I have seen some older Yashica TLRs with letters after the name; the Yashica C, F, etc.. What do these mean? I notice they are substantially less expensive than the 124g. How do they stack up optically, and what differences in design are there?

-- Stephen Grady (eightx10@yahoo.com), March 26, 2000

Answers

Stephen,

There are really only two lenses in question here, The Yashikor, which is a three element and usually found on the earlier models. The Yashinon is a better lens with four elements and based on the Zeiss Tessar. Now, ANY yashica lens in good condition can produce very good results, especially with apertures around f8, so just buy the best lens you can afford and have fun. Remember, when you enlarge your neg you lose so much less in quality with 120 film, therefore a lesser quality lens can still produce very nice results if you are not enlarging over and above 20x30 inches. The differences in design mostly ahve to do woth a built in light meter or not and

Another opinion, "Also, the "D" (along with A,B,C,E and 635) has a poor 3-element Yashikor lens. You would be much better off with a Yashinon 4-element lens which is similar to a Zeiss Tessar in performance (soft edges wide open improving to quite sharp, corner to corner, by f/11). Models with Yashinon lenses include the Yashicamat, LM, EM, 12, 24, 124, and 124G. Also, the "12" models (12,24,124,124G) all have built in meters. The LM and EM have selenium photocells (which are usually weak or dead). I would pass on a "D" and try to find a 124. It's the same camera as the 124G and usually available for under $175."

I shot a 124G once and liked the image quality, but the I prefer the more rugged design in a C,D, 124(no G!).

Martin

-- Martin Reis (mreis@tafelmusik.org), March 27, 2000.

Not quite the full story.

I inherited an old Yashicamat which was fitted with "Luxamar" lenses. They appear to be 4 element tessar type also.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), March 29, 2000.

There are D's with the Yashinon lens also. Make sure you ask the seller (on ebay or whereever) if you can't eyeball it yourself.

-- Greg Erker (erker@sask.trlabs.ca), March 30, 2000.

I have read some posts elsewhere from people with both, who feel that the Yashikors are not that inferior. And one from an owner of both, that the Yashikor performs as well if not better.

I now own a Yashica D with Yashinon lenses. The late model Ds had Yashinon lenses. You do have to ask if they don't say or you can't see in the picture.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), September 10, 2000.