TLR For A Beginner

wjlapier · Feb 19, 2018

I have a Rolleicord III and recently my daughter who is 18 and likes to take photographs picked it up and really liked looking through the WLF. Of all the cameras I have she likes that one. Any suggestions for one that would be around $100 and produce good images? Maybe something similar to the Rolleicord I have? We talked about the cost of shooting a medium format camera and developing the film ourselves. I have plenty of film and am setup to develop and scan film and don't mind sharing film from my stash. And or course I would love to show her how I develop film and scan it.

paul ron · Feb 19, 2018

Any yashicamat that takes 120 film will do nicely for her and will be around $100.

Of course there are cameras some people prefer.. but that's for the person collecting or looking for special extras, like a meter or certain lenses.... The prices go up proportionally as well.

A nice one with a meter in working condition like the 124 or 124-G will cost you around $125-$200. Yashicamats with nothing special will go for around $80.

summicron1 · Feb 19, 2018

yeah, a yashica tlr would do nicely. Or another Rolleicord. Then you could match! Kids like matching their parents.

mooseontheloose · Feb 20, 2018

Another vote for Yashica - I have at least five of them (at one point I was determined to collect every model) and never had a problem with any of them. I don’t shoot them as much as my Autocord or Rolleiflex, but it’s more a matter of ergonomics. I honestly can’t see the difference between the three brands of TLRs when it comes to looking at my images taken with them.

guangong · Feb 20, 2018

For the price that others have said that Yashikamats go for, I agree with the Yashikamat choice. I had a Minolta Autocord in 1959 with a super sharp lens but the years have not been kind to the focusing mechanism of Autocord. Russian and Chinese tlr do not seem very durable. On the other hand, dad, why not spend a few more bucks and get a good Rolleicord. Its build quality will outlast you (and me). One marketing problem Rollei had was that a customer really never had to replace their Rollei because the old one wore out.

Pentode · Feb 20, 2018

Another vote for Yashicamat. I inherited my mother-in-law’s and the lens is very, very nice.

Being 18 she surely has a smart phone, which means she can download the pocket light meter app (surprisingly reliable) for free and a meterless Yashicamat will run under $100.

Ko.Fe. · Feb 20, 2018

You have kid who likes the camera, you have the camera. Do you realize how lucky you are? Solution is very obvious.

Yet, you want to sped 100 bucks for some junk. This is what you could buy these days for one 100 bunks - the junk.
Don't be greedy, give camera to kid and get 100$ TLR for yourself .

Fritzthecat · Feb 20, 2018

Just go ahead and let her take "that one". It will have special meaning for her, and she will value what that means. Now go out and buy yourself another Rollei.

michaelfoto · Feb 20, 2018

If you gave your daughter the Rolleicord as a present, that would justify that you bought a nice Rolleiflex for yourself.

BrianShaw · Feb 20, 2018

michaelfoto said:
If you gave your daughter the Rolleicord as a present, that would justify that you bought a nice Rolleiflex for yourself.

+1

Pentode · Feb 20, 2018

Ko.Fe. said:
You have kid who likes the camera, you have the camera. Do you realize how lucky you are? Solution is very obvious.

Yet, you want to sped 100 bucks for some junk. This is what you could buy these days for one 100 bunks - the junk.
Don't be greedy, give camera to kid and get 100$ TLR for yourself .

I have to both agree and disagree with you here. I agree that if she really likes that camera the OP would do well to give it to her or, at least, let her use it.

I disagree, however, that a $100 Yashicamat or Autocord is, necessarily, “junk”. Yashicamats are plentiful and inexpensive. They are also solid, reliable cameras with good lenses. Surely you, who has spent much time using FSU cameras, can appreciate that cheap doesn’t always equal “ junk”.

grimp0teuthis · Feb 20, 2018

Give her the camera. She wants to learn from you, with your equipment. Go out together with one camera, trading it back and forth for shots and talking about why you want to take a shot, how you're going to frame it, exposure, etc. When she has learned and feels ready, she'll eventually probably want to try out other cameras and have one of her own.

Jim Jones · Feb 20, 2018

I've owned and occasionally used a few Yashica TLRs. In good condition they produce good images. The Rollicord III, although older, may outlast a Yashica. However, I once Yashica A that has been used until much of the chrome and even the knurling was worn down, and it seemed to still be working well. The earlier Yashicas had a Yashinon triplet lens, unlike the later and somewhat better Yashikor Tessar formula lens.

Ko.Fe. · Feb 20, 2018

Pentode said:
I have to both agree and disagree with you here. I agree that if she really likes that camera the OP would do well to give it to her or, at least, let her use it.

I disagree, however, that a $100 Yashicamat or Autocord is, necessarily, “junk”. Yashicamats are plentiful and inexpensive. They are also solid, reliable cameras with good lenses. Surely you, who has spent much time using FSU cameras, can appreciate that cheap doesn’t always equal “ junk”.

Yep, I stand for my opinion, even if I'm able to use FSU sub 100$ RF lenses and RF cameras.
But last thing I would recommend to get for kid is FSU TLR, a.k.a Lubiltel. It is not TLR, but scale focusing camera with TLR viewfinder.
As for non FSU, these days for 100$ it is going to be mostly As Is, For Parts Cords and Mats.
I see how people often suggesting something based on years ago pricing...
But this what you could get for 100$ at its best these days:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/fs-1965-yashica-mat-em-150-shipped-in-conus.154838/

outwest · Feb 20, 2018

My first TLR was a Yashica Mat (not Yashicamat!) like the one above and I'm still impressed with some of the images I made with it. Later I had a couple of Yashicamats that died. I've also had Autocords and still do and really like using them - just be sure the focus is smooth. I have a Super Ricohflex that, while simple and a little clunky, takes good pictures. I have a couple of Ikoflexes and their Tessars are hard to beat for a good image. And then there are the Rolleis which I consider the best image makers ever made.

Paul Howell · Feb 20, 2018

Perhaps over a $100 a Yashica D with either the 4 element or 3 element lens, prone to a accidental double exposure as the shutter has to be manually cocked. The triplet is very good at F11 or so.

choiliefan · Feb 20, 2018

Scour the web and find your daughter a nice Ikoflex. She'll be getting a 3.5 Zeiss Tessar and what is probably the nicest focus screen fitted to a TLR. Same ergonomics as the Rolleicord. Great cameras.

guangong · Feb 20, 2018

Despite my bias for Zeiss products, Ikoflexes were never known for reliability. In the face of numerous copycats Rolleiflex remained supreme. I agree with the above voices. Give your daughter your Rolleicord. Use loss of camera as an excuse to upgrade to Rolleiflex.

Chuckwade87 · Feb 20, 2018

I have a Yashica '635', it was pretty cheap, 50$, and came with the 35mm kit.

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 20, 2018

There's also the Seagull TLRs, some of which can be had quite cheaply, and are relatively modern.

k.hendrik · Feb 20, 2018

michaelfoto said:
If you gave your daughter the Rolleicord as a present, that would justify that you bought a nice Rolleiflex for yourself.

hear hear! Don't have daughters just sons. Buy a Rolleiflex Baby Grey and spool your/her own film & wait for her comment; girls like those 'tiny' camera's. After that you buy a SL66se for yourself

cliveh · Feb 20, 2018

You have answered your own question. Buy her a Rolleicord.

pbromaghin · Feb 20, 2018

michaelfoto said:
If you gave your daughter the Rolleicord as a present, that would justify that you bought a nice Rolleiflex for yourself.

BRILLIANT!

wjlapier · Feb 20, 2018

Excellent! Give her the Rolleicord might be what I do. She did take a couple of photos with it and I'll develop that roll soon. She's in college and loves to go around shooting the campus with a Sony QX10! But she has also used my Oly Zooms and the Fujifilm Zoom 2.8 ( which she really likes too ). She's an analog kind of kid ( except her iPhone and the QX10 ). Loves LPs. We go to the thrift stores to find LPs and play the on our ( her ) stereo. Even likes cassettes! Plays them all the time.

I might actually give her the Rolleicord to use when she's home from school and go get coffee and shoot some pics. Showed her my recently purchased RB67 and her eye's lit up.

pbromaghin · Feb 20, 2018

Oh, you have an RB67? Say goodbye to the Rollei!

TLR For A Beginner

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