Mamiya C3 - advice welcome

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

TMAX 400 is a great film to start with, was my first one to dev. Make sure to leave in fixer a good 10 minutes,
though.

Congrats, Olivier! Smile

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Thx Bill.

Is it better to choose 400 asa ?

What about Tri-X 400, Ilford HP5 or FP4 or Delta 400, Fuji Neopan ?

Lloydy, on Amazon uk 15£ free delivery UK for 5x400TMax.
I just bought a pack of 5x400TMax for 25.21€ delivery included on amazon fr.

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

A couple of questions -

The 65mm lens comes with a square lens in a frame with two keyhole slots - I can see where the slots can fit onto the outside cover of the flip up viewfinder shade. I've figured out the way you press the center and the magnifier pops out, I can see a square hole in the back plate of the viewfinder shade. Logic tells me that I put the lens on the pins, flip the magnifier up, somehow jam the flap open ?and then view through the small opening in the back shade ? But I have a strong feeling I'm missing something here......how the hell does this viewfinder ACTUALLY fit on the camera, and how is it used ?

Question two, again about the viewfinder. The main lid - that forms the front of the shade and holds the magnifier - seems to lean forward rather than go to a vertical position, so the magnifier when it's folded out isn't parallel to the matte screen. Should it be ? and if that's the case, how is it adjusted ?

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

A bit late on this thread. I bought a C330 a while ago and bought a 180mm lens for it. I've put a test roll through it to check my work on the light seals, but I'm not convinced about this TLR. It's a bit of a clunky beast.

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Hello Lloydy.

Here is the owner's manual (Thx to butkus.org).
I feel it should answer some of your questions.

http://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_c3.pdf

In this pdf, some interesting answers and tips :
http://www.cameramanuals.org/mamiya_pdf/mamiya_c_guide.pdf

Here is the Mamiya owners manual page :
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya.htm

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Lloyd, magnifier should be parallel to viewing screen, use some rubber bands to gather
all the hood plates if they are sagging.

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

My new old c3 arrived in a big beautiful suitcase.
C3 body, 80mm f2.8 lens, leather suit and a nice piece serving to mount it on a tripod (?).
There is a B&W Ilford FP4 Plus 125 film whose date is october 2003.

Everything is functional. Only one thing : the seals are almost all gone. There's no game and the back closes well but I ordered a complete seals kit.

Bill, have I to wait for them to arrive or may I test the C3 using the old Ilford B&W film ? Smile

I have received the kit of 5x 400TMax. Wink

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Olivier, thanks for the links. I'd got the manual from Butkus, but the second link is excellent. Cool

Katasrofo, I think that's going to be the easy answer. I can see where the shroud has worn away against the stops and it would be a nightmare of tiny springs to take it apart and repair it, so the easy fix it is. Wink

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Olivier, it if were me, I would shoot that roll! Smile

yinyangbt · Expire: 2012-12-27

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Well, after I received the parcel some days ago, I found some time to post pictures about this huge cam.
Here they are : http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1254741.html#1254741

For 100€ euros, delivery included, I got this Mamiya C3 with its pouch, in its original huge case "Mamiya C Professional", with a Sekor 80mm f2.8 with its case, depth of field tables.

After I'll have done some cleaning, dust removal and change the seals, I'll shoot some rolls... Very Happy

I still can't believe I got all that for this price. Embarassed

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I finally got to use my C3 today, I got messed around by Bristol Cameras saying on their web site that certain films were in stock - they weren't, so I won't be using them again.
Then, when we went to the Lake District and Ian and I went for a play with cameras and lenses one day and I put two films in the C3 and instead of the winder turning a little way and stopping when I loaded, it kept turning until all the film was on the other spool Twisted Evil

I've got an old film that I practiced with and that worked perfectly Confused

So we used Ians Mamiyaflex instead.
Once I got home and the rest of the film arrived I tried again and it loaded just fine. So today I ran off a few frames. I'll finish it tomorrow.

I love using this camera, even after a few frames. Cool

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Yours is much nicer than mine, really nice condition, mine is rough but still works lovely, I have wanted one ever since I tried the one I relayed to Attila, just such a great experience to use, the finder is so bright and focus is a joy with the big aluminium knob and very matte screen.

Very glad yours is co-operating, it was just having one of those days, typical! Sad

The lever wind on yours is a big improvement over the knob and little lever you have to remember to press first on my older camera.

The 80mm lens I have is older than yours too, at least the coatings are different, mine are pale gold. Attila's had the later blue dot version and that was a very good performer with the roll of expired Provia 100 I shot with it. (converted to BW with Silverfx as it had a magenta colour cast due to poor storage.)

I'll have to develop the roll David and I shot asap, it was fun:

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Look forward your shoots David, stunning camera , enjoy!

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

That stiff cable release nearly had my out more than once, I've put a longer and more flexible on in the case now. Rolling Eyes

I'm sure Ian's used some ninja photoshop skills to give me a bald patch ! Laughing