Yashica Mat-124G Cleaning: I have a Yashica Mat-124G given to me by a favorite uncle. It sat for some time without being used and there is a lot of dust on the inside of the viewfinder...

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have a Yashica Mat-124G given to me by a favorite uncle. It sat for some time without being used and there is a lot of dust on the inside of the viewfinder screen. I looked on Youtube and saw a video where the person pushed a small screwdriver or other object down on each side of the viewfinder screen to free it for cleaning. I have tried that method but on my camera I have nothing that will fit down the sides to press whatever catches might be there to release the screen. Does anyone have an idea to help me out or a same camera where their screen does come out for cleaning?

Dennis

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

dennis2146 wrote:

I have a Yashica Mat-124G given to me by a favorit... (show quote)

You might try an auto parts store and pick up a tool called a "pick" - the end of which looks like an ice pick .....you would want the metal version - not the plastic version.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

dennis2146 wrote:

I have a Yashica Mat-124G given to me by a favorit... (show quote)

I'm following this question because I own my Dad's twin lens Yashica and might need to know these things.

jputnick

I have one also. Following to see what folks say. Mine works great but could use the extra cleaning.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

imagemeister wrote:

You might try an auto parts store and pick up a tool called a "pick" - the end of which looks like an ice pick .....you would want the metal version - not the plastic version.

Thank you. I will try that. But can you tell me and at least 3 others, what are we looking for on the inside? Is it a little spring tab that we need to find and press to allow the screen to pop out? I have some very tiny jewelers screwdrivers and have tried them but find myself trying to poke into nothing and have gotten nothing.

Dennis

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

dennis2146 wrote:

Thank you. I will try that. But can you tell me and at least 3 others, what are we looking for on the inside? Is it a little spring tab that we need to find and press to allow the screen to pop out? I have some very tiny jewelers screwdrivers and have tried them but find myself trying to poke into nothing and have gotten nothing.

Dennis

No, sorry, I sold my Mat 124 in 1973 .....have not seen one since

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

imagemeister wrote:

No, sorry, I sold my Mat 124 in 1973 .....have not seen one since

Thanks for getting back to me.

Dennis

RLSeipleSr Loc: North of Boston

dennis2146 wrote:

...Does anyone have an idea to help me out or a same camera where their screen does come out for cleaning?... Dennis

Dennis,

Check YouTube for videos on replacing the focus screen on the 124G ... I found a couple ... they should go into more detail on removing the screen ... I will do more research and update this on what I find ...

Bob S

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

RLSeipleSr wrote:

Dennis,

Check YouTube for videos on replacing the focus screen on the 124G ... I found a couple ... they should go into more detail on removing the screen ... I will do more research and update this on what I find ...

Bob S

Thank you Bob for your comment. If you check my first post you will see I have checked Youtube videos. While it did show sticking something down into the sides of the camera to release whatever is holding the screen they were not that clear to me. Apparently others are having a similar problem. Thanks again.

EDIT: Bob I wanted to get back to you and let you know I did not dismiss your excellent comment but had not found something on Youtube that seemed to work at the time.

Dennis

RLSeipleSr Loc: North of Boston

Try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG5o898ow08 ... you can take the hood of without removing the screen ...

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

RLSeipleSr wrote:

Try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG5o898ow08 ... you can take the hood of without removing the screen ...

Thank you very much. I watched that video and while his Yashica is somewhat different than mine I did see 4 tiny, did I say TINY, screws on the sides of the hood. Now to look for my jewelers screwdriver set to see if I have a screwdriver small enough to fit those screws. That might be the fix. This is obviously not one of those scenarios where someone yells, Get a bigger hammer. Thank you again.

Dennis

rcarol

dennis2146 wrote:

I have a Yashica Mat-124G given to me by a favorit... (show quote)

On my Yashica Mat there are four screws that will allow the entire hood assembly to be removed from the body of the camera. The focus screen can then be accessed for cleaning.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

rcarol wrote:

On my Yashica Mat there are four screws that will allow the entire hood assembly to be removed from the body of the camera. The focus screen can then be accessed for cleaning.

Thank you for your comment. That has been discussed and I tried taking those four screws out about 3 minutes ago. Unfortunately my jewelers screwdriver set only has a 3mm philips head screwdriver and it is too big for those screws. At least in my hands and with my eyesight it is too big. When I am out and about today I will try to find a smaller screwdriver. But your comment does mirror that of another poster and most likely will work perfectly. I may even have to take it to a friendly jeweler to ask him to take out the screws, wait for me to clean the glass and then put it back together.

Dennis

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

dennis2146 wrote:

Thank you very much. I watched that video and while his Yashica is somewhat different than mine I did see 4 tiny, did I say TINY, screws on the sides of the hood. Now to look for my jewelers screwdriver set to see if I have a screwdriver small enough to fit those screws. That might be the fix. This is obviously not one of those scenarios where someone yells, Get a bigger hammer. Thank you again.

Dennis

When/if you get the screws out - put them on a dinner plate so you can find/not loose them - and, you will really need a pair of good tweezers to re-install them .

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

imagemeister wrote:

When/if you get the screws out - put them on a dinner plate so you can find/not loose them - and, you will really need a pair of good tweezers to re-install them .

Of course. Thanks.

Dennis