Yashica 44 LM
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Rollei company may be the most flattered camera company of the all. It seems that nothing they created stayed un-copied for very long. In 1957, Rollei re-started production of their "Baby Rollei" that produced 4cm square images on 127 film and with that the imitators started to work. Topco, Primo, Tower, and Walz all produced their versions of the little camera, but the most successful of the bunch was Yashica.
In 1958, Yashica rolled out the Yashica 44. Hoping to stand out a bit from the others in this now crowded field, Yashica brought out the Yashica 44 with different camera cover colors, creating several different versions to cover all price points. Depending on how feature-laden you wanted your camera to be, you could opt for the more basic Yashica 44A with its limited shutter speeds, the basic 44, or the 44LM, which came with a light meter. Of these, the 44LM was marketed as the serious photographer's camera.
The Yashinon 60mm f/3.5 taking and viewing lenses on the 44LM gives the photo a brilliant look on a focusing screen with a magnification that makes achieving focus a breeze even when shooting wide open. On a 4cm square negative , the 60mm lens is roughly equivalent to a 46mm lens on a 35mm camera, so the 44LM is at home shooting street, portrait, or even landscape photos.
While Yashica may not have invented the format, just as with their other twin lens reflex cameras, it made a name for itself with its own designs and innovations. When you come across one of these cameras, pick it up and wonder for a moment if Yashica might not have outdone its flattery to Rollei.
ar/js
Yashica 44LM and Ilford ULF
Every year, Ilford offers a special window of opportunity where photographers can place orders for ULF film. ULF is essentially any size/format larger than 120 and is generally sheet film. Though it also includes such sizes as 46mm bulk rolls, which can be used for spooling 127 film. Ilford allows orders sometime in the spring with delivery in the fall. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ilford shuttered their main production facility and furloughed a large part of their staff, which caused an interruption not only to the manufacturing of standard film formats, but delayed ULF as well. They relaunched their ULF program in July of that year, after their production facility had reopened, once again allowing photographers working with odd format cameras the ability to stay stocked up with film, even in the midst of a pandemic. Go Ilford!
za/sd
Yashica 44 LM at the St. Johns Bridge
Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc
- sales@bluemooncamera.com
- (503) 978-0333
- (503) 978-0370
-
8417 North Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203
All rights reserved ©2024, Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc