Yashicamat TLR - any good?

<P>Hey everybody. I've been wanting to get into medium format for a

while now, mostly because I'm intrigued by the beautiful images I've

seen created by Rolleis. But alas, I could never afford such a

camera. I know somebody, though, who is offering to sell me a

Yashicamat: </P>

<P><IMG

src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/chuckreyes/yashicamat.jpg

"></P>

<BR>I've read on here that the Yashicamat 124s are pretty good with

the Yashinon 80mm lenses, and I think this camera has them, but

is this one any good? I frankly didn't know of such a camera,

thought it was just 124/Gs and LM/EMs. It's being offered at a quite

reasonable price, although he himself is not sure of it's quality or

condition. I do know that the leatherette on one side has all

but come off, but he says it shouldn't affect the camera

functions. </BR>

<P>Is anybody familiar with this model? Is it sturdy, does it have

any major faults, and how much would it cost to have it CLA'd if

need be? </P>

<P>Thanks guys.</P>

YES! IMHO, it's the best value of all the Yashica TLRs, you should be able to get one on the bay for under $60 in good shape. It's basically the same as a Mat-124, but without the light meter or the 220 support.

 

If you weren't planning on relying on the built-in meter (which it lacks), then this one is the way to go.

One of my favorite cameras; looking for a portrait/close-up lens set to complete it. Love the square format, the screen, the heft.

Whenever possible, run a test roll (with a lens hood, ideally) before you pay any cash.

Yes, great camera. The Yashinon (which it has) is better than the Yashikor. The only thing these cameras can't tolerate is being dropped. Make sure the moving front section and the lenses are absolutely parallel to the body. Open the back and check the body for hairline cracks. Make sure it feeds film smoothly, though roll film will always have more friction than 35mm. Shine a penlight through the lenses and look for haze and fungus. Be sure the slow shutter speeds are about right and don't sound gummy. Finally, there is some issue about the shutter jamming if the self timer is used when the flash sync is set to M (I think). Find out about that and don't do it :-) Remember that a MF negative from this camera will beat the results from the finest and most expensive 35mm of any type.

I have the Yashica-Mat LM which is exactly the same as the Yashica-May but has the built in light meter. I have had mine for 4 years and think it's fantastic. I have hiked, camped, cycled, travelled overseas with it, and shot in temperatures from -30 C to + 40 C. I even use it with quite a bit with flash and it's been a trooper. I have never had a bad shot from it. I have read in Peter Williams book "Medium Format Cameras" that the Yashica-Mat type is one of the best ones to look for. I agree that if you can shot a test roll with it and try all of the shutter speeds and make sure it focuses properly. If it all works fine it should be a great buy.

 

Good luck and take care

What is with this "myth" that Rolleis are so expensive? Sure, they CAN be but you can get a very good user Rolleicord for $40-90 off eBay. Go search the completed eBay listings for Rolleicord and you'll see about 5-6 of them that sold in this range over the past month or so alone. I bought a great ugly user Rolleicord with a clear and clean Xenar lens for $50 from eBay. I only sold it as I later found a beater Rolleiflex with a Planar lens later for only for $150. Even now though I wish I never sold that Rolleicord as it gave me great images.

 

BTW, nothing against Yashicamats just railing against those who think they can afford a Lubitel or Yashicamat but not a Rolleicord.

They are fine cameras, capable of very good results. Generally pretty reliable too.

 

I have an LM (along with a bunch of MF folding cameras), and am very pleased with the results. You do have to be careful with lens flare, so using a lens hood is a very good idea.

 

The best way to test the camera is to take some test shots with the camera mounted on a tripod, and using slide film (it is much easier to see any problems, such as shutter speeds being off, focus problems, etc).

 

For a CLA in the US, do a search for a guy called Mark Hama (http://www.markhama.com/).

 

Paul

IMHO, a good Yashica TLR with a Yashinon is better than a Rolleicord - they have better ergonomics, and comparable build quality and optics. It's my feeling that a Yashica TLR with a Yashinon is nearly as good as a Rolleiflex with a Tessar, equal in every way except build quality.

 

A Rolleiflex with a Planar or Xenotar is the best of all, but also much more expensive.

Hi Chuck,

I have a Yashica Mat EM equipped with Yashinon Lens. I have also a Rolleiflex E with Schneider Xenotar 2.8 lens. Of course the Yashica has a more fragile body, a much less sofisticated engineering, but, believe it or not, I cannot see any diference of sharpness and general quality between the negatives obtained by these two cameras. As said before by other members, just be careful when buying one, because it's not particularly a sturdy camera like a Rollei. As a matter of fact, its selenium meter is still precise, checked against my Sekonic. Good luck, and enjoy it if You buy one.

<p>It is a <em>very</em> long time since the thread started and prices have changed a lot.<br>

You do still have the Yashica-Mat? Just wondering, as I have the same model. Make sure you get a pin inserted to lock the sync lever to one setting. If it shifts & you fire the shutter................... Which is why my camera was sent to Mark Hama.<br>

I have never had a Yashica TLR with a Yashikor, so I wouldn't know what the visible difference was. I am guessing that you'd have to look in the very corners of the field at the wider apertures to notice. My Yashica TLR's have all had Yashinons. It is my understanding that the Yashikor is a Cooke Triplet like the Triotar of the Rolleicord.<br>

I did have a 'cord with a Triotar, but I never used it at apertures larger than f5.6 & I was perfectly happy with it.</p>