Should I buy a Yashica 44 TLR

Katier · Jan 6, 2009

I've seen one for £80.00 in what looks like excellent condition and seems a nice way to start with square format and TLR. I've been debating a Med format camera for a while and fancy a TLR for the speed, simplicity and square format.

This obviously uses 127 but not sure that's a big problem as I know some film is available and I plan to develop my own film. I also don't think I'll suffer, at this stage, from the smaller size of the negative compared to medium format.

I assume I should get a meter to work with it so comments on both the idea of getting it, the price and a meter would be appreciated.

Thankyou.

jon koss · Jan 6, 2009

That sounds like way too much money. If you keep your eyes peeled you will find one for half that price or less. I seem to recall that some came with a Yashikor and some a Yashinon lens. Shoot for the Yashinon which has four elements versus the three of the Yashikor. I am going by memory here, so don't take this as gospel.

In the meantime I thought you might whet your appetite with this nifty little plum number. Ooooh!

Katier said:
I've seen one for £80.00 in what looks like excellent condition
Thankyou.

Anscojohn · Jan 6, 2009

IIRC there was a Yashica 44 and Yashica 44a. The A model had the lesser lens, and if I recall, lower top shutter speed. For a Yash 44LM, with the meter working, and in pristine condition, I would still think 80 quid to be on the high side. If you wish to get in to tlr, spend the money on a TLR taking 120 film. That being said, the 44LM is a cute little devil.....

Mike Crawford · Jan 6, 2009

No!!!!!!!

Not saying it is a bad camera but there is only one brand of 127 film available (at least in B&W), and at that only on mail order. Also £80 is a hell of a lot for such a camera. For that you should be able to get a Yaschica 635 (or maybe 2 or 3 635s) which is 120. I used a 635 for years until I could afford a Rollei. You may even find a Rolleicord for £80. 127 is a cute format and I've got one of these Yaschica Baby's (as they were known), and I do use it now and then, but if you want to get into square TLR's, I'm sure 120 is the way to go.

Peter Black · Jan 6, 2009

What Mike said. (but he was quicker in typing it!)

Katier · Jan 6, 2009

Laughs, thanks guys - seems good bargains are thin on the ground at the moment on ebay. Don't know of other options either in the UK.

Anscojohn · Jan 6, 2009

Katier said:
Laughs, thanks guys - seems good bargains are thin on the ground at the moment on ebay. Don't know of other options either in the UK.

******
If you want to get into square format TLR in the UK, and do it on the cheap, look for a clean Lubitel. They take surprisingly good pictures.

fschifano · Jan 6, 2009

Yeah, what Mike wrote. The camera takes 127 film, and there's not a whole lot of that stuff available. If it's really, really pristine, and you are a collector, not a user, then maybe. Otherwise it's not the way to go. Yashicamat 124 or 124G is a good place to start. Or you could find a Mamiya C220, or C330 with an 80 mm lens to get you started. A Minolta Autocord would do nicely too. All the above mentioned cameras have good to excellent optics. Should you decide you don't like the square TLR's you could sell any of them for what you paid. If you do like it, then you'll be happy with any of them for a long time. Stay away from the really crappy cameras like the Seagull and such. They'll do nothing but give you grief and turn you off the format.

Katier · Jan 6, 2009

Anscojohn said:
******
If you want to get into square format TLR in the UK, and do it on the cheap, look for a clean Lubitel. They take surprisingly good pictures.

wasn't sure whether I should consider lubitel or not. Should I start off on that route any guidlines?

I have my eye on a Autocord though so might put a bid on that. Any guidance on a top limit?

One I'm keeping an eye on is 'untested' but appears to be in very good nick and has clean lenses.

Anscojohn · Jan 6, 2009

Katier said:
wasn't sure whether I should consider lubitel or not. Should I start off on that route any guidlines?

I have my eye on a Autocord though so might put a bid on that. Any guidance on a top limit?

One I'm keeping an eye on is 'untested' but appears to be in very good nick and has clean lenses.

*****
A clean Autochord is an infinitely more desirable camera. But Lubitels once sold for about 30 dollars new here in the former colonies. Don't know what they go for in the U.K. Don't even know if they are still made.
The biggest bang for the buck, I was always told, was a clean Rolleicord III or later. As those cameras age, I do not know if such advice still obtains.
Your dilemma is to get into square TLR with a minimum initial investment and a minimum of maintenace costs down the line. If a Lubitel gives up the ghost on you, it can always serve to prop open a window, a paper weight and you are not out your whole bankroll.

JMC1969 · Jan 6, 2009

You do know there is a listing in the APUG classifieds for a Yashica 635 w/ Yashinon lens for $100 (US dollar) that's about £67 plus shipping. Jump on it! it doesn't seem to be claimed at this point.

Anscojohn · Jan 6, 2009

jerk151 said:
You do know there is a listing in the APUG classifieds for a Yashica 635 w/ Yashinon lens for $100 (US dollar) that's about £67 plus shipping. Jump on it! it doesn't seem to be claimed at this point.

******
I agree. If it were not for the fact that I have a 635, as well as a Yashica 12, I would be buying it myself. I did not know the 635 came with the 4 element Yashinon. The late model Yashica D (the same camera, w/o the 35mm capabilities) came with the 4 element Yashinon. That I knew and I have been trying to wheedle one out of my brother-in-law for some time, until I gave up.
As a user and a collectible, the one listed here in the classifieds would be worth having. As an example, I spent 120 dollars some years back having my 635 completely overhauled and think it was worth it. They are a solid, dependable (if unspectacular) camera.
Back in the 1960s, I shot for a company doing kid's home portraits. We were issued a Yashica D, with an old C as a backup. We beat the dickens out of the Ds and they kept working.

JMC1969 · Jan 6, 2009

Yashicas' have really gone up in price lately. If I had a $100 the opportunity to buy that 635 would not still be around. I love them. I have not gotten the D or C, but want them. I have a yashica LM (working on) Yashica-Mat LM (weekly user) Yashica-Mat124 (weekly user), and 2 Yashica A's (working on). My two users are wonderful in my opinion and I can't talk myself into the extra hundreds of dollars for a Rollei while these are so nice. Of course I have never used a Rollei, so maybe that would change my mind, but for now, I can't believe that camera is still available. Checking my bank account.

Katier · Jan 6, 2009

Thanks guys, IM'd the seller for a price including shipping.

ricksplace · Jan 7, 2009

My vote for a cheap tlr is a Yashica A with Yashikor lenses. Only a 4 speed shutter (25 to 300). Outstanding picture quality. I bought mine for $25 from ebay.

Katier · Jan 8, 2009

Well I missed out on the 635 due to an issue with paypal but just bought off ebay a VERY tidy looking and fully working Yashicamat LM so very happy and when it arrives officially a member of the MF club

2F/2F · Jan 8, 2009

They are worth shooting, but not worth spending much money on, IMO. You can get Efke and 160NC in 127, and maybe more.

JMC1969 · Jan 9, 2009

Katier said:
Well I missed out on the 635 due to an issue with paypal but just bought off ebay a VERY tidy looking and fully working Yashicamat LM so very happy and when it arrives officially a member of the MF club

I absolutely love my Yashica-Mat LM. The meter probably isn't worth trying to use, though it was fun figuring out how it worked. I had not seen that system before, but then I was very new to anything with an external meter at the time. I carry that with 120 in it along with a Yashica-Mat 124 w/ 220 in the same bag, two different speed films or 1-B&W,1-Color.

Congrads, enjoy

tac · Jan 10, 2009

I have various tlr's a couple rolleicord Vb, Va, a couple RolleiFlex (including a gray baby flex) mamiya c330, Yashica EM and a couple Yashica Mats. For my money, the Yashica Mat with Yashinon lens is the way to go. Not the 124 or 124G (overpriced). You can get a Mat for a song compared to 124's and essentially the same camera.

Katier · Jan 13, 2009

I'm DOOMED *giggles* - the LM arrived today and he even threw in a free film so gotta go out and have a play and give me a chance to test the shutter speed etc.

Ian Grant · Jan 13, 2009

It's all good fun. My Yashica TLR went to Aphodisia with 3 women on Sunday !!!! Good job my mind was on Photography, Aphrodite's temple was awesome, the ancient 30,000 seated athletics stadium was mind blowing . . . . . .

We have a (there was a url link here which no longer exists) here on APUG, come & join us, other Yashica TLR users are there

Mark Antony initially proposed a Rolleiflex group, I suggested it should be broader, a general TLR Group, and so that's what he started - so anyone else using TLR's is welcome

Ian

Katier · Jan 13, 2009

Great I just joined.

Been out for a walk too and rolled off the roll of film he supplied.

The meter on the face of it seems fairly accurate. It was telling me initially somewhere between f8 and f11 @ 250th which seemed to corrolate well with sunny 16. It was overcast but not dull - the sun was coming through the clouds well enough but shadow was minimal. The film was 400ISO so seemed accurate enough to me. One shot the meter also hinted at a wider/slower combination which also made sense as I was shooting into a grave yard which was a bit darker from trees etc.

Should I buy a Yashica 44 TLR

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