Rolleicord III or Yashica Mat?

[rdeleskie]

Looking for some wisdom and advice from the experienced folks here. I'm interested in trying out a TLR as my first foray into medium format. My budget is around $100. In that price-range I've mostly seen Rolleicord IIIs and Yashica Mats. My research suggests that both are good starter cameras.

Price being the same, is quality comparable? Would you recommend one over the other? Or are there other alternatives I'm missing? I'm also interested in the Minolta Autocord, but prices seem to be all over the map.

Many thanks!

 

[newspaperguy]

Have had both...

My vote would be for the 'Cord based of quality and solidity of build.

Probably no noticable difference in practical image rendering. Either one can produce better picture than I can generate.

You'll lose the crank wind, but hey... who hurries with a TLR?

 

[johannielscom]

See if you can pick up a Mamiya C3 with standard 80mm lens for that cash. It has exchangeable lenses, all lenses up to the last generation 330f Professional series fit the C3. If you like it, you can upgrade lenses and body independently. The Mamiya TLR series lenses are 55mm, 65mm, 80mm, 105mm, 135mm, 180mm

The Mamiya lenses are brilliant, they beat both the Rolleicord and Yashica lenses, IMHO.

 

[nikon_sam]

You've got a tough choice ahead of you...I own a Yashicamat 124g and do love the negs from it...I have been reading up on the 'Cords and the Autocords and also looking at a lot of great photos from all three of these cameras...I believe you will be happy with either one just do your homework on the one you want and end up getting...Each one may have a weak point on them and also a strong point...weight the good and the bad and then hit The "Buy it Now" button...good luck and let us know your decision and why...

 

[ray*j*gun]

See if you can pick up a Mamiya C3 with standard 80mm lens for that cash. It has exchangeable lenses, all lenses up to the last generation 330f Professional series fit the C3. If you like it, you can upgrade lenses and body independently. The Mamiya TLR series lenses are 55mm, 65mm, 80mm, 105mm, 135mm, 180mm

The Mamiya lenses are brilliant, they beat both the Rolleicord and Yashica lenses, IMHO.

I agree....have a c220 and 2 lenses and they wonderful performers. Plus Mamiya's are like Rodney Dnagerfield 🙂....so they are bargins!

 

[nikon_sam]

Johan,

Are you able to use the C3 easily "Hand-Held"...I've seen the C330's and those guys are BIG...

 

[rdeleskie]

Johan,

Are you able to use the C3 easily "Hand-Held"...I've seen the C330's and those guys are BIG...

My question too. The C3s and C330s strike me more as studio cameras. How portable are they compared to the Yashica and Rollei TLRs? I'd like to be able to use the camera hiking, or in an urban environment without a tripod.

btw - thanks for all the great responses so far!

 

[FrankS]

If you go for the Rolleicord III or IV, you will need to upgrade the focusing screen. The originals are pretty much impossible to use in lower light conditions than a sunny day. I found that I was scale-focusing my Rolleicord V. Sold it. I have an upgraded screen (Maxwell ($$$) I think) for my Rolleiflex 3.5E, and am waiting on the mail to deliver a $30 screen from Rick Oleson for my Rolleiflex 3.5 MX sync model from 1951.

I had a Mamiya C30 once but it seemed (to me) crude and too big/heavy compared to a Rolleiflex/cord. Some folks like the Mamiya TLR's but I didn't.

 

[johannielscom]

It's a big camera for sure, should have mentioned that I'm a big boy too now 🙂

I can handle it quite easily with a hippie neckstrap to brace it. Carrying is comfortable like that and it is easy enough to hold still.

When in doubt, I stick a monopod in my coat pocket and when combining that with the neckstrap, I'm secure.

 

[Larry Manuel]

A Rolleicord is simpler [than the Rolleiflex and its copies] and the film advance is very reliable. Yashicamat, if working well, would be as good. Rolleicords are my choice. I love the stone-axe dependability of the knob film advance. I have a Model 1 and a Vb.

Hints on focusing screens: Maxwell ones [US$170] are superb. One of those makes the camera a delight to use, and it is easy to focus. My experience with a modern $30 screen: nice and bright, but very difficult to focus. The original ground glass, while dim, certainly "snaps" to focus really well, and [in my experience] only the Maxwell screen can match them.

 

[Rayt]

With a $100 budget you can forget about the Rolleicord or Maxwell screens. I have seen very nice condition Yashicamats at camera fairs for $100 so that may be your best bet.

 

[laurentb]

I've used a Yashica mat 124, and it's a very nice camera. I sold it because it was seldom used after I acquired a Rolleiflex, but had regrets even when selling it. The ease, quality of the pictures wree very similar to my Rolleiflex, simply the feeling was a bit more fidgety (some racketing noises, and things like this).

 

[lightshot]

I picked a Yashica Mat124g over a Rollei mainly because of the good deal I got on one. I love using it so much that I've since picked up a Yashica 635 so I can shoot both 120 and 35mm films, so I'm hugely biased.

I would go by reviews and see which TLR you think will be the best one for you in the long run. 😉