Photographers - medium format cameras

[Tiggeroo]

Anybody have any experience with these. Particularly the older Yashicamat's. If so let me know I have a couple of questions.

 

[battricia]

I have a bit of experience w/ medium format cameras, let me know and I'll try to help.


tricia.

 

[Sonya]

I've used a mamiya and a hasselblad. I can try and help, it's been a few years.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I want to pick up a yashicmat for my son on e-bay. It's really the only one I can afford right now. I used one years ago but it's been awhile. Is there any reason I need to go with the 124 or the 124G instead of a basic Yashicamat or the em model. As far as I can tell the Yashicamat has the Yashinon lense even if it's not the 124. The 124's are getting pretty expensive.

Also, on the off chance that I purchase a used one with a problem with the internal meter, or I am unable to purchase batteries for it, on a camera like this can I just go with an external meter? The batteries aren't powering anything else on it are they? As far as I know everything is completely manual.

 

[battricia]

ok i did a little research. I can't find whether or not the EM has a different lense than the 124, however, I think that the EM will still take beautiful pictures and if your son doesn't have a med. format camera he will love it.


About the battery. While I can't be positive, I am assuming that the battery is only to work the light metering mechanism. The shutter switch has a spring that activates the shutter opening, and you have to **** it before you can take the picture, so i'm assuming that's winding the mechanism to pop open the shutter. I have a rolleiflex tlr that does not take a battery, it also does not have any metering device. my camera appears to work virtually the same as the yashica mat. I found a manual for the EM model here:

Yashica Mat EM Manual

there are some sites that sell batteries that will work in vintage model cameras. just search google for the model battery and a bunch of sites will come up.

You can use a different light meter (separate from the camera) and sometimes this will prove to be even more useful because who knows when the vintage camera's meter was calibrated, and if it still works properly. I use a regular light meter for my rolleiflex. Good luck, and I hope this helps you out.

tricia.

 

[Tiggeroo]

That helps alot. The concern I had for the light meter was that in a camera like this that could be 30yrs old the main problem is likely to be the light meter. And it's the one thing that the seller would not be able to know for sure if it is working properly. I have an old light meter around here somewhere and I figured he could use this, and it would be a good skill for him to have anyway. He wants to mainly take black and white ocean photos, and develop them his self. He will be taking an advanced photographry course right after the holidays and I figured this would be neat for him to have and the prices are good if I stay with the basic yashicamat or the ems. Some of the 124's are going for alot of money.
There is also a 635 which takes both the 120 and has an adapter to take 35mm. This is even less, but would be older still. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks so much.