Yashica 635

The Yashica 635 is the most interesting twin-lens reflex Yashica ever built. Produced from 1958 to 1971, it is a conventional 6x6 TLR with one unusual trick: with the optional factory adapter kit it also shoots 35mm film, making it the only mainstream TLR designed from the outset for both formats. You look down into the waist-level finder at a big bright square, crank the film on, and get twelve 6x6 negatives per roll of 120 — nearly four times the area of a 35mm frame.

Specifications

• Type: Twin-lens reflex, 6x6 medium format
• Production: 1958-1971
• Format: 6x6 on 120 roll film, 12 exposures
• Taking lens: 80mm f/3.5 (Yashikor on earlier bodies, Yashinon on later)
• Viewing lens: 80mm
• Shutter: Copal MXV leaf shutter, 1s to 1/500s + Bulb, M and X sync
• Flash sync: X sync at all speeds, as with any leaf shutter
• Focus: Manual via side focusing knob, minimum 1m
• Viewfinder: Waist-level ground glass with flip-up magnifier
• Filters and hoods: Bay I mount
• Metering: None — the 635 has no built-in meter, so use a handheld meter or a phone app
• Dual format: 35mm shooting requires the optional Yashica adapter kit (film gate insert, 35mm take-up spool and frame counter), which is not included here

Condition

• Cosmetic: Good condition, showing signs of age and usage.
• Functional: Working. The shutter does not work on Bulb mode. The film-speed reminder dial is slightly loose — this is a memo dial only and has no effect on exposure, since the 635 has no built-in meter.

Included

• Yashica 635 body
• Empty take-up spool

Every timed shutter speed works; only Bulb does not, so long exposures beyond one second are off the table. The loose reminder dial is cosmetic — on a camera with no meter it does nothing but remind you what film is loaded. The 35mm adapter kit is not included, so this shoots 120 only.