Yashica LM Twin Lens Reflex Camera
Photo thanks to Andy Pauquette - [email protected]
Our Twin Lens Reflex pages contain many notes about past TLR models,
often recommended models, and even original prices for many once popular TLR models.
See our Yashica pages listing various Yashica TLR models. Our
manuals pages have links to yashicamat 124 G manual
(and a Yashica D TLR) as well as vendors for this model. These Yashicamat LM models
have the same four element Yashinon lens (Tessar) designs as the later and more
expensive Yashicamat 124 series.
Yashica-Mat LM TLR. 80mm/3.5 Yashinon lens, Copal MXV shutter. Light meter is responsive and appears to be accurate, viewing screen is clean and bright.
Yashica LM TLR Left and Right Views
Photos courtesy of B's Camera Collection Pages - Thanks!!
From Medium Format Digest:
From: stefan [email protected]
Subject: Response to Yashica LM information
Date: 1998-11-16
I had a Yashica LM with 80 f 3.5 Yashinon years ago. The meter didn't provide accurate readings but the lens made wonderful black and white prints. I went as large as 14 inches square with the prints. The lens seems to perform best at f11 or so; at f5.6 and larger I recall it got a little dark and smeary at the edges. After the film advance went out the camera was shot, but I ran 100s of rolls of film through it for 2 or 3 years; for what I paid for it, this was a bargain.
If you don't know how to load/work it, email me back and I'll try to fill you in. The Yashica uses Rollie Bay 1 accessories. They make all kinds of filters (some still new), lens shades (a good idea with this lens) wide angle and tele attachments (the results are not so impressive. With the wide angle, all around the edges seems soft; the center is barely acceptably sharp. If you want wide angle, put a 28mm lens on your 35mm camera. Instead of useing the 'Sun' brand tele attachment, I would get better results by enlarging the center portion of neg.). For a little less than the price of your Yashica, get a Bay 1 Rollinar. The +1 and +2 Rollinars are great close up lenses. I also has a Rolinar +3 but almost never used it. Rolienar +1 allows you to focus on objects about 1 1/2 to 3 feet away, Rollienar +2 for objects 1 to 1 1/2 feet away. The Rollienars have a parralax compensating lens that you put on the viewing lens; if you mount it so the red marker dot faces up what you see in the VF is VERY close to what you get. It is amazing. They worked great on my Rollie; I don't see why they shouldn't work on your Yashica. When the Yashica started wrinkling my film, I replaced it with another camera but the Yashica remains a great bargain. I would also snip out a small filter from a Kodak gel filter and fasten that Inside the camera behind the camera lens for when I wanted 81a or something on the lens.
From: [email protected] (OVNIRUCO1) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 31 May 2002 Subject: Re: Just got wet (was Taking the MF plunge) >Research shows that it contains a 3-element anastigmatic lens. The >camera is made of cast aluminum, and was first manufactured in New York >in 1947. It is not considered a very serious camera, but the price was >right---the clock guy threw it in for $30 when we bought a clock we had >been searching for anyway. > >So, now I have a medium format camera, probably with a very soft lens, >probably that will not keep the film flat...but it works! I'm going on >a film hunt later today. > >Thanks to all for the advice! > > Interesting. I got into MF in somewhat the same manner. I was waiting in a camera shop and started messing around with a Yashica LM that was listed at $30 bucks. I am not sure, but the camera is probably about 50 years old. When I got my first roll developed, my knees nearly buckled at the sharpness and detail in the prints. After many years of 35mm, I had not seen such results. Naturally that eventually led to spending some serious bucks on MF gear. -Ruco
From: "Christopher Gonzaga" [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Newbie seeking advice... Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 I use the Yashicamat LM and I can say that the lack of grain in the enlargement is the main advantage. However, I would have to say that my high-end fix focal length Nikkor lenses are sharper across the entire image area. I find my LM's Yashinon tessar type single-coated lens is also lower contrast. But if you are shooting high contrast film you may be able to compensate. Black and white also works fine with the LM. You will find that with medium format film you will gain smoother and wider tonal range because of the larger film area. The lack of grain also creates a "creamier" look. The Yashicamat with the Yashinon lens is a good and cheap way (I paid $30.00 for mine) into medium format photography but it is not in the same league as modern medium format lenses. But for the small amount of money the Yashicamat cost, you can't go wrong with buying one. "Kamox" [email protected] wrote > >How would a cheap Yashica 6x6 medium format TLR camera compare with my > >Canon EOS 600 35mm outfit. For portrait and landscape photography? > > It would be MUCH better. I actually own "a cheap Yashica 6x6 medium format TLR camera" (paid 200 euros for it) > and the difference is astonishing. However, I only use professional film with the Yashica (mostly Kodak Portra > 160 NC). > Just to give you an idea, in a 13x13cm print (5 and-a-half inch) you can perfectly distinguish the structure > of a high-tension pylon just 3 millimeters wide on the print. I can't shoot portraits at optimal apertures > (f/11 and f/16 for the Yashica Mat 124G) as the excessive detail would make the skin seem older: every single > wrinkle is recorded on the film... you can't see this even with a Summicron in 35mm format. And we're talking > about a cheap lens. Imagine using a Mamiya or a Zeiss lens! > > Bye, > > Kamox.
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