Yashica A TLR - please help.

Hi,
I've been searching for "yashica a" tlr info. and found this forum.
I have just bought a yashica A on ebay and, not being used to 120 roll film cameras, am struggling to understand how the wind on mechanism works. The knob on the right of the camera body has film speeds on it but also turns to wind on the film, so how do you set the film speed ? Also, how do you know when the film has wound on sufficiently before taking the next shot ? As you will guess, I do not have an instruction manual.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott.

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This is a completely manual camera. There is no ASA setting. You will need
to buy a light meter or use the Sunny 16 rule. Once you load the film make
sure that you wind the film with the back open to the start arrow on the
film. There should be a red dot somewhere on the back of the unit. That is
where start arrow should be rolled to. Then close the camera back and turn
the winding knob and the camera will advance the film to the first frame. I
have a Yashica D and I believe it is the same for the A. You will have to
cock the shutter before you can shoot the picture. Have fun with the camera.
"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com" wrote in message
. ..
Hi,
I've been searching for "yashica a" tlr info. and found this forum.
I have just bought a yashica A on ebay and, not being used to 120 roll
film cameras, am struggling to understand how the wind on mechanism works.
The knob on the right of the camera body has film speeds on it but also
turns to wind on the film, so how do you set the film speed ? Also, how do
you know when the film has wound on sufficiently before taking the next shot
? As you will guess, I do not have an instruction manual.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott.

*****************************************
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*
* Report spam or abuse by clicking the following URL:
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http://www.photokb.com/Uwe/Abuse.asp...559a91f843e745
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This is a completely manual camera. There is no ASA setting. You will need
to buy a light meter or use the Sunny 16 rule. Once you load the film make
sure that you wind the film with the back open to the start arrow on the
film. There should be a red dot somewhere on the back of the unit. That is
where start arrow should be rolled to. Then close the camera back and turn
the winding knob and the camera will advance the film to the first frame. I
have a Yashica D and I believe it is the same for the A. You will have to
cock the shutter before you can shoot the picture. Have fun with the camera.
"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com" wrote in message
. ..
Hi,
I've been searching for "yashica a" tlr info. and found this forum.
I have just bought a yashica A on ebay and, not being used to 120 roll
film cameras, am struggling to understand how the wind on mechanism works.
The knob on the right of the camera body has film speeds on it but also
turns to wind on the film, so how do you set the film speed ? Also, how do
you know when the film has wound on sufficiently before taking the next shot
? As you will guess, I do not have an instruction manual.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott.

*****************************************
* This message was posted via http://www.photokb.com
*
* Report spam or abuse by clicking the following URL:
*
http://www.photokb.com/Uwe/Abuse.asp...559a91f843e745
*****************************************

This is a completely manual camera. There is no ASA setting. You will need
to buy a light meter or use the Sunny 16 rule. Once you load the film make
sure that you wind the film with the back open to the start arrow on the
film. There should be a red dot somewhere on the back of the unit. That is
where start arrow should be rolled to. Then close the camera back and turn
the winding knob and the camera will advance the film to the first frame. I
have a Yashica D and I believe it is the same for the A. You will have to
cock the shutter before you can shoot the picture. Have fun with the camera.
"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com" wrote in message
. ..
Hi,
I've been searching for "yashica a" tlr info. and found this forum.
I have just bought a yashica A on ebay and, not being used to 120 roll
film cameras, am struggling to understand how the wind on mechanism works.
The knob on the right of the camera body has film speeds on it but also
turns to wind on the film, so how do you set the film speed ? Also, how do
you know when the film has wound on sufficiently before taking the next shot
? As you will guess, I do not have an instruction manual.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott.

*****************************************
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* Report spam or abuse by clicking the following URL:
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"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com" wrote:
... As you will guess, I do not have an instruction manual.

One for the D is he http://mikec62.tripod.com/manuals/YashicaD.zip

Yashica was a popular replacement for the real thing (Rolleiflex) and
there are many web pages dedicated to it.
http://www.williamsphotographic.com/yashica.html

-- Lassi

"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com" wrote:
... As you will guess, I do not have an instruction manual.

One for the D is he http://mikec62.tripod.com/manuals/YashicaD.zip

Yashica was a popular replacement for the real thing (Rolleiflex) and
there are many web pages dedicated to it.
http://www.williamsphotographic.com/yashica.html

-- Lassi

"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com"

I have just bought a yashica A on ebay and, not being used to 120 roll
film cameras, am struggling to understand how the wind on mechanism works.
The knob on the right of the camera body has film speeds on it but also
turns to wind on the film, so how do you set the film speed ?

The knob with the ASA and DIN speeds does not set the film speed. The
camera has no internal meter. I have a "Model-A" and I use a handlehd
meter. Shutter speeds are 25-300, plus Bulb.

I recommend that you stop your lens down to about f/8, if there is enough
light, as the wider apertures produce soft images. You can use a faster
film speed, because the large negative size will not show grain at typical
enlargement sizes.

Use the magnifier to precisely set the focusing. The focusing screen is not
very bright, but I have lived with it for 40 years.


Also, how do you know when the film has wound on sufficiently before taking
the next shot ?

You open the cover on the little red jeweled window on the camera back, and
you wind the film until the next number shows up. The Model A does not have
a winder like the Rolleifles, which advances the film by a specific amount
until the next frame is lined up. With the "A" you must manually wind it.
Be sure not to overshoot the next frame number, because you cannot wind
backwards if you went too far. Take it slowly. It will all become second
nature in a very short time.

One suggestion: Cock the shutter as the LAST thing you do before firing the
shutter. You should not change the shutter speed after cocking the shutter,
as it may damage the shutter mechanism if done too after (you will hear a
scratching sound if you change the shutter speed after having cocked the
shutter).

The nice thing about the "A" is that it is a simple, rugged design, that
probably will outlast you.

"Scott Hampton via PhotoKB.com"

I have just bought a yashica A on ebay and, not being used to 120 roll
film cameras, am struggling to understand how the wind on mechanism works.
The knob on the right of the camera body has film speeds on it but also
turns to wind on the film, so how do you set the film speed ?

The knob with the ASA and DIN speeds does not set the film speed. The
camera has no internal meter. I have a "Model-A" and I use a handlehd
meter. Shutter speeds are 25-300, plus Bulb.

I recommend that you stop your lens down to about f/8, if there is enough
light, as the wider apertures produce soft images. You can use a faster
film speed, because the large negative size will not show grain at typical
enlargement sizes.

Use the magnifier to precisely set the focusing. The focusing screen is not
very bright, but I have lived with it for 40 years.


Also, how do you know when the film has wound on sufficiently before taking
the next shot ?

You open the cover on the little red jeweled window on the camera back, and
you wind the film until the next number shows up. The Model A does not have
a winder like the Rolleifles, which advances the film by a specific amount
until the next frame is lined up. With the "A" you must manually wind it.
Be sure not to overshoot the next frame number, because you cannot wind
backwards if you went too far. Take it slowly. It will all become second
nature in a very short time.

One suggestion: Cock the shutter as the LAST thing you do before firing the
shutter. You should not change the shutter speed after cocking the shutter,
as it may damage the shutter mechanism if done too after (you will hear a
scratching sound if you change the shutter speed after having cocked the
shutter).

The nice thing about the "A" is that it is a simple, rugged design, that
probably will outlast you.

Thanks for the quick and useful info.
I have loaded a film, and got my second hand light meter out the box.
Thanks again,
Scott.

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Thanks for the quick and useful info.
I have loaded a film, and got my second hand light meter out the box.
Thanks again,
Scott.

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* http://www.photokb.com/Uwe/Forum.asp...um-format/1432
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