Anyone else shooting with a Yashica Samurai?

[02Pilot]

A while back I was given my father's old Samurai Z, which he purchased new in Japan back in the late 80s. I don't use it often, since it is quite large, but it is easy to use and can produce some high-quality results with the right film.

A couple samples from mine (on TMax 100 and Ektar):

Anyone else have one of these oddball cameras and actually use it?

 

[dmc]

thanks for this post \ until now I had never heard of this camera, but now I am enlightened \
nice pix btw

 

[Moto-Uno]

Now of course you must post the obligatory photo of said camera!! Peter

 

[CliveC]

I own one, but I have yet to shoot it.
Really weird camera to be sure.

(The white mark is a remanent of a price tag, oops.)

 

[Moto-Uno]

When digital goes bad ! Peter

 

[02Pilot]

Sorry, I should have posted a photo of the camera itself before posting samples. Forgive me. 😉

I've written a few pieces on it on my blog as well ( http://filmosaur.wordpress.com/tag/yashica-samurai-z/ ) if anyone's interested.

 

[Steve M.]

Nice write up on the camera here. That first shot looks familiar.

https://filmosaur.wordpress.com/tag/yashica-samurai-z/

 

[rbiemer]

There is a left handed version as well. With one of each and really steady hands, one could shoot "super" stereo pairs...
Nice photos, btw!
Rob

 

[dxq.canada]

I remember selling (or trying to) those when they came out.
Most people I showed it to thought it was a video camera.

 

[bobby_novatron]

I owned one of these, it was fun camera to use, but I found the lack of any manual controls frustrating.

Also, it took FOREVER to get to the end of a roll! 72 exposures from a roll of 36!

 

[02Pilot]

The inability to manually control the exposure is a drawback, but if that's a priority I have plenty of other cameras that offer more control. I see the Samurai as a fun point-and-shoot to mess around with on occasion, not a primary camera. I never make a point of trying to finish a (seemingly endless) roll; I just develop whenever it's done and enjoy the surprise of seeing photos I'd forgotten taking.

It's just such an odd thing in almost every respect, but in spite of that it works well ergonomically and I've been pretty impressed with what it can produce even without manual controls.

 

[rovnguy]

Yes! I really enjoy them and they give some pretty good results. I also appreciate the 72 exposures before reloading. I'll put some of them up for your review.

 

[02Pilot]

Those are very nice, rovnguy - what film did you use?

 

[rovnguy]

@ 02 Pilot: The photo of the mountains was taken with Fuji Pro 400F and the other two were taken with Ektachrome E100G.

 

[delbertmills]

I am disabled...

I am disabled...

And am looking to find a left-handed model. Anyone selling one, please contact me.

 

[farlymac]

I've got an X3.0 that is great to use when doing an event. Got the accessory kit for it too, for that handle that makes it easier to one-hand it.

BW400CN looks great in half-frame, while Ilford HP-4 Plus 400 really gives you that grainy look so enamored by Tri-X users.

My only problem with the camera is sometimes it doesn't want to focus. I first thought I was hitting the shutter button too fast, but even with a half depression it doesn't work. Must be some kind of electronic fault. It usually sorts itself out after a couple of frames.

PF