btgc
Veteran
Every dog has Electro G-series. That's how we start - so natural. But there's another Yashica FLRF - yeah, that's Lynx 5000. No, I will not make comparison chart showing specs and what not. It's simple camera, haven't even got electrical brain. Wait, it has some nerve, attached to battery. If it's aged or defective - big deal. That beast gives one full control over picture taking process. You prefer Tv shooting...or Av? It's all there, as well as fully manual mode. And they work if camera has got some service after lying in drawer last 40 years.
Sidenote: last week we went to event, our friends took their new camera, forgot charger. I just wanted to look at it and AA's died, asking for charge. So they ended up enjoying free time during that week not running laps, camera in hands.
Fine, Lynx doesn't need batteries to work. Meter switch is good way to conserve juice - Konica Auto S2 burns battery all the time while lens cap is off (and it's right way to carry this cameras). I haven't met too much situations when light changes too often to ask for instant reading (night clubs, sunny day+rapidly moving clouds?). Well, cameras which use lens cap as meter switch, deliver instant reading. I'm calm with this - because 40 y.o. meters aren't things I rely dead on, so handheld meter or brain math seems way to go.
What else? It's designed intelligently. Try speed and aperture rings - latter is a bit taller, making adjustments a breeze. Let's say, KAS2 have that controls on one level - minor detail, but that matters (for those interested, first gen. of KAS have better speed ring design).
Mind you, speed and aperture values are color coded, red and green respectively. Not that anyone would recognize them by color, but...such a nuance, right?
What else? Right, shutter release is...it's simply better than on number of FL RF cameras, asking price for AE they offer. Short travel, super smooth.
Well, film advance lever has long throw, KAS2 in this respect shines (but ratcheted sound is price for that extra). But I like it's smoothness, again, even over Electro.
Another very logical feature, unfortunately missing on number of FL RF's is DOF scale on lens barrel, making barrel longer by 6mm (probably that's why very compact RF's don't have it). Since discovered how it works, I just like if camera or lens has it. Not life or death, say, scale focus Electro 35 MC works well for me without DOF scale, but I like if camera has it. That's for lazies, I know.
Note on focusing ring - on 5000 it's "bald", with single tab. On 5000e ring is very similar to Electro G or more to Lynx 14. Look which solution you prefer more, altogether with meter needle vs lamps.
Uh, forgot size! Good news - it's smaller than Electro. More important - smaller to extent, which makes point carrying RF instead of SLR with normal lens (besides other factors). Also shape of body is artistic "tough cucumber" instead of "metal brick". I like Electro G, but it's different feeling.
Lens? No - no samples, no rambles. For me it's good enough to use. YMMV. Period. Well - RFF'er Jan N. characterized it - "has that Yashinon glow". When colleague - DSLR user stares at me, not believing picture is produced by tool from 40 years old technology, I think "well spent us$10 and labor time worth it".
Grain of salt - how lens barrel is constructed. Front element has lens thread on it, so tighten it properly not to unscrew with filter. There's decorative ring around front element, where push on hood sits on. So one has option - use 46mm screw-in hood or go for push-on 54mm hood (Yashica says "slip-on" on their hoods, that's delicate mechanics not boot pushed on foot).
Is Lynx best ever hands down tits up camera ? No. I can repeat - no, there are tons of other cameras which can appear best for you. Like each cat licks balls in his own way, I believe each has to find his own "best camera", at least for some time - that's how people do, they grow and their preferences change. Some migrate to high-end RF's, some go digital - but Lynx is fine milestone in FL RF's journey. Enjoy it!
Sidenote: last week we went to event, our friends took their new camera, forgot charger. I just wanted to look at it and AA's died, asking for charge. So they ended up enjoying free time during that week not running laps, camera in hands.
Fine, Lynx doesn't need batteries to work. Meter switch is good way to conserve juice - Konica Auto S2 burns battery all the time while lens cap is off (and it's right way to carry this cameras). I haven't met too much situations when light changes too often to ask for instant reading (night clubs, sunny day+rapidly moving clouds?). Well, cameras which use lens cap as meter switch, deliver instant reading. I'm calm with this - because 40 y.o. meters aren't things I rely dead on, so handheld meter or brain math seems way to go.
What else? It's designed intelligently. Try speed and aperture rings - latter is a bit taller, making adjustments a breeze. Let's say, KAS2 have that controls on one level - minor detail, but that matters (for those interested, first gen. of KAS have better speed ring design).
Mind you, speed and aperture values are color coded, red and green respectively. Not that anyone would recognize them by color, but...such a nuance, right?
What else? Right, shutter release is...it's simply better than on number of FL RF cameras, asking price for AE they offer. Short travel, super smooth.
Well, film advance lever has long throw, KAS2 in this respect shines (but ratcheted sound is price for that extra). But I like it's smoothness, again, even over Electro.
Another very logical feature, unfortunately missing on number of FL RF's is DOF scale on lens barrel, making barrel longer by 6mm (probably that's why very compact RF's don't have it). Since discovered how it works, I just like if camera or lens has it. Not life or death, say, scale focus Electro 35 MC works well for me without DOF scale, but I like if camera has it. That's for lazies, I know.
Note on focusing ring - on 5000 it's "bald", with single tab. On 5000e ring is very similar to Electro G or more to Lynx 14. Look which solution you prefer more, altogether with meter needle vs lamps.
Uh, forgot size! Good news - it's smaller than Electro. More important - smaller to extent, which makes point carrying RF instead of SLR with normal lens (besides other factors). Also shape of body is artistic "tough cucumber" instead of "metal brick". I like Electro G, but it's different feeling.
Lens? No - no samples, no rambles. For me it's good enough to use. YMMV. Period. Well - RFF'er Jan N. characterized it - "has that Yashinon glow". When colleague - DSLR user stares at me, not believing picture is produced by tool from 40 years old technology, I think "well spent us$10 and labor time worth it".
Grain of salt - how lens barrel is constructed. Front element has lens thread on it, so tighten it properly not to unscrew with filter. There's decorative ring around front element, where push on hood sits on. So one has option - use 46mm screw-in hood or go for push-on 54mm hood (Yashica says "slip-on" on their hoods, that's delicate mechanics not boot pushed on foot).
Is Lynx best ever hands down tits up camera ? No. I can repeat - no, there are tons of other cameras which can appear best for you. Like each cat licks balls in his own way, I believe each has to find his own "best camera", at least for some time - that's how people do, they grow and their preferences change. Some migrate to high-end RF's, some go digital - but Lynx is fine milestone in FL RF's journey. Enjoy it!
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pagpow
Well-known
Interesting cat comment at the end -- no doubt motivated by the name of the camera -- Lynx, eh?
ElectroWNED
Well-known
cat's balls and tits... that's a camera review that's up my alley.
err.....
err.....
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sol33
Established
Now I finally see where you got your avatar from! 
Very nice indeed.
Very nice indeed.
btgc
Veteran
pagpow - how about Minister, as predecessor of Lynx, hm ?
I agree - Yashica had very thought through naming for their camera series.
I agree - Yashica had very thought through naming for their camera series.
Prometheus
Member
I got the Yashica Minister D and the Yashica EE, but I've been looking at the Lynx 5000 and Electros also. They are all beautiful This seems to be an addiction!
This seems to be an addiction!
btgc
Veteran
Prometheus, took a look at your camera site - take a pills "against GAS" beforehand.
- "doctor, please prescribe me pills against GAS...this, this and also this...maybe you can suggest some more varieties?"
Recently I saw Minister 700 on ebay, that's your Minister D with 1.7 lens. Thanks, I have two 5000's, why fall into deeper?
As for local auction sites - right, they seem to have some gems and prices don't skyrocket, mostly. I have tried to get in contact with two sellers on Netherland's marketplaats.nl but no responses to emails. Could call them, if needed that cameras badly.
Looking forward pics from Sweden!
- "doctor, please prescribe me pills against GAS...this, this and also this...maybe you can suggest some more varieties?"
Recently I saw Minister 700 on ebay, that's your Minister D with 1.7 lens. Thanks, I have two 5000's, why fall into deeper?
As for local auction sites - right, they seem to have some gems and prices don't skyrocket, mostly. I have tried to get in contact with two sellers on Netherland's marketplaats.nl but no responses to emails. Could call them, if needed that cameras badly.
Looking forward pics from Sweden!