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Index:
Photo notes:
Related Local Links:
Medium Format Home Page
Medium Format Cameras List Page
Related Links:
Email suggestions, updates,
comments, links, and glitches to fix - Thanks!
This Yashica model A Twin Lens Reflex camera is a nice example of these
popular earlier Yashica TLRs.
See the above links for related medium format cameras and resources.
This is a YASHICA Model-A 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 twin-lens reflex camera. The camera uses size 120 film. Camera is in excellent condition; lenses are very clear and clean. This model does not have a built-in exposure meter. The Copal shutter works perfectly with no hesitation. Camera comes with very sharp twin Yashikor 80mm f3.5 lenses. Shutter speeds are: 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and 1/300. Camera has a PC connection for flash. The camera is in truly excellent condition and looks like it has had almost no use...the interior and exterior are very clean. This camera is covered in light gray leatherette with darker gray paint. Original lenscap is included. This is an excellent way to get into 2 1/4 medium format at a very economical price.
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: DavidM dmc@cyburban.com
[3] Re: Yashica TLR's (was Re: Lubitel 166 or Chinese Seagull?)
Date: Tue Jul 21 1998
David Foy wrote:
> > The Yashica A is not a tool for serious work, if you have any alternative at > all. The lens is unexceptional, and winding film while you watch numbers in > a ruby window will eventually drive you nuts. > I've never seen a B. It's apparently a C with a screwball selenium meter > mounted around the lens (don't take my word for that). > The Yashica C's shutter is a little limited (only up to 1/250, I think) and > the lens is better than the A's, but not much. The Lumaxar lens is a step up > from a box camera lens but not in the same league as the Yashikor (or > Tri-Lausar -- same thing, I'm told) and Yashinon.
The Lumaxar is a 4-element lens, fully the equal of a Yashinon.
It is far superior to the 3-element Yashicor or Yashimar.
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: "David Foy" nomail@this_address.please
[3] Re: Yashica TLR's (was Re: Lubitel 166 or Chinese Seagull?)
Date: Tue Jul 21 1998
You are correct, and I thank you for pointing this out. I have a couple of
wires crossed in my head that makes me go out in public and make a fool of
myself saying "Lumaxar" when I mean "Tri-Lausar" and vise versa. It's
happened before. Then I make it worse by getting the 'kors' and 'nons' mixed
up. Too much coffee, not enough attention to detail. Sorry.
The three-element Tri-Lausar, no matter what you try, is lousy. However,
there is nothing inherently wrong with the triplet formula, and well-made
three-element lenses can be very good -- the very good Yashikor, an upgrade
of the unremarkable Yashimar, is a good lens if not pushed to extremes. The
Lumxar was the original name for the four-element, three-group,
Tessar-formula Yashinon, and performs admirably, much better than the
Yashikor, no matter what the name.
Sorry.
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: Nolan Woodbury rworthy@goodnet.com
[3] Re: Yashica TLR's (was Re: Lubitel 166 or Chinese Seagull?)
Date: Wed Jul 22 1998
"David Foy" nomail@this_address.please wrote:
>The Yashica A is not a tool for serious work, if you have any alternative at >all. The lens is unexceptional, and winding film while you watch numbers in >a ruby window will eventually drive you nuts.
I usually agree with the respected Mr. Foy, but not this time!
Granted, the humble "A" model is _not_ a camera I'd use for a
high pressure-paying job type atmosphere...but saying the lens is
"unexceptional"? I disagree...it's a very sweet lens for candid
portrait work...wonderful in it's smoothness.
>I've never seen a B. It's apparently a C with a screwball selenium meter >mounted around the lens (don't take my word for that).
I haven't seen a "B" either...but I want one! It's the only
Yashica TLR I don't have in my collection.
Of the others, I'd say my favorite is the 4 element lens "D". I
infact prefer the knob wind to a crank, and that little red
window doesn't bother me at all...but I shoot for fun, enjoyment,
and the paying job now and again. For serious paying work, I'd
find a Hassey or Rollei SLR with a good assortment of lenses and
use the TLR's as backup's.
NDW
From: auctionfan@aol.com (AuctionFan)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: 120 film in Yashica 24
Date: 18 Mar 2000
>From: Sergio Azenha azenha@mail.iupi.pt >I understand that the Yashica 24 is supposed to only >support 220 film. >Is there any way for the Yashica 24 to use 120 film?
In every Yashica 24 I have ever owned (about 3 or 4) there are 2 film
starting positions - one for 220 film and one for 120 film. I do not know
why such a "legend" has been developed around this camera that it uses 220
film exclusively when it uses 120 also.
AF.
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: LoveThePenguin dpcwilbur@my-deja.com
[1] Re: Yashica A
Date: Mon Apr 17 2000
About 15 years ago it was my first medium format camera.
The results were excellent.
You'll find, even on those older cameras, that resolution
was high, but contrast was somewhat lacking.
You can compensate for this by using high-contrast film
such as Kodak's 120 amateur film -- I think it's Gold 100.
(It's been a while since I purchased any)
If it's not available locally, Midwest Photo, www.mpex.com,
carries it.
Collin
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: charlesw99@aol.com (CharlesW99)
[1] Re: Yashica A
Date: Wed Apr 26 2000
I don't use this "regularly" but I have one which is quite servicable. It
is a 3 element lens design, if you stop down to f11 it will be quite as
sharp as a Rolleicord. I bought mine for $12 but it has an ugly dent on
it.
Charlie
[Ed. note: Mr. Art Kramer is a noted lens tester and author of many articles in Modern Photography and Popular Photography columns etc...] From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Yashica-A vs. Yashicamat 124-G Date: 17 May 2002 >I have owned a Yashica Model A, with a f/3.5 Yashikor taking lens, since I >received it in 1961 at age 9. I haven't used it since 1972, when I bought >35mm equipment. The camera has been sleeping in a drawer for almost 30 >years. > >I am interested in trying medium format, if only to compare enlargement >quality of 120 film against that of 35mm, but I'm wondering whether that >Yashikor lens is any good? I understand that the Yashinon lenses on the Mat >124-Gs are superior, but I don't know any more about them. > >Is anyone shhting the Model A anymore?? How good is the lens? Can anyone >advise how the Yashikor compares to the Yashinon? > >Final question: Can I obtain a better lens for my Model A or should I just >pick up a MAT 124-G?? (My budget is tight, and I'd prefer to use the Model >A if practical). > >Thanks. I have a model A and it is quite sharp. But find the winding while viewing through a little red window maddening. If that doesn't bother you, keep it. Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 From: "Francis A. Miniter" miniter@attglobal.net Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Questions - Yaschica C Twin Lens Reflex I have to disagree with the others. I have a Yashica A, an earlier version of your camera, and it takes superb pictures. Sharp, no problems at the edges. In fact, I have a very hard time telling the pictures from those taken on my Rolleiflex TLR. The image quality will be far better than on your OM-1. For one thing, the negative is 2.25x2.25 inches or 5+ square inches, compared to the 1.5 square inches of the 35 mm camera film. You can also do double exposures with this camera, accidentally as well as purposefully. Be sure to advance film right after taking a shot. For travel these days, I use nothing but 120 film cameras. I can put the film in my pocket and walk through the metal detector without exposing the film to x-rays. Francis A. Miniter
From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 23 Sep 2002 Subject: Re: Yashikor lens on their TLRs ... > >We seem to look upon these low end cameras with nostalgia. They were >really not that good to begin with. The Yashicas were made to fill a >price point with the mass merchandisers, i.e. Korvettes and Two Guys to >name a couple of them. Most of the cameras lasted longer than the stores >that carried them, but they were still lightly made and at the low end >of the price spectrum. At a higher price point were TLRs like the >Minolta Autocord and Ricoh Diacord G. Higher, the Kalloflex (I have one) >and then even higher, the Rollei stuff. > >Forty years on, the quality has not appreciated. > >Regards, > >Marv I have a Yashica A. It is built like a rock. Strong and simple. Someone gave it to me as a gift because he didn't want to use it anymore. I put one roll through it and tumed out some nice 11x14"s. Not as good as my F/2.8 Rollei, but quite good nevertheless. Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
From: artkramr@aol.com (ArtKramr) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 23 Sep 2002 Subject: Yashica A on a trpod with Tech Pan. Ran a roll of Tech Pan through my Yashica A. Used a tripod just to see how good a Cooke triplet can be under the best of conditions. It is very, very good. Arthur Kramer Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 From: Tara & Ed Green egreen@wyoming.com To: rmonagha@mail.smu.edu Subject: Yashica A Bought mine for $2.00 at a yard sale. Case is a little worn but the camera works fine. I use mine for black and white work.
From: Duncan Ross notmyreal@address.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Yashica-A ? what's the flash sync speed? Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 According to my manual for the A, the camera is compatible with X sync only (short duration bulb or electronic flash). Being a leaf shutter camera it will sync at any speed. Duncan Ross http://DuncanRossPhoto.com mike wrote: > well, what about the flash sync speed????? ...
From: "Roland" roland@rashleigh-berry.fsnet.co.uk Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Yashica TLR lenses Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 The model A shuld be pretty good since nearly all of them are fitted with the Yashikor lens. A few are fitted with the Yashimar, like in this person's case, and the Yashimar is not a good lens. Noticeably bad. But instead of modifying the camera to take a four-element Yashinon lens (which is definitely going to be expensive and will cost much more than a second-hand Yashicamat which has the Yashinon lens as standard) then this person should exchange the camera for another Yashica A with the standard Yashikor lens and all should turn out fine. In fact the triplets show less vignetting that the Tessar-type Yashinon at wider apertures. Another possibility is that the front lens housing has taken an almighty smack which has pushed the top lens backwards towards the camera body. In this case the top lens will not show something in focus at the same time as the bottom lens and this will be the cause of all the soft photos. This can affect even excellent TLRs like the Mamiya and ruin their reputation for sharpness. The damage to the camera should be obvious if you look closely since the outer plate will no longer be parallel to the camera frame. "Rabbitbert" rabbitbert@aol.com wrote > Veedub told us, with snippage: > >My pictures all look soft and I'm starting > >> to find out that these lenses have a bad rep. > > My model A Yashi TLR can produce quite sharp images. No offense, but I > question whether you are using adequate technique. Are you handholding all your > shots? If so, at what shutter speed? Which aperture do you use, most of the > time? Have you put the camera on a tripod or other stable surface for any > shots? > OTOH, I do recall a post here a while back from someone who couldn't get > sharp exposures on his Yashi even though the image looked perfect in the > viewfinder and he was doing everything else correctly. \ > > R.
From: christian fisker [christianfisker@tdcadsl.dk] Sent: Sat 5/3/2003 To: Monaghan, Robert Subject: i own a yashica a hi there. I own a yashica with an yashikor lens 80 mm f3,5 and it takes wonderful pictures, very sharp and contrasty.. Comparably or sharper of [than] some german made stuffs! As a pro photog, I'm very demanding, and I find the yashicas very good ! chr maldonado fisker,copenhagen denmark
From: "Jeremy" jeremy@no-spam-thanks.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Information re Yashicaflex Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 "Nathan D. Tradd" ntradd@on.aibn.com wrote > I have a Yashicaflex TLR that my Dad gave me years ago. Not sure which > model, but I suspect it's the first one (max. shutter speed of 1/200, > no meter). I've used it for a number of years for landscapes and even > wedding photography, and like it for the challenge of using a really > basic camera. Anyhow, I've recently wondered about adapting my 35 mm > Cokin filter system to the taking lens of the Yashica. I've been > unable to find out what filter size this Yashica takes. I have the original Yashica Model A, which is, I believe, Yashica's first TLR model. Unlike later TLR's from Yashica, my camera does not accept Bay filters. There is no filter accomodation on either the taking or the viewing lens. Any filter would have to slip on the lens, somewhat like a lens cap. I am unfamiliar with any filter made for this model, and I suspect that you would have to rig something up. The lens is soft at wide apertures, but is generally quite good at f/8.
From: "Jeremy" jeremy@nospam.thanks.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: first TLR, very cheap Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 "William Mutch" wcm1@NOSPAM.cornell.edu wrote > > - Yashica D > just so-so > > > - Yashica 635 > so-so I have a Yashica-A, with the Yashikor lenses. Can produce good images stopped down to f/8 and smaller. Not Rollei quality, but can blow away 35mm images, when shot at optimal settings. Unfortunately, limited shutter speed means that the condidions under which good images can be obtained at f/8 and smaller is a rather narrow range. Still, can take good daylight shots, and that may be all you need initially. If you can live with just a normal lens, the Rolleiflex can't be beaten for simplicity and quality, but it's not available at an entry-level price. See this link for an interesting exposition of the virtues of TLRs: http://www.foto.no/rolleiflex/Kapittel_2.html
From: "Jeremy" jeremy@nospam.thanks.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: 1st results with Yashica A Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 "Bill Mcdonald" morongobill@yahoo.com wrote ... > Except for a couple of stray dust spots, I really > believe it was one of the best photographs I've ever > taken.Unbelievable! The Model A was my first camera--was given to me when I was 9 years old, along with a Sekonic "Brockway" incident light meter. I still use both the camera and the meter today, almost 50 years later! You'll get the sharpest results by stopping your lens down to f/8 or smaller. The range of shutter speeds (b-1/300) doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room, so you may not always be able to shoot at small apertures. If you don't mind the limitations of the normal lens (I certainly don't), then be prepared to get results that surpass some of the most expensive 35mm systems. Enjoy!
From: Bill Mcdonald morongobill@yahoo.com Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: 1st results with Yashica A Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 Being an Ebay junkie, I picked up the Yashica with the Yashikor lens for $19 +shipping. I loaded it with expired Ektachrome EPP again from Ebay and went out to shoot something,anything to check it out. I was amazed at how it forced me to slow down to compose a shot, being used to 35slr's and my E10. The reversed image didn't bother me but trying to keep the horizon level did and still does, for some reason, I don't find that easy at all! Having grown used to the film advance from my foldup, I didn't double expose any. So I dropped the film off and when I came back they gave me what I thought was an empty box,but inside was a long film strip rolled up. So that's how mf slides come back ,eh? Anyway I cut them in strips of 3 and using my el cheapo lightbox, I decided to scan one with my Epson3170 just using their driver on "professional mode".Then I printed the landscape on my Canon S9000 and WOW!!!!!!!Except for a couple of stray dust spots, I really believe it was one of the best photographs I've ever taken.Unbelievable! I only sharpened the image slightly in CS and did no color adjustments, I am simply amazed at how it really looks almost like a painting, not a photograph. That may be due to the expired film, though I was told it had been kept in the freezer. Whatever happened, I like the effect and plan to continue using my 19$ setup as my main camera for awhile, unless of course I win the Rolleiflex I'm bidding on now ;-) I want to thank the people of this group who've helped me in the past with my entry into medium format. Bill Mcdonald in Joshua Tree
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