Yashica 124G, NOT black?!

[re_visible]

Hey!

I recently got one of the Yashica 124 at a local auction site here in Switzerland, and it was described as a 124G.
No previous experinece wiht TLR, but i was looking at 6x6 C-Mamiyas for some time, and wanted to give this Mat a chance.

And for a very low price (like 40$) i got it, but now i'm a bit confused.

The 124G was available only in all black, right?
The one i got is black/chrome, but still has a 124G beside the light meter.

So is it a modified 124?
Or were there some chorme 124G after all?

Because, if it was modified, that guy did a great job!

It is in overall great shape, the lenses are clean, meter working and accurate, shutter behaves as it should behave, so i'm happy with it, and for the price i payed, i will not coomplain.


But still, i would like to know.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

one of my 124(G?) looks just like yours. and I've been asking myself the same question... the other two are the average black type. it's the first time I see someone else with a chrome 124G / modified 124. or someone just exchanged the front plate 😀

 

[Lukino]

It is a 124 with the plate over light meter coming from 124-G, as you can see from it having a different leatherette pattern. Probably the original lightmeter was broken and someone switched it with a G working one.
It might affect "collector" value, not very high anyway, this is a very common camera. From a "user" point of view, I think nothing changes - 124 and 124G are mostly the same camera.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

yes, that was my first theory, but now that I see that his looks exactly like mine and both don't show any sign of user modification...

 

[Windscale]

I also think so.

See this site: http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Yashica.html

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

yes, every site on the net says that the 124g was only available in black with plastic features... maybe some repair shops offered the "upgrade" to the gold connector meter of the G? a little useless though...

 

[re_visible]

Well, i talked to the seller, and he was not completely shure, but thinks that it was bought as is around 1975, new. Might be changed by the camera shop, but what for?!

I think there is more difference between 124 and 124G, the later has some plastic parts inside (rewind mechanism i think).

So was perhapse that the reason to combine the old and and the new version?


But why do i care, i'm happy with mine, and i still can't belive it works as reliable as i would only expect form a brand new camera. I hope i can scan some results soon, i need a new scanner...





Thanks!

 

[Ronald_H]

Whatever the background, that is a beautiful looking camera. Camera show tomorrow 😀

 

[dostacos]

I bet they used up the last of the chrome parts when they switched to the "G" and maybe did not sell them outside the home market. Various visitors would have then spread them around the world. I suspect they are not as rare as a upgrade would make them. I do believe there is one on eBay now or has just closed.

of course as always my opinion and 89cents will get you a coffee at 7/11 but you need ot bring your own cup😀

 

[historicist]

For 40$ (30 eur.?), I wouldn't be complaining! They're excellent cameras, very close to the Rolleiflex 3.5s in lens performance at a fraction of the price in my experience.

 

[retro]

I bet they used up the last of the chrome parts when they switched to the "G" and maybe did not sell them outside the home market. Various visitors would have then spread them around the world. I suspect they are not as rare as a upgrade would make them. I do believe there is one on eBay now or has just closed.

of course as always my opinion and 89cents will get you a coffee at 7/11 but you need ot bring your own cup😀

That's my guess too.

Yashica did do that sort of thing with at least some of their stuff.

 

[nikon_sam]

I have the 124G and indeed the letter "G" is a gold color and the rest of the nameplate lettering is not quite chrome or gold but somewhere in between...
I don't have a bettery in mine, therefore I don't use it's meter...I just transfer the info from another camera I happen to have with me while using the 124...so the gold contacts in there are just wasted on me...
I picked up my 124 at a camera show..I traded the seller two Pentax's and a Nikon FG for it...it was in perfect condition, as new as one could get without the box...it did come with the leather case...I use the back half of the case just to protect the body...
I use to wonder if I gave the seller one to many bodies for it but lately I'm glad I did the deal..
Neopan 400 loaded in there as we speak...