Price range for Rolleiflex TLR or Yashica Mat 124?

jasonjoo · Nov 29, 2007

Hey folks,

I posted here a few months ago showing interest in the MF film area. I come from the digital world (yikes!) and while I was planning on selling my digital gear a few months back, I got cold feet and didn't follow through with my plans.

However, I have successfully sold my digital equipment and now have the cash to spend on some film gear. I'm specifically looking at the Rolleiflex TLR or the Yashica Mat 124.

THe Rolleiflex TLRs seem great, but it seems like the Yashica Mat 124 will perform similarly and costs half the price of the Rollei. As of now, I am bidding on both a Rolleiflex 3.5E and a Yashica Mat 124.

What should my price ceiling be? Both are in GREAT condition and supposedly work. BTW, I am bidding on eBay.

Any advice would be great. While I really want to be shooting as soon as possible, I don't mind waiting a month or two to snag a great deal. I still have my trusty Canon A1 SLR to get me through the winter months

Thanks!

Jason

Sirius Glass · Nov 29, 2007

Check KEH.com for prices.

They rate their cameras very conservatively. My people are happy with their bargain camera. I stick to excellant or better.

They have a 30 (or is it 60?) day retrun policy -no questions asked. do you get that on eBay?

steve

Travis Nunn · Nov 29, 2007

KEH has a 14 day no questions asked return policy and a 60 day warranty against defects for used equipment.

I don't buy camera gear off of ebay anymore, I'm perfectly happy dealing with KEH.

Sirius Glass said:
Check KEH.com for prices.

They rate their cameras very conservatively. My people are happy with their bargain camera. I stick to excellant or better.

They have a 30 (or is it 60?) day retrun policy -no questions asked. do you get that on eBay?

steve

Sirius Glass · Nov 29, 2007

Travis Nunn said:
KEH has a 14 day no questions asked return policy and a 60 day warranty against defects for used equipment.

I don't buy camera gear off of ebay anymore, I'm perfectly happy dealing with KEH.

Me too. That is why I suggested it.

Steve

voka_gsw · Nov 30, 2007

I bought my Yashica Mat 124G for 25€, works perfectly..

jasonjoo · Nov 30, 2007

KEH seems to be low on Rolleiflex TLRs at the moment. I'd also prefer to grab a Yashica Mat 124 instead of the 124G. I can't remember exactly what it was, but a few people have said that it was discontinued due to it being difficult to repair or something along those lines.

I'll check KEH again, but I'm really hoping for a 3.5E or a Mat 124!

David H. Bebbington · Nov 30, 2007

jasonjoo said:
What should my price ceiling be? Both are in GREAT condition and supposedly work. BTW, I am bidding on eBay.

If you do an advanced search of completed sales, you will find that prices for Rolleiflex 3.5E or F are around £250 ($500) for a good user up to £500 ($1000) for near mint and recently serviced. I personally think a built-in meter is barely worth having (not particularly accurate and hard to use even if working at all). Prices for Yashicamat probably around one-third or even less - Yashica lenses (4-element) can be good, cameras are significantly less robust than Rollei.

Regards,

David

jasonjoo · Nov 30, 2007

Thanks David. I am planning to purchase a light meter and most likely won't use the built in meter. I was told that the E series was the last of the Rollei's to not have a meter? Maybe I am mistaken.

Either way, I am looking for an affordable TLR in the Rollei or Yashica camp. I would prefer the camera to work from day of purchase, but sometimes you just aren't so lucky. CLA is optional, but I'm trying to keep costs down for the moment.

zenrhino · Nov 30, 2007

I got a 124G off of eBay, but only because I bought it directly from Mark Hama. It even had a brightscreen in it.

If it weren't for dealing directly with Mark Hama, I'd have not gotten it for sure.

luvcameras · Nov 30, 2007

Rolleiflex Price Guide found here.......

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/rolleitlr.htm

Dan

Paul Howell · Nov 30, 2007

You can also look for a Mat, 12, 24, or late model D, all have the same lens. I have a Mat and D, the D does not have crank that cocks the shutter so I can easily do mulit exposures. Off the top of head I cannot recall the name of the 4 element lens vs. the 3 element lens.

David H. Bebbington · Nov 30, 2007

Paul Howell said:
You can also look for a Mat, 12, 24, or late model D, all have the same lens. I have a Mat and D, the D does not have crank that cocks the shutter so I can easily do mulit exposures. Off the top of head I cannot recall the name of the 4 element lens vs. the 3 element lens.

Just out of interest:
4 element = Yashinon lens
3 element = Yashikor, Tri-Lausar, Yashimar
(from Dead Link Removed)

pschauss · Nov 30, 2007

Some of the early YashicaMats had a Luxamar (sp?) lens which, I believe, was an early version of the Yashinon, made for Yashica in Germany.

DBP · Nov 30, 2007

The 12s in particular tend to be bargains. Avoid the 24, as it only takes 220 film. You may also want to consider Rolleicords, Minolta Autocords, and the later Flexarets, all of which will be significantly cheaper and have good lenses. Filters and hoods can be hard to find for the Flexarets, whereas the others use the same bayonet mount as the Yashicas and many Rolleiflexes. And of course there are the Mamiya C-series, which are nice and have interchangeable lenses, but are heavier.

jasonjoo · Nov 30, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions.

As for those that mentioned the Yashica D, what is the difference between the D and the 124/124G?

filmamigo · Nov 30, 2007

I paid $40 for a pair -- one Yashica 12 and one LM.

The 12 is great, it's got the 4 element Yashinon lens and is simply the 124 without 220 film handling.

The LM was nice, the lens was very good and I got some great shots from it. However, having the old-style shutter speeds bugged me a little. I opted to sell it and keep the 12.

I don't think there is any need to pay a premium for the 124. None of these cameras are built like tanks... even after a CLA, they seem to make a lot of noise and require a soft touch with the controls.

If my 12 self destructs, I think I would consider a C220/C330.

dpurdy · Nov 30, 2007

I just watched the Strand movie "Under the Dark Cloth" they had footage of him in his very late years working in his garden with a very cool looking Mamiya TLR on a tripod. I wouldn't know the model but hey, if it is good enough for Paul Strand...

I have a photo friend who always tried to go the inexpensive route and use the Yashicas. Now he finally afforded a Rollei T after another Yashica went belly up. A much better camera with a Zeiss lens and not that much money in the larger scheme of things.

DBP · Nov 30, 2007

dpurdy said:
I just watched the Strand movie "Under the Dark Cloth" they had footage of him in his very late years working in his garden with a very cool looking Mamiya TLR on a tripod. I wouldn't know the model but hey, if it is good enough for Paul Strand...

Diane Arbus also used one.

k_jupiter · Nov 30, 2007

I will not advise a Mamiya TLR. Not that it's not a great camera, it is, but it's a different animal than the other cameras mentioned.

Since this will be your only camera for awhile, I would splurge for a Rollie 3.5. The Yashicas are OK cameras, I have a 635 that takes nice photos but it is finiky. I have a 44 that's great but alas, you don't want 127 film. I have a Mamiya C220 that takes wonderful pics with a 65mm lens, but it is a beast. I do fear I am wandering away from TLR land. I have been seduced by the rb67 goddess. What a nice camera. And for the price and quality of glass...

But once again, another beast. I would stick with the Rolliflex as your original plan, don't compromise.

Of course I still love my C220.. and if it's good enough for me...

tim in san jose

jasonjoo · Nov 30, 2007

Well, I just won and paid for a Rolleiflex 3.5E TLR w/ a Zeiss Planar 75mm f3.5 taking lens. I ended up paying $450 which was actually a bit more than I was willing to, but I really don't know the market too well. Apparently this (http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/rolleitlr.htm) website claims that the model I bought roughly sells for $450 to $650.

I am quite excited now and can't wait for the camera to come home! I really have NO idea how to operate this guy, but I'm sure it will be fun.

Did I make a mistake for paying $450 for this camera? What's done is done, but I'm curious

Thanks for the help guys!

(I'll be looking into the Yashica 12 right now too... It's always nice to have a backup!)

jon koss · Dec 1, 2007

$450 is fine for such a camera. Even if you overpaid by 25% you are out less than many folks spend on coffee in a month. Consider channeling the energy invested in worrying about initial purchase price into investigating the best place for a CLA. Unless the camera comes with a written receipt of a recent CLA from a reputable shop, I would recommend that you just bite the bullet and send it directly to a decent shop for a true CLA - transport, shutter, glass, focus, everything. You will then be the proud owner of one of the finest machines ever built (second only to an Automat!). My experience is that the cost of the CLA repays itself every shooting session. There is no confidence like that bred by a well tuned camera! It allows the physical camera to disappear while freeing the shooter to focus on subject. Just my 2 shekels.

Jon

jasonjoo said:
Well, I just won and paid for a Rolleiflex 3.5E TLR w/ a Zeiss Planar 75mm f3.5 taking lens. I ended up paying $450 which was actually a bit more than I was willing to...
Did I make a mistake for paying $450 for this camera? What's done is done, but I'm curious... (I'll be looking into the Yashica 12 right now too... It's always nice to have a backup!)

jasonjoo · Dec 1, 2007

Thanks Jon, I'll keep that in mind!

Uncle Goose · Dec 1, 2007

DBP said:
...and the later Flexarets, all of which will be significantly cheaper and have good lenses. Filters and hoods can be hard to find for the Flexarets.

First of all, if you buy a Flexaret make sure it has been given a good CLA, if not given a good CLA it will propably won't work. These camera's have seen a lot of (ab)use or were stuffed away in a dusty cubboard for a few decades. I have 5 Flexarets and some where bought without a CLA, I had to disassemble the shutter, flush it, give it a small drop of oil on the right places and reinstal it, after that they were fine beasts but if you are not used of doing that you might end up with a costly repairbill. BTW, I wouldn't dare to open a Pentacon Prestor shutter, they are complicated shutters, you will find them on the Flexaret VII (and in rare occasions on the VI too). Filters are not hard to come by, they are offered on Ebay quite often for reasonable prices. I prefere to use a Flexaret IV because it's quite easy to do shutter maintance if required (i'm a lot in very dusty old buildings so crud builds up faster than ever) and it can do multiple exposures (a feature that lacks the later Flexarets, only the VII can do ME again).

People with questions on Flexarets may always drop me a line.

David H. Bebbington · Dec 1, 2007

jasonjoo said:
Well, I just won and paid for a Rolleiflex 3.5E TLR w/ a Zeiss Planar 75mm f3.5 taking lens. I ended up paying $450 which was actually a bit more than I was willing to, but I really don't know the market too well. Apparently this (http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/rolleitlr.htm) website claims that the model I bought roughly sells for $450 to $650.

I am quite excited now and can't wait for the camera to come home! I really have NO idea how to operate this guy, but I'm sure it will be fun.

Did I make a mistake for paying $450 for this camera? What's done is done, but I'm curious

Thanks for the help guys!

(I'll be looking into the Yashica 12 right now too... It's always nice to have a backup!)

You can't go too far wrong for this price, which would be great if the camera requires no attention and still OK if it suffers from any of the more common Rollei afflictions, such as sticky/slow shutter (like any other leaf shutter, CLA will fix), erratic winding (film does not stop winding for every frame, in extreme cases goes right through camera without stopping, cure again is CLA to remove and replace dried-up grease) or a dull mirror (this makes focusing more difficult, cure is replacement or re-silvering). The only potentially serious to terminal problem is mold in the taking lens, would return camera immediately if this is present. If you have a scrap roll of outdated film, it is well worth loading it, firing the shutter and winding the film until you reach frame 12 and then opening the back and checking that the frame number 12 is visible on the film backing paper.

In general, a Rollei TLR in good order will give reliable service in light use indefinitely - enjoy your purchase!

Regards,

David

elekm · Dec 1, 2007

The Rolleiflex, as long as it hasn't been abused, is a camera for life. It can stand up to hard use and was the choice of many press and studio photographers for decades.

Some of the older photographers at work (and some of the reporters too) have told me stories about shooting high school sports with a Rolleiflex and a flash unit. They didn't have to worry about accurate framing, because the negative allowed the photo editors to crop out what they didn't like.

Th Rolleiflex T is a nice camera, but it is overpriced in the current market. It's an odd mix of features from the Automat and the Planar-equipped models except that it uses a Tessar. Not that there's anything wrong with a Tessar -- it's another of the great Carl Zeiss lenses.

The price you paid is a bit on the high end for an "E" model but certainly within reason. The primary factor is clean optics -- no scratches, no cleaning marks and no mold or fungus. Next, you want a body that hasn't been damaged. There are enough Rolleiflexes on the market that you shouldn't have to settle for a body that is dinged or damaged.

I hope you get a good camera.

Price range for Rolleiflex TLR or Yashica Mat 124?

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency