Mamiyaflex-c

[majicman]

Came home today with a Mamiyaflex-c. I have been eying this camera at the used camera store that I'm a regular at and today I asked how much he wanted for it and he told me to make him an offer he can't refuse, so I said $40.00 or 20.52 GBP and he said OK and I walked out the door saying WOW. I like that store.
I think the lens is an 80-135. Overall it is pretty clean with the normal signs of wear for a camera of this age. I assume its about 50 years old. I like Mamyia cameras this is my third one. I have the C220f and a 35mm 1000DTL. Does anyone else here have a Mamyiaflex and if so what can you tell me about this camera.







My buddy here thinks he is going to be the first to use it.

[doubs43]

VERY nice, Majicman. If all works as it should, that's one heck of a deal. However, you'll need to put the magnifier down if you plan on focusing with it!

Walker

[PeterW]

Hi majicman,

I'm pretty sure that what you've got is the first of the Mamiya range of professional TLRs with interchangeable lens panels. I think it was introduced about 1957 and was the first, and as far as I know the only, 6x6 TLR range to have interchangeable lenses. I think there were six or seven lens panels available ranging from 55mm to 250mm.

Over the years the model progressed, the C2, C3, C220 and C330. They weren't cheap, and as each lens panel carried two lenses and a shutter a complete outfit was horribly expensive. There was also Porroflex prism finder and another gadget that fitted in the viewing hood and automatically adjusted for parallax. Quite a system. I don't know whether or not the lens panels and accessories for the later cameras will fit the earlier ones.

I haven't got one now, but I used a C330 for a time, lovely camera to use but quite heavy and bulky compared with something like a Rollei or a Hasselblad, as you'll know if you've got a C220.

Anyway, you got a bargain!

PeterW