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Mamiya C330 / C330 Pro F / C330 Pro S

Draw a Venn diagram of medium format cameras with one circle being interchangeable lens cameras and the other being twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras. Not much of an overlap is there? But if you look very closely, there's one set of cameras at that intersection: the Mamiya C series. Beginning with the Mamiyaflex C, Mamiya introduced a series of ten TLRs between 1956 and 1983 that became as sought-after for their durability as for their ability to make impressive images.

All of the Mamiya C Series cameras feature automatic film loading and advancing, which was fairly standard in the medium format cameras of the day. What separates these cameras from others is that the film never has to make any bends as it feeds from the supply spool to the take-up spool. This helped the film stay especially flat and with the pressure plate on the rear door, these cameras are remarkable in their ability to keep the film plane very flat.

The most striking feature of the Mamiya C cameras, though, are the bellows. With an especially long bellows draw, the Mamiya C cameras can achieve remarkably close focus.

The lenses that Mamiya created for these cameras run the gamut from 55mm to 250mm focal lengths. Given that range, there's almost no shooting situation that these cameras can't handle.

The Mamiya C330 was released in 1969 and was the seventh camera in this system. Improvements introduced with the C3 (and retained on the C33 and C330) included a self-cocking shutter. Prior versions of this camera had a separate film advance and, but for C330 users, advancing the film and re-cocking the shutter were combined.

As with all TLR cameras, the problem of parallax needed to be addressed. Mamiya gave users of the C330 a parallax correction needle that moved up and down on the focusing screen as the photographer focused the front standard.

The C330 in particular has interchangeable focusing screens so that users are able to choose between six different screens. Several types of hoods and prism finders are also available. All of these features add up to a camera system that may be configured for virtually any photo shoot from studio to street.

Even with the incremental changes and advancements that Mamiya rolled out in the nearly three decade production run of the Mamiya C Series, it's a cinch that any one of these cameras can provide years of use and enjoyment. With more lens options than any other TLR and closer focusing than other SLRs, Mamiya C users will not have to pick one part of the Venn diagram.

Mamiya rolled out two updates to the original C330. The C330 Professional f added a second shutter release button on the "chin" of the camera and uses the Type 2 waist level finder. The C330 Professional S made use of a different style focusing screen that was not compatible with earlier models of the C330 and Mamiya removed the interchangeable film back.

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Bergger Pancro Film Friday Featurette

While we really do enjoy the Bergger Pancro films, we have to admit, it took awhile for that fondness to grow. The film has a very distinct look to it. When handled right, the results can be lovely.⁠ The absolute best thing about Bergger is the film's tonal range. It has wonderful midtones and does a great job preserving highlight detail as well. While we have used the film in a wide variety of situations, our favorite conditions for Bergger are times of high contrast. It's a great film for some nighttime cityscapes, with their deep shadows and bright lights. The film also works well under direct summer sunlight. In both cases, you end up with images that have a beautiful range across their midtones and highlights that don't run away from you.⁠

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If there is an element in which Bergger struggles a bit, it is in its shadows. Bergger Pancro shadows often tend toward muddy and not very deep. They often need a bit of work to get to the nice, rich blacks you might prefer. Don't worry, a bit of work in the analog or digital darkroom will get you there, and the final result will be well worth the effort.⁠ Don't let Bergger's softer shadows dissuade you, just anticipate them.⁠

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Tofik and His Mamiya C330

One of the best parts of our job, and most important parts of our business, is our participation in the photography community. This community is a wide network, of which Blue Moon Camera is but a single node. The network is comprised of several other parts: galleries, schools, and photo clubs... to name just a few.

One of the clubs we have had close workings with for several years now is the Clark College PhotoClub. It is largely involved with the photography students at Clark College, but makes itself available to the community as a whole, and it is regularly attended by several alumni as well. The Clark College PhotoClub has had many student leaders over the years, and in 2018, its driving force was this fellow here - Tofik Ahmad. Tofik's enthusiasm for promoting photography up at Clark has been both tireless and incredibly important. He organizes frequent lectures and club activities to keep its members educated and inspired.

The efforts of photographers such as Tofik, running, maintaining, and pouring themselves into clubs like this often goes unsung, but it is important work. The Clark College PhotoClub - and all the other clubs out there like it - have given countless photographers a place to learn, grow, and thrive. As we see more schools reducing their photography programs, particularly in terms of analog photography, the opportunities that these clubs offer becomes even more vital.

So, thank you Tofik for all the hard work you have done and continue to do!

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Through. The. Lens.

The world looks so magical through a waist-level viewfinder.

Enjoy Mamiya C330

Twin lens reflex cameras (TLRs) are awesome. Within this photographic distinction, the Mamiya C330 is a TLR in a class of its own. You can change lenses. It focuses at close distances. It has built-in parallax correction. It is built like a tank and has superb optics... What more could you want?

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Mamiya C330f

The Mamiya C330 is a TLR with interchangeable lenses?! What more could you possibly want?

The Exceptional Mamiya C330

The Mamiya C330 is an exceptional camera. It has interchangeable lenses, parallax correction, a closer minimum focusing distance than practically any other TLR (except for other Mamiya's), it has rugged construction, and gorgeous optics. This particular C330 was also, apparently, cursed. While it was technically in our inventory, it was also undergoing an exorcism. This is not a service we generally advertise, but it is something that we offer when the need arises. Camera repair? No problem. Laying hands on cursed cameras to bring about their healing? We got ya covered there too.

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Mamiya C330

There is a nickname for the Mamiya TLR cameras, "the poor man's Hasselblad." It comes from the fact that these cameras are well built, like Hasselblads, have excellent optics, like Hasselblads, and are very affordable... but, it is still an unfair nickname. Despite the problematic and deeply classist sentiment of the nickname, the Mamiya TLRs are too much of their own cameras to deserve to live in the shadows of Hasselblad. They are some of the only interchangeable lens twin lens cameras out there. They are able to focus closer than your average TLR. They are built like tanks. And yes, the optics are amazing. If you want to make a TLR the centerpiece of your camera arsenal, these are one of the best and most versatile options out there.

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