The Yashica 44 LM is a compact twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera from the Yashica 44 series, manufactured from 1958 to 1962, that takes 4x4cm images on 127 film. It is notable for being a budget-friendly alternative to its more expensive counterparts, featuring a built-in selenium exposure meter (LM), upgraded multi-coated Yashinon lenses, a Copal SV leaf shutter, and Bay 1 filter mounts. It is a smaller, lighter, and more portable camera than standard 6x6 TLRs, but it does require using 127 film, which can be difficult to find.
This video provides a quick review of the Yashica 44 LM, highlighting its features and functions:
Key Features
Film Type: Uses 127 roll film, yielding 4x4cm negatives, unlike the larger 6x6 format of most TLRs.
Selenium Light Meter: The "LM" in the name signifies the inclusion of a built-in, semi-coupled selenium light meter for exposure measurement.
Upgraded Lenses: Features 60mm f/3.5 multi-coated, 4-element Yashinon viewing and taking lenses.
Copal SV Leaf Shutter: Equipped with a versatile Copal SV leaf shutter offering speeds from 1 second to 1/500th of a second, plus Bulb mode.
Bay 1 Filter Mounts: The camera has Bay 1 filter attachment mounts, which were a refinement over earlier 44 models.
Compact Design: It's significantly smaller and lighter than typical 6x6 TLRs, making it a great compact travel camera.