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

I love my 124G, but I have to say that the film crank that jams is true, the problem of the lens that get ssoaked in the oil is true, the inaccuracy of the meter is true, but the great quality of the lens is true too. I like to focus with my left hand, that's the only reason I prefer my 124G over my 635. I'd say that with $175, getting a Rollei or a Mamiya TLR should be wiser... Excepted if you already tried the 124G, loved it and swear by it

When looking for one of these myself, a few years ago, I read that the 124 G in comparison to the 124 has the gold plated meter contacts and that the G has plastic parts in the film transport mechanics, whereas the 124 has metal gear in the transport. The gold plated meter contacts are unimportant if a handheld meter is used anyway. The 124 is usually cheaper too.

I have never seen the metal gearing on the 124, but if this is true it could make a difference.

The only downside in my experience was that the chrome lens surround (black on the 124 G) once gave me a nasty reflection from the back of an IR filter once. Now it is black too.

I had a 124G in high school and college. It has an excellent lens but is built very poorly. After getting it repaired several times I finally traded it in. At the time I got a late model meterless Minolta Autocord in very nice condition for $30. That wasn't bad for the inflationary late 1970s. I still have the Autocord even if I donlt use it much now. I mostly use Bronica SLR cameras when shooting in MF. I would recommend an SQ-A with an 80/2.8 lens, a back and a waist level finder. The outfit isn't too heavy or too expensive. The SQ-Ai can still be much more expensive and the original SQ is much older and not seen as often. The problem with the 124G is that it was never made for heavy use. Even if you can get someone to fabricate new parts for the ones which are sure to fail, it wouldn't make sense. The SQ-A needs a PX-28 battery. Without the battery you will only have the 1/500 shutter speed. With the battery you will have an accurate electronically timed shutter which has proven to be quite reliable. If you decide later to add a 50 or a 150 you will find that these lenses are very reasonably priced. If you want to add a prism finder then the Speed Grip should go along with it. If you could find a late model Rolleicord Vb in good condition for a reasonable price I'm sure that would be much more reliable than a 124G but it still wouldn't be nearly as versatile as an SQ-A. I did close-ups with the 124G and some Spiratone close-up lenses. Whether you use an extension tube close-up lenses or even a macro lens, that's a lot easier to do with the SQ-A.

Hello...

I've posted some shots done at about 185 meters with several cameras at:

http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=730969

The Rolleicord V is the first Colum, third one down (if your monitor shows four rows across).

The Yashica 124G is third Colum, fourth one down.

The Yashica 124G is faster to shoot as it advances film with a crank forward (like the Rolleiflex) and cocks the shutter with the crank as well. Mine is in like new condition. I use it respectfully. I have never had any trouble with it. The Rolleicord V (I have two of them) advances with a roll knob and the shutter must be manually cocked with a under lens lever and has to be shoved back to fire it unless you have the rare remote shutter port insert. But, the Rolleicord has a LOT less moving parts to break and the film advance is hard to break.

I think the Yashica will do just fine if both you and the former users were careful and gentle with it. If not, you might want to buy the Rolleicord V, Va or the very best one, the Vb.

With the Yashica 124G you will have 220 film capability when you need it. Currently, though, the only black & white film available in 220 is Tri-X Pan Professional. Since I can do 220 in my Mamiya 645s, I'm happy with my Yashicamat D. Lens needs to be stopped down a bit for best perfomance since it is a triplet rather than a four element design. Otherwise, a good buy. I think the 124G's tend to be overpriced. For not much more than a 124G you could get a Mamiya C220 with an 80mm f2.8 lens. The only (AFAIK) other f2.8 lenses in twin lens reflexes is in the Rolleiflexes. For my own use I might eventually pick up a C220 with the 55mm wide angle lens and the 105mm tele. I can't really comment on 124G reliability-- when my family operated a camera shop we sold quite a few 124G's and never had any returned for problems, but again, YMMV.

If you have your heart set on a Yashica, I'd get he 124 model. It will shoot 120/220 and is built much better than the G. It also looks sexier. better yet save your money and get a Rollie, that's what everyone on the street asks me if mine is.

Well, enough have been spoken here. I thought I can contribute something.

Firstly, let me provide the information about the repairs and spairs: http://www.markhama.com/

As far as 124G is concerned, I like it a lot. I have an old yashica D too. as far as normal functioning is concerned, its luck. In my D, the 'B' shutter does not work. I discovered shutter lag on the 124G last weekend. I think using it more can fix it (suggested as a response to my post)

Just to throw some light, D does not accommodate 220 films but has multiple exposure provision. On the other hand 124G does not have multiple-exposure but takes 220. I can't complain on the lenses of either.

As far as durability is concerned, the D made a trip inside a pond and 124G rolled down a hill-side. They are had no injuries. i love yashica for the simplicity, good luck.