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This is my new toy, a Yashica MAT - 124, Copal S-V. It's an old-school twin lens reflex, medium format camera, which means it uses 120 film (6cm wide) and the viewfinder shows what the top lens sees, but reversed left to right (quite difficult to get used to) and the bottom lens takes the pictures. The one thing I can't figure out how to do is to get the light meter to work. I replaced the battery, but I still can't figure it out. If anyone has any idea (and no, pressing the shutter release down partway doesn't do it) please let me know. It could be that the shutter release is it and that it's just broken, but I'm not sure.
Here are a few other pictures of it:
Tags: photography, photo, camera, medium format, tlr, twin lens reflex, yashica, mat 124, copal s-v
This is my new toy, a Yashica MAT - 124, Copal S-V. It's an old-school twin lens reflex, medium format camera, which means it uses 120 film (6cm wide) and the viewfinder shows what the top lens sees, but reversed left to right (quite difficult to get used to) and the bottom lens takes the pictures. The one thing I can't figure out how to do is to get the light meter to work. I replaced the battery, but I still can't figure it out. If anyone has any idea (and no, pressing the shutter release down partway doesn't do it) please let me know. It could be that the shutter release is it and that it's just broken, but I'm not sure.
Here are a few other pictures of it:
Tags: photography, photo, camera, medium format, tlr, twin lens reflex, yashica, mat 124, copal s-v
3 Comments:
Wonderful - you'll love the old TLR. I really regret having sold my old 3.5 Rolleiflex; it was such a joy to use, and always gave good sharp photos.
Did you check the batteries for the light meter? It probably uses the old mercury cells that you can't buy in the States anymore, and I have seen the contacts become corroded in many of these old cameras.
I did replace the battery, but I think you're right that it's the wrong kind of cell. Or perhaps the meter is broken. The contacts look good, but the problem is probably that the new battery isn't the right kind of chemical. I did do some research a little bit a go and it appears that the meter is supposed to work when the hood is opened. I might have to invest in a handheld meter, but for now I can use my digital camera as a light meter. I'll just have to wait until I get my prints back to see how well that worked.
You may want to consider a hand held meter anyways. The built-in reflective meters in these cameras aren't all that hot, and one this age is going to be even more inaccurate. I used to use a Gossen LunaSix F, which I believe is still the best meter in existence. You can find them on eBay ....
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