Yashica Mat - 124 G

I have borrowed my sister's Yashica Mat - 124 G camera. She has not

used it for years, and can't answer the couple of questions I have

about it. (I have been using a Rolleflex medium format, and a couple

of Zeis Icon Nettars recently.)

 

 

On the top of the camera, next to the ASA indicator, there is a small

window with a red needle. They don't ever seem to move. I wondered

what they indicate.

 

Thank you

It's the light meter needle. You need to have a battery installed for it to work. Plus, it has to still be functioning.

 

allan

That's the camera's light meter readout.. when the needle matches the "ring", it's the "correct" (hehe.. the Yashie's meter is pretty sketchy) aperture and shutter speed settings for that scene. The meter doesn't work until you flip up the waist level finder.. The battery compartment is on the lower part of the left side of the camera.. if the needle's not moving, the battery's probably dead.. The problem nowadays is that it uses a mercury battery, but there are other batteries that can be used in the camera (I can't remember which though)

 

Personally, I would just use a handheld meter instead, the built-in meter is very unreliable in my experience.

The 124G has a light meter built in. It is battery operated. If the camera has sit for several years, it will need a new battery. One of the needles in the window runs off that battery.

 

I had a 124G for a few years (long time ago). It took excellent quality pics, and the light meter was good enough for most pics.

 

Dave

Wow! There was no answers when I started typing my first response, and then checked to see several other answers ahead of me. We must have all been answering about the same time. Busy place! :)

 

Dave

Yes, busy place and thank you all!

 

I kind of guessed it was the light meter, but didn't know how to use it.

 

But being no lazy gal, I did find this

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica_mat124g/yashica_mat_124g.htm

 

I do love the answers here at pn though, because of all the "extras" thrown into the answers.

 

And yes, I think I'll use my light light meter with it.

 

I am happy to hear it takes sharp photos...my sister claimed it did.

 

And by the way, it's a Ricoh, I've been using....not the Rolleiflex. It's been great, but very hard to focus. The viewing screen fades towards the edges.

 

Thanks for all the answers!

Also, be sure to get that dead battery out of there, before it leaks and destroys the battery compartment!

As Conrad above stated, yes get the old battery out!

Many people will say that the built in meter is not that good, but

my experience has been fine. When and if you try the built in

meter be sure not to inadvertantly tilt the camera upward when

taking your reading. Use it like any other reflective meter. Use a

grey card if necessary. Most often with print film under normal

conditions, I meter the scene and open up a half stop. Most often

my yashicamat 124 is used for street scenes so the built in

meter can be handy.

I checked my built in 124 G meter against a good Gossen hand held and found it to be very good - surprised me too :)

 

Mike

the meter in my 124G has always been spot on for chromes as well