Advice on TLR's?

Yep, just disappeared from the site.

Back to searching then :)
 
A yashica 635 just popped up on teddington for £85 (£90-95 posted), is this a decent price for what is essentially a D with the option to use 35mm film instead of 120? I would never use 35mm film even if I could get hold of the adapter, but it seems to be priced the same or cheaper than most D's I've seen going.
 
squishy said:
A yashica 635 just popped up on teddington for £85 (£90-95 posted), is this a decent price for what is essentially a D with the option to use 35mm film instead of 120? I would never use 35mm film even if I could get hold of the adapter, but it seems to be priced the same or cheaper than most D's I've seen going.
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I'd be tempted to hang for a Mat. Very pleased with my 1st shots from mine. The Yashinon lens seems to be a good 'un
Got both of mine for under £90 each. Just be patient. It'll be worth it. (wish I could take my own advice)
 
Agreed - it is too much all things considered. Wait for a Mat, or for a little bit more you can often pick up a Rolleicord.
 
Of the ones mentioned so far a minolta Autocord is the best bet.

I have used them alongside Rolleiflex cameras for weddings. They were far better than the Yashicamat. the lenses on the Yashica A's and D's were mostly 3 element and fine when stopped down the mats were mostly the4 element yashinon.
The Autocords were also 4 element but equal to the best Tessar.

The rolleicords are well made but only have Xenar lenses and no lever wind and are slow to load.
 
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Thanks for the advice, I'll hand fire and keep watching :)

Just to clarify, when you say wait for a mat do you mean a Mat-124/G or do you mean a Yashica-mat?
 
squishy said:
Thanks for the advice, I'll hand fire and keep watching :)

Just to clarify, when you say wait for a mat do you mean a Mat-124/G or do you mean a Yashica-mat?
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Yashica Mat, original. One with a Yashinon lens (most of them do, just some of the earlier ones have the inferior Yashikor), because all the subsequent models - EM, 124, 124G - all use the exact same lens, so you aren't getting a better lens for the increase in money. You are getting a newer camera and a primitive light meter, but really if the Yashica Mat (original) is in good enough shape it doesn't matter.
 
Ah thanks. There's one up on ffordes at the moment for £79 with condition "as seen". Apparently it's got a bit of dust inside the optics of the taking lens, but not so much that it should affect image quality (I emailed for more details).

http://www.ffordes.co.uk/product/11120617022281

Considering it doesn't have the usual ffordes six month guaranty, is that still a good price? (please forgive me asking so many questions r.e. price of things, it's just hard to gauge the going price for film equipment without asking).
 
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I've been looking at that as well, it seems to be a good price for what looks like a very nice condition Mat. Give them a bell they are really helpful and will get the camera out and have a proper look at it and give you an honest opinion over the phone.
I agree with FC2, the 124/124g give very little extra for quite a lot of extra cash, the Mat is a cracking camera, if you have a look in the film shot threads my first pics from mine or on there.

Andy
 
The email response I got was:
[The Yashica-mat we have for sale] is in full working order there is just a little dust on the inner elements of the lens, this is not bad enough to affect anything though but because it is there we are selling the camera cheaper than we normally would and ‘As Seen’ but it is good and perfectly useable.
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Certainly is very tempting, they have the 10 day return period so I could see for myself the condition and still be able to return it if I wasn't happy.
 
Go for it, you won't regret it.
 
Just ordered that yashica-mat :)

I'll stock up on some recently expired 120 neopan 400CN from 7dayshop as well (just £2.49 in case any missed it on the bargains thread!).
 
I have a Yashica Mat 124G and it's a great camera. Mine is in as good as condition as my 5D Mkii. Prepare for people staring and asking questions about it, when you are out with it. :)
 
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Kev-B said:
Prepare for people staring and asking questions about it, when you are out with it. :)
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Yup, you'll get some nice comments, some intrigued faces, plenty of questions and often people who have stories of close family members using them. Some of them are actually very touching stories that have been told to me, all because I had a Rolleiflex around my neck... photography can be wonderful :thumbs:
 
Just noticed the frame lines in the finder don't appear to actually be horizontally level with the bottom of the square of the finder, but they are at the top. Seems odd :thinking:
 
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Is it normal for the focusing knob to feel a bit scratchy? For most of the rotation it's pretty smooth but in the closest focus bits it's feeling a bit scratchy and making an audible noise.

Just want to assess any potential problems as soon as possible as I've only got the 10 days to return it if I had to.
 
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Just loaded it up with neopan and went out for a short local walk with it, absolutely love shooting with it already.
 
I've got the chance to purchase a Yashica 635 - any thoughts on this particular model ? This would be my first foray into film cameras for quite a while..
 
I have a 635, it's a nice camera with easy to set controls and the lens isn't too shabby. It all depends on price really, if it's a bargain in good condition then go for it.

Be aware the filter thread is an unusual bay type so they are hard to find if you want them
 
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