Yashica Mat 124G: Any way to tell if film in camera?

cayenne · Feb 20, 2023

Hi all,

I've not shot my Yashica Mat 124G in a LONG time. I was going to pick it up to take out on the parade route for Mardi Gras tomorrow.
However, I don't know if it has film in it or not?!?!

I looked, the counter is on #2.

I dunno if I have film in it, or if last time I picked it up that I was just playing with the shutter, etc.....

Is there any way to tell if there is film in one of these to avoid opening up and potentially ruining a whole roll of film?

And is there a good way on this (and some other old cameras) to afix externally the type of film, like the flap of a box...to cameras in a better way that scotch tape? I've used that on a few cameras, but a. afraid it might start to pull up and mess up some of the old covering on these old cameras.

Back in the day, how did they keep up with what type/speed of film they had in a camera at any given time?

Anyway, I'm rambling....thank you in advance for any ideas to know if I've got film in it or not.

cayenne

BrianShaw · Feb 20, 2023

Darkroom or changing bag. Then open the back.

Kino · Feb 20, 2023

If you open the door in a dark environment, you can feel the backing paper BUT it would reset the counter and the wind-on spacing if you wanted leave the film mounted in the camera and shoot the remainder of the film.

(There is no real way of knowing unless you DO open the door, in my experience.)

However, if you (in the dark) DO find it has been loaded, carefully remove both rolls and wind the film back onto the supply side spool as firmly as you can without causing it to slip or "cinch". Tape down the start paper and take the roll into a very dim light to see what you have and if it is worth continuing to shoot.

If you choose to reuse the roll, stay in that dim environment and reload the camera in the normal manner; however, you need to cap the lens and fire the shutter to take it beyond the #2 exposure. Actually #3 would be better left blank if the images you've already exposed could be important, as the frames may overlap due to not being loaded exactly the same way.

You will lose at least one exposure, but be able to continue shooting the roll, if so desired.

Kino · Feb 20, 2023

Oh, and for 10 bucks, you can buy one of these to remind you of what film you have loaded...

2021 New 120 or 135 Film Format Index Card Holder/Reminder | eBay

120 (and 135) format film reminder holder. (was originally designed for 120, but can accommodate a cut down 135 film box too). Made of ABS plastic. Supplied with double sided tape.

www.ebay.com

Paul Howell · Feb 20, 2023

You can open the aperture to 3.5 set the shutter to bulb then with a flashlight look though the lens, you might, again might, be able to tell if it's film or the pressure plate.

etn · Feb 20, 2023

With Rolleiflexes, the counter will never advance to 1 unless there is a film in the camera.

From a quick look at the 124G manual, it seems the same is true with a Yashica Mat. If yes, the fact that it is at #2 is an indication that you have something loaded in it.

etn · Feb 20, 2023

Also, the crank resistance is higher if there is a film in it. You can waste a picture and "feel" if there is a film.

This does not tell you what kind of film is in there, though. After I wasted half a color film with an orange filter, I decided to create a spreadsheet in my cell phone to record what film is loaded in each of my cameras. Particularly the ones which do not have a film reminder card!

Dan Daniel · Feb 20, 2023

etn said:
With Rolleiflexes, the counter will never advance to 1 unless there is a film in the camera.

From a quick look at the 124G manual, it seems the same is true with a Yashica Mat. If yes, the fact that it is at #2 is an indication that you have something loaded in it.

Best as I remember, the YashicaMat 124G actually will wind forward if there is a spool in the upper chamber. Doesn't care if there is film connected to the spool.

So for the OP, if you are the type to move a spool from the feed chamber to the takeup chamber, close the back, and wind to 1 and do a shot and wind to 2 for fun, then it's going to be hard to know for certain. Could be film, could be a spool only.

Another issue not discussed is what you mean mean by a LONG time? Could the film be expired? Cameras are often stored with less temperature control than film, and at higher overall temperatures. Do you always shoot only film at one ISO, or will you also need to guess the speed of the theoretical film? No matter waht, you should probably skip frame 3 because the film has been sitting at a 90 degree bend for some time and will probably not sit flat... All in all, personally I would probably call whatever is in the camera a loss and load fresh film. Save the roll if there is one for testing down the road.

250swb · Feb 20, 2023

Wind it on and 'Feel the Force'.

dxqcanada · Feb 20, 2023

there are sellers of 120 film reminders that you can stick to the back, on eBay ... you could also 3D print one.

rcphoto · Feb 20, 2023

I think if you fire the shutter and you should be able to hear the film moving when you start to spin the advance lever.

ic-racer · Feb 20, 2023

Many people have the habit, as I do, of placing the spent spool in the take-up position when un-loading the camera. In that case, yes the frame counter advances after the back is closed.

No need to 3d print anything there is a reminder built-in to the camera focus knob; maybe you can use it next time??

mshchem · Feb 20, 2023

Paul Howell said:
You can open the aperture to 3.5 set the shutter to bulb then with a flashlight look though the lens, you might, again might, be able to tell if it's film or the pressure plate.

This is what I was thinking.

ic-racer · Feb 20, 2023

rcphoto said:
I think if you fire the shutter and you should be able to hear the film moving when you start to spin the advance lever.

Actually the roller is silent when loaded with film. It makes more noise when the frame sensing roller is running on plastic. Also, sometimes the spool has a groove and you can feel the roller jumping over the groove in the plastic spool when you wind.

rcphoto · Feb 20, 2023

ic-racer said:
Actually the roller is silent when loaded with film. It makes more noise when the frame sensing roller is running on plastic. Also, sometimes the spool has a groove and you can feel the roller jumping over the groove in the plastic spool when you wind.

I'll disagree with you there. I can hear the sound of the film moving between the pressure plate and the window. I don't hear it when I have just a take up spool.

ic-racer · Feb 20, 2023

rcphoto said:
I'll disagree with you there. I can hear the sound of the film moving between the pressure plate and the window. I don't hear it when I have just a take up spool.

OK, yes that sound. The other sound (no film) would be from the teeth of the sensing wheel running over the plastic spool.

DWThomas · Feb 21, 2023

The meter on a 124G has an "ASA" setting also; that might provide a clue for what speed of film is loaded if you wanted to try and shoot the rest. I tend to use a little foldable strip of index stock stuck in the cold shoe with some hint as to what film I have loaded. (Since I seldom use flash or whatever one might stick in the shoe.)

guangong · Feb 21, 2023

Film reminder. For most of my cameras I write film type on blue painters tape.
Many films are no longer packaged in pasteboard box so there is no box end to use as reminder. Some cameras provide BW/color and asa indicator, but not brand and other details.

Marcelo Paniagua · Feb 21, 2023

Just checked my 124g and it only advance the counter if it has film on it. Otherwise it remains on the S. Maybe mine if broken but I dont think so.

Dan Daniel · Feb 21, 2023

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Just checked my 124g and it only advance the counter if it has film on it. Otherwise it remains on the S. Maybe mine if broken but I dont think so.

Did you try this with a spool in the takeup chamber? For many TLRs, it is the motion of the takeup spool across the thin silver gear to the left in the chamber that drives the counter system. Rolleicords and Yashicamats are examples (the 124G maybe different?). Most Rolleiflexes and Minolta Autocords are examples of TLRs that will not react to spools by themselves and need film or backing paper (plus thickness of masking tape or such for the Rolleiflex Automat system).

Huss · Feb 21, 2023

I use www.filmtrackr.com

cayenne · Feb 23, 2023

Hello A!!
Goodness, THANK YOU for all the advice.

I got up Mardi Gras morning early, put a towel under my bathroom door, stepped in shower, and pulled curtain...made it as light tight as possible (likely not 100%).....but I opened the back and felt inside...there was film.

I shot that roll and likely as not that was a fully new roll of film....so at most maybe I lost one frame...yay.

Turns out it was color.

Pretty much I only shoot 400 speed film in almost all my film cameras, that much I know...so regardless if it is color or B&W...I know what speed it is.....most of the time.

Thank you all, I'll look at those links given for film reminders.

cayenne · Feb 23, 2023

guangong said:
Film reminder. For most of my cameras I write film type on blue painters tape.
Many films are no longer packaged in pasteboard box so there is no box end to use as reminder. Some cameras provide BW/color and asa indicator, but not brand and other details.

OH wow.....that painters tape!!

What a great idea.....won't leave marks on camera, etc.....I think I'll get a roll this weekend and start with that...economical and practical!!

Thank you!

C

bjorke · Mar 7, 2023

John Earley · Mar 9, 2023

guangong said:
Film reminder. For most of my cameras I write film type on blue painters tape.
Many films are no longer packaged in pasteboard box so there is no box end to use as reminder. Some cameras provide BW/color and asa indicator, but not brand and other details.

I do this as it also lets me note the film type, the date the film was loaded and the ISO at which I was shooting it if different from the box speed.

Yashica Mat 124G: Any way to tell if film in camera?

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