YashicaMat repair

[icuneko]

Yesterday in a thrift store I found a YashicaMat 124G with hard case,

pretty bright screen, near-mint lenses, and metal lenshood for US $99.

Condition: 9/10. But--there's always a but--the shutter doesn't fire

at any speeds or via the self-timer. Does this sound like a major

repair, or could it just be a slipped linkage? I pointed this out and

the saleperson verified it and said, "OK, As-is $49.95." Is it worth

the risk and additional costs?

I can get a Rolleicord V with mint lenses, operating shutter, but dark

viewfinder, and 6-month warranty at a camera shop instead.

[jorn ake]

The Rolleicord for $99? If totally functional, that might be more worthwhile. BUT you should double check the Yashica. They have notoriously finicky self-timers which, when they malfunction, create the appearance of a bad shutter. They sort of hang in infinite count down mode. Sometimes you can gently but firmly move the self-timer a pinch further in the count-down direction, and this will release the shutter. Voila! You have a working camera. Then remember never to use the self-timer again. The Yashica would be a good deal if you can get it for $50 and then fix it w/o sweating. But if the Rolleicord is fully functional for $99, that'll be worth sinking a bit more money into at some point to brighten the screen and get a CLA.

[icuneko]

Sorry, didn't mention but the Rolleicord V is going for US $150. But it's been there a while and with digital most of their sales, I'll be it'll go down

next time I ask. I'll go back and try jiggling the Yashica's self-timer as was said to see if it will work the shutter.

[douglas_green1]

I've bought fully working Yashica Mat 124G cameras for under $100 on ebay in good cosmetic shape. I wouldn't buy a broken one for more than $30-35

[raddatzphoto]

I did what you did, and then had shutter calibrated etc. (Chicago Repair Shop) I have

never been sorry...It's an excellent MF daredevil.

[dean_williams]

If you get the 'Mat for $50, it's not a bad deal. Then send it to <a href="http://www.markhama.com/">Mark Hama</a>. He'll charge you about $80 and you'll get a camera back that will work like new for another couple of decades.

[m._howard_edwards]

The YashicaMat owner's manual says to not use the self timer when the flash sync is set to M (bulb). I have read otherwise that trying this is the Achilles heel of the camera, though I am not sure if it causes permanent damage. The manual says, "It may cause damage." and that is all. Mine is set to X sync where it will stay. I probably have shot my last flash bulb.

[icuneko]

Thanks everyone. Most helpful!

[c4-contemporary-art]

Okay - I have some experience with this VERY issue. The Yashimat

(affectionate term) was my VERY first camera! I really loved it. But one day,

the shutter just stopped firing (!). At any rate, I took it into a local camera

repair shop - and the guy working there told me it was a very common

problem with those - and usually it's the shutter release linkage - located

JUST above the release. He told me that it's really not worth 'repairing'

properly - but asked me if I wanted to risk him trying something. Not

knowing what else to do, I went for it. He walked the camera to the back of

the shop, secured it to thelarge workbench - placed a punch or something

like that (chisel) against the metal of the body about 6-7mm above and to

the left of the release - and WHACKED that thing with a hammer! Well,

there was a pretty noticeable dent above the release button now - but I'll

be damned if it didn't work like a charm after that and I never had a

problem again...! The best part was that he did it free of charge!

[icuneko]

Ah, the ol' whackit solution! Heck, it works on TVs, why not on cameras?

[c4-contemporary-art]

well - it's not really the 'ol whackit' - but a very specific solution for a specific

condition with a specific camera. please do not try this yourself!

[brad_hodgins1]

I just picked up a Yashica Mat in pretty good condition a a garage sale this morning for $20 CDN. The shutter operates smoothly, no corrosion on the mirror, just dust and hair, no scratches or light leaks, lens looks nice, yet dry winding it with the back closed and no films gets me fine to frame 3 or 4 on the counter, but then the winder gets stuck halfway, and I have to release the shutter button, then I can wind it halfway again to it's full stop at the next frame. This does this 2 to 3 times per "roll". Can I fix this? I have been able to fix my own hasseblad in the past, but this is quite different.

 

I do plan to take the top off to clean the mirror and screen.

Any accessories available for this camera?

 

Cheers,

 

Brad