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.
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