If you are looking for a TLR, and you are at Yongsan, you will probably find using a TLR in the street surrounding will be great fun. Look at what
@TheFlyingCamera has done with a TLR in the streets of Washington, DC.
Lots of people do have opinion about the Yashica. In a forum as diverse in experience as APUG, it is possible that someone who read this thread may actually know what a ALFAFLEX or MuDan are, that could help answer from experience on the suitability of those models.
I hope someone will be able to shed light on the cameras that no one seems to have heard of. Meanwhile, can the OP provide more information such as the labeling on the lenses on these other cameras?
It is good, though, to have opinions on alternatives - it does provide more information for the OP to consider - who should do with this knowledge as fits the objective. AND - all of these threads are usually useful to many more readers than just the OP; who should not assume they "own" this publicly posted question, but participates in a a greater conversation - at least that is how i look at all of these threads. So, the OP of any thread should have that approach and understanding.
On the outskirts of Seoul, in the environs of Yongsan is a fun shopping district along a many blocks strip - Itaewan. Walking up the hill from the Crown Hotel towards Yongsan Air Base, starts that road. Personally , the only places i could find to eat at that my palate could tolerate, were the cafeteria on Yongsong for breakfast, and the Pakastani restaurant up the hill from that shopping street. The curries there were terrific. Nothing else there to me was edible, including the Wendys, McDs and any chinese takeaway. Lunch for me was always in the DMZ, which i chose to carry in each day - fruits mostly just to hold me until i could get back to Itaewan. About the only option available to me where i was in the DMZ was kimchi soup...
I would say take advice of
@Cholentpot to make the deal if you are shopping in Iteawan. Unless looking at or handling any of them seem a bit off to you. All those vendors want to do is make a deal so make them an offer. But, you know this already. And, if you have opportunity to look for other sellers of cameras who have TLR, branch out some if in reach. Must be more in the whole Seoul complex. And, you probably already know they want dollars more than won, at least that used to be true, so if still true make the offer in dollars. The Yashica, though, is a clear known quantity. I have been playing with a Yashica-D along the boardwalk in Asbury Park for a couple weeks now and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice to handle.
As i walked down the main street, every vendor would come flying out to the front of the store from the back of the store screaming - hey, joe, i sell you two price one. My reply was "i already got won, i got won." I would have 6 leather fighter pilot jackets now if i had responded to every vendor!
>michael
