Adventures with a TLR

TheTimeChamber

TheTimeChamber

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Nick / Sectionate
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Some of you may remember that about a month ago, I asked about TLR cameras and set my mind on wanting a Yashica Mat 124G. When I set my mind to something, and it costs money, I find that my bank account suffers somewhat. I managed to bag a 124G on eBay for just under a tonne. Everything other than the meter works fine, but I have yet to source a battery that is a replacement for the old mecury batteries. I keep meaning to get some hearing aid batteries, but haven' got around to it.

The camera arrived two weeks ago and last weekend was the first chance I had to take it out for a trial run. So I jumped on the train and made my way across to Borough Market. It is a great system to use, nearly everyone that walks past you has no clue what you are up to, so they leave you to it. Handheld metering is easier than I thought (I made it easier by shooting with my back to the sun), and it really slowed me down and thinking about the shot (I also found myself mentally compensating the exposure).

I ran two rolls through, one B&W (delta 400) that I used to get used to the handling and one roll of Provia 400 (the negs are awesome). The only downside to this is that I have to pay to get the negs scanned, but I may try and jerry rig something. The quality of them is massive when you compare it to 35mm.

Black and White


Ilford Delta 400 Medium Format by Sectionate, on Flickr


Ilford Delta 400 Medium Format by Sectionate, on Flickr


Ilford Delta 400 Medium Format by Sectionate, on Flickr


Ilford Delta 400 Medium Format by Sectionate, on Flickr

Slide (I love slide)


Fuji Provia 400 Medium Format by Sectionate, on Flickr


Fuji Provia 400 Medium Format by Sectionate, on Flickr
 
Great work Nick.

I love the market shots...really vibrant and enticing.

So pleased you are loving the MF, I'm a fairly recent convert too and still amazed at the great results, and yes it seems such a huge quality jump from 35mm.
 
Cheers Steve. I am glad I blew some of my minscual savings on a TLR, it is such a different experience than an SLR. The quality is something else, it guess it is the same as going from a cropped dSLR to a full frame!

Borough market is such a colourful place, and the sun recently made it amazing to shoot!

This could be an expensive addiction though.
 
Cracking work Nick...... good to see you're enjoying your new toy!
 
Those are all great looking pictures Nick, sharp where they're meant to be, nicely exposed, a fine advert for a vintage 120 TLR.

Well shot..:thumbs:
 
Cheers Asha. If I win the lottery, I am starting production of cibachrome agin, I would love to print some of the slide stuff.

John - thanks, I am astounded by the quality of the camera and how sharp it is, even wide open!
 
Brilliant. So glad you seem to be getting the best from it. Great shots too.
 
Thanks, all the photos seem to be being very well recieved on facebook. Should I admit that I used a free iPhone app as a light meter?
 
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Nick, top work, if those images are not an advert for what an old TLR can do in the right hands I am not sure what is!
 
Very very nice, especially the transparency stuff. You're gonna be needing a MF scanner, like the Epson V500 I guess!
 
**** me, those are great. I have been wanting that camera for an age. Bought a bronica, with the intention of the yashica 124g as my next purchase. just saving. Worried about ebay though,
 
Another convert from the "Latigid" side.
So many keepers from just two rolls? Sickening, I haven't got that many from a lifetimes use!
 
Lovely stuff matey, there is something really addictive about using tlr's. I've spent 3 weeks shooting on a fuji gw690 and good as it is I still prefer the square shooters.
 
Very nice work, the Yashica is a cracking camera and you're certainly getting the best out of it.
 
Sectionate said:
Should I admit that I used a free iPhone app as a light meter?
Click to expand...

It's a great app. I use it all the time, I bought a Weston Master but because I've always got my phone handy it doesn't get much use.
 
superb I am eagilly waiting for my Zeiss Folder to arrive so I can play with MF but I must admit that setup you have is very appealing for very little money really.
 
Cheers guys, I am already looking forward to using it next time!

@Trev - it am really please with the App, I probably won't get a lightmeter now.
 
Shameless self promotion / I am excited to be getting another roll back from development this week*





















* I am hoping the first 2 rolls were not a complete fluke lol
 
Some lovely shots there. I need to load my Yashica up and get it used, as it's been packed away for a good 10 months. Apart from putting a few rolls through my 35mm cameras, my photography outings have been very rare recently. I really need to get myself motivated :)
 
Yep, come on Kev get out there and enjoy the lovely sunny weather and some proper togging. :D
 
Sectionate said:
I managed to bag a 124G on eBay for just under a tonne.
Click to expand...

So you bought a metric one!

I have a 124G which I inherited from my father. I haven't used it yet as I also have a Rolleicord and a Rolleiflex which get priority.

I should give it a go though if your results are anything to go by.


Steve
 
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I love my Rolleicord, great fun to use, lovely to look at and gives very good results. Some excellent shots there - need to use mine lots more.
 
cambsno said:
I love my Rolleicord, great fun to use, lovely to look at and gives very good results.
Click to expand...

I think that's why I haven't used my Yashica TLR or my Rolleiflex yet. The Rolleicord V is so good that I don't think either of the others are going to be better.

The Rolleicord has a Tessar lens which I don't think is any better than the Schneider in the Rolleicord.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
I think that's why I haven't used my Yashica TLR or my Rolleiflex yet. The Rolleicord V is so good that I don't think either of the others are going to be better.

The Rolleicord has a Tessar lens which I don't think is any better than the Schneider in the Rolleicord.

Steve.
Click to expand...

Isn't the flex (to a degree) just a cord with a winder and not a knob?
 
cambsno said:
Isn't the flex (to a degree) just a cord with a winder and not a knob?
Click to expand...

That just about sums it up.

Personally, I like the operation of the Rolleicord. The V has the wind on and the focus on the same side which means you don't have to swap hands like you do with the Rolleiflex and the Yashica.

In my opinion, the flex just has a few extra things to go wrong in the wind on/shutter cocking mechanism.

The lens on my V is so sharp, I am always amazed by it every time I print. If I could only keep one camera, it would be the Rolleicord.


Steve.
 
I too have a Rolleicord and love it. I've never owned a Rolleiflex but as well as the faster operation (winding and cocking shutter in one go) they also have different lenses (Zeiss Planar or Schneider Xenotar, which is a different optical formula to the Xenar in most Rolleicords which is a Tessar design), generally thought of as superior, especially at wider f stops. Probably only noticeable though if you make a habit of closely examining the far corners of your images, and when stopped down to f5.6 or smaller I would guess they are probably indistinguishable.
 
Steve, can't quite parse that last sentence! One or other of them is presumably a Rolleiflex, but not sure which has the Tessar!
 
Gah, you've ruined my solid plan of only taking 35mm cameras on holiday with me! :D Beautiful shots.
 
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