f._timothy_knapik Posted October 16, 1997 Share Posted October 16, 1997 I recently purchased a used YashicaMat 124G. I took some portraits of my daughter outside (full length) with somewhat strong backlighting, not direct sun. This is my first time with a medium format camera. When I got my contacts back I was surprised at the heavy flare. Is this normal for a Yashica 124G optics? Is this common with MF in general? I hope not because I love the format. Photos not shot with backlighting look great. I do not think I want to examine another 35mm contact sheet again! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_hubbard Posted October 16, 1997 Share Posted October 16, 1997 Occasional flare is pretty typical of any lens that sticks out into the wind like that, although if it was "heavy" I'd bet that an errant ray of direct sunlight was falling on your glass. Not to remark on the obvious, but the flare I've gotten with the 124G is certainly no worse than what I get with a 2.8F Rollei, for instance. You may be able to find a bayonet-mount lens shade for your 124G (it took me a year or so to find one), or you can improvise. I don't like that I can't close the case if the shade is on, and usually prefer to shade the lens by hand. Welcome to medium format. Today a used YashicaMat, tomorrow a full multi-lens MF system. Someday you'll laugh to think that your first MF camera was one-third the price of a used 120 film-back! Best wishes, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_rowin Posted October 23, 1997 Share Posted October 23, 1997 I had a similar flare problem with the Yashica 124 which I thought was due to the lens design. Further investigation showed that there was clouding of the glue between some of the elements which was readily apparent when bright light was shown through the lens. I was told that it didn't pay to remount the lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_toh Posted December 2, 1997 Share Posted December 2, 1997 My Yashicamat 124G (1977) was found to have clouding of the cement between lens elements in 1992. I managed to buy a replacement lens from a local dealer (Cathay Photo Store, Singapore) and felt it was worth the cost and trouble -about USD 100 all in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felix_takumar1 Posted October 23, 1998 Share Posted October 23, 1998 These are uncoated lenses, so extra chance for flare and stray dispersion. Take advice about shading by hand, or, one trick when outdoors is to use a utility pole, tree or other object to "shade" the camera while you operate the controls and peer thru the prism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene_crumpler6 Posted October 23, 1998 Share Posted October 23, 1998 A rollei bayonet series I lens shade will fit your yashicamat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_butler Posted October 23, 1998 Share Posted October 23, 1998 Contrary to what Felix asserts, the lens on the 124G is coated. You simply need a shade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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