Want to Buy WTB: Yashica D, Mat, Mat 124, or 124G...

[TooManyShots]

My last medium format system was a Mamiya rz67. I sold it. I am looking for a smaller, lighter medium format body and don't want to spend a lot. I would prefer the Yashica Mat but would consider the D version if the price is right.

 

[Rick A]

KEH has a few Yashica TLR's right now.

 

[TooManyShots]

I checked them already but a bit pricy. Their price went up a lot though. $300 for the 124g. I can even pick up a Bronica sq or erts for around that price. I can pick one up on Ebay for around $125. Of course, I would prefer to buy it from another member who actually uses the camera and knowing it works.

 

[Rick A]

Unfortunately, I sold off the last of my Yashica TLR's a couple of years ago. All I have for sale now is Mamiya C-220 and C-330 plus lenses.

 

[TooManyShots]

Hmmm....how much you would sell your c220 with one lens, maybe a 80mm or 65mm if you have it? Or blue dot or not?

 

[Rick A]

C-220f with 65mm(blue dot) and metered porro finder $325usd includes insured shipping and paypal. Body in VG condition, meter is accurate, lens is clean and shutter accurate, no caps for the lens though. I just used this camera a couple of weeks ago on a trip to Pittsburgh area. I also have 55mm, 135mm, and 180mm lenses available, they are older models, slightly ugly but all function, the 180 only fits the C-220
Sample shot C-220 w/180 lens, hand held-I was dodging cars to get the shot

 

[TooManyShots]

Thanks....

 

[Dan Daniel]

A D with the Yashinon lens on Ebay right now-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yashica-D-T...840?pt=US_Vintage_Cameras&hash=item4d2431afd0

A risk as to what they mean by simply 'working.'

 

[TooManyShots]

Thanks. I am currently watching couple of 124g and a Mat EM. Just need to hear back from the seller before pulling the trigger....I actually started out with film shooting with the Yashica D 4 years ago. I only paid like $80 for it.

 

[Dan Daniel]

The D with Yashinon is a very solid camera. It's a late model. I think that they ran out of Yashikors and just started slapping Yashinons on the D (along with hte 124G bottom latch ring- black on the d-Yashinon models almost always). Much simpler mechanism than the concurrent 124G with the same lens.

 

[Rick A]

Yashikors are triplet lenses, Yashinons are tessar style and were put on every model Yashica TLR. I don't recall off hand when the factory switched, but they used some German manufacture tessars while they retooled the factory, some time maybe in the early 60's. The only difference between models is letter models are not self cocking, while the Mats are, there is a 635 model that is a 'D' with an adapter kit for shooting 35mm film.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Yashikors are triplet lenses, Yashinons are tessar style and were put on every model Yashica TLR. I don't recall off hand when the factory switched, but they used some German manufacture tessars while they retooled the factory, some time maybe in the early 60's. The only difference between models is letter models are not self cocking, while the Mats are, there is a 635 model that is a 'D' with an adapter kit for shooting 35mm film.

The Yashica-D and Yashica-635 TLRs had the Yashikor triplet lens. As did the A, B, and C TLRs. It was only at the end of the production run that they released Yashica-D's with the Tessar-type Yashinon lens. I don't know if the Yashica-635 was ever made with a Yashinon lens.

The Lumaxar lens was Yashica's first tessar-type lens on the initial Yashica-Mat TLRs. 1957-58 or so. Most people think the Lumaxar lenses came from Germany, but others disagree and say they were made in Japan.

My experience with Yashica-Mats and Ds is that condition is the real issue, not lens or model. They were solid cameras but not particularly well-made. I've had good experiences with Yashica-Ds with the Yashinon lens- simple mechanism and quality lens. The shutters seem to work well, unlike older models with gummed-up shutters and such. The focus mechanism is the same as the Yashica-Mats. If you can deal with the separate wind and shutter cocking systems, it's hard to go wrong, while my experience with twenty or so Yashica-Mats has been all over the board.

 

[TooManyShots]

Finally got one, a good condition looking Yashica Mat off Ebay for $80 shipped (a bit challenging to get something in decent condition without paying the over inflated price). Let's see how it turns out. Is supposedly tested by the seller and the seller is into selling old camera equipments with good feedback. FYI, Keh has a BGN condition Yashica MAT EM for $72 with a broken light meter. Keh is also having a 10% discount on all gear until Sunday.