Street (sidewalk) Photography w/ a Mamiya 330f

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Hello. I recently purchased a Mamiya 330f TLR. Does anyone have any experience using this camera for Street photagraphy and general city photography? Thank you.

F. Timothy Knapik

-- Francis T. Knapik (fknapik@mail.nysed.gov), July 22, 1998

Answers

The mamaya 330 can be great for street photog.as long as you have a strong back.It is large and obtrusive but on the other hand you are not looking directly at your subject. Prior to slrs Some of the greatest street photographers used tlrs.Go for it and have fun. Dave small

-- david small (dsmall9917@aol.com), July 24, 1998.

I have used a Mamiya C220 on a number of occasions for street photography and had a gas. I use a simple hand grip to help stabilize it and shoot the same way as with a 35mm using odd angles, slow shutter speeds and even movement. The freedom from the 'tyranny of the tripod' is refreshing, however you may have some trouble being inconspicous as people love the looks of the TLR and it attracts attention.

-- Andy Laycock (agl@intergate.bc.ca), July 24, 1998.

Yeah, do it. The fact that the camera is conspicuous actually helps to engage people because it's clear to them that you can't possibly be trying to hide what you're doing, and as someone else noted the nostalgic appearance provides a cheap conversational gambit. The fact that you use it at waist level also means that you aren't hiding your face behind a chunk of metal, which gives you the opportunity to smile. And it also presents a more child-like and less judgmental point of view. People look more monumental when your eyes are three feet off the ground. It's not so easy to editorialize about them from a safe height.

Also, the square format can be pretty stolid and stodgy, but it's very unstable. Give it just a bit of tilt or off-centered wackiness and you get instant Winogrand-like dynamism without going to the extremes that the rectangular format requires. This mainly works with the 55 or 65 lenses, though. 80mm looks more cool and detached.

-- Colin Potts (potts@cc.gatech.edu), March 05, 1999.


Hey, Colin - fancy seeing you here!

Anyway: I have been shooting "street" with a Yashicamat 124G and a Mamiya C220 (same size as C330, much lighter, fewer gears...) for a couple of years now. I like it a lot, for several reasons. I love the square format; the ability to go wide (not available on the Ymat). You have to be out there deliberately "on assignment" because the ungainly size is by no means convenient to just carry around. Which is unfortunate since I always see opportunities when I don't have my main camera with me (as tourist, etc.). And all the things Colin said about not being able to hide what you are doing. It's a great conversation starter (because its "old-timey"). It's not a Holga.

Don Minton

www.geocities.com/~minton2

-- don minton (minton2@mindspring.com), March 28, 1999.


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