In the early 1960s I got one of these as a photography-obsessed 8 year old (partly because my mother wanted to regain use of her Agfa Isolette 3 that I had commandeered). Sold it to go to 35mm with a Zenit B /Helios 44. I wish I had kept it and found another way to fund the Zenit.
Got one recently can’t wait to use it . I usually use my sl66 for medium format but it’s big and heavy and usually needs a tripod. I also use an Saunders lpl enlarger so I print in all formats
A twin lens. That's and interesting concept, though I guess some of the mobile phones have more than one lens. You have found some very interesting cameras.
The Yashica TLR cameras (your choice) were always cheaply designed and roughly manufactured. They mounted some of the poorest lenses ever put in a Japanese TLR. The "A" is an early model which is a good representative of the policy that all the money went into external appearance, and no more than necessary was expended on basic photo taking functions. This was reflected in the price, which made them the cheapest new TLRs at any given time. (Yashica stopped making the 124G in 1986. In 1989, they were stuck with a warehouse full of 124G units, which they unloaded on B&H in NYC. B&H sold them for $79.95 new. Even then, it took several years to unload them.) At $50, it's a good starter TLR. At $200 or more, it's a hyped screw job. In terms of picture taking, I bought a used Ciroflex TLR, made in Detroit in the late 1940s, for $15 at a swap meet. It has a better lens and shutter than the Yashica A and looks like it was made out of stamped sheet metal, which it was. So is the Yachica A, but it looks better.
@@jt560 Yashica TLRs were made to a low sale price, but they tend to impress because most buyers are moving up from 35mm to medium format, which will look clearly better no matter what you use. They are perfectly useful, so long as you stay within their capacity. In the day when people made print enlargements, that made a difference. Today, when most film is digitally scanned by various means, then the positive image is displayed on a computer screen or phone, the difference between my humble Ciroflex with its 1940s Wollensack triplet (or your Yachica A with its Lauser-made triplet) and a Hasselblad mounting a premium Zeiss lens is mainly pride of ownership. At one time, I bought a very nice condition Yashica 635 with a triplet lens, probably the same as the one on your Yashica A. I first used it under trying lighting conditions, so shot with a nearly wide open aperture. Upon trying to make a 11x14 inch print, my results were distinctly unsharp, and my reaction, "this cannot be". Well, it was. I resold the camera, getting a modest profit at that. Frankly, if I had used a lens opening shut down to 8.0, I probably would have been delighted with my results. Your Yashica A was a good deal at 40 pounds, if it meets your needs. If you fall in love with the 120 roll film TLR, there are many high quality items still out there, fairly reasonable in price (although not all are so): Minolta Autocord (best quality bargain), Ricoh Diacord (but not Ricoh's earlier models), Rollicord V (as good as a low-end Rolleiflex at 2/3 the price), Mamiya C models (bigger, heavier, but only one with interchangeable lenses), Koniflex (rare, expensive; amazing optics), Kalloflex (semi-rare, amazing build quality and optics; my favorite, but getting pricey).
@@randallstewart1224 I appreciate the insight! You’re spot on. Have been shooting on 35mm for a bit. Came across an estate sale the other day and bought a Yashika-A and D. The latter is non functional, but for a combined price of $12 I couldn’t be happier. Love learning new things, and I can’t wait to start shooting medium
In the early 1960s I got one of these as a photography-obsessed 8 year old (partly because my mother wanted to regain use of her Agfa Isolette 3 that I had commandeered). Sold it to go to 35mm with a Zenit B /Helios 44. I wish I had kept it and found another way to fund the Zenit.
It's amazing that you could find film for it. Love the resulting pictures.
This camera is really fun to use, so maybe it also improves the photos :D
Got one recently can’t wait to use it .
I usually use my sl66 for medium format but it’s big and heavy and usually needs a tripod.
I also use an Saunders lpl enlarger so I print in all formats
Great, I hope you enjoy it! It's definitely a nice handheld medium format camera. Which lens does yours have?
How much did you get it for?
@@abdularif1086 don’t remember. Like 180$
The cable release adapter is the same as on the Nikon F camera. They are easily obtainable.
A twin lens. That's and interesting concept, though I guess some of the mobile phones have more than one lens. You have found some very interesting cameras.
yeah, it was a solution to a problem at the time, but the design of the camera is still today very functional!
Where to find a film ? And where to get that developed ( in USA)?
just bought one yesterday, curious, what other lenses can you use with it?
I like the one on @10:30 and on @10:33 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks!
The Yashica TLR cameras (your choice) were always cheaply designed and roughly manufactured. They mounted some of the poorest lenses ever put in a Japanese TLR. The "A" is an early model which is a good representative of the policy that all the money went into external appearance, and no more than necessary was expended on basic photo taking functions. This was reflected in the price, which made them the cheapest new TLRs at any given time. (Yashica stopped making the 124G in 1986. In 1989, they were stuck with a warehouse full of 124G units, which they unloaded on B&H in NYC. B&H sold them for $79.95 new. Even then, it took several years to unload them.) At $50, it's a good starter TLR. At $200 or more, it's a hyped screw job. In terms of picture taking, I bought a used Ciroflex TLR, made in Detroit in the late 1940s, for $15 at a swap meet. It has a better lens and shutter than the Yashica A and looks like it was made out of stamped sheet metal, which it was. So is the Yachica A, but it looks better.
Interesting, that's good to know. I bought one for £40 on eBay but haven't used it yet
@@jt560 Yashica TLRs were made to a low sale price, but they tend to impress because most buyers are moving up from 35mm to medium format, which will look clearly better no matter what you use. They are perfectly useful, so long as you stay within their capacity. In the day when people made print enlargements, that made a difference. Today, when most film is digitally scanned by various means, then the positive image is displayed on a computer screen or phone, the difference between my humble Ciroflex with its 1940s Wollensack triplet (or your Yachica A with its Lauser-made triplet) and a Hasselblad mounting a premium Zeiss lens is mainly pride of ownership. At one time, I bought a very nice condition Yashica 635 with a triplet lens, probably the same as the one on your Yashica A. I first used it under trying lighting conditions, so shot with a nearly wide open aperture. Upon trying to make a 11x14 inch print, my results were distinctly unsharp, and my reaction, "this cannot be". Well, it was. I resold the camera, getting a modest profit at that. Frankly, if I had used a lens opening shut down to 8.0, I probably would have been delighted with my results. Your Yashica A was a good deal at 40 pounds, if it meets your needs. If you fall in love with the 120 roll film TLR, there are many high quality items still out there, fairly reasonable in price (although not all are so): Minolta Autocord (best quality bargain), Ricoh Diacord (but not Ricoh's earlier models), Rollicord V (as good as a low-end Rolleiflex at 2/3 the price), Mamiya C models (bigger, heavier, but only one with interchangeable lenses), Koniflex (rare, expensive; amazing optics), Kalloflex (semi-rare, amazing build quality and optics; my favorite, but getting pricey).
@@randallstewart1224 I appreciate the insight! You’re spot on. Have been shooting on 35mm for a bit. Came across an estate sale the other day and bought a Yashika-A and D. The latter is non functional, but for a combined price of $12 I couldn’t be happier. Love learning new things, and I can’t wait to start shooting medium
Good 📣🧸
Thanks for watching!