· Great entry level if bought in MINT condition below $ 200 · Flash sync at all speeds. · Exposure meter. · Medium Format 6 X 6 · very quiet shutter release · Composing lines on focussing screen · takes Rollei filters and lens-hood

· As all TLR left and right are changed on focussing screen, takes getting used to when composing. · Over-rated lens quality, usable above f 8, low contrast and soft compared to Mamiya. · Film loading while on a tripod is virtually impossible. · Not a very bright focussing screen, but useable · Lens not interchangeable · Outlawed PX625 mercury battery, for a great solution mail to: battery.adapter@wanadoo.nl · Prone to flare !

In my opinion this is an over-rated camera. It is well built but has some problems. The foam rubber underneath the focus screen falls apart and can jam the exposure meter. Look in the focussing lens to check for decayed foam rubber when buying this camera. Also check all shutter speeds before buying. If you like TLR camera’s this one is better than the Rollei-cords. The much more expensive Rolleiflex with Planar lenses are far, far better. The lens has enough detail, stopped down to at least f 8, but is a little soft and not very contrasty. Also the X/M syncro switch will easily be switched to the wrong setting, when using flashguns, sync at all speeds, secure the switch with some glue and a piece of a match. It takes 120 and 220 film, which is a nice feature. The MAT124G is a great way for entry level Medium Format photography. A better, but totally different entry-level choice would be to buy the Russian KIEV 60 SLR, which outperforms this camera with great ease. No flash sync at all speeds in this case (1/30). If you have more money to spend, go for the Mamiya C33/C330 (TLR) or 645 (SLR, great camera this is).

Customer Service

not needed any

Similar Products Used:

Lubitel 2 (no competitor), Yashica MAT, Seagull 4B1, Rolleicord III, Rolleicord Vb, Kiev 60 (great value for money), Mamiya C220, Mamiya 645

6x6 format very usefull and unique Top-notch build quality Pretty decent Yashinon lens - makes the 1990''''s sigma lenses look terrible .. However has larger neg size Easy to focus with the big dial. Has modern tripod thread Quite lightweight considering You could kit a school out with them for the price of a rollei 6008!

Lens can flare in bright sun (my russian lens are worse) Large/bulky when in used in the case

YASHICAMAT WITH YASHINON LENS :- This is for the non-interchangable lens Yashicmat rather than the 124.. The camera is lovely to use and exudes old-school build quality. I had taken this many places and people are virtually disarmed by this strange looking camera. Maybe coz they know you will put more effort into the image by using it. I got mine nice and clean complete with splendid leather case and lenshood/filter kit on the same strap. The viewer/magnifier in the vertical finder is very good and enhances the credibilty of the yashicamat... Not to hard to load and will take a few knocks. The shutter and win-on is very reliable. The lens is apparantly a Zeiss copy but i have had some soft photos.. this i think is due to sunflare / cheap coating but it probably compares well to Russian 35mm jupiter lenses which can be fantastic (zeiss clones themselves and also old-style coated)

Customer Service

they are probaly dead or cybernetic Kyocera automotons by now.

Similar Products Used:

Fuji 645z zoom titanium jobbie

Very sharp lens. Flash sync at all shutter speeds. Built in light meter. Has lines on the ground glass to help in composition.

None

A great camera if you want to start off in medium format. Great optics. I find the 'sweet spot', sharpest points for photos, between f8 and f22. Has a light meter that is reasonably accurate and shutter speeds are as well. if you find one in great shape, get it. Even if the light meter does not work still great to work with. Check shutter speeds to be sure they're accurate. The parallax view is something to get used to but not much of a problem.

Customer Service

None available.

Similar Products Used:

Rolleicord Vb

sharp, sharp, sharp lens.

fixed lens.

within its limits this camera is comparible to mid priced 6x6s. the one i have is mint condition; obviously it outperforms my minolta 9i
35mm

Customer Service

meter required service;
i did it myself.

Similar Products Used:

mamiya 6; pentax 67

- Simple operation
- Good optics
- Takes both 120 and 220 film
- Ground Glass with lines to aid composition
- Leaf shutter make flash sync, especially fill flash a breeze!
- CdS light meter: good for snapshot.

- Fixed lens

A very affordable camera for those who wants to get into MF. Very good optics. If you find one in good condition, get it! Shutter is very quiet with very little vibration.

Customer Service

/

Similar Products Used:

This is my first medium-format camera

SHARP TAKING LENS
SIMPLE TO OPERATE TOTALLY MANUAL
VERY QUIET AND RUGGED
LIGHTWEIGHT

METER IS MEDIOCRE BUT SERVICABLE.
CAN'T CHANGE FILM IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROLL

MY PHOTOGRAPHIC FRIENDS REFER TO THE 124G AS "THE POOR-MAN'S HASSELBLAD". THE LENSES HAVE A REPUTATION FOR CONTRAST AND SHARPNESS, AND CERTAINLY THE PRICE CANNOT BE BEAT. LENS FLARE CAN BE A PROBLEM DUE TO THE TAKING LENS BEING SEPARATE FROM THE VIEWING LENS, SO ONE CANNOT ALWAYS SEE IT AT EXPOSURE TIME.
IF YOU FIND ONE IN REASONABLE SHAPE, CHECK THE SHUTTER SPEEDS FIRST AND THEN BUY IT. IT'LL BE REAL TOUGH TO BEAT FOR THE MONEY. THE 124G HAS A YASHINON LENS VS. THE OLDER YASHIKOR LENS ON THE MODEL D. ALTHOUGH MY BUDDIES TELL ME THAT THE NEWER LENS IS SUPPOSEDLY BETTER, I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN B&W PHOTO QUALITY.
I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE NEW WHEN THEY WERE STILL BEING MADE, THEY COST MORE USED NOWADAYS. THAT IS CERTAINLY A TESTAMENT TO THE SERVICABILITY OF THE CAMERA!

Customer Service

NONE NEEDED

Similar Products Used:

YASHICA D

Built like tank
OK taking lense

dim focus screen, hard to fumble film in and out of it

Cool old thing, one I have was built in same years as me. 8-)

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

n/a

Very Versatile, Sharp lens. Has a meter. cheap

Metering system outdated.
Lens is sharp but highly over-rated.

If your interested in trying medium format buy this camera. Yes the lens is sharp but don't expect Hassleblad results. My M645 with its 80 2.8 is much sharper and has greater contrast than the 124G but you'll pay a lot more for any SLR MF. I have had excellant results with the 124G and unless you compare the prints side by side no one can tell witch camera was used. The simple fact is you get a BIG 6x6 negative that will enlarge to....well just about any size you want with almost no grain. It accepts 120 or 220 flim wich is another plus. I researched all of the alternatives for entering medium format with as little money as possible and what I discovered was that you can't go wrong with 124g. If you can find a Yashica MAT-124 (without the G) its a lot cheaper has the same lens and meter just doesn't have gold contacts on the meter.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Mamiya M645
Mamiya C330
Mamiyaflex

This is a review for the Yashica 124 (not the all balck G version)
Wonderful Sharp, contrasty Yashinon lens.
Bright viewfinder lens (2.8). Accepts 220 or 120 rollfilm. Easy to use.

Light meter not 100% accurate. Shutter cocking and winding mechanism is weak.
Cannot focus closer than 1 meter/3 feet.

This is as good as it gets for 100-200 dollars. The image quality is brilliant, natural light is captured faithfully every time. In fact, the images captured by this camera can beat anything in 35 mm. I cannot compare it against other MF systems but my guess is that image quality is as good when stopped down to f5.6 and above.
If you see one, buy it. Watch out, though, most of these cameras are well over 25 years old - the winding mechanism is not very strong and mine had a bad problem with shutter cocking failure. In fact, the 124 is a better constructed camera and prettier than the 124G (heavier gears and body parts, the 124G feels like a Lubitel in comparison) A repair will cost around 100 dollars, so it won't break the bank to keep that wonderful lens going.
The wide angle attachment produces some vignetting at the corners. Both attachments produce loss of sharpness and contrast.

Customer Service

Not available any more, but Mark Hama who used to make these cameras for Yashica (and bought out their inventory of parts)will service or fix any problems. contact: markhama@bellsouth.net

Similar Products Used:

Yashica LM and 635.

Sharp lens
nicely built
Cheap

If not used for a while it tends to overlap exposures
No longer made
Someone stole mine in Barcelona!!!

Excellent buy for the money.Surprisingly good meter and shockingly sharp lens.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Lubitel 166B
Mamiya C330
Rolleiflex 3.5F