1971
TLR · 6×6
Yashinon glass

Yashica MAT-124G

Name: Yashica MAT-124G
Brand: Yashica
SKU: 1936
Price: 1800.0 AED
Availability: OutOfStock

The best-loved budget TLR of the film era.

The MAT-124G was the camera that put medium format in the hands of photographers who couldn't afford a Rolleiflex. Twin Yashinon 80mm lenses — f/3.5 taking, f/2.8 viewing — feeding 120 film in 6×6 format on a leaf-shutter Copal-SV that flashes-synchronises at any speed. Waist-level finder with a bright matte screen and a flip-up sports finder for tracking moving subjects.

Compared to a Rolleiflex 3.5F: the Yashinon is genuinely good but not Tessar-good, the build is lighter, the controls are simpler. Compared to anything else at this price: nothing else gives you this much medium-format camera. The G models (124G, 124) added gold-coloured electronics and a meter that worked with PX625 mercury cells.

If you want to start shooting 6×6 without remortgaging, this is where you start.

Match

Who this is for

Good for

First medium format
Portrait shooters
Photographers learning the slow rhythm of TLR

Not for

Fast-action / sports
Photographers who hate looking-down composition

Character

What it feels like to shoot

Loaded properly, this is an unhurried camera. You compose at waist level on a glowing matte screen, focus by twisting the side knob, set the shutter and aperture by reading the meter on top, advance with the crank, fire. Fewer things to remember than any 35mm SLR. There's no mirror inside, which means the body is quieter and the shutter cleaner.

Born 1971

History of the Yashica MAT-124G

Yashica produced the MAT (standard) and the MAT-124G (with CdS meter and gold-finished electronics) from 1971 to 1986. Successor to the earlier Yashica-D (no meter) and Yashica-635 (dual-format). The 124G is the most-collected of the line — meter + medium format + sub-Rollei price made it the de-facto TLR of the 70s and 80s.

Technical specifications

MFG. 1971 – 1986

Format

120 medium-format TLR (6×6)

Manufacturer

Yashica · Japan

Production

1971 – 1986

Lens

Yashinon 80mm f/3.5 (taking) + Yashinon 80mm f/2.8 (viewing)

Metering

CdS center-weighted (uncoupled)

Viewfinder

Waist-level finder with sports finder + bright matte focusing screen

Shutter

1/500s – 1s + B (Copal-SV leaf shutter)

ISO range

ASA 25 – 400 (DIN 15 – 27)

Flash sync

All speeds (X and M-sync, PC socket)

Exposure modes

Manual

Dimensions

105 × 145 × 105 mm

Weight

990 g

Power

1 × PX625 mercury (or modern equivalent for meter)

Backed by GPP

Service & guarantees

Every analog camera ships through our bench

This unit has been bench-tested by GPP. Shutter speeds verified, light seals replaced where age had taken them, meter calibrated against a known reference. Cosmetic condition is reflected in the listing photos.

Comes with our 7-day functional return policy: if anything we declared isn't working as described, we'll exchange or refund.

CLA'd by GPP — shutter speeds checked, light seals replaced where needed, meter calibrated against a known reference.
7-day functional return — if it doesn't work as we declared on this listing, we exchange or refund. Wear-and-tear consistent with the listed condition isn't returnable.
UAE & worldwide shipping — Domestic next-day, international tracked. Insurance can be added to any order on request. Customs and import duties are the buyer's responsibility on international orders.
Walk in to inspect — Warehouse D36, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Mon–Sat, 10am–7pm. Bring a roll if you'd like to test-fire on the spot.

Questions

Things people ask

What film does it take?

120 medium-format film. We carry a wide range — colour, B&W, slide — in our film retail section. Need a recommendation for this body? Just ask us.

Is the camera serviced before sale?

Yes — every analog camera at GPP goes through our bench before it goes on the listing. Shutter speeds verified, light seals replaced where needed, meter calibrated against a reference.

What's your return policy?

7-day functional return. If anything we declared isn't working as described, contact us within 7 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange.

Can GPP develop and scan the photos I shoot with this?

Yes — our in-house film lab handles colour, B&W, and slide development with scanning. 24-48 hour rush available. More on the film lab.

Can I see the camera before I buy?

Always welcome. Visit Warehouse D36, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm.

Reading

Further reference

Camera-Wiki entry on the Yashica MAT-124G

Wikipedia article on the Yashica TLR series