Yashica Mat 1241968

History

The Yashica-Mat 124 was introduced in 1968 as an upgrade to the selenium-metered Mat LM, replacing the outmoded selenium cell with a CdS meter and adding 220 film support. It was produced for only a short period — approximately 1968 to 1970 — before being superseded by the Yashica-Mat 124G, which introduced the same dual-format capability in a more polished final form.

The 124G (1970–1986) would become by far the most commercially successful Yashica TLR and one of the best-selling medium-format cameras of all time. The 124 is its direct predecessor and shares much of the same mechanical design, making it a useful camera in its own right despite being overshadowed by its successor.

Why It Matters

The Yashica-Mat 124 is a capable transitional camera that offers the sensitivity advantages of CdS metering and the economy advantages of 220 film support. Though produced in smaller numbers than the 124G, it is mechanically very similar and performs equally well as a shooter. Prices tend to be slightly lower than equivalent 124G examples on the used market.

The Yashinon 80/3.5 taking lens is an excellent optic. At f/5.6 and beyond it is critically sharp across the frame, and bokeh at wider apertures is smooth — well suited to portrait and still-life work.

Lenses & Accessories

The Yashica-Mat 124 accepts the same Bay 1 accessories as the rest of the Yashica TLR line:

• Bay 1 filters — yellow, orange, red, and UV filters for B&W contrast control
• Close-up lens sets — supplementary diopter lenses for portrait distances
• Lens hood — Bay 1 slip-on shade
• Eye-level prism — accessory clip-on prism finder

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Used by photographers transitioning from 120 to 220 film for reduced roll changes in the studio.
• Today collected alongside the Mat 124G as part of the late Yashica TLR canon.
• Valued as a more affordable alternative to the Mat 124G when good examples are found.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Yashica Mat 124