As you've heard, quality ranges from decent to awful. I bought two, new, and
ended up giving them away. Both had jammed shutters, and I treat my cameras
like babies. The Chinese don't have a handle on quality control. These cameras
used to be basically hand assembled with large and sloppy tolerances by people
lacking in proper training. Combined with inadequate inspection and testing at
the factory, and you've got a lottery situation as to whether the camera you buy
is assembled properly, and whether the taking lens will ever take decent photos.

This never applied to Yashica. While there is a well known delicacy to some
of their shutters and wind mechanisms, this was never a limitation that should
deter people from buying either new or excellent used machines. They were meant
to be amateur cameras and sold for very good prices. I learned on a 124 forty
years ago and would still love to find another, mint. Yashica TLR's enabled
thousands of people to learn the pleasures of photography at a price they could
afford, along with their excellent 35's. I still hate their brand disappearing
from the market, as they stood for good quality at an excellent price.

Richard in Texas


KironKid@... wrote:

In a message dated 3/7/2008 6:22:54 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
beardedrainbow@... writes:

Hi Folks, I think the Seagulls are the only TLR film cameras still
being made. How do they compare to the Yashicamats? I have a 124 G.

I can't speak from experience, but I've heard that they aren't very well
made. You'd probably be much better off and happy with a used Yashicamat 124.
I love mine.

Kiron Kid

"If you're photographing in color you show the color of their clothes - if
you use black & white, you will show the color of their soul"

---Ted Grant

**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]