Yashica Mat 124G Review - Affordable medium format

In this video, I walk you through some of my favourite aspects of the Yashica Mat 124G.
This camera has really changed the way I take images. Focusing mainly on slower, day to day moments has been a really great exercise and I’m happy with the direction my images are going.
I still love fast paced street photography but sometimes, slowing down makes you see different things.
I haven’t focused much on the technical aspects of this camera as personally I don’t think it’s very relevant, however there are plenty of videos of comparisons out there.
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[@neilpiper9889]

I have a 1957 Yashica Mat with the 75mm Lumaxar f3.5 lens. The build quality is very high. No plastic, all metal. I had two Yashica Mats in the 1960s as a wedding, portrait and press photographer.

[@samvholt]

Nice one Neil! Would be interested to see your press images

[@catey62]

I started my film journey with and old Zeiss Ikon folder from the 1930's, which I still use..it takes 6x9 cm negatives. but with my interest in film photography triggered by that camera, I started looking around for something a bit newer. and on Ebay, I found a mint Yashica 635, a dual format camera thats shoots 120 & 35mm film. only paid $88.00 Australian, or roughly 45 of your British pounds for it....absolute bargain, and takes wonderful shots. brilliant little camera, that I love. then after buying a Mamiya RB 67, another great camera despite being a heavy beast, I was looking on Ebay one night and spotted a Mat124 G for a good price. I wasnt disappointed with it when I took it out and put my first roll through it..the Yashinon lenses are very good, and take some beautiful shots if you dont mind taking your time. I would recommend either the 635 or the 124G to anybody wanting to buy a TLR but cant afford a Rollieflex. they are a fantastic budget alternative to them, and work every bit as well as they do. 🙂

[@greyghostjay]

I have a Yashica-D and you're right about it being a learning curve, but I absolutely love it.

[@AnonYmous-kf7uu]

I'd give Portra 160/400 a try. As to b&w I've been really impressed with Delta 100.

[@Emilywillcut-eu4bm]

Thank you for the information. I’ve received one as a gift and can’t wait to get started with it.

[@samvholt]

Nice one! Hope the video helped somewhat. Enjoy the new camera!

[@thomasjayprince]

Great video! I really enjoyed your photos as well! The mood and composition are fantastic! I just picked up one of these and hope to be able to put together some good shots

[@samvholt]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy it

[@carlwyatt]

Great video... I've been shooting with the Mamiya RB67 for over a year now but I'm thinking of getting myself a 124G.. different shooting experience but also because of the weight difference! Loved your photographs !!

[@samvholt]

Thanks Carl! Get it and have a go I’d say, if you hate it then sell it on, someone will pick it up

[@carlwyatt]

@@samvholt I got my doubts I'd be hating it 😉

[@michaelhulland2915]

I went from 35mm to 6x6 for my first taste of medium format, it was awesome. But I actually find it really easy to compose portraits. I have the Mamiya C330 with the 105 3.5 lens and it is hands down the best portrait lens/camera mix I have ever used. I am thinking about one of these for bushwalks and hikes though, smaller, lighter and I can't be bothered getting a wider lens for the C330.

[@bartlevenson7851]

get the 65 for the mamiya twinlens!

[@ghw7192]

I have a number of TLRs from different manufacturers and prefer my standard Yashica-Mat 124 to my G. The standard model has a grid focusing screen, which I find useful for composition.

[@wilbmoore]

Great video Sam. I have one as well and it takes some getting use to but I love it.

[@samvholt]

Thank you! It’s a great camera, I’m yet to use mine regularly but I do enjoy it

[@ReimannPembroke]

Great video man! I just picked up the original version of the Yashica Mat 124 to experiment with on my channel!

[@stanislife_]

Very nice review! Beautiful photos!

[@nicklopro]

Sam! Did you know Davy Crockett Used one of these Yashica cameras during the siege of the Alamo in 1836!? Using just one roll of Kodak Eastman 5222 black and white 35mm motion picture film he shot enough sprocket holes to stave off General Santa Anna and his army of 2000 men for THIRTEEN DAYS! Thank you so much for sharing! More people need to learn about the Yashica and its rich AMERICAN history of nearly 200 years. Learn more in my new youtube short "the untold history of the Yashica Mat 124G"

[@miguelrend]

great video!!, and good photos!

[@webmaster4ZLCB]

Thanks for the video, very well done.

[@ivaa7777JAWA]

Great video

[@samvholt]

Thank you!

[@mk-ej9wr]

I really liked the dog image

[@zomyjong]

What light meter app is that? Great video. I just got one and seeing others enjoy theirs definitely gives me the boost knowing I didn’t buy a dud camera. I’m also thinking of utilizing mine for mostly black and white work. Cheers!

[@samvholt]

Hey Romeo! Its called Lumu Light Meter on the App Store, here’s a link: apps.apple.com/gb/app/lumu-light-meter/id730969737 Glad this video gave you a creative boost! Black and white is slowly becoming my favourite was of shooting. I even shoot in black and white with my Fuji through the EVF.

[@randallstewart175]

A lot of folks buy the 124G or an earlier model, which may actually be a better built camera. That's not because they are a good deal, as suggested in the video, but because they are common as dirt. Why? They were the cheapest TLR of their general type ever made ($80 - 130 new in box). As to current (02/22) used prices, they sell for $300 - $500, which is ridiculous, driven by these types of videos. If you want a TLR. similar but far better quality of both body and optics, consider a Ricoh Diacord, $100 - 200, or the more rare Kalloflex, $75 - 150.(Maybe the easiest focusing and viewing, even compared to a Rollei.), or a Rolleicord ($175 --250). Externaqlly, the controls of the 124G look a lot like a Rolleiflex (by intention), Under the leatherette. It mechanisms are fairly simple, or crude, loosely fit, and the optics are the worst available. Go figure.

[@samvholt]

Cool beans mate

[@tompaste387]

Got mine for £75, light meter didn't work but managed to easiy fix that... bargain

[@bartlevenson7851]

All these videos ever made are about the 124g as the affordable alternative. Costs around $365. Why not the Yashica "A" or the "D" or the LM? All these can be obtained for $100 and are as good and are a true lower cost way to get into medium format! All Americans have to have all the bells and whistles on everything they buy. this is the time of B-denomics and your dollar needs to be stretched, unless you are a 1%er. Just saying.

[@Dahrenhorst]

If you are talking about affordable medium format, the Yashica Mat 124G definitely does not belong to that. If you are talking affordable medium format, look at 1950s/1960s folders, which you will get for well less than 100 USD, often under 50 USD. There are also many TLRs available for less than 200 USD, some even less than 100 USD. But this Yashica and affordable? Sorry, no.

[@samvholt]

Affordable compared with Mamiyas and Hassleblads. I could shoot with a pinhole camera for about 50p, but it wouldn’t sit in the medium of quality for price. Same with anything from the 60s. Don’t think you can go wrong with this camera and is definitely worth the price. Thanks anyway.

[@Dahrenhorst]

@@samvholt Of course you can't go wrong with a Yashica Mat 124G, if it is in good working condition, what unfortunately is not a given. I understood your video to give information about a particularly affordable way to start into medium format. That 124G is not among the most expensive medium format cameras, by far not, but it is also not among the most affordable, also by far not. Actually, it is closer to "expensive" than to "cheap", because it's hyped for some years now. I recently bought a working Yashica Mat LM for half the price of a 124G, for instance - which some even rate as a better camera, since no plastics and no batteries. I simply was a little put off that an overpriced and hyped camera is presented as something particularly affordable in its realm. Peace!

[@montycraig5659]

@@Dahrenhorstseems price is relevant. I gladly bought a 124G after looking at the price of a Hasselblad 500cm. Priced them lately? I do own other cameras, a few Mamiya 645s, and a Nice Bronica SQ-a system, along with a 4x5 field camera kit. All in all, the Yashica is the most affordable of them all.

[@Sanigobass]

try fomapan, its great and its cheaper than hp5

[@samvholt]

Cheers Santiago! Will definitely give that a look