john_boley

Thanks for all of the valuable input! I think I'll hunt up a 645 AND a Rb67. Then all of the bases will be covered. I thuink some of you got the mistaken idea thatI'm dis-satisfied with the Yashica C TLR. I'm not at all unhappy with it, in fact, I shot some kids-in-the-wading-pool shots with it yesterday. The only problem I have with it for location shooting is that it's 120 Only, which means 12 shots, then a laborious film re-load. If it's tripod-mounted (which it usually is) it has to be removed from the tripod in order to re-load. You can see that this would be a real problem for the sometimes spontaneous shots that are required at a wedding. Also, it must be hand-held metered, which I really don't mind, since it seems to get me more accurate exposure control. Even so, a faster handling, easy re-loading SLR with built-in metering would surely make location shooting easier.

Hi!

My wife is just getting started in medium format portraiture and

wedding photography. She's got a great eye for composition and

expression and stays busy with her Canon eos Elan 7 35mm. I recently

bought her an old Yashica C TLR and we've both been stunned by the

quality of this $49.00 MF ebay find, especially the B & W which I

develop and print at home. We're now shopping for a professional

grade MF SLR that won't break the bank (3 kids, ages 14, 4 and 2)

Looking at the Mamiya website and shopping around on ebay, I thought

perhaps an M645 or Rb67 would be in order. What are your

recommendations? Thanks! - JB

YO Tony!

The main thing is to be sure you don't try to load the paper film backing onto the reel. In the darkroom, unwind the spool of film until you feel a piece of tape. I usually just slowly pull the tape and the paper backing off the film. Some of these guys say you can get a friction flash that clouds up a frame or two, and I guess you CAN do that if you're a melon-head and get scared of the dark and get in too big a hurry. After you've removed the paper from the film, load the film onto the spool just as you would any other film. It's no more difficult than 35mm as far as I'm concerned. Good Luck!

YO BRAD!

I got a 40 year old Yashica C on ebay for $46.00 (shipping and all). It is my 1st MF camera. It has the yashicor lense. It is AWESOME for outdoor B&W photography and portraiture under ebw blue lights. I love it! I have a 40 year old sekonic light meter to match it, which I also got on ebay. I paid more for it than I did the camera, but I'm very satisfied with both. I ALSO often buy expired date, cold-stored film on ebay and I have had no problems with any of it. I also do my own developing. MF CAN be done on a budget! Some of these guys have laid out the big $$$ for their equipment, and often sniff at the thought of anyone getting good results for less....GO FOR IT!

I've bought and sold extensively on ebay, and I feel I've only been truly deceived 1 time...a graylab timer that has stripped gears...anyone know where I can get gears for one?

 

Anyhow, I've found that people who are relatively new to ebay usually are the most honest. They see ebay as it was intended, a garage sale, and have not yet learned the "tricks of the trade". Also, I've had good results with brick and mortar places which sell on ebay as a sideline...Cametta Camera in NYC has made some good offerings on ebay, and stand behind their stuff. I've got a perfect feedback rating myself...228 positives and 0 negatives. I try to be scrupulously honest and I have given refunds and exchanges that actually caused me to lose money on the deal, just to protect my rating. When the post office has lost items (it happens) I've given full refunds even on items they buyer failed to insure.

 

As a seller, I might add to this discussion that you who buy should try to be patient and courteous with a seller that you feel has mis-represented something, or failed to note some flaw. Sellers often make HONEST mistakes, and it won't help your cause to dash off a rude email full of profanity and accusations on the day your item arrives. I've found that courtesy and patience are usually reciprocated if there's a problem on a sale. Think about it...he's got your money, you've got his junk. If you curse him on your very first contact, he may be more inclined to tell you to jump in the river...Be cool, not a fool...

I've been a 35mm guy for years and still use it primarily. HOWEVER, about 6 months ago I bought a 40 year old Yashica C with the Yashicor lense off ebay for $46.00 (shipping and all). I wish I could tell you that my Canon Elan 7, 35mm outfit outperforms this antique dinosaur, but it doesn't! In fact, for outdoor portraiture and landscapes, the Yashica wins hands down. The detail and sharpness captured by the large negative makes quality prints every time! I develop and print my own B & W, so that's what I shoot most of the time. I believe that whatever you have to spend for developing and printing medium format will be money well spent. You'll be satisfied when you see the difference.

Brian,

I too am new to the 120 processing. The first time I got in the darkroom, I tried to load the paper backing onto the reel. I almost got it done. Then I felt the film, and knew what to do when I found the tape that held them together. What I do is cup the film spool in my left hand while holding the ends between my thumb and middle finger. As I pull the paper off with my right hand, the roll of film rolls itself neatly into my left palm. When I hit the tape, I carefully remove it from the end of the film and then just drop the paper backing onto the floor. I then load the film onto the spool. I use one of the plastic reels that you crank back and forth between your hands. I've found that the 120 film jams easily unless I hold pressure on the outside edges of the spool. By pushing the edges of the spool together during loading, this larger film can't push it's way out of the slot.

Hi!

I shoot 6x6 with an old Yashica C. I like the square shots for portraiture, as well as landscapes. In printing them, I've found it's better for me to over-enlarge the print beyond the edges of the rectangular paper. I hate to crop off 2 or 3 inch slivers of paper which usually get thrown away. I'm tight.

Hi Eric!

I'm also a MF newbie (just for clarity MF in the preceding statement refers to Medium Format, not the common vulgar expression). I just bought a Yashica C tlr on Ebay for $46.00, and everyone here tells me it's a good camera. I'm waiting for a film order to come in to try it out. See the posting "So what's your opinion of the Yashica C?" This camera is used, all manual and seems to be in good working condition. I've always wanted a TLR just because I've seen so many professionals use them over the years. I have a hobby studio and have done portrait photography at discount rates with 35mm for years. I just wanted to try MF, like yourself, inexpensively. Try Ebay for a camera on a budget. Also, I haven't heard a lot of good things about the Seagulls. Some guys say they're fine, but others say the parts sometimes aren't well machined and don't work smoothly. Goes to the quality control issue in Chinese sweat shops I guess.

Hi!

I appreciate all the help I got on my ??? about "Which 120 film?"

I've got some of those recommendations on order right now. I was

just wondering what the general opinion is concerning this antique

Yashica C I just bought on Ebay. Any chance of studio quality

portraiture? How about outdoor portraiture? Hmmmmm? Am I being a

little too hopeful with such a pitiful little investment? I know, I

know, some of you guys took out a 2nd mortgage for your camera, so

you're secretly hoping I get poor quality with my cheapie, but I want

the truth. What's the reality? Lay it on me...I can take it...Thanks!

Hi!

I just bought my first all manual medium format camera. It's an

antique yashica c, purchased on ebay for $46.00. What I want to know

is which film is the best for B&W and Color photography with this old

girl? I'll be trying her both in the studio with electronic flash AND

out in the great outdoors. Mostly it will be used for people/portrait

photography. I've been doing portraits with 35mm for years, but I've

read so much about medium format, I just had to jump in (cheaply of

course)! Please be merciful and simple in your responses! Thanks!