big mistake? mat 124g

Give it a chance, joe. I use my Mamiya C220 only during the summer because of the big landscapes I get to make with it.

You can probably carry yours through nasty winters if the meter is dead. And use only sunny 16! :)
 
Joe, a project (or at least a direction) is good, otherwise photography can seem pointless. Sometimes the effort of learning new hardware can open up some possibilities not before envisioned, but new gear can be an escape, too, from DOing.

I'm one of Bertram's 5% that can't seem to get happy with waist-level reversed viewing. I've used several TLRs but the worst for me was the little "baby" Rollei 4x4 because of the small focusing screen, and it was "tippy" to handle. Enough to make one seasick... The Mamiya C TLRs were the best, but both had the prism viewfinder. :) I will on occasion take the prism off a Pentax 6x7 for a low-angle view for instance, and then I'm again reminded that I don't like that reversal.

But I'd agree with the comment about using the strap, around your neck and adjusted to put the camera at your favored distance from the eye. Then apply a bit of downward force on the camera to get some steadying tension in the strap. That seemed to help me, anyway.

Trust that Metrastar!
 
i can't use a neck strap.
the smallest amount of pressure applied to my neck results in a massive headache.

i put a wrist strap on the mat for safety from dropping it.

joe
 
Maybe you can rig up something with equivalent support for the camera. Attach the neck strap to your suspenders? :p
 
backalley photo said:
i can't use a neck strap.
the smallest amount of pressure applied to my neck results in a massive headache.
Click to expand...

Get a "birder's harness". It works more like a shoulder harness and doesn't even touch your neck.
 
Kin Lau said:
Get a "birder's harness". It works more like a shoulder harness and doesn't even touch your neck.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I didn't know what a birder's harness was, but a quick web search says it's actually a binocular harness. Is that what you meant? I found some photos of one here (click). It looks quite comfortable, but not very inconspicuous. I suppose in the winter one can wear a jacket over it.
 
hoot said:
Hmm, I didn't know what a birder's harness was, but a quick web search says it's actually a binocular harness. Is that what you meant? I found some photos of one here (click). It looks quite comfortable, but not very inconspicuous. I suppose in the winter one can wear a jacket over it.
Click to expand...

Yup... that's it. And it does come in all sizes. I call it a "birder's harness" because they're about the only people I see who use them. I'll likely get a pair for my wife & I since we spend a lot of time birding also.
 
The only thing of value my father left me was his Yashicamat. I had it CLA'd with a view to using it, but nostagia or some other strange emotion overtook me, and I stuck with the 330f until I got fed up with lugging it around. The Yashicamat sits in the closet with a couple of sets of 'bits' to turn it into a 35mm - Joe that could be the perfect compromise! I found that with a prism on the top of the 330f you don't have to worry about "going backwards to Christmas across the Irish Sea". Of course you could always read "Alice in Wonderland" instead.
 
GeneW said:
If you can pat your head while rubbing your stomach in a circle, you're a perfect candidate for a TLR.
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If you can't, get the best TLR ever: a Minolta Autocord.
The focusing action is sooo much smooth and natural than the funny knob of Rolleis and similar cameras.
I had an autocord, liked it and sold it to fund a Rolleiflex GX hoping in an improvement :bang:, after ONE roll, I sold the GX back and got myself another autocord :D .
 
I missed this the first time around. I used to have a Yashica MAT 124 G and I loved it. Part of that was it was my first MF camera. Boy did I love those big negatives. That kept me from thinking too much about the fact that if I was going to print in rectangle, I wasn't getting the full 6x6, but even 645 was bigger than 35mm. The weight didn't bother me so much then as I still had a strong back to go with my weak mind. I would carry it and a 35mm kit around the mountains of Korean and was happy.

After I got the Mamiya Super Press 23, and found an even larger rectanglular negative, I haven't been able to enjoy a 6x6 again.

That said, you do get used to the reversed image. Or at least I did and most if not all people do. There is also the not much needed advantage that it can be held overhead to get around obstacles such as fences or people at parades. As I said, not much needed, but like a seldom used tool, nothing better when you do need it. I found the meter on mine to be spot on, but like any other cameras, you may find a stop difference between any two. I think that was never common, and perhaps even less common these days, but twenty to twentfive years ago, was accepted as an undesireable but acceptable possibility.

Have you developed any negatives from the 124 Mat? Have you changed you feelings about it? Of course, I realize this thread was before the heart episode, but I would be interested to hear your thoughts now. Unfortunate about straps bothering you. Is there any chance it was related to your health issue and that it might not bother you now? If no change, then a wider strap probably isn't going to help. I know a wide strap helps a lot with my Mamiya. It doesn't seem very heavy at all with a wide Yashica strap on it. Or maybe it is just that is is a Yashica strap? :D

How about an update Joe?
 
nothing to report...i sold it to a member here.

if i were to return to medium format i think i'd look at a mamiya 6 again.

joe
 
I've got a couple of Bronica C SLR's with lenses, accessories, etc. But I love my Yashica 635, the backwards viewing thing doesn't seem to bother me. Sell you the Bronicas!
 
back alley said:
i can't use a neck strap.
the smallest amount of pressure applied to my neck results in a massive headache.

i put a wrist strap on the mat for safety from dropping it.

joe
Click to expand...

joe, that might be due to myofacial pain from what i've studied. you might want to let your doc know abt it? treatment for myofacial pain can be quick simple and relieving.
 
I like the way people resond more positvely when you use a TLR. Usually their not aware of it because it's not in your face aimed at them...its just at your waist their not threatning anyone. When they are aware of it their often pleased because they associate TLR's with professional photography as opposed eccentrics with a hobby. Besides its not backwards to me I see the world that way.
 
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