and print myslef. I have gotten great results and I love being able to change my view with the different lenses.

Customer Service

Info is available at Mamiya and all over the web, good camera stores often have lenses and accessories(I got a classic wooden grip uot of a "junk" bin for $7.0.

Similar Products Used:

I have used many TLRs.

Rugged,reliable, interchangable lenses

a bit heavy, factory viewfinder is a bit dark , porrofinder usfull only in good light

I've done part-time weddings and portraits for over 20 years and have never found a camera I like better than my C220. Have used a C2 for a few years before getting C220. Like the double exposure prevention. Great enlargements.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya C2 Rolliflex/Tessar lens
Yashicamat 124G
various Graphics
Mamiya super 23 press
Yashica D

interchangeable lenses in a TLR. Excellent lens quality. Flash at every shutter speed. all the advantages of the 2 1/4 format.

Viewing screen could be brighter.Because of the weight I needed to buy a very sturdy tripod for my landscape Photography and that makes getting to difficult locations even more difficult.

I bought my C330 20 years ago and it was used then. I use it exclusivly for landscape photography and would NEVER use anything else. My enlargments go 20x20 and larger all with exacting sharpness. Most of my shots are long exposures so all the features like lack of camera shake due to leaf shutters, it's weight (which most people don't like), cable release features, multiple exposure availability and long, long depth of field on both the 80 (f32) and super 180(f45)really make this the one and only camera for what I do.I prefer this to any other camera I have and that includes a Leica,Rollie and 35mm Cannon elan

Customer Service

Never needed it. In 20 years , never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Yashica 124 mat
C220
Rolli

Durability... you could knock out a cow if you hit it with this thing...
The quality of the images is exceptional for the money.
The black lenses are still supported at mamiya, meaning you can get them fixed!
And, they are simple, simple, simple!

Weight I suppose, but it's not much of one.
The bellows are the main weak point as far as construction.
Parallax error, but it's easily correctable with a paramender...
and if you need to get a shot off quick, this is NOT the camera to do it with.

Excellent camera for the money, with great lenses and a big enough following that you might even be able to start a club!

Customer Service

Never had an issue, but the message board on mamiya is the easiest way to get a question answered.

Similar Products Used:

Yashicamat 124g
Kiev 88

- durable
- multiple exposure
- Use both 120/220 film
- interchangable lenses
- fairly accurate parallax error indicator
- capable of very close focus, parallax error can be corrected by using paramender.
- focusing knob on both side.

- heavy
- not ver ergonomic. When using a prism, I usually need to use a flash bracket.

A very high quality camera. I used this mostly for studio portraits, sometimes landscape. I feel this camera not very comfortable my heand because it is a heavy and "tall" camera. Therefore I do most of my works with a tripod. The focusing screen is not very bright. A split image focusing screen will help in low-light situation. Used lenses, prism, and accessories are readily available in used market. If you want to try out medium format photography with interchangable lenses and do not have enough money to get a hasselblad, try this one. You can spend less than $1000 for a complete system.

Last but not least, the lenses are very sharp! (I use 65, 80, and 180mm lenses)

Customer Service

Haven't tried before.

Similar Products Used:

YashicaMat 124G

Stone-axe technology breeds stone-axe reliability.
Lenses exhibit high acuity, contrast and a velvety range of tonality in skin tones.
With the absence of mirror flop and the focal plane shutter noise that some slrs exhibit, this camera is splendidly quiet. C220 with 55, 80, and 180 lenses boought used for roughly $1000.

I feel that the camera body is a little tall, and doesn't lend itself to hand-held action shots due to the rather awkward ergonomics.

Every year I review my camera needs and desires, with considerations for other cameras that may pique my interest, or additions to my C220 arsenal, and I always arrive at the same conclusion. The C220 that I own still looks and acts new, the 55, 80, and 180 lenses still surprise me with beautiful results, and I tell myself that this setup is still the boss. The camera is 33 years old and with care will probably outlive me.

Customer Service

Excellent so far. I needed some tiny screws for the diaghram lever and they promptly sent them free of charge.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 67II, ("KERPOW!" said the monster)