Yashica LD1957

History

Yashica introduced the LD alongside the Mat LM in 1957 as a consumer-focused interpretation of the metered TLR concept. While the Mat LM used the conventional match-needle approach familiar from Rolleiflex and other premium TLRs, the LD targeted the less experienced photographer who might find the needle scale intimidating or ambiguous.

The LD was discontinued by approximately 1961 as the market consolidated around the Mat LM and later the Mat 124 line. The simpler exposure-display concept did not win out against the match-needle approach that dominated the industry, and the LD remained a minor variant within the Yashica TLR family.

Why It Matters

The Yashica-LD is primarily interesting today as a historical curiosity: an early attempt by a Japanese manufacturer to simplify the exposure-metering experience for mass-market consumers. The camera itself performs identically to the Mat LM — the Yashinon optic, Copal shutter, and crank-advance chassis are the same — making it a fully capable medium-format TLR.

The LD is less common than the Mat LM and may be slightly harder to find in good working condition, since the light-display mechanism adds one more component that may have failed over the decades. Buyers should verify that the display system functions, though the camera works perfectly as a manual TLR if it does not.

Lenses & Accessories

The Yashica-LD accepts the same Bay 1 accessories as all Yashica TLRs:

• Bay 1 filters — yellow, orange, red, and UV for B&W work
• Close-up lens sets — supplementary diopter lenses
• Lens hood — Bay 1 shade for the taking lens
• Eye-level prism — optional accessory for vertical-format eye-level use

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Sold primarily in the Japanese domestic market and to export markets seeking a simplified metered TLR.
• Today collected as part of the comprehensive Yashica TLR family by researchers and enthusiasts documenting the evolution of the line.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Yashica LD