Electro Newbie Question

[ruben]

According to my understanding of some paragraphs of the Yashica-Guy, within the different possible combinations of a GSN meter reading, you can choose the exact combination you want by the following way:

Let's say we are outdoors in a sunny day. I meter my subject and move the f/stop ring until the Red Magic Lamp lighthens. Let's say it happened at f/5.6 - then I know that if I go to f/8 I will be shooting at 1/500. If I go to f/11 I will be shooting at 1/250, etc.

My question is: Does it really works more or less, in practice ?

Thanks in advance,
Ruben

 

[remrf]

As I recall the camera can do odd fractions of standard shutter times depending upon light value so I don't think it would be something you can count on exactly.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Rubén:
The camera has a stepless shutter system. It´s analog and the way it works is by charging a capacitor depending on the light that reaches the CdS cell in front of the camera, and keeping the shutter open as long as the charge in the capacitor remains over a certain level. There are a set of fixed resistors inside the lens barrel linked to the iris ring, so when you set another aperture with the ring, the resistor value changes and then the camera´s selected speed will be double or half than the previous setting.
F. example: if you have iris set to 8, and the camera chooses 1/140 th, changing iris to 11 will force the camera to choose 1/70th, and so on.
The camera won´t tell you the shutter speed. It only warns you to close diaphragm (red light on), or to keep the camera steady as shutter speed is lower than 1/30th (yellow light).
The system works in practice and very well, however the lighting conditions may change slightly since your first attempt to shoot, then, the secondly chosen speed may not be in an exact relationship with the previous set speed, however you´ll not get ever noticed about that.
According to the manufacturer, the camera goes stepless from 30 full sec to 1/500th. I can confirm that it goes well beyond the lower limit of 30 sec.
Th picture below was taken at the Rio de la Plata shore about 10:30 PM and exposure was f 16 and AUTO (about 2 full minutes).

Ernesto

 

[remrf]

Rubén:
The camera has a stepless shutter system. It´s analog and the way it works is by charging a capacitor depending on the light that reaches the CdS cell in front of the camera, and keeping the shutter open as long as the charge in the capacitor remains over a certain level. There are a set of fixed resistors inside the lens barrel linked to the iris ring, so when you set another aperture with the ring, the resistor value changes and then the camera´s selected speed will be double or half than the previous setting.
F. example: if you have iris set to 8, and the camera chooses 1/140 th, changing iris to 11 will force the camera to choose 1/70th, and so on.
The camera won´t tell you the shutter speed. It only warns you to close diaphragm (red light on), or to keep the camera steady as shutter speed is lower than 1/30th (yellow light).
The system works in practice and very well, however the lighting conditions may change slightly since your first attempt to shoot, then, the secondly chosen speed may not be in an exact relationship with the previous set speed, however you´ll not get ever noticed about that.
According to the manufacturer, the camera goes stepless from 30 full sec to 1/500th. I can confirm that it goes well beyond the lower limit of 30 sec.
Th picture below was taken at the Rio de la Plata shore about 10:30 PM and exposure was f 16 and AUTO (about 2 full minutes).

Ernesto

Thank you. That is the most concise description of an elctronic shutter action I have yet read. Easy to understand and to the point. I knew it was completely variable but had forgotten the particulars in the 30 plus year since I first bought one new.

 

[ruben]

Rubén:
The camera has a stepless shutter system. It´s analog and the way it works is by charging a capacitor depending on the light that reaches the CdS cell in front of the camera, and keeping the shutter open as long as the charge in the capacitor remains over a certain level. There are a set of fixed resistors inside the lens barrel linked to the iris ring, so when you set another aperture with the ring, the resistor value changes and then the camera´s selected speed will be double or half than the previous setting.
F. example: if you have iris set to 8, and the camera chooses 1/140 th, changing iris to 11 will force the camera to choose 1/70th, and so on.
The camera won´t tell you the shutter speed. It only warns you to close diaphragm (red light on), or to keep the camera steady as shutter speed is lower than 1/30th (yellow light).
The system works in practice and very well, however the lighting conditions may change slightly since your first attempt to shoot, then, the secondly chosen speed may not be in an exact relationship with the previous set speed, however you´ll not get ever noticed about that.
According to the manufacturer, the camera goes stepless from 30 full sec to 1/500th. I can confirm that it goes well beyond the lower limit of 30 sec.
Th picture below was taken at the Rio de la Plata shore about 10:30 PM and exposure was f 16 and AUTO (about 2 full minutes).

Ernesto

Wonderfull explanation, che, wonderfull ! An honour and a pleasure to have you around.

Wonderfull too, some 5 million Yashicas waiting for us out there !

Yashica 5000000 / RFF member 5000 = 1000 units per head.

If I manage to breath for another 20 years, it means I'll have to buy my quota by a rate of only 50 cameras per year. Which is not unpossible.


Last week I started with my first one.
I paid without shipment u$d 18, and now, after rationalizing the data, I am already remorsing it was too high a price :bang:

:angel: but what'a camera ! :angel:

 

[ruben]

Then I conclude that more or less the GSN is a camera to let it do it's job,
perhaps here and there some occasional exposure compensation via the Asa dial,
and sometimes f/stop selection ?

Totally new concept for me.

(I still remember the dynosaurs.)

 

[ErnestoJL]

Try it as ong as you want it.
She (think that I´m talking about a particularly jealous gal) will do it´s job, then, after seeing results you´ll know exactly how to deal with her.

Cameras are like ladies.... you should know exactly how to approach them to get what you want from them...


Cheers

Ernesto
PS: y
gracias por el "che"!!!!

 

[ErnestoJL]

I forgot to say that when using filters with exp. factor other than 1 you should set the ISO dial for a lower value, because the CdS cell is outside the filter ring, then compensation should be done manually.

Ernesto

 

[refinder]

According to the manufacturer, the camera goes stepless from 30 full sec to 1/500th. I can confirm that it goes well beyond the lower limit of 30 sec.
Th picture below was taken at the Rio de la Plata shore about 10:30 PM and exposure was f 16 and AUTO (about 2 full minutes).

Ernesto

wow, very good information backed up by sample photo!

earlier, some good people enlightened me about such capabilities of the gsn. i was amazed and gave it a try. pointing it to different areas in my room with only a desk lamp on, the shutter opened for close to 1'30", 30", and 1".

although the owner's manual states the speed range is from 1/500 to 30, it is not clear whether this is merely a shutter spec, or it is also the range of correct metering. it really helps a lot when sample photos are provide to prove it that at least 30" is within the correct metering range!

it'd be nice if there is positive confirmation, from the manufacturer, on the exact lower limit of correct metering range though.

- refinder