Yet Another Yashica Mat 124 G question

A mint 124 G Yashica must be a rare find.

Right now a few posts come up frompeople having problems with that camera. Spares for the film transport are getting scarce.

OTOH 175 $ is not the end of the world. It is a bit much for a doorstop though.

I take it you're of the opinion that the camera is useless? If you care to expand on that - I'd be eager to hear rany any and all opinions. Thanks much!

-EG

I think what the previous comment was meant to say is the 124G is not as robust as some of the older Yashicamats. If I were shopping, I would look for a Rolleicord V - or older Yashicamat. I have one of each, and consider them more reliable and sturdy than the 124G. However the Yashinon and Lumaxar lenses are good. Just my opinion.

Jack

Hmm, I hear you regarding "robustness" although I worry about the coatings of lenses of that vintage - for a Rolleicord V - we're talking the 1950s.

Yes, I realize the Yashicamt's have more plastic but, I wouldn't be using this thing all the time and would probably keep it in some sort of half case to be on the safe side. Still the other comment regarding film transport parts might mean I might want to keep one handy in case of any future problems.

Depends on what you really want. The TLR vs SLR thingy. I have a124-G, and it works well. The lens is fine, shutter speeds are accurate. The meter works, but suffers from a bit of nonlinearity. The old selenium and CdS cells from this era do 'age' with time. Sunny 16 is there, as is my digital to provide 'metering' if I don't have a meter around my neck. There's a fair amount of plastic, but it works. You may also consider something like a Mamiya M645 100S; it's about the same price on 'evilbay' or KEH and it can be used to drive fenceposts. I have one and I love it to pieces. The glass is great and really produces nice negs & transparencies. I have both a waist level finder (meterless) and a PDS prism finder (makes it like a metered SLR then). It's heavier, but other focal lengths can be had. I think the 1000S enjoyed a very good reputation for reliability, over it's life. This vintage stuff is nearly dirt cheap anymore. Its lenses, except for one, tho use the focal plane shutter, so you do not get universal speed leaf shutters for fill flash if that's impt to you. My small rah-rah-rant. Jim M.

I have also been looking for a good Yashica Mat 124G, and so far, I have tried 3, but haven't had any luck. All of them suffered from some problems. So if you can try it and if you know how the specific one works, then $175 may be a good deal.

Those I have tried ranges from $100 to $200, and problems being fungus, light meter, un-parallel viewing and taking lens, and so on.

I also have C220 now, and although it is a bit heavier than Yashica Mat, once I start shooting with it, I don't remember that it's heavier. Plus, I can change the lens, which is good. Both Mamiya and Yashica Mat take 120 or 220. With mamiya, I have to use my handheld meter, but that's okay as I do with my hasselblad as well.

Hiromu

Do you need the meter? If so, the 124's meter is as nice as any you'll find in a TLR.

If not, for $175 you can get a very nice Rolleiflex MX or MX-EVS that will at the very least match the performance of the 124G and is more durable. Not to mention the extra street cred of the name...

I bought a very clean 1950s Minolta Autocord, essentially for the double exposure possibility which my more modern MF camera does not have. Everything works fine so far (half a year later) and the lens is very good, seemingly better than my 124G of some years back. The connoiseurs of TLR camneras say the lens is almost as good as those on the Rolleiflex, no small praise. Hard to find one in excellent condition, but they come up occasionally if you are not in a hurry.

I have several Yashica TLR's and the C220. I found that C220 not that heavy.Also, in the Yashicas, the Yashica Mat and the Yashica D are good cameras. The c220 and Yashica D, having the film winding knob, instead of the film crank are more reliable. The film crank cameras are prone to jam. Keh.com as Rolleicords in the BGN and UG grades for what you want. So, I would choose the Yashicas and the Mamiya C220 models