These are simply guesses based on my logic which may have absolutely nothing to do with reality. Subscribehere. Content contributor - become a part of the worlds biggest film and alternative photography community blog. The Yashica Mat-LM looks like another match but I have not included all the cameras in my database. These cameras were only produced over a few months and there is little about the serial numbers that absolutely pop out to say this is the format. This left me with a real feeling of liberation! Don't total this column and expect it to equal the total numbers of cameras in my database quoted elsewhere. The new 7 digit numbers only appeared for part of one month and so far I have only found Yashica-Mat, Yashicaflex B and Yashica 44 examples. This is followed by another, H 136291. wet process prints, and not digital scans, were noticeable, although I wouldnt say that the differences bore any resemblance to price differences, and how good the negs were from my first Mat, which attests to the high standard, generally, of the Yashinon, and the overall good value of the Yashica camera. What these mean and where they fit, I have no idea. Share to Pinterest. Their new numbers started with 10xxxxx. If we accept the commonly quoted 16 year life span of the Yashica Mat-124G and 573,362 produced, that is an average production of approximately 2,986 per month. This is what has been discovered model by model, TLR-like patterns first. 1265 represents the 1,265th camera made that month. The possible date code link between the patterns came later, in 2014 in fact. I would say that the Yashica MAT 124G compares to the Rolleiflex 2.8GX lens in terms of resolution, only the Flex has way better flare resistance and contrast in backlit scenarios, probably due to newer coatings. Learn how your comment data is processed. The 1960 number is 67xxxxx. Basically what you get back is your same old camera but its like a new one. As with all the SLRs so far (and only the SLRs, as far as I can tell), the 5 digit sequence number is cumulative production up to that point). In summary, the September to December 1960 model codes are: 11 = Yashica A Reviews & ExperiencesIf youre looking for photography equipment and peripheral reviews, this is the place to start! A nice overview of the last in the wonderful line of Yashica TLRs. Any gaps indicate that either I haven't found any examples, or that there wasn't any production of that model in that month. Until September 1957, each model had a straightforward and mostly unique consecutive number series with the odd jump, up or down, here and there. That, again, means one important thing I can look at the scene, analyze it, change the angle or position of the camera, integrate model or subject into the scene, think about light, shoot, analyze results, improve, move forward. Later DS and DS-M lenses have the serial number underneath and I have only seen a few. In the first column, I have separated models by shutter type, Pigeonflexes by the Yashima name change and the Hong Kong version of the Yashica D. In the last column, I have identified lens names for models where a change occurred. The Yashica D also seems to have finished up to two years short but there are the Hong Kong cameras which may have come after Japanese production finished - they certainly have the very last trim features. First, a little bit of relatively unknown history which I have pieced together. I have seventeen serial numbers. Agree with you and according to the price and image quality : awesome best deal for films cameras. The selected ISO is shown through a window on the top. It was a leap in quality and big change of workflow compared to 35mm; my process became slower, more contemplative, framing and composition became more thorough and the resulting photos became better. First thing is that its relatively easy to focus with high precision, even without a split screen option, focus snap in the center is evident. Therefore numbered parts destined to be spares were given a future number anticipated to be beyond normal production. Serial Number Patterns The comparisons using analogue photographic enlargements i.e. Including a Rolleiflex 2.8E, a Yashica Mat-124, and a Yashica D, and I would be happy to sell my Yashica D . I love it! It could be argued that I have simply put the number patterns in an order that fits my theory. With the Lynx 1000, the first digit remained 6 so the number became 610xxxx with 7 digits. By this stage, the prefixes are shared with the Yashicaflex A (new model). 16 = 44LM. Ive not had much luck with the telephoto lens which is practically useless to me due to an inability to focus it properly I just zoom in with my feet instead. This review is superb!!! Towards the end of the 1950s, Yashica started to move into 8 mm movie cameras, 35 mm cameras and then sub-miniature with the short-lived Y16. As for my personal story going from a complicated camera setup, to a simple one-camera-one-lens setup in the end I didnt ruin my tranquility and concentration by getting involved with the accessories. Willing to trade with a Mamiya". Yashica auxiliary TELEPHOTO lens. Given this camera's stature in the medium format universe, and given its amazing 16 year production run, from 1970 clear until 1986, it constitutes both a popular and a worthy choice at least when you can find one to buy. Makes standard lens longer. In theory it should but my database grows far more quickly than I can find time to update this table. You are asked for a serial number - how will Yashica know it's a 1960 camera with a 1965 serial number? (Free 3-day trial).Subscribehere. I like it, under the right conditions it can make dull picture an interesting one. Not all, perhaps any, models will have achieved similar average rates. Come and see why. 1, the shutter itself is released. The partial image of the YASHICA MAT-124G TLR featured on the catalog cover.Released in 1971, it is the last YASHICA TLR camera models.The real thrill of large format and high degree of perfection. The most obvious problem is that for a time, Yashica used a system that made sense to it but until now, we didn't have the key to decipher - we could get a picture of the correct order from trim and detail changes but not understand the reasoning. You send your camera to him, he disassembles it into final pieces and assembles it back changing necessary parts. That is the failing of using a single digit year code. Sharpness is acceptable in the center of the image, even with wide open apertures. (The other repairman was once regarded as one of the experts in the USA, but he was clearly past his prime and had become sloppy.) The Flash-O-Set 35 mm model was released in 1961, the same year that TLR serial numbers adopted an alpha prefix system with standardised 7 digit numbering. A few more notes on other aspects that relate to focusing: Lets start with a confession I dont use the meter in my Yashica MAT 124G. For those months, the serial numbers are expected to be 7 digit. To make it clearer, I have shown those years in italics: Note: No. is the number of cameras found in the serial number range. outfall with frosty branches. From further away, I dont worry about parallax error. How the sequence numbers work is not altogether clear but my explanation is at Serial Numbers & Production. The short story is use the hood. Sometimes the combinations were slightly different. How did Yashica deal with the serial number issues? For the Yashica A, B and D, I have highlighted the blocks of serial numbers in which coloured cameras may be found - in those blocks for the Yashica A and D, there is only the odd black example, for the Yashica B, it is more even. Well these days Im all about not acquiring, but reducing gear and simplifying. Serial numbers were not consecutive model to model, usually. The fully automatic Auto Yashinon f/1.8 5.5 cm all start with 5, presumably not a coincidence and the cumulative sequence numbers clearly count up. From serial numbers at least, there seemed to be a gap in production from January to June 1969 inclusive before the typical Gothic Y version appeared. Clearly, the 5 is focal length and 2 is the aperture. There is a good chance that the first two digits are the year and the others the month of some change (e.g. Or, more simply, perhaps the spares were produced after production ended and the date code reflects the date that the part was made or distributed. In my opinion, the Rolleiflex has a bit better quality of build but the difference is not great and the results are pretty well indistinguishable. Super sharp images. The first exception is the first model, the Pigeonflex! Close the hood and it will switch off. When the numbers appeared to run out, the Yashica Mat-124G changed from a 7 digit series, with the 0 and 1 pattern noted above, to a new 6 digit series with no 0 and 1 pattern. Therefore, even without factoring in the date code, there is something very different about these examples. The last number in my database is L 401xxxx (1964, January). All models with the maker name on the body changed from Yashima to Yashica in September 1959. Starting with the Penta J in 1961, this group of cameras used a similar numbering system to the Pentamatic and Pentamatic II except that the year is one digit instead of 2. With the earlier numbers, the pattern is similar but mostly, the month numbers are 1 to 12 so that at 9, numbers are 7 digit but at 10, they become 8 digit. In my view, the exposure meters, and hence serial numbers, on some of the January and perhaps February 1964 cameras and on all later examples have been replaced from the official Yashica spare parts system (see below). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. And then there is the 9 digit 116110451. Undoubtedly, it appear in a 1967 US brochure and 1969 Yashica USA price list. There is a threaded and lockable shutter button on bottom right side. I had better concentration on the scene due to fact that I had no need, or even possibility to change the lenses. The lens in my second Mat wasnt as good. Your email address will not be published. The same year, Yashica launched its first 35mm SLR with electronic shutter, the TL Electro X, and released the Yashica Mat-124, which combined the cumulative improvements of Yashica's earlier TLR cameras. It helps to also look at the maker name, Yashima or Yashica, whether the lenses are Yasinon or Yashinon and any other trim changes. I love TLRs, especially ones like this that have the whole of the Bayonet 30 systems at their fingertips (like my Rolleicord) for a very reasonable price. Less is more is very liberating. Thanks Michael. I have collected 64 Yashica 8 movie camera serial numbers (released in 1957) and they seem to more or less behave like the TLRs. Back to 1957. In addition, while all other Bay 1 accessories are interchangeable between brands, the fit may be very snug or very loose if the accessories are not made by Yashica. (Free 3-day trial). As I did my own B/W d&p this experience prompted my move to a Mamiya C330f (and much later to a 330S and Rolleiflex 3.5f and which I still have) and whose lenses were superior to even my first Mat. The Pigeonflex, Yashima Flex, most Yashicaflexes and Yashica TLRs have their body serial number on the top edge of the nameplate. I got my first Mat in 1963 and that one had a particularly fine lens. There are two ways to contribute to 35mmc and experience it without the adverts: Paid Subscription - 2.99 per month and you'll never see an advert again! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It has a body serial number inside near the feed spool, 119xxx, and lens numbers 816xxx (taking) and 812xxx (viewing), all consistent with each other and with the camera's trim. It also lets me creates some fairly surreal, artsy images if used in a way that plays on its flaws. And yes Portra 400 hand held in low light struggles to record the dark, Maybe Im alone here in thinking that this is virtue signaling gone haywire. Photography & ProjectsLooking for some inspiration, or just want to flick through the project work and photos? . The rice was still reasonable, though the process took about half a year. Most references, blogs etc will tell you that the Minister III was released in 1963 in between the Minister II and Minister D. The Next Generation explains that the Minister III was originally released as the M3 in March 1966. Minimal focusing distance is 1 meter this is a usual thing for TLRs. As such, I have zero reservations about the viewfinders usability. As I explain further down, the order of the patterns fell out from placing cameras (several thousand) into my database based on known factors, lens serial numbers, trim and other variations. Hi, congratulation for this review, may I know what kind of scanner did you use? Its the Frankenstein mode for Yashica Mat 124G. There are several other 66 cameras that are worthy of your attention. different from the situation with the all the other cameras you mention as the 1000s is a fairly old model past the 7 year support period. Excellent review, well done! By lens number, it comes before the 3210xxxx numbers suggesting that it might be a September number - perhaps the change from 79xxxx to 329xxxx numbers happened in the middle of the month. Graham, the price difference you quote is around the mark, but if one says a Rollei was somewhere around double the price of a Yashicamat, this will give a better idea of the price differential. All our Contributors have an ad-free experience for life.Sign uphere. During the time of this contemplation, I got an unexpected message from a fellow photographer asking if I would be interested in selling Mamiya. All the found Pentamatic S numbers are 6 digit. The first thing that I noticed, but didnt care about, was the non-functioning light meter. The final block of Yashica A numbers have an A prefix. If nameplates or exposure meters were simply whipped off the assembly line, that could have created problems for keeping track of production and/or accounting for other parts destined for assembly. I was thinking about Autocord, but what pushed me into MAT was 80mm lens instead of 75 and well frankly speaking MAT is the most handsome TLR for me . The last serial number I have found is from 1971. The cameras themselves have much earlier features and lens numbers than the cameras around them and I believe these are other examples with parts from the official Yashica spare parts system (see below). The biggest gain is that I left the entire what lenses to take with me, what lens should I use for this shot headache behind me. Square format doesnt matter in the darkroom. When closer up, now I have gained experience with it I have started to make compensation automatically. One is the Minolta Autocord: build quality, lens quality are as fine as the 124. I haven't found a reliable end date for the Yashica 44A. The September 1957 to December 1960 models used 6 digits, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 6 and some briefly (the Yashica 44LM not so briefly), 9 digits. The purpose of smaller lens on viewing lens is to provide same viewing area as taking lens record on film and at the same time to enable proper focusing. The f/1.7 is an oddity in several ways. I currently own a Rolleiflex and a Rolleicord both from about 1955 and both in as new condition. I especially agree with your comments: I realized that I lose concentration and workflow of shooting because I fiddle too much with changing lenses and I began to grasp the idea that less is more. A number of sites say that the Minister D 35 mm model was released around 1963. Meters on these cameras are prone to stop working. It helps to look at all the other patterns, especially the following SLR examples, which indicate strongly that Yashica was committed to a date code based numbering system in this period. It's a stunning alternative to the more expensive Rolleiflex and I'll go through my impressions. The two Yashicaflexes have similar pattern numbers but the first two digits are 33 which fits Showa 33 for 1958. In the end, the numbers disappeared from first, the viewing lenses and then the taking lenses. The Yashica A, B, 635, D, 44A, 44LM, Yashica-Mat and Yashica Mat-LM were already in production. Your pictures are very good and I actually really like the the examples taken with the wide angle accessory lens. The Yashica 44LM seems to match up nicely but there are four cameras not included in the table , FL 5090xxx, two with FL 6111xxx numbers and FL 6120xxx, that seem to come up to 15 months after the previous example. I cant confirm, or deny this. There is precedent for 4 to correspond to some 1959 dates, see the TLR numbers and also the YE & YF page, but the above blog site solves the puzzle by noting that 1959 is Showa 34 in the Japanese calendar. It is likely that these numbers signify year and month and broadly align to the camera production months. BTW, came a across a yashica pdf that said wide and telephoto lenses should not be used with an aperture below 5.6, Thanks! This is a similar theory but instead of wanting to identify that a camera has a new serial number, Yashica didn't want to get its camera count out of order. Similar numbered MTL 4110xxx is a more extreme example - it is actually the highest serial numbered Yashica Mat-EM in my database (from the number on its hood and matching Yashinon) and obviously has a replacement LM exposure metre. I bought a 124 three months ago and could not find much useful info, so reading your article has helped a lot.
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