C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Yashica-A (1958) is an entry-level 6×6cm twin-lens reflex camera produced by Yashica Co. in Japan. It occupies the bottom rung of the Yashica TLR range alongside the Yashica-B, offering the twin-lens reflex experience at the lowest possible price point. The camera shoots 12 exposures per 120 roll on a fixed Yashinar 80mm f/3.5 taking lens.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the — format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profile →BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
Yashica's most affordable postwar TLR — a simple, reliable 6×6 workhorse stripped of slow shutter speeds but long on image quality.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120, 6×6cm (12 exp per roll) |
| Mount | Fixed |
| Taking lens | Yashinar 80mm f/3.5 |
| Viewing lens | Yashinar 80mm f/3.2 |
| Years | 1958–1966 |
| Shutter | Copal: 1/25s – 1/300s + B (no slow speeds) |
| Flash sync | 1/25s (PC socket) |
| Meter | None |
| Film advance | Knob wind with red window |
| Viewfinder | Waist-level, ground glass |
| Battery | None |
Yashica launched the -A model in 1958 to serve the budget end of the growing Japanese and export TLR markets. It was positioned below the Yashica-D (which offered a full shutter speed range) and well below the metered Yashica-Mat LM. The simplified shutter and lower-grade optics allowed Yashica to hit a price point attractive to students, beginners, and emerging-market photographers who wanted genuine medium-format capability without the cost of a Rolleicord or Yashica-Mat.
The Yashica-A remained in production through approximately 1966, by which point the TLR market had begun to contract in the face of 35mm SLR competition. It was sold through department stores and camera mail-order in Japan, Europe, and North America.
For photographers who want to shoot 120 film on a TLR without spending heavily, the Yashica-A is among the most accessible and affordable options. The Yashinar 80/3.5 is sharper than casual observers expect — at f/5.6 it resolves detail cleanly for 6×6 prints or scans — and the camera's simple mechanics make it forgiving for beginners. The lack of slow speeds is a real-world limitation for low-light or long-exposure work, but for street, portrait, and daylight landscape photography the Yashica-A is entirely capable.
Used prices are low relative to better-known Yashica TLRs, making it an excellent entry camera for 120-film shooters.
No interchangeable lenses. Standard accessories include:
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
View profile →Yashica A
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