Sir, you have brought fond memories from my youth when I was given a 124 in 1972 (I was 12). Along with my best friend, who also had a 124, we used to go to the most photographic venue in Puerto Rico, Old San Juan. We took so many pictures, the cobblestone streets, the callejones (alleyways), and Los Castillos (fortresses), to name a few. My friend had a Beseler 45, and we developed and printed 16 x 20 photos and sold them in Old San Juan on the weekends. My friend passed away a long time ago, and I lost my negatives and camera in one of my change of stations back in the day. I am considering buying a 124G from a reputable seller to reminisce about my youth. You earned my sub, thank you. Stay safe🙏.

Your videos are amongst the select few that I look forward to every week. And I’ve resolved to take my Yashicamat 124G out again as soon as possible.

Awesome video! I think the look and feel of TLR’s are just so cool, and this video certainly shows how useful and fun they can be! I wasn’t able to afford the Mat 124 myself, and ended up going with the Yashica A TLR.

Wow the quality of the images is superb

My first medium format camera was a Yashica Mat, not expensive and the lens was surprisingly very sharp, I love using that camera but I never got used to the square format for my landscape photography. I ended up selling it as it was collectif dust on my shelf. Somedays I regret it since it was a superb camera for the price it cost me. I also remember how much of a magnet this camera was when I was shooting downtown, people come to talk to you when the see the camera, so much, I was jokingly telling other photographier, that if you are single, do not bother joint website for single person, just buy a Yashica and walk downtown

Thank you for another excellent video. I always learn something from you!

Thanks for this! The 124 was my first medium format camera in grad school. I went on to a Bronica and now Hasselblad, but loved that 124 G. So easy to take everywhere with you; so quiet and sharp. This makes me want to get another!

Wow, that 124G is sharp as a tack. Beautiful. I had a 635 for a long time and that 124G is definitely a step up. Lovely shots, great vid!

Nice shots!

Again, you create a fabulously good video, - educational, interesting and entertaining. I think you are among the best camera reviewers on KZfaq! I've never seen the add-on wide/tele-adapters on a TLR. And to the question in the headline; Yes, Yashica 124G may be the best medium format camera for beginners. TLR in general is easy access to top quality, special user experience and enjoyment of the very process of taking a photo that only analog photography can provide. I chose the Minolta Autocord III for this use. Haven't regretted it. BTW; Where is the cat??? 🙂

Enjoying this having just bought myself a Yashica Mat. Currently putting a roll of HP5 through it. Excited for the results!

I always love to watch your videos. Great job. When I got my Yashica Mat 124G back from the CLA ( Mark Hama did it) I've found out that I have to set the beginning of the film marker to the 24 x film start mark. Otherwise I would loos a frame. And yes, taking off the old leatherette is a PITA. Especially the knobs. I still have some knobs in black. lol

I enjoyed this video - I always do enjoy your content but what I especially enjoyed is sharing in your experience of using the Yashica TLR. It is something that I am toying with, but I still feel compelled to do more with 35mm film before I take the step into medium format.

Great video. Yes, the Yashica 124G , was my first medium format camera, back in the 80's. Sold that and a lot of other equipment, to purchase my first digital stuff. I have a similar meter, by TTartisans. It reads 1 full stop high. So I just adjust the film ISO, accordingly . Thanks. KB

Spot meters never worked for me. I mainly used them at Rock concerts. Thanks for the lesson!

Missed you last week, but very much enjoying this video. As always, the layout and structure of your videos is ideal, and very well thought out in its continuity. I enjoyed this video even "extra" since, as I've mentioned in the past, I also recently purchased a minty 124G based on previous videos from you, which renewed my interest in vintage cameras, especially in ones I once owned. My purchase, from a private owner on Ebay, also included a beautiful leather case plus instruction manual. In addition, I also purchased a Tiffen #15 deep yellow filter, (77mm, so I can use it on other lenses as well), just to add a bit more contrast, if necessary. I also dug out a cable release, and put an Arca Swiss plate on the bottom. Now I just need to go some place. My only inconvenience is that the Arca Swiss plate needs to be removed in order to accommodate film changing! FWIW - I purchased my first 124G in 1971 from K-Mart, new for $95. My favorite film to shoot was Kodak Verichrome Pan, ASA 125. Interestingly, I see original rolls, long out of expiration date, still on sale for about $20 per roll. I'll bypass on that! I bought & sold 4-5 124G's throughout the 1970's & 1980's. So the one I have now will stay with me the rest of my life! 1. How or where do you find such interesting places to go? Your choices are exactly the kind of places I'd like to go with a vintage camera for a day of shooting. 2. In terms of convenience, how did you find using the Astr-Hori (what a name!), compared to using your spot meter and/or incident meter? My thoughts on the AH-M1 meter - for the price, it certainly is a very useful and affordable accessory, and one that you can simply stick in your pocket! Per your video, having an exposure compensation active, as you did, would definitely affect your readings. Still...IMO, since the AH-M1 meter probably has a broad angle of view, I would suspect the "darker" readings you experienced could also be due to the amount of bright white sky that the meter was inadvertently reading. I was thinking that, in order for the meter to avoid reading so much sky, if you pointed the camera/meter down a bit for a reading it might have been more in line with your averaging spot readings. PS - all the images you posted showed off the potential of the 124G, but in particular, I loved the image around 20min of the round wall with the window, and the way the sun was striking it across the frame.

I just bought a mint Yaschica Mat 124G due to the usual GAS, and indeed I think it's still one of the good options for beginners looking for their 1st medium format camera without spending too much cash. For some weird reasons, I don't "click" with folding cameras, especially the ones without built-in rangefinder.

if your meter on the yashica 124G dose not work its often a problem with the contacts that "engage" when opening the viewfinder. a contact rubs against a plade and the meter starts to work. If you close the viewfinder is disconnected and the meter stops working. So if your meter dose not work with an open finder, you should try to clean the two contacts.

Thanks for your presentation. Outstanding! Totally agree with your sentiments about the Yashica 124-G as a starter into medium format. We have a Yashica 635 and use a spot meter. Learning from our mistakes leads to better outcomes. Thanks again. Happy New Year and blessings to you and your wonderful family.

Nice

I always found the Yashikor lenses to be soft on the edges no matter what f/stop I used. This is an interesting castle. When was it abandoned?

So few people know how to work a spot meter these days. Yes, digital cameras are easier to use; you can see exposure problems immediately. But you're not aware of the tones in your picture.

My first medium format camera was a mamiya rb67 I still use. But I got it when things were much cheaper. With today's used prices, I think the best intro camera for medium format would be a folding bellows style rangefinder line an Ansco Speedex or an Adox Golf. They are dirt cheap and offer a more conventional shooting experience. I dont think starting with a TLR is a great idea for many reasons (and I own a mamiya c330).

The iOS Pocket Light Meter app I use for metering on my iPhone is the same way with EV. You would think that having a little +/- on the screen would have been easy for the author to put in. So when I want to use a filter on my camera and I forget to change the EV back.....well. 🤣

A Ciro-Flex F is a great value for a TLR. Yashica mats are getting more expensive than many Rollei models and there are much better buys available.

It always angers me when “vloggers” keep referring to the 124G as a beginners camera. That’s ridiculous. You yourself said it was their most advanced TLR, plus its longevity proves that it’s definitely capable of taking professional-quality photos. I normally love this channel, but implying that this camera is only for beginners is just plain wrong.