Sadly the time has come for me to say goodbye to an old and faithful friend, my Mamiya C220 Professional TLR.
The 6×6 format was my entry into the world of medium format from 35mm. It also represented a step change in my photo thinking. Working in 36 mm it was all a bit of a buzz, a tendency to dart about a bit too much, a little too over eager to get on to the next shot.
With the move up to roll film, the situation became a little more considered, perhaps even thoughtful, A few things brought this about, the size and weight of the equipment added a certain stateliness to the proceedings and then there was the limit of twelve images to a roll of 120 film. I now had to start thinking about what I wanted to do, what was the story I wanted to put across, how economical and pared back could I make my narrative?
The rewards were soon to be appreciated as I developed my first roll of film , B&W naturally, and examined what seemed to be the marvellously large and detailed negatives. This was followed up by seeing the same negatives projected down from the enlarger onto the focussing screen.
It was the same story with slide film. My first results were a little rough as Fuji Velvia can be a little more demanding than Ilford’s HP5+ . Though I soon began to gain an understanding of the techniques needed and this payed off with a slow but steady increase in my image sales to magazines and photo libraries.
Alas though our beautiful romance was heading towards the rocks of technology as digital began to take over and edge film into the margins. I took the plunge into digital but kept using the Mamiya but as is the way of these things, demands on my time left less time for my twin lensed friend.
So the crunch time has come, the camera has sat unused just a little too long in it’s case in my office and it’s time for me to stop being selfish and let someone else have the fun of the big rolls of film. My mind is made up and deed has been done and somewhere on an internet auction site my Mamiya 220 waits patiently for it’s next owner.
That’s not to say that sometime in the future I may be passing a camera shop, look in and suddenly feel the need to hold a large, heavy camera in my hands again.
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Categories: Design, Photography, Studio, Uncategorized
Tags: Black& white photography, cameras, film cameras, Mamiya 220, medium format, photography, roll film
lachlansimages 
I will also miss you having that camera, you took some wonderful pictures with it!
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