Difference between projected and reflected framelines

[xwhatsit]

Hello everybody,

Currently looking at a Yashica YF for sale. Seems to be quite a decent price. Of course they're not exactly depreciating any more, so even if I don't like it I can sell it again for the same price.

The YF seems to come quite highly recommended, although the build quality is always questioned relative to its Nicca predecessors.

One thing that intrigues me about the YF is the viewfinder. I hear people lauding its projected framelines. Now I have a full fleet of fixed-lens Yashicas (well, the mechanical shutter types, the Lynx(es? Lynxii?) and Ministers), and have cleaned the finders on all of them. I'm quite familiar with the separate light-gathering window with the little frameline template, which is shone back through the half-silvered mirror to appear as framelines. I'm assuming these are reflected framelines? How do projected framelines differ?

Many thanks.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Reflected lines are painted on the viewfinder, such as in the Nikon S3 and Canon P.

Projected lines are overlaid on the viewfinder using a beamsplitter. The Canon 7, Leica M, and Nikon SP are examples. This YF looks to have projected lines.

 

[xwhatsit]

Ah. So all of my $NZ20 fixed-lens Lynx 1000s and Ministers have projected framelines anyway, I'm already using them. So nothing too fancy then!

Still interested in this YF. Comes with a 50/1.8 Yashinon in LTM. Seems like a nice familiar way to get into interchangeable lens cameras -- the LTM genre appeals to me the most. Although I want a Barnack type eventually, the YF is hard to pass up.

 

[farlymac]

It's a good start. Who knows where you'll go from here. Nice looking YF.

PF

 

[flip]

I have a couple Nicca IIILs and they are smooth operators. I don't think that the framelines are the distinctive appeal of these cameras, however. Rather, they have great ergonomics, a solid feel, and smooth advance. That you get uncluttered 50mm 1:1 is just icing.

 

[xwhatsit]

Is the YF 1:1 as well? I've seen it written a couple of places that it's 1:1 but then other people say it's 0.72. I like the idea of just 50mm and 100mm framelines (apparently you can use the outside of the finder as 35mm framelines as well); I've seen viewfinders of some M mount cameras and the sheer amount of crap in the finder is quite distracting.

 

[flip]

I don't know. The Nicca only has 50mm lines. 😀

 

[ZorkiKat]

I have a Nicca IIIF (now a III since its non operational sync posts have been exised). I've seen a couple of model III as well. What is the "quality" issue that people refer to with Nicca? After seeing the camera inside and out and seeing that they are about 99% similar in build to a Leica III, I don't see how they can be in any way considered an inferior Leica clone.

 

[flip]

I have a Nicca IIIF (now a III since its non operational sync posts have been exised). I've seen a couple of model III as well. What is the "quality" issue that people refer to with Nicca? After seeing the camera inside and out and seeing that they are about 99% similar in build to a Leica III, I don't see how they can be in any way considered an inferior Leica clone.

I have a couple 5's as well. I see nothing inferior to them.

I think the nicca-made barnack clones are perhaps more similar to Leicas - maybe better. The IIIL is a LTM M3-ish creation. The rangefinder is not as good as the M3 (M3 being the best), but the Nicca VF is true 1:1. The Nicca is not as heavy as the M3, though. The M3 is the choice of carpenters everywhere.

 

[xwhatsit]

I have a Nicca IIIF (now a III since its non operational sync posts have been exised). I've seen a couple of model III as well. What is the "quality" issue that people refer to with Nicca? After seeing the camera inside and out and seeing that they are about 99% similar in build to a Leica III, I don't see how they can be in any way considered an inferior Leica clone.

If you're referring to what I mentioned earlier, I was talking about the quality of the Yashica YF. The YF was one of the first post-Nicca-buyout cameras, and people say that Yashica was more interested in saving money than Nicca (who everybody says made beautiful cameras of exquisite quality), so cheaped out a bit on many of the materials with the YF. Of course I've never handled either a Nicca or a YF so I'm just going on teh interweb, which is always right as we know!

The auction will close in an hour... another bidder has already met the reserve! Last time it closed without a bid. I wonder if I'll kick myself tonight?

 

[xwhatsit]

And... I got it!

Yashica YF with the correct 50/1.8 in what looks like good condition for $NZ455... that's about $300-350 US. Very happy! And poor. Ha!

Will post up pics when it arrives.

Thanks everybody! 🙂

 

[Doug]

Congratulations on your forthcoming family member! That appears to be a very nice and uncommon rig.

 

[xwhatsit]

Hooray, arrived today! The ugly aluminium faceplate thing that everybody always talks about is a bit gouged and scratched up, and there's a few bright spots in the chrome where it has obviously been handled. Certainly a user camera. But it appears to function perfectly. Shutter, slow speeds, everything. Rangefinder patch very bright and contrasty. Framelines bright. The Yashinon 50/1.8 is a tiny little jewel of a thing, looks flawless. Had a UV filter on it. Comes with the original lens cap!

Will post up photos in another thread when I get access to a digicam 🙂