Yashica Mat 124G

[Antonov]

I'm planing to buy this camera in couple of days, for about 200$.Can someone tell me what to look for, and good and bad sides of camera.Anyone here has one like that?If you have, do you have maybe online gallery so I can see pictures?
Thanks in advance, Anton

 

[Mike Kennedy]

124 G

Hi Anton,

I picked up my Yashica last year for about $175.00 and love it.Look for the obvious (clear/clean glass) and ask lots of questions.You might check out "Matts Classic Cameras".He has a nice discription of one.
Here's a shot I took last week under our old train bridge.I know you're into trains.

Mike

 

[DBP]

I've used one as my primary TLR for a few years. The only complaints I have had are that the wind mechanism is a bit loud and that the ground glass was dim. A call to Bill Maxwell gave me a new ground glass and everything else has been fine. I'll post a shot.

 

[reub2000]

http://www.pbase.com/reub2000/image/78264714

It's a good camera.

 

[TimVermont]

I have a picture in the post card exchange gallery from my YashicaMAT 124G. Test for smooth shutter action, and that the shutter button pops back out of the body crisply, and carefully feel for "bumps" as you wind the film and shutter. The front panel should be straight and true and show the same gap all the way around when extended. If it doesn't, it may have been dropped-don't buy it.

 

[Deleted member 20172]

I used that camera 30 years ago (from a friend). Then I bought my first 6x6 camera, an used Mamiya C220 with 80mm lens. When I compared the slides taken with both cameras, the slides taken with the Yashica mat 124G appeared so soft that they looked like I have used a soft filter! Later I bought an Hasselblad, (also with 80mm lens) and when comparing the slides taken with the mamiya and Hasselblad, there are NO difference in matter of sharpness!
There are now used Mamiya 220 or 330 in good condition available for that same price ($200-300).

 

[papagene]

Anton...
Here's three photos from my gallery here at APUG all taken with a YashicaMAT 124G:
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It was a fun camera to use and a quality step into MF photography. If it is in good shape, buy it and have some fun with it.

gene

 

[Neanderman]

The original Yashica-Mat's had a design weakness in the film advance/wind mechanism that frequently resulted in stripped gears. Couldn't hurt to run a roll of film through it.

Ed

 

[AZLF]

Although I've owned one and think it a great camera the price mentioned seems quite high even for one in good shape. When I was looking for one I found instead a Roliecord 1V for $60.00 including shipping which has worked perfectly for me. Troll ebay a while and I'll bet you can do better.

 

[Jim Jones]

YashicaMat 124G seems to have a cult following that makes it more expensive than older Yashica TLRs with equal optics but fewer features. Yashica models D and 635 have given me good image quality. A few of the older Yashica TLRs may have the three element Yashikor lnens instesd of the better four element Yashinon. A Rollie shoulld be more reliable.

 

[ethylphenethylamine]

I bought a Mat LM off of ebay for $135. Ended up returning it as the film advance mech stuck as well as the shutter release...

Could have been fixed with a CLA but that would be another ~70$ plus shipping both ways.

Otherwise i enjoyed the camera very much. Small, light and so much fun to shoot with.

I love the 6x6!

Here is an image i took with it:

Dead Link Removed

 

[k_jupiter]

YashicaMat 124G seems to have a cult following that makes it more expensive than older Yashica TLRs with equal optics but fewer features. Yashica models D and 635 have given me good image quality. A few of the older Yashica TLRs may have the three element Yashikor lnens instesd of the better four element Yashinon. A Rollie shoulld be more reliable.

I am with Mr. Jones on this one. I have a 635 that is just hoot to shoot either 135 or 120. Nice images, classic glass look.

For serious work, I like my Mamiya C220, at the prices you get them for these days, it's a crime not to shoot with the best (or close to it).

tim in san jose

 

[Ole]

For that price, you should be able to find something like a Mamiya C3 with a couple of lenses.

Hmmm... I'll run a roll of film through mine.

 

[ijsbeer]

I've got one from my dad. Made some nice picture's with it. the three portraits from Jildou in the gallery are from my yashica. On my website is more made with it. love the feeling of it, and its well built in my opinion. Don't expect much from the lenses you can mount on the lens like a adapter. The quality of them is not perfect imho
I've got also a manual. pm me if you're interested.
kind regards.

ijsbeer

 

[Richard Kelham]

I had a Mat about 40 years ago. managed to break it without trying too hard!

Built quality not as good as a Rollei, optics not as good as a Mamiya, so would suggest $200 was a bit over the top...

 

[Antonov]

Thank you everybody!
Problem is that I don't have enough money for something like Mamiya, Rollei, Pentax, and even if I find something for example, from Mamiya, it is located in Germany.And if I would buy that via ebay for example, till it gets here in Croatia, it costs me probably 1.5 times of camera price.
So far, I see that, it is pretty good camera for that price.I didn't search to much altough, but Croatia is a small market, especially for MF.So, as I said, only things I found are Mamiya, Pentax, Rollei, Hasselblad, and they all are too expensive...

 

[BruceN]

I still do a lot of shooting with my Mat 124 G. It works like it was new and the lens is sharp as a tack. All I've ever had to do to it is change the light traps. If the one you're looking at is in good shape I'd say go for it. Maybe they'll let you run a roll of film through it first to check it out?

Bruce

 

[Ole]

Anton, you have a PM.

 

[DBP]

It occurs to me that you may be able to find a Meopta Flexaret relatively easily in Croatia. The later ones are pretty good cameras, and much cheaper than a Yashicamat.

 

[luvcameras]

Try a Ricohflex

see http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/tlr.htm


Dan

 

[Antonov]

Thank you everybody for your help!
I know officialy entered MF world.
Here are pictures of my Yashica Mat 124 G.A soon I take pictures, I will post them here.

 

[zenrhino]

I just recently got one of these with a brightscreen installed and just love it to bits.

 

[DBP]

I just recently got one of these with a brightscreen installed and just love it to bits.

As long as you don't love it to bytes. I've had people look at the Maxwell screen on mine and tell me it was a really nice LCD.

And now, to paraphrase Janeane Garofalo, "you can love your camera, but don't LOVE your camera".

 

[Antonov]

I just recently got one of these with a brightscreen installed and just love it to bits.

Yes, it's small and light, and I really like that cubic shape.

 

[Paul.]

Antonov, I had one and loved it, part exchanged it for a second back for the Hasselblad or would still have it. The only thing to remember is that the meter uses a 1.3v mercury cell in original spec. This cell is no longer made and the replacement cell is 1.5v thus you get metering errors if the camera has not been adapted to the available cells. Have heard the Wein air cells are a direct replacement but never tried them and have heard some bad comments about them not lasting long, others here may know more about them. The meter appart it is a great camera enjoy it.
Regardsa Paul.