Lol, didn't realise they were rare. I had one of these several years ago, cleaned it up but ended up selling it - for a tidy profit, albeit not nearly as much as if I'd sold it several years later once film got real popular! Kinda hilarious how much they go for these days. It was a nice camera, I didn't have the 35mm back but that didn't bother me, I was just happy to have my first medium format film camera. It worked fine and took nice images but the dull ground glass made it quite difficult to focus with. Kinda wish I'd hung onto it now... hindsight is always 20/20.
I think he is referring to the rarity of the complete kit with the adapters. I do not believe the 635 is rare on its own. I see 635s all the time, and several UA-camrs have flogged them, comically without the adapter, lol.
Huh, I wasn't aware the 635 was so rare! I'd like to try one of these myself someday. The only TLR I currently own is actually a Yashimaflex I found at a flea market in an appalling condition, everything was stuck and you couldn't even see the lenses from the sheer amount of grime on it haha. Tore it down and got it working, and I absolutely love it. Sadly a 120 roll is extremely expensive for me so I rarely use it, hopefully that'll change in the near future :). Great video as always! you found such a nice example
I frequent the local online classifieds in Japan looking for cameras, and only about 1 in 1000 Yashicaflex cameras is a 635, and maybe 1 in 3 of those is complete.
The camera I started professional wedding photography with 46 years ago. I recently managed to acquire another complete with the 35mm kit . Pure nostalgia. Thanks for the review..
I got one of these a few years ago in perfect condition with the adapter kit. Haven't shot 35mm with it yet, but you've inspired me to try it out. Nice review.
I have one. Complete. My first tlr. Wasn’t expecting much, from the rather dull ground glass, but the images I get from this are magical. As are the ones from my Yashica MII. I’ve become something of a Yashi fanboy. Is it possible to upgrade the ground glass to something brighter?
You can get a fresnel lens which goes under the focusing screen. Many old TLR cameras, like the Ricohflex models with the bayonet lens cap mount come with these lenses. You can often find a broken or non-operable camera for cheap, and swap the fresnel into your Yashica.
Interesting concept. I tried something like that with 3D printed adapters but I wasn't convinced. It was a pain to setup and the vertical panorama format wasn't very useful in practice. However, this system looks much better even though I still fail to see the usefulness of using 36x24mm film in a fixed lens TLR even back in the day
I've had three Yashica 635s and still have one. I actually prefer the 635 to the 124G Mat that I also own. I've rarely used the 35mm capabilty of any of the 635s I've owned, in truth finding the resulting images rather unsatisfactory. The one big improvement I've made to my current 635 has been to replace the plain ground glass focusing screen with one featuring a split image circle, bought off EBay. I also use mine with a Bay 1 to 46mm filter adapter, using 46mm filters and a 46mm lens hood.
I love the 35mm option, but I really don't like the focus screen on any of the 4 Yashica TLRs I've handled. I considered trying to fit an Olsen screen to a 635, but ultimately decided to just use one of the adapter hacks from eBay in my Super Six RF instead. I usually see those used with the GW6xx, but they work in any MF camera. Great walkthrough - neat to see these still intact after all these years!
Nice video. Haven't used my 635 for a few years (Covid and whatnot) so came here for a refresher course. One point though - the right hand adaptor for the 35mm cassette ought to screw on to the camera body, it's not a push fit. If it DOES push fit on then somebody has probably mashed up the brass thread which is a shame. Well done pointing out that you CAN fit a cable release - not a lot of people know that!
Seems very cool. I'm tangentially looking for one of these, and if I ever find one this video will be very helpful. I prefer to shoot 35 in vertical, portrait mode, so, that aspect of this camera appeals to me. With the adapter they're pretty steep though.
It would be worth mentioning for today’s viewers what was obvious to users at the time, which is that these Yashica cameras were exact replicas of the more expensive German Rolleiflex cameras. The engineering effort at Yashica consisted of purchasing a Rolleiflex camera, disassembling it completely to component parts, measuring and replicating exactly every single component part, then reassembling it and putting a “Yashica” badge on it replacing the “Rollei” badge. I do not say this to denigrate in any way the Japanese copy. They did a very admirable job in imitating the Rolleiflex, and in so doing made this camera accessible to amateurs who were priced out by the German original’s “professional” posturing. I only point this out because it would have been completely obvious to every potential purchaser at the time, but may not be to those getting into medium format film photography today. Almost every feature of the Yashica camera line was identical down to the micron to the original Rolleiflex, however they did depart from it in simplifying the film transport mechanism, and in so doing they may have even improved upon it, as the more sophisticated transport mechanism of the original had its own subset of failures and maintenance woes, while the simple transport of the Yashica was more robust. Many would claim the “real” distinction between the two was in the quality of the lenses, however close observation does not completely substantiate this. Indeed, if there is any “shame” to be had here, it may sadly belong to the very proud German manufacturers who felt their supreme quality would “speak for itself” leaving no doubt as to who the “real” and “imitation” contenders were, however this would prove to be a monumental marketing error, essentiall leading to the demise of the prestigious German camera and lens industry, outdone in every regard by the Japanese by the early 1970s.
It's a mask that goes on top of the viewfinder for when you want to shoot 35mm with the sports finder. The mask let's you see the pic you will be taking when in sports + 35mm configuration. He mentioned it here: ua-cam.com/video/-Bb_WtKblQc/v-deo.html
Relative to the other models, they are quite hard to find. On any given day I can find 200 to 300 Yashica TLR cameras listed for sale on various sites in Japan. A 635 comes up about once a month, and few of those include the adapter kit.
Lol, didn't realise they were rare. I had one of these several years ago, cleaned it up but ended up selling it - for a tidy profit, albeit not nearly as much as if I'd sold it several years later once film got real popular! Kinda hilarious how much they go for these days. It was a nice camera, I didn't have the 35mm back but that didn't bother me, I was just happy to have my first medium format film camera. It worked fine and took nice images but the dull ground glass made it quite difficult to focus with. Kinda wish I'd hung onto it now... hindsight is always 20/20.
I think he is referring to the rarity of the complete kit with the adapters. I do not believe the 635 is rare on its own. I see 635s all the time, and several UA-camrs have flogged them, comically without the adapter, lol.
Huh, I wasn't aware the 635 was so rare! I'd like to try one of these myself someday. The only TLR I currently own is actually a Yashimaflex I found at a flea market in an appalling condition, everything was stuck and you couldn't even see the lenses from the sheer amount of grime on it haha. Tore it down and got it working, and I absolutely love it. Sadly a 120 roll is extremely expensive for me so I rarely use it, hopefully that'll change in the near future :).
Great video as always! you found such a nice example
I frequent the local online classifieds in Japan looking for cameras, and only about 1 in 1000 Yashicaflex cameras is a 635, and maybe 1 in 3 of those is complete.
The camera I started professional wedding photography with 46 years ago. I recently managed to acquire another complete with the 35mm kit . Pure nostalgia.
Thanks for the review..
I got one of these a few years ago in perfect condition with the adapter kit. Haven't shot 35mm with it yet, but you've inspired me to try it out. Nice review.
I have one. Complete. My first tlr. Wasn’t expecting much, from the rather dull ground glass, but the images I get from this are magical. As are the ones from my Yashica MII. I’ve become something of a Yashi fanboy. Is it possible to upgrade the ground glass to something brighter?
You can get a fresnel lens which goes under the focusing screen. Many old TLR cameras, like the Ricohflex models with the bayonet lens cap mount come with these lenses. You can often find a broken or non-operable camera for cheap, and swap the fresnel into your Yashica.
@@japanvintagecamera8869 I’d have thought this would block even more light, but I’ll certainly look into it:)
There is a guy named Rick Oleson making products called Brightscreen. Don’t know if he makes them for all cameras but you can search it for yourself.
Interesting concept. I tried something like that with 3D printed adapters but I wasn't convinced. It was a pain to setup and the vertical panorama format wasn't very useful in practice. However, this system looks much better even though I still fail to see the usefulness of using 36x24mm film in a fixed lens TLR even back in the day
I've had three Yashica 635s and still have one. I actually prefer the 635 to the 124G Mat that I also own. I've rarely used the 35mm capabilty of any of the 635s I've owned, in truth finding the resulting images rather unsatisfactory. The one big improvement I've made to my current 635 has been to replace the plain ground glass focusing screen with one featuring a split image circle, bought off EBay. I also use mine with a Bay 1 to 46mm filter adapter, using 46mm filters and a 46mm lens hood.
Very interesting camera :)
I would love to see an in depth video about the „Yashica Rapide“.
I love the 35mm option, but I really don't like the focus screen on any of the 4 Yashica TLRs I've handled. I considered trying to fit an Olsen screen to a 635, but ultimately decided to just use one of the adapter hacks from eBay in my Super Six RF instead. I usually see those used with the GW6xx, but they work in any MF camera.
Great walkthrough - neat to see these still intact after all these years!
Nice video. Haven't used my 635 for a few years (Covid and whatnot) so came here for a refresher course.
One point though - the right hand adaptor for the 35mm cassette ought to screw on to the camera body, it's not a push fit. If it DOES push fit on then somebody has probably mashed up the brass thread which is a shame.
Well done pointing out that you CAN fit a cable release - not a lot of people know that!
Seems very cool. I'm tangentially looking for one of these, and if I ever find one this video will be very helpful.
I prefer to shoot 35 in vertical, portrait mode, so, that aspect of this camera appeals to me. With the adapter they're pretty steep though.
Very intersting system. I would like it much more if it were 24*24mm square format thought.
Awesome & Thanks :)
It would be worth mentioning for today’s viewers what was obvious to users at the time, which is that these Yashica cameras were exact replicas of the more expensive German Rolleiflex cameras. The engineering effort at Yashica consisted of purchasing a Rolleiflex camera, disassembling it completely to component parts, measuring and replicating exactly every single component part, then reassembling it and putting a “Yashica” badge on it replacing the “Rollei” badge.
I do not say this to denigrate in any way the Japanese copy. They did a very admirable job in imitating the Rolleiflex, and in so doing made this camera accessible to amateurs who were priced out by the German original’s “professional” posturing. I only point this out because it would have been completely obvious to every potential purchaser at the time, but may not be to those getting into medium format film photography today.
Almost every feature of the Yashica camera line was identical down to the micron to the original Rolleiflex, however they did depart from it in simplifying the film transport mechanism, and in so doing they may have even improved upon it, as the more sophisticated transport mechanism of the original had its own subset of failures and maintenance woes, while the simple transport of the Yashica was more robust.
Many would claim the “real” distinction between the two was in the quality of the lenses, however close observation does not completely substantiate this. Indeed, if there is any “shame” to be had here, it may sadly belong to the very proud German manufacturers who felt their supreme quality would “speak for itself” leaving no doubt as to who the “real” and “imitation” contenders were, however this would prove to be a monumental marketing error, essentiall leading to the demise of the prestigious German camera and lens industry, outdone in every regard by the Japanese by the early 1970s.
Nice video. Hmm... I can't remember why, but I sold mine and got an LM. Only now do I realize that I could have done some cool things with it!
Why was the frame on the table right through the demonstration, then you put it back in the kit case! I didn’t quite get that bit!
It's a mask that goes on top of the viewfinder for when you want to shoot 35mm with the sports finder. The mask let's you see the pic you will be taking when in sports + 35mm configuration. He mentioned it here:
ua-cam.com/video/-Bb_WtKblQc/v-deo.html
i have this camera in my house, but i don't know if it works
Thanks! I don’t understand why people would want a large 35mm camera with a fixed 80mm lens. Once loaded, you are stuck for 24 or 36 exposures.
Yashica b price in india
They can't be that rare, I have seem many on UA-cam and I picked up one about 6 years ago and there were 3 in the same shop at the time.
It may be the shortest production run TLR but they're not rare by any means
Relative to the other models, they are quite hard to find. On any given day I can find 200 to 300 Yashica TLR cameras listed for sale on various sites in Japan. A 635 comes up about once a month, and few of those include the adapter kit.