Minolta AF-C and a more modest cousin

[Dr. Strangelove]

Well, I could not stop myself from getting the Holy Grail of 1980's affordable P&S cameras in optical quality: the Minolta AF-C with its six element 35/2.8 lens. No motor winding, so its very small and light for an early 1980's autofocus camera despite the complex lens. Appears to be working, too. Looks a bit like the Lomo LC-A or the Cosina CX-2, but has far superior optics and autofocus, so probably not suitable for lomography I suppose🙄 Very inexpensive as well. I paid 10 euros for it and got a Yashica AF-J Date for the same price, too. There was no flash unit included.

The Yashica AF-J seems to be built on almost the same "chassis" as the more prestigious Yashica T3. It does not have the sliding lens cover though but a more conventional barrier type lens cover. The lens of the AF-J is a 32/3.5, most likely a triplet, but could be a Tessar type, although I have never seen a wider than 35 mm Tessar for a 135 film camera. Slowest shutter speed appears to be either 1/30 or 1/15; its difficult to tell. Flash can be suppressed. This model has a date back. Battery compartment lid is broken both from the hinge and lock end and essentially unrepairable. Tape does the trick though, but is not pretty.

There seems to be almost nothing on the web about the Yashica AF-J cameras. No specs, just a few pictures. The 32 mm lens makes it mildly interesting for actual use despite the considerable size and weight by modern standard, and you can't beat the price. I did found out that there were also later AF-J2 and AF-J3 models. The former seems to be the same as the original but with a self timer. Other specs unknown from all three cameras.

Last but not least, a picture of the dynamic duo:

 

[btgc]

Dr. Strangelove, this is so addictive ! AF-C seems to be recognized shooter, and I'd love it for manual wind as I do XA2 or would Pentax PC35AF 🙂 Small, inobtrusive camera w/ fine lens and agree, that in 99% of shots you would use this camera just don't need a flash, as this breaks idea of 'quick and stealth'.
I can't find anymore source, maybe it were translated from Japanese that AF-J is similar to T-AF though missing T* coating. But I will not swear by my hand. Anyway, first roll will reveal what it is.

I'm waiting for FF-700 to arrive, just to complement FF-70; know about bulky CR-P2 but well, lovers don't argue if their loved one has spare cm or gram 🙂

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Dr. Strangelove, this is so addictive ! AF-C seems to be recognized shooter, and I'd love it for manual wind as I do XA2 or would Pentax PC35AF 🙂 Small, inobtrusive camera w/ fine lens and agree, that in 99% of shots you would use this camera just don't need a flash, as this breaks idea of 'quick and stealth'.
I can't find anymore source, maybe it were translated from Japanese that AF-J is similar to T-AF though missing T* coating. But I will not swear by my hand. Anyway, first roll will reveal what it is.

I'm waiting for FF-700 to arrive, just to complement FF-70; know about bulky CR-P2 but well, lovers don't argue if their loved one has spare cm or gram 🙂

The AF-J lens definitely does not have the T* coating, but it probably has the same coating as the Yashica ML lenses for the Y/C mount, which is not bad at all. And in any case with a three group lens the practical differences between coatings are not that big. I also remembered that the Fuji DL-200 had a 32 mm four element lens, so the AF-J could very well have one as well.

I did some digging and finally found some specs:

http://www1.kiwi-us.com/~mizusawa/penguin/CAMEdata/kyocera/J.html

The specs look correct, except the colors are wrong, assuming google translation is correct. Perhaps the overseas model, which was made in Hong Kong, had different colors? In any case the lens appears to be four elements in three groups, i.e. a Tessar. Good news I suppose, although the 1/30 slowest shutter speed is disappointing. It means that I will need ISO 800 film for the test roll with the amount of light we have around here right now (daylight is only 6 hours per day)...

Congratulations for the FF-700. I suppose the CR-P2 will give you much shorter flash recharge times and longer battery life if nothing else. The lithium batteries are surprisingly light for their size, so I suppose the final weight with batteries should not be much more than with the FF-70.

It seems we are about the only "crazy collectors" in this forum 😀 All others are talking about cameras for real everyday use such as the Hexar AF, Olympus Stylus Epic (µ II) or Ricoh GR series. Collecting auto focus compact cameras is not yet as popular as collecting fixed lens rangefinders. I have to admit that I mostly carry the Stylus Epic or the Konica Big Mini F as well and the older AF cameras only occasionally. 😱

 

[mr_phillip]

Whoa, the AF-C looks like the result of an unholy union between a Cosina CX-2 and a Minolta CLE. How are the pictures from it?

 

[Jacob]

I bought the AF-C when it was new because of the very good reviews it recieved. It was quite an investment for me! I used it for about 7 years until I dropped it in the street at the shutter broke. Got a new one a couple of years ago for 15 euros and I use it occasionally. I like that it lacks any kind of motorization which makes it quiet and very fast to use. The lens is really great, sharp and contrasty. The Lomo/CLE comparison is certainly valid!
Jacob

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Whoa, the AF-C looks like the result of an unholy union between a Cosina CX-2 and a Minolta CLE. How are the pictures from it?

Haven't taken any yet, but from what I hear the lens should be very good. Jacob seems to agree.

A side note: I checked the prices in 1985 from and old photography magazine and the AF-C was cheaper than the Yashica T, so it was actually quite a bargain even back then. The Pentax PC35AF, which had a very similar basic concept (no motor or integrated flash, but high quality lens with true wide angle optical formula), had an almost identical price. Of course in those days the lack of motorization was viewed as a disadvantage by most people... I have to say that I would prefer a fast winding lever over the thumbwheel of the AF-C, but it's still better than the very noisy motor drives of most 1980's compacts.

 

[btgc]

Haven't taken any yet, but from what I hear the lens should be very good. Jacob seems to agree.

right, my congrats on your AF-C ! I've been too cheap to bid seriously, last time it hit eur60 level. Wind lever that times probably were associated with lens "like on RF's" design, remember those Ricoh AF-2/5, Konica AF/EFx/POP and many many more from different manufacturers. AF-C as well as XA series were made smaller and that way needed something another to wind. I don't remeber anymore if thumbwheel were first on XA's and then on disposables (when they started ?) ?
It's a bit strange AF-C needs 4x1.5V piles if I'm correct, as AF and shutter are only power suckers and winding is "free". Maybe that's AF, though then on market were cameras, working on 2x1.5V batteries, charging even flash.

When my T-AF appeared to be DOA, I though about grabbing nice mint looking AF-J, dismantled T-AF and got sign of life, so I didn't buy AF-J.

 

[btgc]

After my previous post I dug out my disassmbled T-AF, checked once more, carefully worked linkages by hand and now it opens shutter every time I press red button! So I cleaned it a bit, assembled and seems that I have another shooter on line 🙂 Woohoo Yashica ! Seems that those old (and new too, I suspect) cameras love when someone cares about them and behave like we treat them.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

right, my congrats on your AF-C ! I've been too cheap to bid seriously, last time it hit eur60 level. Wind lever that times probably were associated with lens "like on RF's" design, remember those Ricoh AF-2/5, Konica AF/EFx/POP and many many more from different manufacturers. AF-C as well as XA series were made smaller and that way needed something another to wind. I don't remeber anymore if thumbwheel were first on XA's and then on disposables (when they started ?) ?
It's a bit strange AF-C needs 4x1.5V piles if I'm correct, as AF and shutter are only power suckers and winding is "free". Maybe that's AF, though then on market were cameras, working on 2x1.5V batteries, charging even flash.

60 euros from the AF-C sounds like a lot. You could get an XA for that price around here. For serious photography the XA is still better, since it has aperture priority and manual focus with a rangefinder. The optical quality is probably about the same.

I agree on the winding; thumbwheel wind probably was not yes associated with cheap disposables at the time and it certainly needs less space than a lever. It's very light as well, since it only winds the film. No mechanical shutter to cock on the AF-C.

About the batteries: I don't remember any cameras that would have charged flash from SR44/LR44 size batteries. Four LR44's is not that much for both the AF and the electromagnetic shutter. My example actually came with two 1/3N size lithiums that will probably last almost forever in a camera without a flash and a motor winder.

 

[btgc]

My example actually came with two 1/3N size lithiums that will probably last almost forever in a camera without a flash and a motor winder.

Recently I found this configuration, too. Sounds very promising and fine if your sample came with batteries.