A TLR for my daughter.

bjorke · Nov 24, 2004

I still have a 124G that I started using in High School... and it was second-hand then! I'm not sure if 220 is really going away, but only Kodak makes 220 B&W film any more. Just bought another propack of Tri-X on Saturday

For historical perspective, Diane Arbus shot most of her later work on a Mamiya TLR. Avedon worked for years with just a Rolleiflex before switching to 8x10 (interchangeable lenses be damned, heh).

titrisol · Nov 24, 2004

Get a Ricohflex (I have a Super Ricohflex)
Great TLRs, the "Sleeper" type. They still sel comparatively cheap and their quality is comparable to any other TLR.
Rikennon lenses are pretty good, kinda slow though.

Robert Budding · Dec 27, 2004

Minolta Autocord

I recently purchased a Minolta Autocord CDS III in near mint condition for $200. The focus is stiff, so I'm sending it off this week to Ross Yerkes for a CLA. The CDS III will take 220 film, too, and the Citizen shutter is very easy to service, unlike the shutters on some of the other Autocord models. I haven't shot any pictures yet, but I can say that the ergonomics seem excellent.

Robert

modafoto · Dec 29, 2004

Consider a Seagull. I like these and think they are a great entry-level TLR.

http://shop.lomography.com/seagull/

Woolliscroft · Dec 29, 2004

I asked a similar question here a month or two ago when my wife asked for a TLR for Christmas. I eventually got her a Seagull with a promise that she could have something better next year if she really got on with TLR photography. She seems to be getting nice results from it, although the handling jump from her EOS and OMs was a bit of a culture shock at first.

David.

Phillip P. Dimor · Jan 9, 2005

I like my Ricohmatic 225. It's pretty much comparable to the Autocord.
I paid $80 for mine in beaten condition.
Should have paid less but after an afternoon of CLA'ing, it's a great little TLR.
It does have a fantastically BRIGHT finder.
I don't bother with the meter, I use my handheld anyhow.

The ricohflexes are great knockaround cameras.

MattCarey · Jan 9, 2005

I know it is a tangent to this thread, but...

When I think of medium format and small/light I think of something like a Mockba folder. They fold up small, cheap, fit in purse or diaper bag, and can give big 6x9 negatives. Purchased from someone reputable, they are reasonable purchases.

Matt

Tom Stanworth · Jan 9, 2005

I sold a 'cord Va to pay for 10x8 kit. Gorgeous and wil be missed. GREAT results, soft wide open and ripping sharp below f11. My (free) yashica is die cast junk in comparison. A mintish 'cord is cheap, well made and a great performer.

jimgalli · Jan 10, 2005

Tom, I was interested to hear that comparison between the 'cord and the Yashica. I actually bought both and ended up giving the Yash to Tina simply because it was in perfect order and the 'cord will need a shutter service. I didn't expect much difference between 2 Japanese 75mm Tessars. In any case Tina's just developing her first roll of B/W as we speak, so she's on her way so to speak.

Tom Stanworth · Jan 10, 2005

I'm suer then Yashica lenses are good, but then again my 'cord was perfect, times accurate etc. I dropped both together once -result.........cord-zero damage............Yashica, bent and mangled due to soft as putty cheap metal and dislodges mirror -easily re-seated.

127 · Jan 10, 2005

Tom Stanworth said:
I'm suer then Yashica lenses are good

Yashica used three lens designations.

Yashimar, and Yashikor are both three element
Yashinon is a 4 element (tessar type).

It's generally agreed the Yashinon's are really good, and the Yashimar's are really bad. Disagreement occurs with the Yashikor. Some people will insist that the three element Yashica lenses should all be avoided, while others insist their Yashikor is great.

I've got a few Yashikor's and I think they're pretty good. I suspect the Yashimar gave the Yashica 3 element lenses such a bad rep that no one wanted to touch another one.

To complicate things some 4 elements were actually labeled as Yashikor.

Ian

SteveGangi · Jan 10, 2005

I used to have a 124G, now I have a 12. Both had/have the 4 element Yashinon lens. All I can say is, I sold the 124 G, and I kept the 12. They can shoot very very sharp pictures, and are fully manual. Just use a decent light meter instead of the one on the camera.

mablo · Sep 14, 2009

I have a Rolleicord V and a Yashica 124G plus a Ricoh Diacord L. Can't say much about the latter one yet but comparing the Rolleicord and Yashica 124G I think they are more or less equal in terms of lens quality. Both are very sharp. Cord is lighter and feels better in my hands but Yashica is simpler to use because of the crank.

Edit: Oh my.. I just realised I resurrected an ancient thread...

benjiboy · Sep 14, 2009

Trade

jimgalli said:
She's not very big and I'm thinking Minolta Autocord. Did I read someplace that the lenses on these are a 5 element heliar type?

On First reading " A TLR for my daughter" my first thought was " I wonder if I could trade one for one of my sons" or am I just being cynical ?

Pumal · Sep 14, 2009

I agree with the rest; Yashicamat is your best bet

jovo · Sep 14, 2009

My gosh, this thread is 5 years old. How did things turn out with your daughter then, Jim?

elekm · Sep 14, 2009

You know, you said she was small, I was wondering if that meant she was young or physically small. But I see that you meant physically small.

I also like the idea of a Yashicamat or Rolleicord, although a Rolleiflex Automat is always a good camera -- and obviously much copied.

darinwc · Sep 14, 2009

Jim's daughter mainly used her cell phone for pics..
Meanwhile Jim has gone TLR crazy and has put a 2nd mortgage on his house to pay for them all.
J/K

Soeren · Sep 15, 2009

But is there such a thing as a TLR with a petzwal lens?
And has Jims grandson outweighted his mother by now?

A TLR for my daughter.

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