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The family's new addition: Yashica Mat LM
stirinthesauce
Registered Users Posts: 293 Major grins
My new (to me) Yashica Mat LM
Got this at an antique shop for cheap. It was from a collector's lot of 20 cameras. Most had been bought by a one person but this was left with a kodak duaflex, a brownie and another kodak from I believe the 1940's. This is a 1958 model (at least what the shop owner had listed, this model made from 58 to I believe 62 or 64). It is supposedly in full functioning condition and every thing seemed to move and slide ok. Time to order some 120 film and have some fun!
-Jon
Got this at an antique shop for cheap. It was from a collector's lot of 20 cameras. Most had been bought by a one person but this was left with a kodak duaflex, a brownie and another kodak from I believe the 1940's. This is a 1958 model (at least what the shop owner had listed, this model made from 58 to I believe 62 or 64). It is supposedly in full functioning condition and every thing seemed to move and slide ok. Time to order some 120 film and have some fun!
-Jon
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If you have only used 35mm film, you will find 120 a bit of a shock at first, not only because the negatives/slides are HUGE in comparison but because there is no cartridge to hold the film (it's just on a spool) and learning to load it correctly can be a little frustrating at first.
I look forward to seeing some pictures from your new acquisition!
Got bored with digital and went back to film.
On a side note, was at GoodWill today and scored an old minolta rangefinder for 1.99
Now for some 120 tri x and some some kodak protra color and I'll be ready to see what the yashica can do.
http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?MinoltaHiMatic9.html~mainFrame
Vintage '60s fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder. If it works, it could be a fun little thing, but I don't know if you can still get batteries that are compatible with it.
Got bored with digital and went back to film.
I checked and I still cannot afford a new Rollei TLR but a clean, used Yashica might finally fit into my budget.
Doug
My B&W Photos
Motorcycles in B&W
That's what I got, leather case and all. Seems to be in very good condition and everything seems to work except the meter (dead battery). Time to troll ebay for some batteries.
I was surprised, got mine for $60. Although the close focus and tele lens adapters apparently cost a bit.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
...and a few....
Several of my recent posts here are the product of a Yashica 124G....and a bit more about that on my blog....
Congrats on the camera!
Jeff
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These were all shot and scanned with various and sundry processing...
I love composing on the square....I even know a "serious" PJ who used a square mask in her 35mm SLR. Have fun with it...now you need a hand held meter, I have a Minolta VF don't leave home without it.
Hope to post some test shots next week.
Jon
A good battery store will have replacements........
Find out which battery the camera used and do a search for the nearest replacement in a current technology battery. As long as the new battery is close in terms of voltage rating and the same physical size, or smaller, it should work. You might not find exactly the same shape and polarity, so some batteries might need to be put in upside down.
If the meter is the only thing powered by the battery and if the voltage isn't the same in the new battery then you might have to either use an external meter anyway.
If both the meter and the shutter are controlled by the battery, then you need to be much more careful in a new selection.
To give a meaningful answer I would have to know the exact make and model camera in order to comment on whether the camera is a good candidate for modern batteries. Some cameras are just not worth the trouble IMO.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Update on the Yashica Mat LM, apprently there is something wrong with the shutter. The first roll of 120 had 0 exposures on it after developing at the lab. I sent it off monday to Mark Hamas http://markhama.home.comcast.net/~markhama/
Probably could have just sold it as is for the price I paid but I really want to use it. So, should have it back in a few weeks. Now the Minolta Hi-Matic I am having fun with! So simple to use. Headed to South Dakota tomorrow with the better half and taking it with me. Will burn through a few or more rolls, will post some shots from it when I get back and get them developed.
There are batteries available today with similar constant voltage characteristics but their voltages and shelf life are not the same as the old mercury batteries.
I tried using one of the B&H mercury replacement batteries for an old (at least 35 years) Gossen Luna Pro meter I had. It was a plastic holder with couple of hearing aid button cells and it fit perfectly, but could not get it work consistently compared to a modern meter. Maybe the meter was just to old too and maybe today's meters are just plain more accurate than the older ones.
But in any case if you need a mercury replacement for something like a lightmeter, that sort of thing is the only bar in town. Just make sure it is designed to be a mercury replacement, just matching the voltage probably won't be enough.
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1) up on the square late one afternoon was a car show. Snapped a quick one on my way to the local state park.
2) hand held at almost dusk (need to fix the horizon, little off kilter)
3) hand held at dusk. Very shallow DOF, believe this was f3.5. Uppermost flower is sharp.
Believe I am going to have fun with this camera. Can't wait for fall.
What a difference the film size negatives are compared to 35mm!
Scanned a roll of Tri X that I was just having fun with. Here are a few:
Dynamic range that keeps on going. Excuse the dust spots, no post processing done.
Shots from in the house
my buddy on the back porch
at the park
big sis with her kids
It is a bit high key for me to
Here is the 1.99 Goodwill purchase
The Yashicamat in its verious models was a great old camera. The fact that the various models could use 120 (and some could also use 220) film, producing a 6x6cm image which had a negative area of 3,600mm as opposed to the 864mm of a 35mm camera, provided quite high quality in comparison to the 35mm prosumer (although that term had not been coined) cameras of the day.
The drawback with shooting medium format film was that in B&W, you needed to either process your own film or send it to an expensive custom processor for optimum results. Actually, it could be less expensive to shoot color negative film and send it to a mass processing company for developing and proofs.
I owned a Yashicamat in Japan and used it as a backup camera until I was able to buy a second Rolleiflex. Then the Yashica was delegated to be a third camera and or a loaner. I finally sold it for just about the same price as I paid for it.