Just purchased a Yashica Mat 124g TLR Question

[mr.mike]

Thank you

Thank you

If you need service on a Yashica Mark Hama is your man.

Thank you for that information. I've heard that name before. But I think this old camera will just be used for display. With the cost of film and processing, think I'm going to stick with my Canon 5D.

 

[mr.mike]

Simplicity kept the price down on Japanese TLRs at that modest price point. They held up to amateur use but sure weren't Rolleis. What's often crippled 35mm and MF oldies I've managed to revive are waxy/gummy petroleum-base lubricants. Got hold of small batch of assorted silicone-base lubes a few years ago that worked minor miracles. Still, it's dumb fun to putz around with old gear--especially in the midst of a polar blizzard like today's-hah!

Thank you for your response. Don't think I'm going to be using this TLR for anything more than display. I'm more of a collector of everyone's cast aways. My wife and kids don't appreciate my inept photographic skills. I leave the picture taking to them.

 

[cgw]

Mark Hama is still active but not overly speedy anymore. Bob Sara is a little bit higher but does excellent work https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...gQFnoECCIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1aN8Yx8w7dmVT9_vy087Ho

Sadly, I sometimes wonder whether Hama isn't edging towards retirement. A friend had him do a 124G a few years ago(2020?). Nice work but it took months to get it back. Heard good things about Sara.

 

[smoke665]

Sadly, I sometimes wonder whether Hama isn't edging towards retirement. A friend had him do a 124G a few years ago(2020?). Nice work but it took months to get it back. Heard good things about Sara.

I suspect he's already retired, but still dabbles. I don't know this is true, but Sara "claims" he completely disassembles. His "restored" models for sale are beautiful. By the time you buy a camera that's not trash, pay him to CLA and recover, you can just about by one of his off the shelf.

 

[cgw]

Thank you for that information. I've heard that name before. But I think this old camera will just be used for display. With the cost of film and processing, think I'm going to stick with my Canon 5D.

I suspect he's already retired, but still dabbles. I don't know this is true, but Sara "claims" he completely disassembles. His "restored" models for sale are beautiful. By the time you buy a camera that's not trash, pay him to CLA and recover, you can just about by one of his off the shelf.

Yup. Suspect that's the business model. Happy I snagged pretty MF gear almost 20 yrs ago when it was giveaway priced on the big auction site. Shockingly, I bought a boxed Mamiya RB67 Pro S kit (back+body+WLF+IB+strap and dessicant pac)for 120US$. Studio clearance--back-up body kit. Not bragging, just relating how undesirable this gear was then whatever the condition.
It's to the point now, though, where I tell friends to look into the trailing edge Fuji big sensor rigs rather than buy nice MF relics from Japanese vendors. The whole analog ecosystem is on life support now, regardless of online boosters. Just my experiences. YMMV, as always.

 

[mr.mike]

I suspect he's already retired, but still dabbles. I don't know this is true, but Sara "claims" he completely disassembles. His "restored" models for sale are beautiful. By the time you buy a camera that's not trash, pay him to CLA and recover, you can just about by one of his off the shelf.

Hope he's doing well, but thinking about using this camera purely as a display piece. If it only requires minor attention, perhaps I'll make an attempt at working on it myself. If it's too involved, it'll sit on a shelf and get an occasional dusting. I truly appreciate all your responses.
All my best,
Mike

 

[smoke665]

@cgw When I first started the journey in the late 60's, one of my first cameras was a Yashica Electro 35, can't remember the price, but wasn't much, well under a $100. Good working Yashica Mats could be picked up for $20-30. Course this was also the age of 1hr photo processing, and free film if you let them develop it for you.

The resurgence of the film mystique coupled with the decline in the supply of working models has definitely driven the price up. There are some diehard film shooters, but the fascination that drives many to enter the film market, dies off quickly when the realities of the cost of shooting film now, and the lag time between shutter click and viewing kicks in.

 

[cgw]

@cgw When I first started the journey in the late 60's, one of my first cameras was a Yashica Electro 35, can't remember the price, but wasn't much, well under a $100. Good working Yashica Mats could be picked up for $20-30. Course this was also the age of 1hr photo processing, and free film if you let them develop it for you.

The resurgence of the film mystique coupled with the decline in the supply of working models has definitely driven the price up. There are some diehard film shooters, but the fascination that drives many to enter the film market, dies off quickly when the realities of the cost of shooting film now, and the lag time between shutter click and viewing kicks in.

I've retreated to MF b&w as my film "last stand." Process-only is available and affordable locally. DSLR-scanned negs aren't half bad and nearby printers do pretty work. It's all those 35mm bodies I should liquidate before the scenesters find something shinier.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Home development of B&W film is easy for just about anyone. I have enough Rodinal for a lifetime or two. Picked up two 1 liter bottles when it became extinct in original form. I don't often seek technical perfection because IMHO it's often a boring image.

 

[cgw]

Home development of B&W film is easy for just about anyone. I have enough Rodinal for a lifetime or two. Picked up two 1 liter bottles when it became extinct in original form. I don't often seek technical perfection because IMHO it's often a boring image.

The lab I'm using is sort of a basement/ghetto affair that happens to do good work. Presently have too many fish to fry to fuss at home with Paterson tanks again. Believe, maybe delusionally, that supporting equally delusional local labs might keep film afloat a bit longer. Clientele is split between newly-wed/nearly-dead photographers--encouraging. Currently looking at trailing edge big sensor Fuji gear. Nice bodies the fanboys ditch whenever anything new by Fuji comes along.

 

[smoke665]

@cgw If you're really into film, why not step up to a 4x5. You can get a new Intrepid 4x5 camera, used shutter/lens, film holder, etc. for the best part of $1k. I haven't seen them on the market yet, but supposedly Intrepid has just released a remote electronic 150mm f/6.3 lens with Intrepid I-0 Shutter. I might consider the "nostalgia" again. LOL

 

[cgw]

@cgw If you're really into film, why not step up to a 4x5. You can get a new Intrepid 4x5 camera, used shutter/lens, film holder, etc. for the best part of $1k. I haven't seen them on thmarket yet, but supposedly Intrepid has just released a remote electronic 150mm f/6.3 lens with Intrepid I-0 Shutter. I might consider the "nostalgia" again. LOL

My bat$hit crazy pals shoot everything from Dianas and Holgas to Shen Hao 4x5 and weirdo kit LF cameras. One is drifting into alt process, glass plate, ambrotypes and--drum roll--daguerreotypes! Seems immune to warnings about mercury vapor but suspect he's well aware and just playing us--hopefully...

 

[mr.mike]

@cgw When I first started the journey in the late 60's, one of my first cameras was a Yashica Electro 35, can't remember the price, but wasn't much, well under a $100. Good working Yashica Mats could be picked up for $20-30. Course this was also the age of 1hr photo processing, and free film if you let them develop it for you.

The resurgence of the film mystique coupled with the decline in the supply of working models has definitely driven the price up. There are some diehard film shooters, but the fascination that drives many to enter the film market, dies off quickly when the realities of the cost of shooting film now, and the lag time between shutter click and viewing kicks in.

Sounds like you're an individual from my generation. My first camera was a Kodak Star something or other. I took many pictures with that camera and always yearned for a TLR. As time went on, and working as a professional musician, I splurged on a top of the line 35mm sir and became the family photographer. As time went on, I lost all interest in photography.

Then I retired, and was bitten by the bug again. One day while checking Ebay, I found an affordable TLR and made my move. The owner turned out to be a fellow musician who I had a good deal in common with. I bought his camera, which came with a good many stories. I never shot a frame of film with it and it just sat on a shelf and gathered dust. But I finally owned that TLR I had always wanted.

Now in my later years I've become reacquainted with the hobby, but more as a collector than a photographer. Today I have too many cameras of all formats, and just purchased a new duster to keep them clean. I appreciate your response.

 

[mr.mike]

Home development of B&W film is easy for just about anyone. I have enough Rodinal for a lifetime or two. Picked up two 1 liter bottles when it became extinct in original form. I don't often seek technical perfection because IMHO it's often a boring image.

I appreciate your response.

 

[dxqcanada]

I think I am younger than most of you ... I was born when the Leaf's last won the Stanley Cup ... and grew up with family photo albums. I sold off all my film stuff to get into digital, then I got bored ... in the past decade I got back into the old cameras but just to repair them (I am not a collector, though I did keep a couple), get rid of them, and get new repair cameras.