No one should buy a Yashica TLR because it's got a light meter built in. The
selenium ones are likely to be unreliable if working at all now. They never
were sensitive to low light. The CdS ones were still hampered by a very wide
average metering area, it's the way they were designed (along with Minolta's
Autocord CdS). I bought a 124G back in the mid 70's new and the internal meter
was a great backup meter, particularly when taking outdoor shots. However, I
didn't use that meter as the main meter, even then. I own a mint Autocord CdS
III now that I never use the meter on, for the same reason.

When I owned that 124G in the seventies and eighties, I had a small Sekonic
and a small Gossen meter, both of which could be shoe mounted. I slid one in
that cold shoe on the side of the 124G and metered much better than the built in
meter. You can still buy at least one Gossen that can be shoe mounted with much
better sensitivity, accuracy and range than the one on the 124G. Sure, it's a
little slower to transfer readings, but who's in such a rush with a TLR anyway?
Plus, you can transfer the meter from camera to camera. That's what I've done,
and still do. It's one think that irritates me with the several Rollei TLR's I
own--that lack of a hot or cold shoe. I own several Mamiya TLR's and also use
the little Gossen meter on them if I'm not carrying my 'big' Sekonic.

Perhaps something others in this forum should think about.

Richard in Texas

Amburepair <amburepair911@...> wrote:
I recently got back into photography after a 15 year absence. I also
wanted to explore the world of Med format. I was told to check out
Yashica Mat 124's. I picked one up just before christmas from Ebay for
just around a $100. It was the best thing I did besides getting rid of
my ex-wife. It has a uniqueness about it and sharp photo results. I
shot about 5 rolls. Two being B&W. The only downside to me is the
built in light meter. From all I have read on other NG's (newsgroups),
this is a commmon quirk.






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