Early Yashica Mat or Rollei.

Ektagraphic · Feb 25, 2010

Here's this story. I can get a Yashica Mat with a early Lumaxar lens (one supposedly made by Rollei) that is in mint condition with a great case and many accessories or should I try to find an Rollei at a great price but have to have it CLA'd. The Yashica was just CLA'd by Mark Hamma. Which route should I go?
Thanks,
Patrick

Q.G. · Feb 25, 2010

When did Rollei make Lumaxar lenses???

If funds permit, i would get a Rollei. A 'Flex, not a 'Cord.

Vaughn · Feb 25, 2010

I'd get a 'flex or a 'cord. The difference between a Rollei and a Yashica is the difference between a Porsche http://www.chooseyouritem.com/exotics/photos/59500/59607.1967.porsche.912.jpg and a Karmann Ghia http://www.nextcar.com.au/e.i.2006.mfs.vw.karmann.ghia.3954.r.00.60.JPG

Both look somewhat similar, both will get you where you want to go, but viva le differance! (excuse my French). One is fine tuned machine, the other is not. One you will keep and use for a lifetime, the other you will use until you get something better, then it will sit in a drawer.

Vaughn

Larry Bullis · Feb 25, 2010

Vaughn's right. My Yashimat is, well, I'm not sure where it is, might be in a drawer (or a bag). Really ought to sell it.

I worked at a school once where we checked yashicas out to students. They got fairly heavy use, and students are very hard on equipment. We could keep them going with occasional trips to the shop.

Check out Rolleis to students? Never!

Vaughn · Feb 25, 2010

We check out two 'cord Vb's to students...makes me a bit worried and I go over the cameras with the students very carefully. We "inherited" them from the University PR department and I had them CLA up in Portland. I hate to see them go unused and I learned to photograph with a 3.5E.

We had two Yashicas for check out many years ago. The same student ended up dropping both of them one right after the other. AAAARRRRGGGGGG!!!!!

Anyone who mis-uses one of the Rolleicords will be banned from checking out anything but the roughest equipment for the remainder of his/her student career.

Ektagraphic · Feb 25, 2010

Well, Rollei it is. Now...to try to bid on one for about $250.....I know that this will most likely never happen but I'll keep trying.

Ektagraphic · Feb 25, 2010

Is is really necessary to get a model with a hood loupe? I know that with my Mamiya M645 I am always using the loupe to check my focus when shooting......Which model??? Is the Automat good? It seems to be the least expensive of the 'flex. I am not going with a Rolleicord. If I am going to go, I am going to go the whole way.

Vaughn · Feb 25, 2010

Keep an eye out on Craigs List -- someone is bound to sell off their Dad's equipment and in there will be a mint Rollei! A student of ours just bought (2 days ago) off of the local Craig's List a mint Rolleiflex 3.5E Type 2 (Serial # 1850000-1869999 from 1957-59. 75mm Xenotar lens) for $400 which include original lens cap, strap, leather case (needs sewing like they all do) and some etc's. Also thrown in was a Nikon consumer-grade 35mm SLR and lenses (3) that he will sell to another student.

Vaughn

PS...The cords are as well made as the flexes. Just less bells and whistles and perhaps not the top end lenses, but good ones.

ic-racer · Feb 25, 2010

I use a Yashica 124G, a Rolleicord and a 2.8F Planar. If the frame outline is not in the print I can't tell which camera took the picture.

Helcio Tagliolatto · Feb 25, 2010

Early Mats are not a very good idea. But after Yashica have bougth (or joined) Tomioka, a big turn ocurred. The Tomioka-made Yashinons are excellent by all means. I can't understand why they didn't make them multicoated in the early 80's. Tomioka made some of the best lenses for Contax , under Zeiss label. It was (and still is) the finesse of japanese melting-and-grinding optics.

Sure, Rollei mechanic parts are superior.

Jeff L · Feb 25, 2010

There was a rumour the Lumaxar's might have been German made and shipped to Japan for Yashica TLRs. Maybe an urban legend.
There is nothing wrong with Yashica (mat) at all. Rolleiflexes are superior. I have both, and the Yashica is capable of great results. Rollei's are special though. The Automats are great and come with a Tessar or Xenar - 6 of one a half dozen of the other as far as lens quality goes.

2F/2F · Feb 25, 2010

I'd get neither, and wait to find the C330 you said you are looking for!

Vaughn · Feb 25, 2010

Another country heard from....LOL!

Dali · Feb 25, 2010

Yes, Yashica Mat are fine but Rollei (flex or cord) plays in another league. Both takes pictures but the quality feeling is really different.

BTW, forget the C330 unless you don't care the extra weight.

dpurdy · Feb 25, 2010

your money is safer in a Rollei than it is in the stock market.

Laurent · Feb 26, 2010

Dali said:
Yes, Yashica Mat are fine but Rollei (flex or cord) plays in another league.

I used both for some time (started with a Yashica Mat 124, got the Rollei when the 'Mat qwas out for a CLA) and finally sold the Yashica at a loss (the price of the CLA, plus some accessories I included) because, as Vaughn said, it ended up sitting on the shelf for months while the Rollei was used every day...

I can't tell a picture from the Yashica and one from the Rollei, but the feeling when using them is MUCH different.

Ian Grant · Feb 26, 2010

Like others I use both, the later Yashicamat's 124 & 124G are excellent cameras and great lenses, a bit lighter than a Rollei and definitely not the same build quality, but the images produced are indistinguishable.

My Yashicamat gets used far more than the Rollei mainly because it's less precious, the Rollei is mint despite being almost 50 years old so gets left just for use when I'm in the UK.

Whatever you buy check the shutter speeds out thoroughly becasue older camera's may well need a CLA.

Ian

MXSolomon21 · Feb 27, 2010

I use a 1951 Rollei MX, you could say I'm biased due to that, but go with the Rollei. Its a fine piece of German engineering. It may be a bit heavier and more expensive, but in the long run it is the superior camera. Sure, Yashicas are great and damn similar, but Rolleis just have a certain aura to them, and hold their value well. They also have a good amount of helpful accessories, more professional and adaptable in my eyes.

Either is a good camera, but the Rollei is more refined & professional.

BobD · Feb 27, 2010

Ektagraphic said:
Here's this story. I can get a Yashica Mat with a early Lumaxar lens (one supposedly made by Rollei) that is in mint condition with a great case and many accessories or should I try to find an Rollei at a great price but have to have it CLA'd. The Yashica was just CLA'd by Mark Hamma. Which route should I go?
Thanks,
Patrick

A mint Yashica-Mat CLA'd by Mark Hama is a prize, my friend.

The "Lumaxar" was Yashica's earlier name for the Yashinon. It was not made
by Rollei but was basically a copy of the Zeiss designed Tessar -- a fine lens.

Ektagraphic · Mar 10, 2010

Just wanted to let you guys know that I went with the Rollei and got one for a steal at $200. I went for an Automat...more specifically model K4B.... I am thrilled with the camera. I can't wait to shoot with it....I just got it. What a beauty! I don't mind at all it doesn't have a meter....Kind of better that way I think. I think the Rollei look sexier without the meter. I love the mirrored lens caps. Does this serve a purpose or was it just a design? Also I have heard of people having their rollei's alligned...is this something I must do?

jmcd · Mar 10, 2010

"Also I have heard of people having their rollei's alligned...is this something I must do?"

Try shooting it wide open at close focus and see if it prints super sharp. Otherwise the taking lens may not be in spec with the viewing lens. Only a few Rollei repair people have the actual Rollei optical equipment used to align these lenses. If they do, they can also align the taking lens axially.

Ektagraphic · Mar 10, 2010

If I took out one of the lenses and put it back which may have been a bad idea, did I screw up alignment? I can't be sure that it is as far back in the camera as the other.

Prest_400 · Mar 10, 2010

Ah, you bring me memories. I was hunting for one of those last year, but I've decided to settle on 35mm.

Ektagraphic said:
If I took out one of the lenses and put it back which may have been a bad idea, did I screw up alignment? I can't be sure that it is as far back in the camera as the other.

It may be probable that it's a bit misaligned, a millimeter farther or closer may be problematic at wider apertures.
Without shooting, there is a method for checking focus with a piece of groundglass or focusing screen. Putting a GG on the focal plane and focus. Check the WLF GG and compare the focusing on both. If one of them is focused and the other isn't, there is a misalignment.

jmcd · Mar 10, 2010

"If I took out one of the lenses and put it back which may have been a bad idea, did I screw up alignment?"

If you don't have the Rollei optical equipment, this was probably not a good idea. Still, nothing that can't be set right, if that is revealed to be necessary.

Shoot some test shots and use a tripod. If they are not very sharp, there is a problem that can be addressed.

Ektagraphic · Mar 10, 2010

Prest_400 said:
It may be probable that it's a bit misaligned, a millimeter farther or closer may be problematic at wider apertures.
Without shooting, there is a method for checking focus with a piece of groundglass or focusing screen. Putting a GG on the focal plane and focus. Check the WLF GG and compare the focusing on both. If one of them is focused and the other isn't, there is a misalignment.

I am slightly confused by what you mean when you say put a GG on the focal plane. What do you mean by the focal plane?

Early Yashica Mat or Rollei.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency