Yashica-24 Twin Lens reflex for twenty four exposures on 220 roll film. Dimensionally, 220 roll film is the same as 120 on the same spool, the difference is that the length of film is greater, giving twice as many 6 x 6cm exposures compared to 120 roll film, hence Yashica-24. In order to accommodate the additional bulk the paper backing is deleted to be replaced by a paper leader and tail. This means that 220 cannot be used with cameras that use a red window to set the next picture to take. The Yashica-24 was introduced in 1965 and was aimed at professionals who'd appreciate the extra shots, or at least the long suffering photographic assistant handing off the next pre-loaded camera to their belligerent master. Grudge, who, me? Nah. Shortly after a close relative (the Yashica-12) followed, optimized for 120 roll film. Both had short lives being jointly replaced by the Yashica 124 in 1968 that was equally happy with either 120 or 220 film. However, it transpired that the Yashica-24 would happily support both types as well and later production versions had a sticker inside showing where to align the start mark on 120 film so it could be used, despite being placarded that it was to "use 220 film". Construction wise it followed Rolleiflex practice which was undoubtably the market it was aimed at, being built extremely well, every part exudes confidence. All the settings can be viewed over the top from the photographer's perspective and the f/2.8 viewing lens leads to a bright clear viewfinder with a moderate magnifier helping with critical focus. The body is a single piece casting semi gloss/satin black painted throughout bar the light chamber leading to the film plane, which is matt as you'd expect. Raised sections are machined off to form part of the decoration. Covering is a rubberized and patterned material that adopts a repeating pattern, rather than a hackneyed version of leather. Focus is achieved in classic fashion by moving the front lens standard fore and aft using the knob on the left hand side. A single crank of the wind on followed by a reverse advances and cocks the shutter ready to shoot in the classic fashion photographer's action. The final derivatives of the successor Yashica 124 remained in production into the mid 1980s.

There's a very much better history of the Yashica TLRs to be found on yashicatlr.com

This particular late production (likely 1967) Yashica-24 is a kind donation from Claire Saunders in memory of her brother Stephen. One of several cameras left to us, this one is sadly not working. However it's cosmetically pristine and shows almost no evidence of use. There is evidence of covering removal at some point so it's possible that a repair has been attempted previously and abandoned. At the moment it is being displayed as it arrived but at some point we'll have it on the bench and see what can be done. Hopefully the camera will be repaired and function once more, ideally with 220 roll film, but this is tricky to find these days, so likely using 120 instead.

View other TLR cameras in this collection.

Body No. L7070269
Shutter, Copal-SV, B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 and 500th
Lens, Yashinon serial 761098, 80mm f/3.5
Condition, Beautiful but dead.