Quite rare, quite good.
... (plus, a short introduction to Yashica)
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| © tedguuphoto 2013 all rights reserved |
Before the 1960s, Japanese camera manufactures are producing much the same things; imitating the Leica's, Rollei's and other German camera brands. But by the year 1960, Japanese brands became more and more independent. So today, we will be taking a look at one of the most unique brands, proclaimed to be Japan's finest camera manufacturer - Yashica.
Yashica started it's TLR-making tradition since it was established in the early 50s. Back then, it's TLRs was still a Pigeon, literally a Pigeon...flex. It was a basic design comprising of a three elemental glass lens and a simple shutter mechanism found in the later Yashimaflex.
In 1965, Yashica introduced the 24, which in the later years became the basis for the 12, the 124, and the 124G. As the name suggests, the 24 is made to cater only 220 film which is hardly available fresh today. Yashica's advertisements and user manuals also doesn't seem to indicate whether 120 film can be used with the 24 or not, but many owners including me can get around this problem and here's a mini step-by-step guide on how to do so:
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- Open the back door as usual by turning the knob to the 'O' direction.
- After you've lifted the back door you'll find the film chamber in which the left over spool from the last roll of film will reside just under the taking lens.
- Take the empty spool off by pulling the exterior knob next to where the spool is and gently lift it out. After doing so, place the empty spool into the top part of the chamber.
- Insert the 120 film and lead it across the to the empty spool. Make sure the both the film and the paper backing slides between the two silvery metal bumps, not over it.
- After you're done loading, 'Go out and take some photos™'
- Just don't forget that the film counter will go on and on until it reaches 24 exposures, so make sure to stop at 12 so that you won't waste your time shooting nothing.