Camera type

Medium-format TLRs

A twin-lens reflex has two matched lenses, one above the other. You compose on a focusing screen through the top lens, looking down into a hood at waist level, while the bottom lens takes the picture through a quiet leaf shutter. No mirror moves, so the screen stays visible as you shoot, but the image is reversed left to right and close up the two lenses see slightly different views. Most TLRs have a fixed lens and shoot 6×6 on 120. Mamiya's C-series is a rare exception, with lenses that swap.

3 cameras we cover.