Mamiya's interchangeable-lens 6x6 TLR — lighter C-series body, paired leaf-shutter lenses, bellows focus, 1966.
The Mamiya C22 is a medium-format twin-lens reflex from Mamiya, a mid-1960s model in the interchangeable-lens C-series. It sat as a simpler, lighter alternative to the flagship C33 of the same era, keeping the C-series interchangeable paired-lens system in a more compact body.
It is a twin-lens reflex shooting 6x6cm square frames on 120 roll film, twelve per roll. It takes interchangeable paired lenses on the Mamiya C bayonet, with taking and viewing lenses swapped together and each lens carrying its own leaf shutter. Focusing is by a bellows moving the lens board, allowing close focusing, and composition is through a waist-level finder on the ground-glass screen.
The C-series is the interchangeable-lens professional TLR, and the C22 suits portrait, landscape, studio and general medium-format work where the option to change focal length is valued, in a slightly lighter package than the C33. Bellows focusing supports close-up work. It remains larger and heavier than a fixed-lens TLR, with each paired-lens unit adding bulk.
When buying a used C22, check the taking and viewing lenses separately for haze, fungus and separation, and confirm the lens-lock and mount seat the paired lens securely. Fully extend the bellows and inspect for pinholes and light leaks. Test each lens's leaf shutter and aperture, verify the film-wind and counter, and inspect the ground glass for brightness and the focus mechanism for smooth travel.