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-Mat EM (1971) is a 6×6cm twin-lens reflex camera that introduced electric-eye automatic exposure to the Yashica TLR line. The "EM" designation stands for Electric Meter. In aperture-priority mode, the photographer sets the aperture on the taking lens and the camera automatically selects a shutter speed within the range of 1 second to 1/500s. This stepless automatic control was a notable advance for a TLR format that had traditionally required manual exposure throughout.
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
The Yashica-Mat EM brought electric-eye aperture-priority automation to the 6×6 TLR — the first Yashica TLR to set shutter speed automatically.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120, 6×6cm (12 exp per roll) |
| Mount | Fixed |
| Taking lens | Yashinon 80mm f/3.5 |
| Viewing lens | Yashinon 80mm f/2.8 |
| Years | 1971–1978 |
| Shutter | Copal leaf: 1s – 1/500s + B |
| Flash sync | All speeds (leaf shutter) |
| Meter | CdS, aperture-priority auto or manual |
| Battery | PX625 (or equivalent) |
| Film advance | Side crank handle |
| Viewfinder | Waist-level, ground glass + sports finder |
The Mat EM was launched in 1971 alongside the Mat 124G, targeting a different buyer: the photographer who wanted automatic exposure rather than the metered-manual approach of the 124G. While the 124G went on to become a runaway commercial success, the EM occupied a distinct niche as the "automatic" variant.
Production of the Mat EM ran until approximately 1978, overlapping with the long production run of the Mat 124G (1970–1986). The EM is somewhat rarer on the used market than the 124G, partly because it sold in smaller quantities and partly because the automatic shutter mechanism adds one more potential failure point compared to the simpler manual shutter of the 124G.
For TLR users who shoot in changing light without a companion incident meter, the Mat EM's aperture-priority automation is genuinely useful. Setting aperture for depth of field and allowing the camera to select shutter speed simplifies the workflow considerably. The same Yashinon 80/3.5 optic used across the Yashica TLR line delivers sharp, contrasty images well suited to portraiture, landscape, and street work.
The EM is less well-known than the 124G and commands similar or slightly higher prices in good working condition, reflecting its relative scarcity and the added functionality of automatic exposure.
The Yashica-Mat EM uses the same Bay 1 accessory system as all Yashica TLRs:
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
View profile →Yashica Mat EM
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