Yashica Mat-124G

The Yashica Mat-124G is the twin-lens reflex that made medium format reachable — the last and best-known of Yashica's TLR line, and for decades the standard recommendation for a first 6x6 camera. You look down into the waist-level finder at a big, bright square image, crank the film on, and get twelve negatives per roll that are nearly four times the area of 35mm. The Yashinon taking lens is genuinely sharp, and the whole thing is built almost entirely of metal.

Specifications

• Type: Twin-lens reflex, 6x6 medium format
• Format: 120 roll film (12 exposures); also accepts 220
• Taking lens: Yashinon 80mm f/3.5
• Viewing lens: 80mm f/2.8
• Shutter: Copal leaf shutter, 1s to 1/500s + Bulb
• Focus: Manual, via the side focusing knob
• Viewfinder: Waist-level, with ground glass and flip-up magnifier
• Flash sync: X sync at all shutter speeds, as with any leaf shutter
• Metering: Built-in CdS meter, designed around the discontinued PX625 mercury cell
• Build: Nearly all-metal construction

Condition

• Cosmetic: Good condition overall, with a few signs of age and use. Glass is clear on both the lenses and the ground glass.
• Functional: Fully working on all shutter speeds and apertures.

Included

• Yashica Mat-124G body
• Lens cap
• Empty take-up spool

All shutter speeds and apertures work correctly and the glass is clear throughout — the two things that actually matter on a TLR. The built-in meter was designed around PX625 mercury cells, which are no longer made, so plan on a handheld meter or a phone app regardless; its state has not been verified. An empty take-up spool is included, which you will need on your first roll.