what a price for a Yashica 124

[Paul Howell]

Just saw it on KEH, is it insane, dont get me wrong I have a 124 and a D, great cameras, but really

YASHICA MAT 124G MEDIUM FORMAT WITH BEATTIE INTENSCREEN MICRO PRISM SPOT SCREEN
KEH MODEL# 383163






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Yashica Mat 124G Medium Format with Beattie Intenscreen Micro Prism Spot Screen

COND. NOTES PRICE QTY


With Case, Strap
$630.00

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Must have been used by Andy Warhol, or at least he must have seen it.

 

[TheRook]

Those Beattie screens do cost between 200 and 300 USD (depending on type). Obviously, with such a screen installed the value of the camera is greatly increased.
As I'm more of the frugal type, I'd rather just put up with the standard screen in my 124G.

 

[mgb74]

That price is about $150 more than same grade at KEH without the beattie screen. Still way high (IMO) for a 124g. But values of these cameras seem to go in waves. I've seen values for Canon GIII QL17 rise and fall. Same for Olympus Stylus. Demand varies over time; supply stays constant (actually shrinks a bit as some inevitably break).

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'd rather skip the whole keh thing and wait for serviced Rolleicord in local classifieds for much less price.

 

[Randy Stewart]

That is a ridiculous price for any 124G. This is a camera that never sold for more than $140 new, and when closed out in the late 1980s, had to be given away for $80 new just to get rid of them. The lens is by my own measurements, the poorest resolving lens on any major TLR with a Tessar copy lens. Putting a Beattie screen in a 124G is one definition of putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[Xiong Chiamiov]

The 124G gets recommended a ton as an affordable first medium format camera. The demand goes up, the supply is fixed, and this is the result. Pretty straightforward.

 

[cooltouch]

I bought my 124 (not G) about 7 years ago for $90. I think that if you shop around -- and go for the 124 instead of the G model -- you can find a good deal. I prefer the 124 over the G. It has a more solid feel to it, less plasticky. Everything else is the same except for the gold battery contacts in the G (big deal).

 

[abruzzi]

even the 124G can be found for reasonable prices. I got mine on the classifieds here less than a year ago for $120, in great shape. I should sell it, as I've found I don't take well to TLRs for whatever reason.

 

[M-88]

I bought my 124 (not G) about 7 years ago for $90. I think that if you shop around -- and go for the 124 instead of the G model -- you can find a good deal. I prefer the 124 over the G. It has a more solid feel to it, less plasticky. Everything else is the same except for the gold battery contacts in the G (big deal).

The best thing about regular 124 over G is chrome (or is it nickel?) parts. G version looks a bit bland compared to it.

 

[cooltouch]

I don't think it's chrome. I think it's just polished aluminum. (I'd have to dig mine out of the bottom of my photo cabinet to check.) And I agree -- I think the regular 124 looks cooler than the G, although I suppose if you're into black cameras you might disagree.

 

[jvo]

it comes with covid-19 immunity?!

 

[Randy Stewart]

"I bought my 124 (not G) about 7 years ago for $90. I think that if you shop around -- and go for the 124 instead of the G model -- you can find a good deal. I prefer the 124 over the G. It has a more solid feel to it, less plasticky. Everything else is the same except for the gold battery contacts in the G (big deal."

That "plasticky" condition applies to more than its feel and appearance. Yashica also replaced some metal gears and part with plastic parts. Thus The 124G has a reputation of film advance breakdowns. The Yashica 12 and Yashicamat are practically identical, earlier models which had not been cheapened down. They all use the barely adequate Yashinon taking lens. In working condition for $125 or less, they are a good "beginning" TLR if you aren't sure that photography with a TLR is for you. However, if you aren't testing those waters and just want to get a nice TLR for a good price, there are so many other TLRs out there in the range of $150 - 300 that are better designed and built and have far better lenses, that a Yashica seems like a serious waste of money at the "demand" prices to which it has been driven by YouTube and other on-line touting by the poorly informed.

 

[cooltouch]

I would not describe the 80mm f/3.5 Yashinon lens found in the Mat 124 and G as "barely adequate." I've take lots of great shots with mine -- both the Mat 124G I owned back in the 80s and the Mat 124 I own now. Stopped down to f/8 or so, mine have always delivered tack sharp photos. I do agree, however, that the "G" has been seriously over-rated, but that's been going on for over 20 years now, with no apparent end in sight.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have a 124 and D, both the with 4 element 80mm 3.5, not as good a Zeiss wide, but at F 8 or 11, will resolve 200 LPMM which is what Tmax 100 will resolve.

 

[muhco3]

I don't know what happened to KEH recently ,the selection is less and prices are much much higher , could the management/ownership have changed ?

 

[warden]

They all use the barely adequate Yashinon taking lens.

That's ridiculous.

 

[warden]

Just saw it on KEH, is it insane, dont get me wrong I have a 124 and a D, great cameras, but really

I just checked KEH and the camera is not there so I guess it sold and the price was right for the buyer. [I'll pause for the fool-and-his-money put-downs]

That expensive Yashica Mat was apparently an outlier. The remaining five Yashica Mats currently available at KEH have an average price of $226 without the fancy screen. I agree that $630 is quite high, and the current average price seems about right to me.

 

[Paul Howell]

I guess it was worth the extra for screen to someone.

 

[Mackinaw]

My 124G cost me $15.00 (Craigslist).

Jim B.

 

[Ariston]

I don't know if you guys realize this yet, but prices are determined by YouTube now.

 

[AndyH]

My recent experiences with KEH have been as good as ever. I've bought a lens and a scanner in the past few months and the service and delivery were outstanding on both. I regularly scour their website for used gear and think the prices are generally a little on the low side of average. This is somewhat magnified because the condition of their gear is often underrated by about a grade or more. Still among my very favorite dealers in used kit.

Andy

 

[tomkatf]

I'd look at Mamiya TLR's... a lot more versatile...

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I don't know what happened to KEH recently ,the selection is less and prices are much much higher , could the management/ownership have changed ?

Something changed. Something changed ALOT. And not for the good either.

Either their supply has dwindled, they've got new management, or someone is just having a bad year, but they are off the charts with their pricing.

 

[warden]

Something changed. Something changed ALOT. And not for the good either.

Either their supply has dwindled, they've got new management, or someone is just having a bad year, but they are off the charts with their pricing.

Have some examples to share? Not outliers like the OP's Yashica, but averaged prices that are "off the charts"?

I'm not saying it isn't happening, and I don't buy enough used gear to be an expert, but whenever I've checked KEH seems to offer reasonable prices, and with a warranty and good service too. Whatever comparable you have to offer should also come with a similar warranty for it to really be comparable.