Yashica mat shutter.

David Jones · Jul 17, 2015

I have been looking at Yashica Mat M cameras on ebay. I have seen two cameras for sale and each time I have asked if the shutter works. Each time they say they can't get it to work. Will it fire without a film in it? I told them to wind the crank clockwise until it stops and then wind it back to cock the shutter and then press the button but nothing happens. The second time the person said the film counter moved on but that was it. Am I missing something or were both cameras broken?
Thanks
Dave

Fotoguy20d · Jul 17, 2015

Sounds broken to me. I've had an LM, and a 124G. They all work that way. But, without film it won't stop. Just wind through one out two revolutions and it should cover it.

David Jones · Jul 17, 2015

Thanks for the reply. Do you mean that that when you wind the crank clockwise it doesn't reach a stop when no film is fitted but you can still wind it back to cock the shutter?

Thanks

Xmas · Jul 17, 2015

The camera assumes you have loaded film to arrows so you need to wind until the winder stops then back to park the wind on lever then push the shutter for a Click.

Edit
Just tried my yashica mat no film but with door shut that is how it works...

trythis · Jul 17, 2015

You have to wind it clockwise some amount but can be as far as you want then counterclockwise till it is at about 2:00 o'clock, opposite the crank handle storage hole at 7:00 o'clock.
You are winding the film then cocking the shutter on the return counterclockwise crank action. This works with the door open on my 124 (non G)

Typos made on a tiny phone...

Kevin Harding · Jul 17, 2015

My Mat doesn't cock the shutter if there isn't a take-up spool in the top holder. The take-up spool engages a gear that turns the film counter. I also can't cock the shutter with the back open.

With the Mats, though, there is a potential problem with the self-timer and the flash sync switch. If one's been engaged while the other is in the wrong position, repairs are sometimes needed.

paul ron · Jul 17, 2015

it needs film or a take up spool to advance the counter. no film, no cocking.

btw the takeup spool doesnt always work. us a spool of backing paper.

most common cause of shutter failure is a result of using the self timer in m flash sync. it jams the mechanism.

GRHazelton · Jul 17, 2015

Kevin Harding said:
My Mat doesn't cock the shutter if there isn't a take-up spool in the top holder. The take-up spool engages a gear that turns the film counter. I also can't cock the shutter with the back open.

With the Mats, though, there is a potential problem with the self-timer and the flash sync switch. If one's been engaged while the other is in the wrong position, repairs are sometimes needed.

Boy howdy is there a problem! There is supposed to be a interlock to prevent the self timer and M sync being used together, but if that interlock is faulty the shutter may be jammed up. Spell MONEY!

Kevin Harding · Jul 18, 2015

GRHazelton said:
Boy howdy is there a problem! There is supposed to be a interlock to prevent the self timer and M sync being used together, but if that interlock is faulty the shutter may be jammed up. Spell MONEY!

I managed to fix mine simply by opening it, relieving tension, and allowing the timer to run. I may have been rather lucky.

Envoyé de mon HTC One_M8 en utilisant Tapatalk

Xmas · Jul 18, 2015

Kevin Harding said:
My Mat doesn't cock the shutter if there isn't a take-up spool in the top holder. The take-up spool engages a gear that turns the film counter. I also can't cock the shutter with the back open.

With the Mats, though, there is a potential problem with the self-timer and the flash sync switch. If one's been engaged while the other is in the wrong position, repairs are sometimes needed.

I always move the empty spool immediately after unloading film spool.

David Jones · Jul 18, 2015

I think that the two people selling the cameras are not photographers. I wonder if both cameras are working really. As you can see from my two other recent threads I have not had much luck!

Dave

John Koehrer · Jul 18, 2015

It may be operator error but I'd tend to doubt the camera first.
That's an opinion and most of us have one.......or more.

GRHazelton · Jul 18, 2015

David Jones said:
I have been looking at Yashica Mat M cameras on ebay. I have seen two cameras for sale and each time I have asked if the shutter works. Each time they say they can't get it to work. Will it fire without a film in it? I told them to wind the crank clockwise until it stops and then wind it back to cock the shutter and then press the button but nothing happens. The second time the person said the film counter moved on but that was it. Am I missing something or were both cameras broken?
Thanks
Dave

Go to Mike Butkus' invaluable site and see the instruction manuals: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica.htm Then you'll know how the 'Mats are supposed to work. And send Mike a few dollars to keep up the good work. He is a national treasure to the film community. A true mensch.

Fotoguy20d · Jul 19, 2015

I took out my G last night. No spool in the top. Half a forward rotation (180 degrees) minimum, then back until it stops, and the shutter fires.

Dan

David Jones · Jul 22, 2015

Thanks for looking into it for me, Dan.

Thanks also to G R Hazelton and John.

dave

aoleite · Aug 9, 2015

Hi there... I have being searching the whole forum and external sources regarding this topic.

Can anyone tell me what is exactly the problem, when the timer is used with the flash lever on the wrong position? Does it means parts will have to be replaced, or usually it's a matter of adjusting and cleaning? Thanks in advance.

aoleite · Aug 16, 2015

Anyone?

aoleite · Sep 4, 2015

Anyway, I got it fixed for me in Brazil (work trip) at an amazing repair shop in Florianopolis: Asteca (http://astecabrasil.com.br). I also had my Rolleicord CLAd by them... their job was great, I definitely recommend it.

Yashica mat shutter.

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