Yashica Mat LM Black1958

History

Yashica entered the TLR market in 1953 with the Pigeonflex and iterated rapidly through the Yashicaflex A, B, and C models before settling the Yashica-Mat line in 1957 as its mainstream 6x6 product. The standard Yashica-Mat (1957) was unmetered; the Mat LM followed quickly with the addition of the selenium cell as an integrated feature - an important competitive response to cameras like the Rolleicord Va and Minolta Autocord which offered optional or integrated metering.

The black-body variant was a factory finish option aimed at photographers who preferred a less reflective, more professional-appearing instrument. Black-body TLRs were less common than black SLRs of the same era, making the Mat LM Black a less frequently encountered variant today. The standard chrome and leatherette finish was the more common production run.

The Mat LM line ran until approximately 1963, overlapping with the Yashica-Mat EM (electric-eye auto-exposure), Yashica-D, and the Mat 124 (1961). The Mat 124G (1970) ultimately became the best-known camera in the Yashica TLR line and runs alongside the Mat LM's historical position as a direct ancestor.

Why It Matters

The Mat LM Black holds the same historical significance as the standard Mat LM - it represents Yashica's demonstration that integrated metering in a mid-price TLR was viable and commercially successful. The black finish adds a layer of collector interest and practical utility: reduced body reflectivity matters in available-light documentary and street photography where chrome bodies can catch and reflect light sources.

The Yashinon 80mm f/3.5 taking lens delivers consistent performance - corner-to-corner sharpness at f/5.6 and above is comparable to other respected 80mm TLR optics of the period, including the Xenar-equipped Rolleicord. Wide open at f/3.5 the lens shows some softness and vignetting characteristic of the period, which many photographers find useful for portraiture.

The selenium meter, if functional, provides reliable reflected-light readings without batteries - an advantage for collectors and photographers who dislike battery dependency. Selenium cells degrade with age and prolonged light exposure; a dead cell does not affect any mechanical function of the camera.

Lenses & Accessories

The Yashica-Mat LM Black has a fixed lens and does not accept interchangeable optics. Standard accessories:

• Bay 1 filters - the taking lens accepts Bay 1 slip-on filters (yellow, orange, red for black-and-white work; UV/skylight for general use)
• Close-up lens sets - supplementary diopter lenses for portrait distances (~1m and ~0.5m working distance)
• Eye-level prism - accessory clip-on prism finder for eye-level framing
• Lens hood - Bay 1 shade for the taking lens; important for backlit situations

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• The Mat LM Black was used by professional and advanced amateur photographers in Japan and export markets who favored a discreet black TLR for documentary, street, and portrait work in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
• The camera sits at the beginning of Yashica's metered TLR line - a lineage that ran through the Mat LM, Mat EM, Mat 124, and the iconic Mat 124G (1970-1986). Collectors tracing the evolution of affordable Japanese metered TLRs treat the Mat LM Black as an uncommon variant of a historically significant model.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Yashica Mat LM