Going Crazy Over TLRS ! Must Get One!

Hi, I found the forum during the course of my mad TLR hunt.

Right now Im locked on getting a MAT 124 G. But I heard mix comments on it.

So Im here to hear some great tips on which TLR to get. (Anything below $300).

Thank you. Great Forum

I have several TLRs: a MAT124, an Autocord, an Ikoflex, two Rolleis and a number of other less prominent makes. The nicest thing about the Yashicas is the coupled light meter, which is better both in use and to service than the ones in other TLRs; it also has a very bright focusing screen which makes it pleasant to use. The Yashica's handling, like its styling, is much like that of the Rolleiflexes.

 

The Autocord is reputed to have the best lens this side of a Rolleiflex, and it's a very nice camera - the film runs backwards (top to bottom) which is supposed to improve film flatness for sharper images. It has one weak point though, and it can be a serious one: the focusing lever is made of a weak alloy and is fairly often found broken off in cameras whose focus helical has gotten stiff.

 

I am personally a fan of Rolleiflexes. They handle just like the Yashica Mat (though the ones I am referring to don't have light meters) and their mechanisms are more rugged and wear resistant than the Yashica. For under $300 you can get any of the Tessar lensed models, which should be at least equal to the best Japanese copy you can find. The latest of these is the MX-EVS, made from about 1954-56, which might cost about $250; for under $200 you can get an MX (1951-53), which is similar but without the "EVS" coupling between the shutter and aperture controls (many people prefer not to have these coupled together, since the EVS system didn't really catch on); and for around $150 there's the 1949 "X" model which has only X synch for strobes - not much of a handicap today when everybody uses strobes anyway. These can be found with Schneider Xenar, Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar, Zeiss-Opton Tessar or Carl Zeiss Tessar lenses.... all should be essentially equally good performers, but the Zeiss-Opton and Carl Zeiss Tessars are considered the most desirable and brought a price premium when the cameras were new.

 

Another choice is the Rolleicord, models III, IV and V correspond in date to the 'flex models listed above - all of these have the Xenar lens. You can find a 'Cord for a little less than a 'Flex, but the difference is not as much as it seems it ought to be.

 

The down side of the Rolleflexes and Rolleicords is the focusing screen, which provides a good focusing surface but is very dim everywhere except right in the center. You can live with it, though, and it's not particularly difficult to change it for a brighter screen if you wish.

 

I think any of the above would be a good choice, but personally I would go for a Rolleiflex if the price was the same as one of the others.

2 votes for Rollei

Make it 3.

ok, Make it 4

5 (five)

Make it 5. And recommend getting the best one you can afford...many of us bought on the

low end and then traded up, time and time again until we ended up with one (or a few!) of the

Rolleis we really wanted all along. They'll last a lifetime (with proper care and maintenance)

and are a joy to shoot.

The Rolleis i see on ebay are mostly 400~ 1k.

Listen,I've never owned a rollei or an Auto cord just Yashica & Mamiya (Lubitel too,but I don't count that!)but if you do go for a Yashica don't go for the 124G...they are WAY over priced.Better to get an older (but better built and of stronger material..like metal,especially the film advance) model like the Yashica Mat EM or LM.They have the same 4 element Yashinon lens but only a selenium meter.In all honesty use of a hand held meter or sunny 16 works out best in most cases with camera of this vintage.They are also A LOT cheaper..like MAYBE 50 bucks.Heck for that price get one of those & maybe a Rollei too & compare them side by side.I'd love to see the results.

While I'm sure Rolleis are better, I used a pair of Yashica Mat LMs back in the day to shoot weddings. They made fine images and were completely reliable.

Hi. I started off with a Yashica 124 about 25 years ago, and then got a Rolleiflex 3.5F. The Yashica was a very good camera, and I got on fine with it, getting excellent pictures. However, just the feel of the Rollei makes you want to take better pictures. It is much more robust and oozes quality. What on the Yashica is a steel pressing is an elegant chromed casting on the Rollei, and so on. Most of the models with any Zeiss or Schneider lens will give excellent results, but I would suggest not to go for the 'chords as they have separate winding and shutter cocking which can be tiresome. The Rolleiflexes are very easy to load too. The screen can be dim, but there are aftermarket ones available that are brighter. I still use the original. If you don't need interchangable lenses the TLR is an ideal camera. Susie

1. Rolleiflex

2. Rolleiflex

3. Rolleicord

Mamiya C330 (or C33 (but is v.heavy), or C220 (is lightest), etc).

Used them all at one time or another. Rollie is the best by far.

If you don't mind the weight, a Mamiya C 330 does a fine job and can be had for a reasonable price. Go for the Professional S model for most flexibility. Lots of accessories and options, lens, finders, meters, etc available.

you don't say what you want to use it for but:

 

1. Yashica is the biggest bang for the buck

 

2. the Rolleiflex is the most fun to use

 

3. the Mamiya is the most versital

Hard to find, but in your price range is Ricoh's top-of-the-line Rolleiflex clone, the

Richomatic 225. It's about the same size and weight, very well made with an ingenious focus

system, much brighter screen, and a sharp Tessar style Rikenon lens. <p>Also agree that a

Mamiya C330 is a good choice. The close focus ability afforded by the bellows is a real plus.

I've got a Yashica 24 and the Autocord. The autocord is nice for close-up work really nice with the Rolleinars. For affordable versatility the 24 can't be beat. Both use the smaller bay-1 Rolleinars.

"...The Rolleis i see on ebay are mostly 400~ 1k."

 

Jonas, there are many different Rollei models and the prices vary tremendously.

 

In the $400-1000 (and up) range are the ones with Planar and Xenotar lenses: 2.8 C, D, E and F, and 3.5 E and F. These are excellent cameras that will outperform ALL of the other ones mentioned (including the other Rolleis), but as you have observed they are out of your (and my) budget range.

 

The earlier models with Tessar lenses are within your budget and many of them are less expensive than a Yashica Mat 124G: These are the X, MX and MX-EVS from the early 1950s. You can find an X for $100-150, an MX for $150-200 and an MX-EVS for $200-250 (these prices are up to date based on eBay traffic - I've been shopping this market over the past few months). If I had a $300 budget I would probably go for the MX-EVS just because it's a later model than the others, but in terms of performance they are identical. All of these have a 75mm f/3.5 Tessar (a Schneider Xenar was also an option, you will find them both at similar prices) lens, which is not equal to the Planar of the more expensive Rolleis but it's at least equal to any of the other cameras (with the possible exception of the Mamiya C330) you've been discussing.

 

The Ricoh Diacord is, as mentioned above, another good camera among the Japanese copies.

The Rolleiflex is no doubt the best and I have two. However using a TLR isn't for everyone

and it might be wise to try a cheap version first. I started with a Seagul and found I loved

the TLR so got a Rollei. On the other hand a Rolleiflex holds it's value very well so if you

find it doesn't work for you, you can usually get your money back out of it. I actually have

made a profit selling my old Rolleis.

 

I think the good thing about a TLR is that it views like an SLR and shoots like a range

finder with quiet shutter and no mirror. In that way it is the best of both worlds.

I have been using a Rollei MX since I bought it new in 1954. This camera will go on forever. Can't go wrong with that one.

Bob C.

I'm lovin' my YashicaMat EM.

 

If you can find a better Rollei than my EM for the 70 dollars I paid then go for it. For a hundred bucks you can find a Yashica that looks and feels like it was made yesterday.

I vote for the Rolleiflex. Any model in good condition will work great for you. I have owned

the Mamiya C330 and found the controls not very intuitive or user friendly. Oh, did anyone

mention it is HEAVY?

Lots of stuff to wade through here, all of it excellent! Personally, I went with the Mamiya system. The nicest thing about it is that it is the only TLR system with a variety of interchangeable lenses, ranging from 55 mm up to 250 mm. Plenty of accessories, too--I love the paramender and magnifying chimney finder for macro work.

 

I don't see why you can't pick up a pretty good C220 with an 80/2.8 lens for less than $300. It's got its drawbacks (yeah, someone said weight--compared to other TLRs, they are heavier, but I hadn't really noticed), but overall it is indeed the most versatile system out there.

You might consider a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex. The model 2A is fitted with a coated Zeiss Tessar 3.5 lens and a Compur shutter which is cocked as the film is advanced which is a nice feature. The focus screen is bright due to a built in fresnel system. This model dates around the mid to late '50's and can be had quite reasonably if you wait for a nice one.

 

Health, Peace out

 

Joanne<div></div>