Yashicamat

I already have a handheld meter, so I guess the metering isn't a big deal. Street photography?

Unless you know how to use a light meter, the Yashica Mat 124 or 124G is your best option. The difference between the two cameras is only that the 124G has gold connections in the light meter. I have both the 124G and the Rolleicord Vb, which is little different from the Va. Rolleis cost too much money for what they are in comparison to the Yashica cameras.

What you have to look for in cameras that old is whether they have been used on a regular basis or put into the closet or under the bed and left to gather dust. The lubrication in the shutter mechanism dries out and if you try to use it, you can break the springs. Repair on on with a dysfunctional shutter or a sticky shutter is about $150 to 160. The same would be true for the Ikoflex.

About lenses. I hear so much here about this lens being better than that lens and in this case, they are saying that Schneider is better than the Yashica glass. When push comes to shove, I would have to doubt whether any person in this group could give you definitive proof that one lens is better than another in situations like this.

BTW, you can get a Yashicamat 124 for substantially less than a 124G and they are, except for the gold contacts with the light meter, exactly the same camera. Save some money.

2008-11-30 17:14:12 by crow jane

This video shows how to set up a Yashica Mat 124G twin lens reflex camera. In this video, an Ilford FP4+ 125 ASA film is loaded. have fun :)