Yashica Mat-124G Medium Format Film Camera.
Kodak Portra 160 nc
Kodak Ektar 100
Digital - Fuji x100f
Squares, those succulent 6×6 squares.
I feel you have probably landed here in the search for a new side quest with film photography, it happens to us all. Somwhere down the line we wonder what it must be like to take photo on film, but as squares. There are many cameras shooting in the 6×6cm format and one of those is the Yashica Mat-124G, its stylish, affordable and built like a tank. Search well online and it’s surprising how many out there can be found in a good and great condition. In this post Im going to share some images and a little into, to hopefully help with curiosity. I love this camera, and I need to use it more often.
All film images were self developed and self scanned. The images in post are all film unless labelled otherwise.
Kodak Portra 160 nc
Kodak Gold 200
Digital - Fuji X100f
Some brief info on the camera.
This camera was a popular twin lens reflex ( TLR) that was in all black and it was produced between 1970 -1986. It can handle 120 and 220 film, it features a sharp 80mm f/3.5 Yashinon taking lens and a built-in CdS light meter. Its has a waist level viewfinder and is manually focused. Finding a decent one today you should expect to pay around £200-£300. The build of the camera is a mix of metal and plastic but to me if feels solid, the dials and release button feel strong, and it weighs 1,100g. Drop it and you’ll know about it. Carrying it around though it doesn’t feel heavy, its just feels good.
Kodak Portra 160
Digital - Fuji X100f
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 160
A different way of composing.
The idea of shooting squares is intriguing, as we all know so well the standard 2:3 format, portrait or landscape. With a square you only shoot it the one way as you hold the camera and it challenges the game of composition. A popular way to compose square images still is by using the rule of third technique but keeping your subject more centrally. In a way I find it more enjoyable as it’s just flip up the viewfinder and go from there. On a roll of 120 film you will get 12 squares, 3 less than the 6×4.5cm format.
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Ektar 100
Digital - Nikon d700
Basic camera specs.
The camera is manual focuses with a dial on the side you rotate to rock the plane of focus backwards and forwards. It has a built in light meter, but over time these are known to stop working due to the cadmium sulfide cell perishing over time. Mine doesn’t work so instead I use a hand hand held lightmeter to expose my images. The camera will still fully operate without the built in light meter so don’t let that put you off.
The viewing lens will show you your composition at a f2.8 aperture, and the lens itself for taking the image is f3.5. At 80mm this produces a nice bokeh and you wont even think about it. Shutter speeds range from bulb to 1/500s. One awesome spec about this camera is its leaf shutter, it’s almost silent and gives no camera shake.
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 400
Digital - Fuji X100f
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Ektar 100
Things I like, things I don’t.
I like : Walking around with this camera is cool, people look and you’ll be surprised at how many people stop and talk because it triggers a memory or they are just really interested. Its leaf shutter is so quiet nobody will hear you taking a photo ( they just might see you ) and I think the build of it is solid. They are still around now going strong so I think it’s proven. Shooting square can be refreshing on a day out and gives me something else to think about. When operating this camera all the dials feels nice and smooth. They also make great props for shoots and look awesome on a shelf.
I dont like: The inbuilt light meters fail, finding one that works is hard. The fastest shutter is 1/500s, its nice to have a faster speed to be able max out your aperture but its not the end of the world, shoot low iso in the day. When focusing, or finding focus the images can seem a little soft, the focus plane is very hard to see, but saying that its very accurate, just rock the focus wheel back and forth and look at a contrasty line. Another is, if you put this camera on a tripod and stand at the side of the road people will think it’s a speed camera, it’s hilarious and you get called names you have never heard.
Yashica Mat-124G waist level viewfinder on Fuji X100f
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Gold 200
Iflord Pan 400
Will this camera be staying on my shelf?
Yes. As film photographers we will test and trial many different cameras, often selling the ones we don’t get any fun out of. This camera for me will be mine until it either dies or I do. It’s one of those well known classics for price, image quality and build. I have thought about maybe getting a Hasselblad or Bronica for 6×6 squares, but I’m at the point where I need to slow down and stop spending money on this addiction. The Yashica Mat-124G is plenty enough and all il need.
Digital - Fuji X100f
