Yashicamat 124G shutter button question

[Huss]

Hello, I've just received a 124G which seems to be in excellent shape with working meter. One question - the shutter release button only fires the shutter at the absolute end of the travel i.e. pushed all the way in. Is this normal?

Thanks!

 

[Dan Daniel]

No. It is adjustable but requires removing the lens shroud.

 

[M-88]

I had to strip down mine (although non-G version). As Dan Daniel stated above, you have to remove the lens shroud (along with leatherette which is veeeery flimsy) before reaching the shutter button. Then, the rest can be done. The button itself has a cut-out, in which the shutter lever sits. You can add something to that lever in order to make the camera fire earlier. If you are good with tinkering, it's an easy task. This is a very good resource, which covers Copal MXV shutter, but you can use it to see what you will be facing:

http://ratfactor.com/yashica/

Of course you need to go only as far as "Remove the top cover" section goes, the rest involves disassembly of lenses and shutter.

P.S. Is this Huss Hardan from comments section at Casualphotophile?

 

[Huss]

I had to strip down mine (although non-G version). As Dan Daniel stated above, you have to remove the lens shroud (along with leatherette which is veeeery flimsy) before reaching the shutter button. Then, the rest can be done. The button itself has a cut-out, in which the shutter lever sits. You can add something to that lever in order to make the camera fire earlier. If you are good with tinkering, it's an easy task. This is a very good resource, which covers Copal MXV shutter, but you can use it to see what you will be facing:

http://ratfactor.com/yashica/

Of course you need to go only as far as "Remove the top cover" section goes, the rest involves disassembly of lenses and shutter.

P.S. Is this Huss Hardan from comments section at Casualphotophile?

Yes, that same Huss. Why, what I do?...


I came up with a quick fix...I noticed that the seller had put a softie 'knob' on the end of the shutter release, and when I took that off the shutter worked much better. Apparently it was causing clearance issues at the end of the shutter button travel where the shutter button wanted to further down, but this was preventing it. So it maxed out the travel and the exact point of shutter release.
It still fires further down the stroke than I would like compared to my Rolleiflexes, but this is fine.

Thanks for all the responses, had no idea it was adjustable!

 

[Dan Daniel]

A discussion of the shutter release button interior with a photo showing what is under the hood-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/4885924271/

I didn't realize that the 124G has the double exposure prevention- DEP- inserted in between the first lever and the second lever. I think on earlier 'Mats the movement of the second lever activates the DEP in a different manner.

Anyway, should give you an idea of what you will be looking at if you decide to go inside. It's all soft metal.

 

[Huss]

Thanks Dan. I think it's ok for now, removing the softie really helped and this camera has such a soft release anyway it doesn't need it. Digressing, comparing it to my Rolleiflex MX-EVS, it has a much brighter and easier to focus screen, and can shoot 220 rolls. The lens is the same focal length and speed and I have a feeling I will not be able to tell the difference. It also has a meter, and this seems accurate. The Rollieflex has a much nicer, quieter winding mechanism (seriously are all 124Gs this loud winding?), everything looks and feels nicer, and the shutter release is perfect. But the brighter and easier focusing screen on the 124G is kinda key..

 

[Huss]

And this camera is going back. While it looks perfect and the meter works, the frame spacing is all over the place. Some wide apart, some overlapping.
Wa Waaaa

 

[Dan Daniel]

You can upgrade the screen on your Roleiflex for $100 or so. Just do that it and skip the YashicaMats.

 

[Huss]

The camera has been sent back. I did scan the film from it and as a Rolleiflex owner I have to say that this camera has a great lens. Totally worth it if you get one that works properly.