Yashica-C

Buying Tips

The Yashica-C is a solid mid-range TLR, but its short production run means fewer units and less documentation. Here is what to check.

• Self-timer: The C has a self-timer that the A lacks. Test it — wind it fully and release. A stuck or sluggish self-timer is a common failure point and can jam the shutter mechanism if it seizes mid-cycle.
• Copal MX shutter: Fire the shutter at every speed from 1s to 1/300s. Listen carefully to the slow speeds (1s, 1/2s, 1/5s) — these rely on a governor that often needs cleaning after decades of storage.
• Viewfinder condition: Look through the waist-level finder for a bright, even image. Replacement focusing screens and mirrors are not readily available for this model, so a dark or damaged finder is expensive to fix.
• No meter: Like the A and D, the C has no built-in meter. This is actually an advantage — no dead cells or corroded battery compartments to worry about.
• Short production run: Only made from 1956 to 1958, so parts availability is more limited than the long-running D model. Factor in the cost of a CLA if the camera has not been recently serviced.

See our complete TLR buying guide for a full inspection checklist.