Inexpensive intro to medium format, aka the failure of the Pocket Kodak.

I really miss my C33, wish i wouldn't have sold it. It was a tank, and produced wonderful images. I think you'd like it.

The C33 was a more robust camera than the later C330's but all Mamiya TLR's suffer from wear on the wind mechanism and may need parts replaced so you need to be careful. I liked my C33 & C3 but they were stolen in the early 1980's, I find the Yashicamat 124 more fun to use, it's lighter and smaller but of course doesn't have interchangeable lenses.

Ian

Look for something like Balda. I just got a Balda Super Baldax from a Dealer, had a CLA, and working perfectly, comes with coupled rangefinder, and paid £59 GBP, also the Ensign Selfix range, with the wonderful Ross express lens, terrific cameras, I have 3, including a 820, and paid under a £100GBP for each one, they are all working perfectly, no rangefinder with them, but you can pick up shoe mounted rangefinders £10 to £15, I have a Ikonta B, again very simple but a great lens, and paid under £30 for it, and I am just looking at some of my personal collection of working folders that are in use all the time, I have never paid more than £90 for any, and that was for an Ensign Commando, 1948, built in rangefinder and uncoated lens in perfect working order, and all from dealers, so you do not have to pay an arm and a leg for MF, just look around,
Richard

Interchangable lenses is an advantage of the C33 over the Yashica TLR plus as someone said the Yashica lens is four element, whereas the 80mm lens of the C33 is five element, and likely sharper.

I'm just speaking for myself here, but I've never been particularly drawn to the Mamiya TLRs precisely *because* of the interchangeable lenses. They seem sort of at odds with the "light, straightforward, no complications" gestalt of the TLR concept, and I do the vast majority of my shooting with a normal lens anyway. That's not to say they aren't wonderful cameras---by all accounts they are---but it seems to me like a strange direction to go with a TLR specifically.

-NT

Dont overlook the Mamyia Press of Konica Rapid, pro level gear, excellent lens, just a littile heavy.

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Originally Posted by powasky

I just got my first roll developed from my Pocket Kodak, and unfortunately, none of the shots came out. The camera was a pain the butt to use anyway, so I'm looking to get something new to shoot with. I'd like to spend less than $250, have anything but 645 negs, would like a usable viewfinder and a tripod mount. I've been on certo6's site, but the amount of choices there are overwhelming. Perhaps you guys could give me a few options to explore. I would prefer something compact, which is why I'm considering a folding bellows camera.

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Just out of curiosity, what is the model of the "pain in the butt Kodak"?

If you search this forum there is a plethora of questions the same as yours without covering the same ground yet again.

Well, I have been very pleased with my K88. I have been lucky I guess because I have only had one poor lens, the rest are very sharp except the 150 wide open when it gives portraits a pleasing soft look.

Plus the communist insignia on the lenses make them look pretty cool. They are a crap shoot though so buy from a reputable place.

I appreciate the fact that no one suggested the Holga or Diana to the OP.

A Rolleicord Vb might be within your price range.