Another option-a Yashica 124G 6X6 camera-

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MinniesMum

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Aside from the Rollei's-this Yashica gets good reviews elsewhere and can be had for a sensible price- any opinions on this one ??

YASHICA MAT-124G 6X6 CAMERA
 
Definitely a good solid performer. In EU you can get a good one for 100-150£. My only gripe about it is the rattling noise when winding film.
 
There is a nice looking on the classified sections. Alas, the gentleman does not ship to addresses outside of the USA.
 
MinniesMum said:
Aside from the Rollei's-this Yashica gets good reviews elsewhere and can be had for a sensible price- any opinions on this one ??

YASHICA MAT-124G 6X6 CAMERA
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These are rather decent cameras. I sold them, new and used, back in when I ran camera stores. Not as well finished or rugged as a Rollei, but still rather good. The lens isn't as good as those on most Rolleis, particularly in the corners, but the difference is small. They also don't incorporate some of the more subtle niceties found in the Rolleiflexes (double exposure, parallax correction in the VF, ...).

The 124 varied over the years. The "G" version had improved meter electrics. The very late G models seemed to incorporate some "modern materials" (read: corner cutting for economy) like plastic battery covers, etc. They didn't feel as good as the early G models, but I never saw any difference in reliability. Then again, I very rarely had one brought in for service. They just seem to keep working.
 
I recently bought a Yashica D, which is an older model without the meter, in almost new condition. I am anxious to run a couple of rolls to Tmax thru it, process the film, and have a friend scan it since my Dimage will only handle 35mm. It took a while but I was finally able to get the Paterson reels to open up into the 120 position. It took a bit of soaking in warm water before they budged. When I showed the camera to my wise guy son, he asked me how many megapixels it was. Funny guy.
 
yashica mats are a great start to medium format
i find the meter one mines to be very good and exposed plenty of slide film properly with the camera
 
Great camera. Great lens. Sold it though, and kept my Minolta Autocord. Just seemed better made--and the Rokkor lens is fantastic.

Joe
 
I liked the image quality but disliked, greatly, the light weight. I found it annoyingly hard to fire the shutter without tilting the camera.

I sold mine and bought a mamiya c330. Even though it's about twice the size it is sturdier and surprisingly easier for me to hand hold. YMMV.
 
It's an ok camera. Nothing special in the handling or optical quality.

I had one and just like the other stories above, I sold it.
 
Very smooth handling camera, decent meter (not a selenium one!), quite good lens (Tessar type). I agree that it's not the ultimate in build quality but it is very reliable. Highly recommended.
 
If you can find a 124 it's the same camera without the Gold contacts for the lightmeter...I've read that it was made a bit better than the 124g...
Same lens, uses both 120 & 220 roll film, has a meter and more metal parts...
I don't use the meter in mine, although it works, I prefer using the Weston Master II or the Mamiya m645's meter to measure the light...
There have been plenty of them on ebay lately and the prices will vary...

I would also recommend the Minolta Autocord...don't have one and never used one but I've seen what it can do...
Just do your homework on any camera you might choose...find it's strengths and weaknesses and then go for it...

I love my 124g and would never ever sell it...it has a great lens, is very easy to use and produces a look that none of my other cameras do...
 
I love it, it's great.

Bought my 124 (without the G, but there is no real world difference besides the gold contacts) a year ago. I wanted to try medium format. I never used a Rolleiflex, the comparison is inevitable, but it is really great as 'just' a Yashica.

Build quality is good, mine looks fantastic as well, it has evidently hardly been used. The lens is a Tessar type, so photos are tack sharp when stopped down a bit. Finder is very bright, camera is light and easy to handle and of course no mirror slap. It did need a CLA though after years of not being used.

Image quality is so outstanding in fact that nothing I had used so far even comes close. Epson V500 scans made from negs I made with the Yashica are easily better than a prosumer dSLR, especially in B/W.

I now own a Hasselblad 500 C/M so I'm contemplating selling the Yashica. Of course the Hassy with a Zeiss Planar on it is better wide open, but at medium apertures you'd be hard pressed to see the difference. Really highly recommended.
 
KoNickon you are very welcome :) I will indeed keep posting them. St. John's is an interesting place to call home. Newfoundland is just not like anywhere else.

Bojan
 
I own both Rolleicord Vb and Yashicamat 124G. The Rolleicord Vb is fitted with a viewfinder hood, the 4,5x6 mm mask and the focusing screen of the Rolleiflex 2.8F (the Rolleicord Vb and the Rolleiflex 2.8F and 3.5F allow the complete compatibility for viewfinder, mask format and focusing screen).
The Yashicamat 124G is a solid piece of camera and the lens Yashinon 80/3.5 is a good performer, but the Mat 124G have a small disadvantages, against Rolleicord Vb. The viewfinder is more dark, and the taking lens of mine Mat 124 G suffer from periodic internal fogging: however, this defect is easily eliminated when it occurs; simply unscrew the front part of the taking lens and wipe gently the fogging.
The taking lens of the Rolleicord Vb (a Schneider Xenar 75/3.5) don't suffer of fogging and is little bit more contrasty and sharp; the composing and focusing is better, due to more bright viewfinder. Opposite, with the Rolleicord Vb you must advance the film with a simple knob and arming the shutter separately. Instead, whit the Mat 124G, you have a quick lever which operates the shutter and simultaneously advance the film.
Ciao.
Vincenzo
 
KoNickon said:
Very smooth handling camera, decent meter (not a selenium one!), quite good lens (Tessar type). I agree that it's not the ultimate in build quality but it is very reliable. Highly recommended.
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Agreed. My first serious MF was the Yashica MAT 124G. I loved that camera and got some really great photos with it.
 
Back in the seventies and eighties, I supplemented my income by doing quite a few weddings and family portraits. The cameras used were - a couple of Yashicamats with the 'Yashinon' lens (NOT the 'Yashicor'! ) and my faithfull FT2 Nikkormats. Recently it was pleasing to see some of the results, hung on the walls at the house of an aquaintance, and still looking very nice, after all the years!, of course - they were printed on 'Record Rapid' and 'Portriga' paper!...I don't know how an inkjet would have fared alongside them?.
Back on topic!....there's nothing wrong with those Yashinon lenses, or in my experience - the mechanics of the camera.
Cheers, Dave.
 
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