New Old Camera Day!
I love new camera day, hard stop, but when its new OLD camera day it just hits different. I have been shooting film on and off for years and it is absolutely a love hate relationship but I just cant quit. Some days I love everything about it and other days, I couldn’t be more defeated by it, but my mom didn’t raise a quitter. I am thinking about making a video about my favorite film cameras over the years and may go into why I might like or dislike them. For now though, let’s talk about the camera I picked up most recently. I am talking about the Yashica Mat124G. This camera is a medium format, TLR ( Twin lens reflex ), waste level view finder camera. This is my favorite way to shoot. PERIOD. This way of shooting removes me from being behind the camera and breaks the wall of the tension of pointing a camera at someone too. I think in other words, it makes me feel less threatening for lack of a better word.
So why the Yashica? The largest reason was cost. They are still mostly affordable and I picked mine up with a working light meter, and in almost new condition for under $400. This is more than they were in a few years past as others report getting theirs for under $200 but I wasnt that lucky. I still believe its worth the going price considering the alternatives in the TLR lineup but I might be partial. I have owned a Rolleiflex 3.5 and it was remarkable but it was heavier than the Yashica and the images are close enough for my use.
I was lucky that mine came looking close to mint and having zero issues. I have since lost the pin in the advance lever but was lucky enough to discover that jerk hiding in the bottom of my camera bag. I have since reinserted it but I am not certain I got the plates in the correct order and need to remove the pin and try again, sometime…. for now its working great so onward hoe!
Below is the video I made unboxing the new girl and even share a few sample images at the end. I did not notice when I loaded the first roll in my video that I started my first frame at the red 220 film mark. The 120 mark is just under the first roller and start your film there and avoid missing your frirst frame like someone did.. me, I am that someone. Ok.. off you go to the Youtube land.
Later Neighbor~