Anybody here like a Yashica MAT 124G?

Steve Mack · Sep 14, 2011

This is the camera which I kept as my sole user when I venture into MF. I had a Mamiya 645 Pro manual focus, but it was too clunky, and while it took superb pictures, it got left behind so often that I traded it. But I really like the Yashica. I got it over 20 years ago, borrowed the money from my wife to pay for it, paid it back and have been using it off and on ever since. Any my daughter likes it too. Quietest shutter I've never heard on any camera!

Anyway, just askin'.

With best regards to all.

Stephen

Dan Daniel · Sep 14, 2011

The best camera is the one you use, enjoy using, and keep coming back to. Sure sounds like the Yashica-Mat is the best camera for you.

TLRs are the best for me, also. When I came back to film photography a few years ago, a Yashica-D was my first medium format camera, and I had a great time with it.

Laurent · Sep 14, 2011

I loved mine, but finally sold it as I did not use it enough after I had the Rolleiflex. But it's a very capable camera, and even the meter was fine enough for me on "normal" scenes.

Kevin Kehler · Sep 14, 2011

I have a couple of cameras and my 124G is one of my favorites. It is not the fastest lens, it cannot be reloaded with any speed and has a horrible close-focus distance (over 3 feet for mine). That said, it is light to carry, then lens is sharp enough for 8x10 enlargements, I take photos without being obvious and the shutter is nearly silent. I get more comments on it then I get on my RZ, including the dreaded "is that a new 3D camera?" comment. I also have more people stop to tell me about their dad/brother/uncle shooting Christmas with one, or just to reminisce. I think the best camera is the one you take with you; when I want to do my serious work, I use the RZ (and soon a 5x7) but when I am just heading out to the farmer's market or for a walk, it usually is with me.

I will admit I would sell it for a Rolliflex.

Robland · Sep 14, 2011

I'll take it

PM me and i'll send you my Seattle address. Thanks

Rick A · Sep 14, 2011

Are you looking to unload it, or are you waxing nostalgic about how much you love it and are seeking others with your sentiment? I have an affinity for Yashica TLR's though I currantly don't own any. I am particularly fond of the D, which is a basic machine with multiple exposure capability. The Mat 124's (non G) are super cameras, I've owned a Mat LM and a couple of D's.

Roger Cole · Sep 14, 2011

I have a 124 non-G. Love it.

Steve Mack · Sep 14, 2011

Sorry to disappoint anyone, but I'm just waxing nostalgic about the camera. I still use it and I was looking to see who else shared my lunacy...

With best regards,

Stephen

BrianL · Sep 14, 2011

I had a G that I bought new and used for some years until I traded it in for the first of my Rolleiflex cameras.

Roger Cole · Sep 14, 2011

Steve Mack said:
Sorry to disappoint anyone, but I'm just waxing nostalgic about the camera. I still use it and I was looking to see who else shared my lunacy...

With best regards,

Stephen

Don't see any lunacy about it. It's a great little camera. Small, light, very quiet and unobtrusive, pretty bright fresnel screen, nice little lens, easy to hand hold.

I've found it's replaced 35mm for a lot of my shooting. It gets perhaps 2/3s of the quality jump of my 4x5 but is far easier to carry around and quicker to use. I still love 4x5 when I go out with the purpose of shooting and have time to take my time, but most often grab the Yashica if going for a walk and think I might see something worth photographing. It was great for that walking around New Orleans.

yeknom02 · Sep 14, 2011

I love mine. In fact, I consider it nearly on par with my Hasselblad 500C/M. Not only that, but I'm much more comfortable carrying it around town than the Hassy, lest anything happen to it.

I picked it up here on APUG, actually.

fmajor · Sep 15, 2011

^yeknom02 - i hope you have your flame suit on - such comparisons are *guaranteed* to incite the fanboys......

guitstik · Sep 15, 2011

Both my G and the Mat are off to Mark Hama for a little CLA action. When he is done tho, my 10 year old son and I will be shooting them. The G still takes great pics even tho the meter has been long dead but it is long past due for a cleaning and the Mat is just not working. My son has been dying to shoot them so I figured I might as well so we can have some fun together.

But to answer your question I like em better than my Rollie cause they are user friendly and take great shots besides the fact I'm not afraid to ding them up unlike then Rollie.

PaulMD · Sep 15, 2011

Great cameras. The importance of lens-film rigidity and film flatness are greatly undersold, and the TLR format is an effective way to accomplish that. The Yashinon lenses are second tier optics but excellent for most practical uses, especially given the negative size. I currently own no TLRs but if I saw one at a good price I wouldn't hesitate.

The one major weakness is the wind system is somewhat prone to failure, usually letting the crank just wind forever without stopping and cocking the shutter.

PaulMD · Sep 15, 2011

yeknom02 said:
I love mine. In fact, I consider it nearly on par with my Hasselblad 500C/M. Not only that, but I'm much more comfortable carrying it around town than the Hassy, lest anything happen to it.

I picked it up here on APUG, actually.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit that your 124 is nearly as good as your H-blad. The fact of things is that unit variation is a major issue in manufacturing all optics. Somewhat famously, early Nikon rangefinder lens components were mixed and matched by hand to produce high quality optics. In the real world, it's entirely possible to get a Hblad lens that's been poorly repaired/collimated or slipped through quality control as a bad lens from the start (not saying yours is). Meanwhile, it's possible to get a 124 that's got a great lens. In the real world, this usually makes more of a difference than things like who made the lens. Sometimes the name buys you a little better quality control, but that's no guarantee.

Not to mention, your TLR has no mirror slap. Without MLU even the best damping can leave small amounts of vibration which can make sharp optics appear less so. There's also issues like ergonomics: if your grip or the way you hold the TLR makes it more stable, that could contribute too. If the Hblad back doesn't hold the film as flat as the 124 or the tolerances in the back are wrong and throwing off the plane of focus, the resolution won't be effectively delivered. The Planar is technically speaking a better lens (which really mostly affects wide-open performance at the edges), but optics are entirely at the mercy of the rest of the system.

To put it briefly, contrary to what the guy above was joking about, I find your results entirely plausible. Consider this the anti-flame

flash26c · Sep 15, 2011

I bought a 124G new in the early 70s. I shot a roll this week and all is well; my meter still works!

SafetyBob · Sep 15, 2011

I don't get to use the one I have enough. I am sending it to Mark as soon as I get back from the trip I am on (actually with a D too) for a CLA.

The 124G was the first "real" camera I learned to shoot with. I had a wonderful mentor with lots and lots of experience and wanted me to be an even better photographer than him (yes, that would have been a long shot at 17 compared to his late 50's). Unfortunately it was the schools and I bet it wasn't used again after I left after using it for close to a year.......found great copy with all the extra add-on close up and tele adapters in virtually like new condition and I get more from it looking at remembering those wonderful days when I really had my game on with that camera.

I simply cannot use it to photograph people the way I did 35+ years ago. I just can't focus fast enough and perhaps that's because the mirror isn't brand new like it was then in my copy.......since I chase a 3 1/2 year old around alot with some sort of camera, I need something I can focus faster.

For those times when I have the time, oh my, the photographs are nice, crisp and wonderful to enjoy. Love those big, beautiful negatives!!

Bob E.

BryceEsquerre · Sep 22, 2011

My grandfather gave me his dad's yashica mat with yashinon for free. i've just never shot with it. i think i'm going to get it cleaned up before i try.

Jeff Kubach · Sep 23, 2011

I don't have a Yashica but I do have a Rolleiflex 2.8 which I really like.

Jeff

Chrismat · Sep 23, 2011

I don't have a Yashica Mat, but I do have a Yashica 24. What I did to improve its performance is flock the area behind the rear of the lens to about a quarter of an inch where films is to be exposed. It works wonders. I don't know much about the later Y's TLRs but I was having trouble with flare even using a lens hood. After some research I found a few posts on how to use the flocking material, not difficult at all. I can honestly say that I can't see any difference between some of the shots I've taken with the Y 24 compared to my Autocord and the Rolleiflex T I used to have (sold the T for a Graflex RB I've been wanting for a while). Flocking improves the contrast, but of course, a lens hood still should be used.

Yashica Electros can have the same problem so I've been flocking those too. The earlier Lynxs don't seem to have the flare problem as much but I've been flocking those as well. I even flocked the Autocord!

I should change my handle to Flocking Guy.

fmajor · Sep 24, 2011

Nice Chrismat - you're flocking everywhere!!!

Ian Grant · Sep 24, 2011

First MF camera I used was a 124G back around 1970, I swapped cameras for a weekend getting the 124G in return for my Zenit E. Made me raelise MF was for me when I could afford it.

Much later, about 5 years, ago I bought a 124 and prefer it to most of my other 120 cameras, the exception being my Rolleiflex - but then it is less precious and a rael user camera. Graet fun.

Ian

narsuitus · Sep 25, 2011

Many years ago, I was introduced to the Yashica TLR when a photographic studio supplied me with one to shoot weddings, parties, and other social events.

I also used it as a backup to my SLR when shooting for the local newspaper. Once it saved me when my SLR broke while I was hundreds of feet in the air covering the maiden voyage of a new aircraft recently acquired by the university. The images I was able to capture were so good that I was never again satisfied with 35mm black & white image quality.

ColdEye · Sep 25, 2011

I use a Yashica D and I am really enjoyinh it. The shutter is so quite, and the resilts using it wide open are just right for me.

Anybody here like a Yashica MAT 124G?

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