Yashica TLR (Nov 2003)

Yashica TLR. Japanese made. Classic copy of Rolleiflex/Rolleicord style. Some said the Yashinon lens is on par with the Tessar/Xenar found on Rollei. And of course I have to test it out. Here I have three Yashicas: 2 Yashica Mat and 1 Yashica D. Fitted with differnt lenses: Yashikor, Lumaxar, and Yashinon.

Yashica TLR models

Details of some Yashica TLR models.

Model	Year	Description
Yashica A	1958-1969	3-element Yashikor. B, 1/25 ~ 1/300. Red-window film advance
Yashica B
Yashica C	1957-1958
Yashica D	1957-1973	Early production with Yashikor. Later switched to the better 4-element Yashinon. B, 1 ~ 1/500. Film advance knob. Shutter cocked separately.
Yashica E	1964-1966
Yashica 24	1966-1968
Yashica 12	1967-1968
Yashica Mat	1957-1971
Yashica 124	1968-1971
Yashica 124G	1970-1986

There are also other models such as Yashica LM, Yashica Mat EM, Yashica Mat LM etc. Currently the 124G model is the hottest Yashica TLR on auction sites. But, I think the build quality of the 124G is not as good as the old models. As long as the lens used is Yashinon, the Yashica D, Yashica Mat, and Yashica 124 etc models are priced more reasonable. Try to avoid models before Yashica D, though.

Lenses

These are the most commonly found lenses on Yashica TLRs.

Tri-Lausar & Yashimar

3-element design. I haven't tried these lenses. But from what I heard, these lenses are not as sharp as the Yashikor.

Yashikor

Also a 3-element deisgn. Coated. Give good result when stopped down.

Yashinon

If you want to get serious with your TLR, this is the lens to look for. Copy of the famous Zeiss Tessar design. 4 elements in 3 groups. Coated

Lumaxar

Lumaxar was the original name of Yashinon. The design is the same. So you can expect it gives the same quality as the Yashinon.

Operation

Shutter speed and aperture are set by the two wheels between the viewing lens and taking lens. The aperture settings are stepless, meaning that there are no click stops and you can set any aperture value you want. Both settings can be read easily by the windows on top of the viewing lens.

The models I have came with X and M sync. Some models only with X sync.

Early models use knobs for film advance. Shutter need to be cocked separately. Later models use levers and the shutter is cocked automatically during film advance.

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