My beloved medium format film camera: Mat 124 G

**ismaelg** · 01-11-2020, 09:01 AM - **7 Likes**

Hello,

Before you accuse me of been a camera hoarder... well, yes I am, but bear with me.
When I finished college in December of 1992, I bought this baby from a lady that worked at the university's engineering department. I clearly remember paying $100 for it. One of the campus photographer's gave me a worm leather case for it. I still have it. This was my second camera. My K1000 was barely 3 years old at the time.
At that point I had no idea what the heck I was doing (not that I know much better now).
So I bought a 120 roll, tried it and all my pics came out underwhelming, most of them out of focus. I may have tried some more, but don't remember. So I never really used it. But it has always been around. Fast forward 26+ years, and I took it out a few months ago. Dry tested it and played with it, ended up sending it to Mike Trost in Phototronics (EXCELLENT SERVICE, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) for a CLA.
I just got it back and it actually beat the rolls I ordered by mail.
Funny story: It always had a thin neck strap. I took it out before sending it out and realized it is a Pentax strap

So I'll venture into the medium format film again, after over 27 years of stalling.

Introducing my "like new / low mileage / everything works beautifully" Yashica Mat 124 G

Thanks,

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-11-2020, 09:27 AM

Can't wait to see some results! Have fun

Astro-Baby · 01-11-2020, 11:09 AM

What a beauty .......

**ffking** · 01-11-2020, 11:14 AM

You can't beat those old cameras - they're just a joy to own and use

lesmore49 · 01-11-2020, 01:53 PM

They are nice those Yashica TLR's. I've got two, one I bought new in the '90s ... a 124 G and an older Yashica C, which was a gift from a family member. They are very good, reasonably priced TLR's, quite reliable and durable.

**Sholom** · 01-13-2020, 04:46 PM

Although I was always partial to my Minolta Autocord, a good friend and teacher did some really nice stuff with his Yashicamat. Enjoy!

**ChrisPlatt** · 01-13-2020, 05:41 PM

I bought and tried TLRs a couple of times but they weren't for me.
I found looking down at a reversed image is just too disorienting.

The first was a brand new Yashica Mat 124G, which cost about $120 in the early 1980's.
It's a lovely camera that I just never warmed up to...

Chris

Aaron28 · 01-13-2020, 06:24 PM

sweet! lovely black box!!

reconditioned a yashicaflex myself and ran my first roll of 120 ever....not floored but still quite nice.....still waiting to run a roll through yashica C sometime soon...have a few other boxes but not yashicas…...the best from my first roll

happy shooting!

**ismaelg** · 01-13-2020, 08:00 PM

Aaron,

You and your recent car show pictures with a TLR are partially responsible for this.

Thanks,

Aaron28 · 01-13-2020, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by ismaelg

You and your recent car show pictures with a TLR are partially responsible for this.

hahaha! that's great! ....rather enjoy being partially responsible!!

given your location you should come a cross a few classics!

**ismaelg** · 01-28-2020, 08:40 AM - **1 Like**

Took it out into the wild!

The Ilford 100 roll has been sent to Dwayne's for development. Will post results here when ready.

Thanks,

Aaron28 · 01-28-2020, 06:15 PM

super!

**ismaelg** · 02-04-2020, 08:43 PM - **1 Like**

Sample pictures!
X-posted from post your B&W thread

After more than 2 decades without use, I sent my Yashica Mat124G for a CLA and took it out in the field!

Commercial scans. Waiting for the negatives to try scanning on my own. Added a hint of contrast in photoshop. I'm a sucker for high contrast

Thanks,

titrisol · 01-08-2023, 03:37 PM

Ismael, do you know who can service these cameras?
i got a few cameras from my neighbor's father in law estate that I helped him sell but I kept the 124G

**ismaelg** · 01-08-2023, 05:11 PM

Hello,
About 3 years ago I sent mine to Mike: Camera Repair - phototronic.biz in Kansas.
Give him a call and tell him I sent you. He is great. Not only he has serviced some of my cameras, but I have consulted with him several times during my adventures. Great guy.

Thanks,
Ismael

01-11-2020, 09:01 AM - 7 Likes	#1
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683	My beloved medium format film camera: Mat 124 G Hello, Before you accuse me of been a camera hoarder... well, yes I am, but bear with me. When I finished college in December of 1992, I bought this baby from a lady that worked at the university's engineering department. I clearly remember paying $100 for it. One of the campus photographer's gave me a worm leather case for it. I still have it. This was my second camera. My K1000 was barely 3 years old at the time. At that point I had no idea what the heck I was doing (not that I know much better now). So I bought a 120 roll, tried it and all my pics came out underwhelming, most of them out of focus. I may have tried some more, but don't remember. So I never really used it. But it has always been around. Fast forward 26+ years, and I took it out a few months ago. Dry tested it and played with it, ended up sending it to Mike Trost in Phototronics (EXCELLENT SERVICE, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) for a CLA. I just got it back and it actually beat the rolls I ordered by mail. Funny story: It always had a thin neck strap. I took it out before sending it out and realized it is a Pentax strap So I'll venture into the medium format film again, after over 27 years of stalling. Introducing my "like new / low mileage / everything works beautifully" Yashica Mat 124 G Thanks,

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01-11-2020, 09:27 AM	#2
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,294	Can't wait to see some results! Have fun

01-11-2020, 11:09 AM	#3
Astro-Baby Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reigate, Surrey Posts: 764	What a beauty .......

01-11-2020, 11:14 AM	#4
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,039	You can't beat those old cameras - they're just a joy to own and use

01-11-2020, 01:53 PM	#5
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	They are nice those Yashica TLR's. I've got two, one I bought new in the '90s ... a 124 G and an older Yashica C, which was a gift from a family member. They are very good, reasonably priced TLR's, quite reliable and durable.

01-13-2020, 04:46 PM	#6
Sholom Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery Posts: 125	Although I was always partial to my Minolta Autocord, a good friend and teacher did some really nice stuff with his Yashicamat. Enjoy!

01-13-2020, 05:41 PM	#7
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	I bought and tried TLRs a couple of times but they weren't for me. I found looking down at a reversed image is just too disorienting. The first was a brand new Yashica Mat 124G, which cost about $120 in the early 1980's. It's a lovely camera that I just never warmed up to... Chris

01-13-2020, 06:24 PM	#8
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	sweet! lovely black box!! reconditioned a yashicaflex myself and ran my first roll of 120 ever....not floored but still quite nice.....still waiting to run a roll through yashica C sometime soon...have a few other boxes but not yashicas…...the best from my first roll happy shooting!

01-13-2020, 08:00 PM	#9
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Aaron, You and your recent car show pictures with a TLR are partially responsible for this. Thanks,

01-13-2020, 08:46 PM	#10
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	Originally posted by ismaelg You and your recent car show pictures with a TLR are partially responsible for this. hahaha! that's great! ....rather enjoy being partially responsible!! given your location you should come a cross a few classics!

01-28-2020, 08:40 AM - 1 Like	#11
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Took it out into the wild! The Ilford 100 roll has been sent to Dwayne's for development. Will post results here when ready. Thanks,

01-28-2020, 06:15 PM	#12
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	super!

02-04-2020, 08:43 PM - 1 Like	#13
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Sample pictures! X-posted from post your B&W thread After more than 2 decades without use, I sent my Yashica Mat124G for a CLA and took it out in the field! Commercial scans. Waiting for the negatives to try scanning on my own. Added a hint of contrast in photoshop. I'm a sucker for high contrast Thanks,

01-08-2023, 03:37 PM	#14
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,853	Ismael, do you know who can service these cameras? i got a few cameras from my neighbor's father in law estate that I helped him sell but I kept the 124G

01-08-2023, 05:11 PM	#15
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Hello, About 3 years ago I sent mine to Mike: Camera Repair - phototronic.biz in Kansas. Give him a call and tell him I sent you. He is great. Not only he has serviced some of my cameras, but I have consulted with him several times during my adventures. Great guy. Thanks, Ismael