Yashica Yashica-A

Review Date
February 16, 2010

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
feagundes , Intermediate

Price Paid
$2.00 at Salvation Army store

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I like this camera and I just picked up another so I can tear it apart and see how it works, and bought a new unused shutter for it. Probably very old shutter that sat on a shelf waiting to be bought. I have another Yashica 12 and love it. I have had Rollie's before and sold them. I am interested in seeing a Flexaret to compare. I have a point and shoot digital and am not interested in pursuing that kind of camera and going to probably stay with film cameras.

Strengths
The camera is so simple and does not have anything that is complicated. Can hardly wait to take pictures. Velvia sounds good. I do B/W with enlarger.

Similar Products Used
Yashica 12, Super Ricohflex

Review Date
January 24, 2010

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
SCOTT ALAN JOHNSON , Professional

Price Paid
$75.00 at local camera store

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
The Yashica "A" is a basic TLR camera .. Back in my early days of photography (even way back in high school) I hated the TLR cameras. I hated the reverse look through the view finder and the square format .. Man have things changed!!
Today I am so glad I got this camera .. I love how simple it is but you do need to know a thing or two about photography to use it .. there is no meter and you can not see your pictures like digital .. It is bear bones photography .. It makes you work to get the shot .. you need to move in and be there with the subject .. no long lenses to deal with ..

if you want to learn photography you need to use a camera like this ..I get all my prints made into digital prints and look atthem on the computer . but it is film photography !!! film will never die !!!

Strengths
basic camera .. you need to know something about light and shadow to take good pictures ..


large film format ..

Weaknesses
same as the strengths if you do't want to work at the art of photography ..

film cost more than it did years ago !!

Similar Products Used
Mamiya TLR

Review Date
January 28, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
davta9 , Expert

Price Paid
$50.00

Photography Experience
2-5 years , People

Summary
i purchased this camera off an Internet listing site with the intention to learn and get experience in medium format photography. so far for the $50 dollars i paid, i have gotten much more in return. this camera is a joy to use. i would recommend a hand meter before going out to take photo cuz this camera has none. so far i have ran two rolls through it and the images where very nice. i shot about 5 images at f3.5 and the rest at f8 due to it being a foggy day. the images are sharp...even at f3.5 witch was surprising. the blur this camera produces in the background of portraits is wonderful. i do me own darkroom work and working with 6x6 negs was a joy as well. i don't know if I'll ever use my 35mm again. i might have to upgrade to a full medium format system=)

the only complaint i have is the focusing screen is dark. i was worried that all the images i took would be out if focus...but lucky i was wrong=)

worth every penny..go out and get one if you wanna get a feel for medium format!!

Strengths
a joy to use...takes you back to the basics of photography.
big negs!!
price..can be found for cheap!
the fact that is makes images that surpass my far more expensive 35mm SLR and is lighter due to its...no extra stuff to carry...IE extra lenses.

Weaknesses
dark viewfinder image....makes you second guess your focus.
i would say thats the only draw back but even that still doesn't take away from its low price and high image quality.

Review Date
May 5, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
, Professional , from Copenhagen Denmark

Price Paid
$45.00 at at a salvation army

Photography Experience
6-10 years , People

Summary
This Yashica A model is simply one of the best buys in the camera world,once youve learned to handle it you can get very sharp results with beautifull blur and contrasts although not as versatile as the yahicamats and 635(my favorite)it is a very good learner/beginner camera for a student who really want to learn photography and go medium format.
Put an Trix or an Agfapan film in it ,set it on f11 or f16 and you will blow away any 35 mm formats in many aspects,as long you get the time and subject in front of you whether landscape nature or portraits.
Im really amazed how much photography you get for the money! go ahead -enjoy

Strengths
MUCHO.!
Sharpness,the >right> blur
strenght
can take 35 mm film format(great !try it!)
6x6 format
good looks

Weaknesses
Needs time to install and work with but that goes with the fun!
a little heavy
best sharpness at f 11 and f 16
paralax

Similar Products Used
rollie mamiya hassys bronica and other yashicas(my favorite is the 635)..

Customer Service
none

Review Date
March 13, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
John McKenzee , Expert , from Grand Rapids, MI

Price Paid
$100.00 at Adorama

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
Great backup camera for any system if you need to make enlargements. It is as cheap as the 35mm Nikon 50 1.7. With its all manual controls and no need for batteries you will always be able to get an image.

Sharpness is really good at f16.

Strengths
Sharp lens at f16. I tested this by putting a laser printout with font size 4 on it 13 feet from my tripod mounted camera. I could read the letters from the negative (TMax 100) after developing normally in my basement sink with TMax developer.

Sharpness at edges is ok at f11.

16x20 enlargments blow away my Nikon 50 1.7 lens. Contrast and image quality are just great.

Weaknesses
Soft at f3.5 - f8

My mirror/prism is out of alignment so I have to focus a foot in front of the subject for the subject to be sharp - but this is not normaly a problem at f16 which is what you want to use on this camera.

It does not hold film flat. I had to put in a single black construction paper and two strips of electrical tape on the plate that is supposed to hold the film flat. Since then, my negatives are consistent.

Similar Products Used
Rolleicord V

Customer Service
Not used.