TLR owners/users (If you dare admit if)

[hoot]

A YashicaMat 124G has held its own as the breadwinner for some recent projects (architecture), and I'm currently planning to take a series of portraits with it too. Lovely beast, it is. The crank is a bit loud, and the contrast is much too low, but we've simply grown on each other.

 

[Todd Frederick]

One of my first serious cameras in 1958 was a Yashica LM. I have used both Rolleiflex and Rolleicord cameras as well as Minolta Autocords (wonderful lenses). All I now have is a Yashica 635 (I don't use it for 35mm...why?), a fine Yashica 124 (not G), and a Yashica A.

The Yashica-A is my favorite. It is the gray leather model and produces wonderful images. It is so simple to use. They are far sharper than I would expect from an older three element lens, and they have great contrast. I just located a slip-on hood combo for it.

 

[Todd Frederick]

I am attaching a sample from the Yashica-A camera. I hope the quality is as good here as it is on my system and the prints I've made.

You can do medium format TLR photography for very little expense nowdays.

This camera cost me $30 on auction and $1 for the hood assembly at a Photo Fair.

It's my favorite MF camera, and it's aesthetically beautiful as well.

A friend is also sending me a Lubitel 2 camera (no cost) and I'm interested in using that as well.

I'm into using vintage and toy cameras, so that's where I'm coming from.

 

[remrf]

I have three and use two of them as the mood strikes me. The third one, a Yashica 124 G has fungus in the lens and is waiting for me to open it up to see if it is fixable. The other two, a Rolliecord 1V and a Mamiya C-3 are both working cameras. Below are examples from each. The B&W shot is from the C-3 w/180mm lens. The color shot from the Rolleicord.

 

[Ken F.]

Hi There,

I have a Rolleiflex 2.8e, and a Rolleicord lll. I use them on occasion, but usually end up reaching for my 500c/m when I want to shoot 6X6.

Cheers,
KF

 

[Todd.Hanz]

A little TLR porn for those of you of legal age


Todd

 

[NIKON KIU]

Mamiya C220
A co-worker made me buy it. :angel: Actualy always had a soft spot for Mamiya.....First camera I owned(hand me-down).
Kiu

 

[kaiyen]

What is it with all the 124Gs? I got me a "classic" 124

I feel that I might be a bit of a rare bird here on RFF. I shoot RF cameras for fairly specific purposes - throw in my bag type of stuff, and street shooting. For anything with which I have time and can use a tripod, I go medium or large format when I can.

There are a lot of amazing photos here. And there are a lot of situations when I can't use my 5x7. But if you've never seen a 5x7 negative, you haven't yet lived...

And that's why I keep the TLR around. 6x6 is more portable than my 5x7, but a heckuva lot bigger than my 35mm stuff.

allan

 

[Taipei-metro]

Rolleiflex 2.8E2, Rolleiflex 3.5F, YashicaMat 124G, Yashica 635 and a few more.
I use mine a couple times a week, used it yesterday as a matter of fact. I love mine, here are a few samples...

These 3 photos are excellent!

 

[plummerl]

I have a Rolleiflex 2.8c, Xenotar (just given a new life by Harry Fleenor!), that has been with me for just shy of 30 years. It is approximately the same age as I am, and still going strong.

larry

 

[24x30]

Cord V user

It's meanwhile a part like my glasses ... I'm coming rarely without it

/rudi

 

[Stephen G]

I own a Rolleicord IIIa, truely a great camera for the price. I enjoy using it when I use it, in fact I often use it for on-tripod w/ off-camera bounce flash studio-ish shooting.

However, I do that next to never, and so the TLR sits on the shelf, sad. Luckily it has my Nikon SLR gear to keep it company.

 

[jcline]

I've got my grandfathers Yashica 635 that comes off the shelf occasionally. I must admit I started playing with rangefinders for thier size. The Yashica does not have the advantage here.

 

[ChrisN]

Since we're sharing, here's one from my first roll (only roll so far!) with the 124G.

 

[BJ Bignell]

I voted "use it some", which isn't entirely true. Currently, I use it none because it lives some 7000km away from me, but when I have it handy, I do use it regularly.

 

[clarence]

What is it with all the 124Gs? I got me a "classic" 124

I feel that I might be a bit of a rare bird here on RFF. I shoot RF cameras for fairly specific purposes - throw in my bag type of stuff, and street shooting. For anything with which I have time and can use a tripod, I go medium or large format when I can.

There are a lot of amazing photos here. And there are a lot of situations when I can't use my 5x7. But if you've never seen a 5x7 negative, you haven't yet lived...

And that's why I keep the TLR around. 6x6 is more portable than my 5x7, but a heckuva lot bigger than my 35mm stuff.

allan

Allan, you're not the only one. I consider MF my primary format, and 35mm as my practice format. I smell the torches of the inquisition as I speak.

I am infatuated with the 6x6 format but TLRs are too unwieldy, so I use the Franka Solida I I got from Jonas with an accessory rangefinder instead as one of the three daily shooters I keep in my bag.

But if I had more opportunities to shoot (and a car), I'd bring my TLR and a tripod everywhere.

Clarence

 

[Dracotype]

To be sure, 6x6 is a thing to behold.

clarence and allan, have you noticed that when you shoot with 120 you don't shoot so many duds as when you shoot 35mm? pardon the heresy

I find I shoot more keepers when I am doing the 6x6 thing. I just seem work great with a TLR in my hands!

By the way, in case I wasn't in enough trouble already, it's a Seagull too!

Drew

 

[remrf]

To be sure, 6x6 is a thing to behold.

clarence and allan, have you noticed that when you shoot with 120 you don't shoot so many duds as when you shoot 35mm? pardon the heresy

I find I shoot more keepers when I am doing the 6x6 thing. I just seem work great with a TLR in my hands!

By the way, in case I wasn't in enough trouble already, it's a Seagull too!

Drew

I think you'll find the same effect increasing as you go up the film size food chain. I tend to take more time composing and checking exposure when shooting 4x5" than I do with either mf or 35mm. I don't think it is only because of the increase in cost per shot either. I have read more than once that larger formats tend to slow the process down which is probably not a bad thing in terms of end result.

 

[DougK]

<snip> By the way, in case I wasn't in enough trouble already, it's a Seagull too!

Drew

No worries Drew, I'm a proud Seagull owner as well. I love looking down on that ground glass (well, Fresnel lens, I guess) and not having to squint to see my framing or move things around to work around my eyeglasses.

 

[DougK]

Allan, you're not the only one. I consider MF my primary format, and 35mm as my practice format. I smell the torches of the inquisition as I speak.

I am infatuated with the 6x6 format but TLRs are too unwieldy, so I use the Franka Solida I I got from Jonas with an accessory rangefinder instead as one of the three daily shooters I keep in my bag.

But if I had more opportunities to shoot (and a car), I'd bring my TLR and a tripod everywhere.

Clarence

Have you tried a monopod? It certainly isn't a cure-all, but I've found it to be a pretty workable alternative to a tripod in a large number of situations.