kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>You might wonder why borderline classic? Well, this camera was build in mid 80's, so it's there, but not quite there yet. I got this like new Yashica MAt 124G from Keh last February for 250 bucks. It was listed as Line New and it was. All is working, but the battery (Zinc Air) seem to die quite fast, so I opt for not using in-camera meter and use an external one. I shot with it maybe a dozen of times, but every time it produces great results. Last week I wanted to dust of my D300, but the 124g somehow got into my digital backpack and so did a roll of Pan + 50 ISO film. Well, in this case I had no choice buy use it along the side of my digital camera. I took it to the city to shoot inside churches and take few shots of the city's skyline. Here are some shots.<br> First is Chicago's skyline. </p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>No2. Presbyterian church across from John Hancock building.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>No3. Church's courtyard.</p> <p> </p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Ceiling of the same church.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>This one here is taken inside of St Peter church Madison and Canal streets</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Lastly is the shot of the camera itself. I gotta say that the f/2.8 viewing lens is a huge help in dim light. I hope you enjoyed this short trip with my 124g Yashica.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCL Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Very nice. I used to own one and it produced razor sharp photos. Your shots brought me back to nostalgic times when I worked in the Loop. Thanks and Happy New Year.</p> <p>Steve</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>One of these days, I have to get one of these Yashica TLRs.<br> Nice shots of Chicago. I had sort of forgot about the church - it was nice to be reminded by your excellent pictures.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaglow Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 My first voyage into medium format photography was a new 124G. It changed my life and my view of things. I hope it has as much importance to you. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allancobb Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Fantastic, from one Yashica lover to another! The Mat 124G does the job, the lens is excellent (as is attested by your fine shots), and as long as it's taken care of, the inner workings work just fine, despite the complaints you read about. Yours looks pristine, much nicer than mine, since I've had it since high school (the 70s) and it still soldiers on.</p> <p>Nicely done Kris!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_leonard3 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Very nice photos. I do not believe Yashicamats get the praise they deserve.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Congrats Kris on a nice deal. I guess like you said few more years need to pass to call this a "classic" but the design and performance are legendary. IT is amazing waht a 2.8 viewer can do. When I first shot a Exakta with a waist level finder I was blown away how bright the image was and gave all the credit to the funder... DUHH I was looking through a 2.8.Tessar and like you was used to the slower 3.5.view. You images or rather results are great. Those interiors are envious. Were they hand held? A worthy investment in my eyes!!<br> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyanatic Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Kris -- Lovely images! Enjoy the Yashica, and thanks for sharing the photographs. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Great tonality <strong>Kris</strong>, and no lack of sharpness. Challenging stuff, interiors of churches, and you've done very well, with the Yashinon displaying a very satisfactory lack of curvature. The first image and the courtyard pic would be my favourites. The 124G is one of the more attractive models, in my opinion, and yours really does look minty. Thanks for the post.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy_boren1 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Great images, the Mat-124 is a very useable camera. I do have a question though-- in your first shot, the skyline, there appears to be streaks in the sky, is that banding from the scan or could it be uneven development? </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris-bochenek Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Chuck, all the shots were from the tripod. The interior ones were something around 4-8 seconds.<br> Randy, I have posted about this stuff in different forum. It seems as if it's my agitation or my plastic reel. I will try changing the reel to see what happens. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>I think you could get by with calling it a true classic. It has roots going back to the 1950's with the original Yashicamat. The CDS metering is essentially unchanged from the typical late 60's to mid-70's CMC. Kind of a similar situation with the Nikon FM10, Ricoh KR5-II, Yashica FX-3 Super 2000, etc. Great results. In recent years, though, the prices of the Yashicamat 124G have been creeping upward to where a clean, working copy fetches more than the last new ones sold. However, they haven't hit the high prices of the Rolleiflexes yet so there's still time to snap one up at a good price. Thanks for posting.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Helmke Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>This one takes me back a ways. At my first newspaper job at age 17 the chief photographer was a crusty old guy of about 35 or so, cigar in one hand and a Yaschicamat (that's what we always called them) in the other. I learned alot about developing film, a thicker skin, a sense of humor and how to cuss from Claude. I wonder where he ended up. Also learned how to put 120 film on a stainless spool after using the camera. He wouldn't do it for me and it took a very long half hour in the dark to figure it out. Very nice work with yours.</p> <p>Rick H.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakubo Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Actually, the 124G was made 1970 to 1986 so the camera model is 44 years old. I think that is old enough to be a classic. :-) I bought a used one in excellent condition in 1997 for $125 including the original leather case. It is a nice camera. Since I started shooting digital though I haven't used film anymore.<br> <br />Nice photos!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Wow 1986 is 44 years ago? Scary, but that Yashica is most definitely a classic, as are your pictures. You have handled those tricky conditions with aplomb.<br> You know, I don't have a Yashica TLR....hmmm.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_robison3 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>I think Olympus OM-1n was made up to 1987 and it is a classic. Cameras that are not battery dependant hark back to a simpler time. They are classic in nature. The Nikon FM10 is still available and is an example of this type of camera. I woiuld call it 'classic in nature' if that makes any sense. </p> <p>As you can see, Kris was able to use his Yashica Mat very effectively without the meter battery installed and that makes it a classic. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur_mcculloch2 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 <p>Kris<br> Lovely shots. And a beautiful camera. I have one and use it for portraiture. The lens is high contrast and gun sharp for a tessar design. I still use the in built meter with a CRIS (I think that's it - basically a diode that reduces the voltage), when I don't have a handheld one, but like to hand meter as it was never very accurate. Enjoy, it's a pleasure to use.<br> Apiarist! (Arthur)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakubo Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 <p>It has a CdS (cadmium sulfide) meter. I never even used it and never put a battery in mine. I would use an external light meter or use the Sunny 16 rule. If you shoot B&W negatives or color negatives you can get by pretty well if you just use the Sunny 16 rule. Also, the film boxes have an exposure guide that is based on the Sunny 16 rule (at least the old boxes had it, I don't know about now). Color slide film has less latitude so an exposure meter is much more helpful with it.<br> <br />By the way, yes, 2014 - 1970 = 44 years.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin_jones1 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 <p>My 124G from my late father-in-law was made in 1982 and had a full service in 2008. I went to use it just before Christmas to discover that the clouding on the rear element of the taking lens has reappeared. Grr!!! Although this is a commonly found problem with this model I had hoped the camera would go for more than 5 years before it happened again.<br> Ah well, it's off for a clean again. My lens spanner isn't long enough for the job and this camera is over my threshold for DIY fixes. I prefer to tackle basket cases or far more modest cameras.<br> PS The meter has been recalibrated for 1.5V but the acceptance angle of the meter doesn't inspire me with confidence when compared with SLR's or a Gossen Profisix meter. The Yashica tends towards underexposure. Probably too much influence from sky. I use sunny 16 and another meter - standalone or a camera.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 <p>Excellent shades <strong>Kris. </strong>I had one of these 124Gs from my Detroit days with auxiliary wide and tele lenses. It was an excellent camera. sp</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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