Yashica 661958

History

The Yashica-66 appeared in 1958 as the Yashica TLR line was rapidly expanding. Yashica was competing with Minolta, Ricoh, and other Japanese manufacturers for the entry-level medium-format market. Models proliferated quickly during this period — the Yashica A, C, D, E, LD, LM, and 66 all appeared within a few years of each other.

The 66 was essentially the most economical route to a Yashica 6×6 TLR. By 1961 the line had consolidated around fewer, more differentiated models, and the 66 was discontinued. It is less commonly encountered today than the more popular Yashica-A, C, and D, which were produced in larger quantities and sold more widely outside Japan.

Why It Matters

The Yashica-66 is among the cheapest entry points to medium-format TLR photography. Good working examples often sell for $35–$90, well below more famous siblings. The Yashimar or Tri-Lausar 80/3.5 taking lens performs adequately for landscape and casual portrait work when stopped down to f/5.6 or f/8.

The camera's limitation is the 1/300s top speed — adequate for most outdoor work but restrictive in bright light with fast film. For a beginner exploring medium-format TLR cameras on a tight budget, it represents a genuine functional option.

Lenses & Accessories

The Yashica-66 accepts Bay 1 accessories shared across the Yashica TLR line:

• Bay 1 filters — yellow, orange, red, UV for B&W work
• Close-up lens sets — supplementary diopter lenses for portrait distances
• Lens hood — Bay 1 slip-on metal shade

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Marketed primarily to Japanese amateur photographers of the late 1950s as the most affordable Yashica 6×6 option.
• Occasionally encountered in other Asian markets where Yashica exported budget models.
• Collected today as part of a complete Yashica TLR study, or used by photographers seeking the cheapest viable entry to 6×6 medium-format.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Yashica 66