Mamiya’s C3 TLR film camera body is equipped with the dual-lens attachment points that characterize a twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera. The dual-lens arrangement uses its bottom lens as its exposure point, containing the camera’s shutter, and the top lens is part of the camera’s viewfinder system. Professional photographers back in the 1960s often enjoyed using TLR cameras because it is held at waist height rather than at eye level. The top lens has a mirror that projects the framed image up to the viewfinder at the top, allowing the photographer to keep his or her face clear while shooting a subject. Perfect for any shooting scenario in which the photographer wants to have a closer connection with the subject, Mamiya’s C series is a true retro classic. These cameras originated in the mid-19th century, and their look and feel reflect that era’s design. Born out of the Mamiyaflex body developed in the 1950s, the Mamiya C3 hit the market in 1962. The company made several incremental updates to the C series throughout the 1960s, releasing the C33 in 1965 and the C330 in 1969. Bricklike and bulky, Mamiya’s C series were popular among photographers who preferred using ISO 120 film. This medium format film is perfect for studio photography and other still shooting scenarios. It makes sense, then, that this C3 device, with its combination of waist-height shooting and medium-format film, was a popular choice among studio photographers of the day. While some other models in the C series have knob winders, the C3 has a charming vintage crank winder that adds more of a retro look to the body and makes the shooting process feel authentically analog. If you prefer a crank winder, stick with the C series models that include the number 3; the C33 and C330 cameras both have one. Professional photographers who wish to use the C3 must purchase additional accessories to make it functional, and lenses should be at the top of this list. Mamiya manufactured several lenses that are compatible with the C3 model, including some chrome-trimmed options in varying focal lengths. Of these, 80mm and 180mm lenses are among the most popular for the C series. As an early addition to Mamiya’s catalog of cameras, the C3 has a manual shutter cocking device for its leaf shutter. This manual camera has a charming look and feel, thanks to its accordion-like side bellows and twin lenses. Using this device results in excellent portrait-style photos with a distinct retro quality that’s the perfect antidote to the machine-like crispness of today’s digital photography. This may not be the ideal point-and-shoot camera for instant gratification, but artists who want to capture that retro look and enjoy a true analog experience for their studio shoots will not miss out on this awesome old-style device.