easy to use cheap very good optics meter purely mechanical dependable light enough to carry all day with no problems

can't think of any other than what goes with being a TLR

I have beenusing my 124-G for nearly 30 years and have never had any problems at all with it. Only had to change batteries twice in that time (and once was just ot be on the safe side). All of the 124-Gs were equipped with excellent lenses, and take amazingly sharp pictures. I have enlarged negatives shot with this camers to 16x20, and they remain crystal sharp. though I've never tried the Chinese or Russian TLRs, I would not trust them to be anywhere near this sharp. I have always felt like the film wind mechanism felt a bit delicate, but after 30 years it has never given me any trouble, so it's obviously not as delicate as it feels. Filters can be hard to come by. I got a wide assortment when they were still fairly common. but there is someone on ebay who sell step up adapters to 49mm threaded filters. I've tried this device, and it does not interfere at all with the accessibility to the shutter and aperture controls. I've ehard others say that the meter is not dependable. Maybe I got lucky, but mine has always been right on the money. And it is very convenient to use. Its range is limited, though, 25-800. And, since it's not TTL, yo do need to make adjustments for filter factors manyally (easily enough done by setting the meter). It would be hard for me to justify spending the money on a Roelliflex with a meter when these cameras are still so readily available. I love this camera.

Customer Service

never needed any

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Mamiya C330, C220

sharp sharp sharp good nice strong workhorse quite ease to work with light

parralax weighty old setting slow handling

This is an amazing little camera,and if´you find a good lens (yashikor og yashinon) you will never got rid of it. Stopped down to F11 or F16 it takes amazing pics! i use it mainly with either agfapan or tix films and my beloved sekonic 398 meter ,and it makes wonders! I speak about the model 635 which is quite similar to the others; i dont think its worth buying the german rolleiflex or russian/east german TLRS,only if You want to spend more dollars! The similarities is very close,the only thing is clean the lenses very carefully at a camera workshop.ENJOY! Christian Maldonado Fisker

Customer Service

none needed

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many many ..from hassie,rolleis,pentax,kiev,and others..

Cheap, great lenses, quiet, accurate framing at reasonable distances, relatively reliable, cute as a button.

Unreliable meters + all the normal set-backs for this type of camera.

I actually have the EM model which came before the 124g. The camera is almost the same in function but a little different in appearance. First of all, these cameras are THE best performance for money available. Don't even think about spending $200 to $250 on a new "Seagull" when you can score one of these for less. Many photographers are selling their medium format gear at the moment to run the digital race. Exploit this situation. Unless you pay mega-bucks you won't get MF quality in digital. Look for a late prodution model in PERFECT WORKING ORDER make sure it has a clean YASHINON LENS. Cosmetic flaws may lower the price to peanuts. Get yourself a simple but accurate hand-held meter, go out & shoot at f8 or f11 & you'll be happy with results. I've only given this camera 4 stars because of the limitations of a non SLR design. As long as you don't want to do close-up work, you're laughing.

Customer Service

Find yourself a good local camera repair service.

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SLR's, rangefinders, point & shoots etc....

FUN, Sharp photo, large neg. did I say FUN

There are none. It does everything a camera is supposed to do (record an image to a film medium) and it does it very very well.

I love this camera. Amazing photos come out of this little box. Yes it is old but it takes a more impressive shot then my Rebel. I know... fixed focal length (makes you think much more about photo comp). Meter is questionable, not a weakness just a fact, get an inexpensive handheld meter. Remember it's about the Picture not the gear and this takes a wonderful photo.

Customer Service

n/a

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this is my first MF camera

Good picture Easy to operate Inexpensive for a medium format

Not enouph to consider it weak

My yaschica mat 124-G is awesome! I purchased it after a photographer I worked with recommended it as a beginner. Later I would buy me a better medium format camera...wrong! I am in love with this camera and find it very hard to stay away from it! I shoot mainly weddings and some portraits and have owned this camera for 20 years now and still I have not encountered a problem. The little weaknesses that you have been reading about are minor and the strenghs easily overcome them. I highly recommend it for those interested in medium format photography, the results are incredible. Do make sure the mat 124-G is in good to excellent shape to avoid any disappointments. Happy hunting!

Customer Service

None

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None

Quality lens, remarkable enlargements, fun to use.

None.

I've had this camera over a year now, it was purchased from a person who bought it at a rummage sale. It's not the G model. I have not really had a chance to use extensively until 2 weekends ago. I took a weekend trip with my wife to northern Wisconsin. I shot several rolls of Velvia outside on a sunny day with the lens between f8 and f16. Mostly landscapes, the woods, lakes and things like that. Plenty of time to compose and set camera and focus, waist level viewfinder takes a little getting used too. Well I just picked up the slides and put them on the light table and feel like I'm just discovering photography for the first time. The results are incredible, the sharpness and detail on these chromes are unlike anything I have ever done before. I have the version with the Yashinon lens and I guess thats important because supposedly thats the one thats very similar to the Tessar design which is very highly rated. Anyway, if you see one of these that's clean and works well and you are curious about MF give it a try, if you don't like it you can probably sell it for what you paid for it. Images like these from a $100 camera, now thats value.

Customer Service

I don't think we can send these back to Yashica for service anymore.

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This is my only MF.

Quality for the price Images are superb for this entry level

only available as used light meter is useless

As you read this, click on the "bid" button on ebay for this marvel. For the price, there is no better way to get into medium format photography than this little gem. The light meter is a joke though so invest some in a good sensor and you will get images that will rival some better (aka more expensive) cameras. The lens is quite good with a sharp image to the borders and the build is quite solid. The view screen is a bit dark but certainly nowhere as dark as the seagulls out there that are like looking into a tunnel.

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35mm system mainly Seagulls

Solid, light weight easy to use. Film advance is about 1/4 revolution of crank. Built in meter, but prefer incident readings. Shutter and apperature easy to set. shutter release uses standard release cable, leather case definately designed to protect the face. Film loading is just reverse of Rollei TLRs.

Focusing screen, all mat and dim to very dim in low light levels. All i've noticed so far

Just acquired this 124G, virtually like new in a case w original lens caps Body and mechanics are flawless, have order a bay 1 uv filter and lens hood. Purchased this for those odd times I want to shoot square, rather than normal 6x7 with my Pentaxes. Anyway this more of some questions. Anyone know where a manual or xerox copy might be had? second, want to remove the WL finder to access screen easier and also replace the original mat with a new Intenscreen, grid with split image. Can this be done. it must as Intenscreen is still producing several types. Any help or information appreciated

Customer Service

Being out of production for 25 years dought kyocera (yashica) would touch, but am sure any experienced repair facility in TLR should be able to oil flm advance.

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Rollei TLR 3.5 f Xenotar mfg'd around 1959 and finally died honorable death.

-built in light meter -square format -TLR -sharp lens

-price -only available used

This camera is essentially the same as other Yashica TLRs for what I gather, but unlike many others, this one has a built in light meter. While it is possible to always carry a separate light meter, I find it to be a hassle so the extra price I might have paid is justified because of the lightmeter. Otherwise, I love this camera. I bought it because I wanted to get into medium format but I didn't have the $ for a new camera that was square format. I originally planned on using this camera until I saved enough money for a Hasselblad or something similar, but I don't think I will because I like this one so much. The TLR style is also very funky and is a good conversation starter when shooting peole. I have found that peole are less self-conscious when I use this camera probably because it's so different from what they're used to.

Customer Service

never used

VERY cheap for the quality of images. Doesn't need batteries Incredible Lens

Tripod mount a little unstable on the back opening wheel. Awkward shape No meter, so need to buy a seperate one (or use an automatic 35mm SLR to meter instead). Parallax error can be a problem at close range - using a raisable tripod coloumn can solve this problem

This is the older, 1957 YashicaMat TLR, but the lens is identical to any of the Yashinon 80/3.5 lens since which include those on the 124 and 124g TLR's. This camera is simply the best value for money for landscape photography, especially if detail and sharpness are your prime concerns. This camera produces quite simply unbelievable results. For £59 (about 100$ I think) it can produce professionally acceptable results and thrash ANY 35mm camera on all grounds save features & SLR viewing. The 6x6 square format has made me think more about compostion with rather good results, and of course, the good results are highly detailed and a large print from transparency film can still yield grainless and detailed results. Parallax error can be a problem sometimes, but if you have a tripod with a raisable centre coloumn, measure the distance between the two centres of the lenses, then raise the camera by that much to take the picture so the taking lens moves into the same position as where the viewing lens was, which basically completely elimates the problem, as long as you don't need to shoot something quickly.

Customer Service

Have had to send camera back as the winder seems to be out of sync slightly, causing the first 2 exposures to be missed.

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None.)