Yashica's Rarest TLR Camera, the 635

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[@markpedwell1250]

The camera I started professional wedding photography with 46 years ago. I recently managed to acquire another complete with the 35mm kit . Pure nostalgia. Thanks for the review..

[@headwerkn]

Lol, didn't realise they were rare. I had one of these several years ago, cleaned it up but ended up selling it - for a tidy profit, albeit not nearly as much as if I'd sold it several years later once film got real popular! Kinda hilarious how much they go for these days. It was a nice camera, I didn't have the 35mm back but that didn't bother me, I was just happy to have my first medium format film camera. It worked fine and took nice images but the dull ground glass made it quite difficult to focus with. Kinda wish I'd hung onto it now... hindsight is always 20/20.

[@jw48335]

I think he is referring to the rarity of the complete kit with the adapters. I do not believe the 635 is rare on its own. I see 635s all the time, and several KZbinrs have flogged them, comically without the adapter, lol.

[@JeffDvrx]

Huh, I wasn't aware the 635 was so rare! I'd like to try one of these myself someday. The only TLR I currently own is actually a Yashimaflex I found at a flea market in an appalling condition, everything was stuck and you couldn't even see the lenses from the sheer amount of grime on it haha. Tore it down and got it working, and I absolutely love it. Sadly a 120 roll is extremely expensive for me so I rarely use it, hopefully that'll change in the near future :). Great video as always! you found such a nice example

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

I frequent the local online classifieds in Japan looking for cameras, and only about 1 in 1000 Yashicaflex cameras is a 635, and maybe 1 in 3 of those is complete.

[@carbonejack]

I got one of these a few years ago in perfect condition with the adapter kit. Haven't shot 35mm with it yet, but you've inspired me to try it out. Nice review.

[@terryjacob8169]

I've had three Yashica 635s and still have one. I actually prefer the 635 to the 124G Mat that I also own. I've rarely used the 35mm capabilty of any of the 635s I've owned, in truth finding the resulting images rather unsatisfactory. The one big improvement I've made to my current 635 has been to replace the plain ground glass focusing screen with one featuring a split image circle, bought off EBay. I also use mine with a Bay 1 to 46mm filter adapter, using 46mm filters and a 46mm lens hood.

[@matt_phistopheles]

Interesting concept. I tried something like that with 3D printed adapters but I wasn't convinced. It was a pain to setup and the vertical panorama format wasn't very useful in practice. However, this system looks much better even though I still fail to see the usefulness of using 36x24mm film in a fixed lens TLR even back in the day

[@JanneRanta]

Very intersting system. I would like it much more if it were 24*24mm square format thought.

[@RobMadeo]

Nice video. Hmm... I can't remember why, but I sold mine and got an LM. Only now do I realize that I could have done some cool things with it!

[@SnowmansApartment]

Very interesting camera :) I would love to see an in depth video about the „Yashica Rapide“.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Awesome & Thanks :)

[@josephasghar]

I have one. Complete. My first tlr. Wasn’t expecting much, from the rather dull ground glass, but the images I get from this are magical. As are the ones from my Yashica MII. I’ve become something of a Yashi fanboy. Is it possible to upgrade the ground glass to something brighter?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

You can get a fresnel lens which goes under the focusing screen. Many old TLR cameras, like the Ricohflex models with the bayonet lens cap mount come with these lenses. You can often find a broken or non-operable camera for cheap, and swap the fresnel into your Yashica.

[@josephasghar]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 I’d have thought this would block even more light, but I’ll certainly look into it:)

[@michaeldimmitt2188]

There is a guy named Rick Oleson making products called Brightscreen. Don’t know if he makes them for all cameras but you can search it for yourself.

[@Owwliv]

Seems very cool. I'm tangentially looking for one of these, and if I ever find one this video will be very helpful. I prefer to shoot 35 in vertical, portrait mode, so, that aspect of this camera appeals to me. With the adapter they're pretty steep though.

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

Nice video. Haven't used my 635 for a few years (Covid and whatnot) so came here for a refresher course. One point though - the right hand adaptor for the 35mm cassette ought to screw on to the camera body, it's not a push fit. If it DOES push fit on then somebody has probably mashed up the brass thread which is a shame. Well done pointing out that you CAN fit a cable release - not a lot of people know that!

[@jw48335]

I love the 35mm option, but I really don't like the focus screen on any of the 4 Yashica TLRs I've handled. I considered trying to fit an Olsen screen to a 635, but ultimately decided to just use one of the adapter hacks from eBay in my Super Six RF instead. I usually see those used with the GW6xx, but they work in any MF camera. Great walkthrough - neat to see these still intact after all these years!

[@devroombagchus7460]

Thanks! I don’t understand why people would want a large 35mm camera with a fixed 80mm lens. Once loaded, you are stuck for 24 or 36 exposures.

[@f1remandg]

Why was the frame on the table right through the demonstration, then you put it back in the kit case! I didn’t quite get that bit!

[@jamesjennings-yd2bc]

They can't be that rare, I have seem many on KZbin and I picked up one about 6 years ago and there were 3 in the same shop at the time.

[@skrohit230]

Yashica b price in india

[@philipbirch9183]

It may be the shortest production run TLR but they're not rare by any means

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

Relative to the other models, they are quite hard to find. On any given day I can find 200 to 300 Yashica TLR cameras listed for sale on various sites in Japan. A 635 comes up about once a month, and few of those include the adapter kit.