izo
Established
ok, so i just scanned first roll of film from my lynx (yashica). pictures were taken before i fix aperture problem, so all of them were at f/1.4 (wide open).
here are first impressions:
-lens is indeed sharp, even at wide open
-lense coating isn't that good (if there is any), so contrast in not high, colours are not that good, for shooting outside, camera defintly needs hood. but as i sad, all pics were wide open and all lenses behaves similiar in that condition (problems with exposure, vignetting etc).
-vignetting is not that big problem, as i can tel from wide open pictures. i guess i have to replace light seals, t think that's another big factor in loosing contrast etc.
-rangefinder seems to be calibrated ok, but there is liltle bit back focus at minimal focusing distances
that's my first observasions for now, but i think i going to like this odd camera very much, specialy with black&white films, where flare etc it's not that dominant. again, i was aware about sharp lenses in yashica rangefinders, but that sharpness @ f/1.4 amazes me, it's comprable with my canon ef 50/1.8 but closed down, let say at f/2.8-4. i can only imagine sharpness f/ 2.8-8 and range. again, my thoughts here are that rangefinders have slighty edge over the (d)slr's not beacuse better optics (ok, that helps for sure), but beacuse there's no mirror, so vibrations are minimal (just from the shutter).
ok, pics (just snaphots, really. filma is fuji superia 200):
100% crop from picture above
here are first impressions:
-lens is indeed sharp, even at wide open
-lense coating isn't that good (if there is any), so contrast in not high, colours are not that good, for shooting outside, camera defintly needs hood. but as i sad, all pics were wide open and all lenses behaves similiar in that condition (problems with exposure, vignetting etc).
-vignetting is not that big problem, as i can tel from wide open pictures. i guess i have to replace light seals, t think that's another big factor in loosing contrast etc.
-rangefinder seems to be calibrated ok, but there is liltle bit back focus at minimal focusing distances
that's my first observasions for now, but i think i going to like this odd camera very much, specialy with black&white films, where flare etc it's not that dominant. again, i was aware about sharp lenses in yashica rangefinders, but that sharpness @ f/1.4 amazes me, it's comprable with my canon ef 50/1.8 but closed down, let say at f/2.8-4. i can only imagine sharpness f/ 2.8-8 and range. again, my thoughts here are that rangefinders have slighty edge over the (d)slr's not beacuse better optics (ok, that helps for sure), but beacuse there's no mirror, so vibrations are minimal (just from the shutter).
ok, pics (just snaphots, really. filma is fuji superia 200):
100% crop from picture above
lynn
lynn
I'm still shooting the test roll in my Lynx, but results like this would have me jumping for joy.
"Colour is not that good" you say, but I find these oranges and greens delectable.
The B&W's: photoshop?
"Colour is not that good" you say, but I find these oranges and greens delectable.
The B&W's: photoshop?
izo
Established
yes, bw's are just cinverted in ps, and some curves maybe. fuji superia (and velvia too, but vay better) has these poping greens, blues and magentas, which is good for landscape etc, but nor for casual shootinh, i think. for these situantions, some kodak gold is better.
oh yeh, scanner is not something to be desirad, canon 2700f (sharp, but weak colours, only 8 bit, banding etc). pics need a lot of photoshop (like any other scans really).
oh yeh, scanner is not something to be desirad, canon 2700f (sharp, but weak colours, only 8 bit, banding etc). pics need a lot of photoshop (like any other scans really).
jan normandale
Film is the other way
I have a Lynx 14 and this is what you can expect. Also as a low light camera, this lens is great because you can open it up and shoot hand held at 1/30 or even 1/15th if you are careful. Many cameras cannot give you these options. This is an outstanding low light camera which can be shot handheld at low speeds.
This camera is noted regularly for flare when used with out a hood. When used outdoors, definitely have a lens hood. Shooting into the sun is problematic unless you like flare. Some people do. Dont forget to post a shot in the thread from Jon Flanders, "show us a shot from your yashica"
This camera is noted regularly for flare when used with out a hood. When used outdoors, definitely have a lens hood. Shooting into the sun is problematic unless you like flare. Some people do. Dont forget to post a shot in the thread from Jon Flanders, "show us a shot from your yashica"
izo
Established
one q:
how do you focusing in bad light. i found that blurry viewfinder with that hard to see small square in the middle useless. i will clean viewfinder, but i don't think it will help a lot. a did check viewfinder in some old fed, and it was better.
how do you focusing in bad light. i found that blurry viewfinder with that hard to see small square in the middle useless. i will clean viewfinder, but i don't think it will help a lot. a did check viewfinder in some old fed, and it was better.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
izo
There is nothing wrong with the performance you are getting from the camera or scanner. Looks like you got a winner there. You are going to have a lot of fun now that you have the aperature blades working again. Show us some more photos with the lens stopped down.
Nikon Bob
There is nothing wrong with the performance you are getting from the camera or scanner. Looks like you got a winner there. You are going to have a lot of fun now that you have the aperature blades working again. Show us some more photos with the lens stopped down.
Nikon Bob
bmattock
Veteran
Jan: I agree with you, the thing is superb, but one MUST use a hood. I recommend a Kalt (or similar brand) 58mm metal hood, not a rubber 'toilet plunger' hood. The rangefinder patch opening is right above the lens, any obstruction and you lose the RF patch. The tight-clearance metal hood seems to work just fine - no vignetting.
Izo: The viewfinder is actually quite easy to clean on the Lynx. G-Man told me how to do it, now I find it one of the easiest cameras to pop the top on. A small-sized spanner wrench (like from Micro Tools) will take care of the hardest part, which is removing the cap on the winding lever. Once that's done, it is a piece of cake to take off the rewind lever and the two screws holding the top on - clean all optics except the semi-transparent mirror and you are good to go. It is MUCH brighter than more fixed-lens RF's when cleaned up, really.
Nikon Bob: You're gonna love it. This is a fine, fine, camera. A monster.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
Izo: The viewfinder is actually quite easy to clean on the Lynx. G-Man told me how to do it, now I find it one of the easiest cameras to pop the top on. A small-sized spanner wrench (like from Micro Tools) will take care of the hardest part, which is removing the cap on the winding lever. Once that's done, it is a piece of cake to take off the rewind lever and the two screws holding the top on - clean all optics except the semi-transparent mirror and you are good to go. It is MUCH brighter than more fixed-lens RF's when cleaned up, really.
Nikon Bob: You're gonna love it. This is a fine, fine, camera. A monster.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Bill -- I tried removing that winding lever cap with a Micro Tools spanner (the larger one with interchangeable bits) and only succeeded in scratching it. Simply on too tight, I think. So I guess it goes off to Mark Hama rather than my having another go at it and wrecking it. Too bad; I was thinking cleaning that viewfinder would be an easy job.
bmattock
Veteran
KoNickon said:
I have three of these beasties (2 14's and 1 14e) and I removed the cap with the small spanner (with two removable bits - one set looks like protractor points). However, before I got the spanner, I did one with a tiny screwdriver and ah, hammered it. Did gouge the hole a bit - but it worked. Don't recommend it...but it worked.
Now, the self-timer lever on an Olympus rangefinder - those are reverse-threaded.
I understand it you find it's just welded on there - but I did the brute force thing on mine and it gave way before my spanner did - if only just. And after that, the cleanup really made a huge difference.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
izo
Established
yep, that damn cap is real problem. i even fix aperture before and all that, but i can't wind that stupid cap off, hehe.
PetarDima
Well-known
Hello.This photos are great! Where did you bought Yashica?(I am near you, in Serbia).BMattock showed me hes low light photos taken with this camera.They are just fine...
izo
Established
hello, petar, možemo i srbski (ili nešto slično), hehe. jašiku dobio na www.bolha.com , najbolji sajt za oglase kod nas. gospodin, od kojeg sam kupio jašiku, prodaje još nešto ruskih rejnđfajndera (da li sam pogodio "piši kao govoriš", hehe), gledaj moj post u rubrici russian rangefinders.
PetarDima
Well-known
Hello, PetarDima je pseudonim( Petar i Dimitrije - moji sinovi) - zvuči pomalo francuski... he,he. Trudim se da pišem na engleskom( in English, please!) kako ne bi odudarao od koncepcije... šaljem ti '' private message ''.izo said:
Regards from Bor, serbia.
gitarzan
Dave Fultz, Jr.
Gorgeous images.
I'm bidding on a 14e on ebay. (Won 4/30)
Makes me really want it more.
I'm bidding on a 14e on ebay. (Won 4/30)
Makes me really want it more.
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Fedzilla_Bob
man with cat
Great photo of the "snowdrops" the little white flowers. The image is very sharp at what appears to be inches from the lens. A frog's eye view.
sf
Veteran
Looks like a great lens for the money. ANd those colors are nice. What film was used?
X360
Member
Finally won my Lynx 14 on ebay.
Sweet camera! still going through a first roll but the feel of the mechanics is like butter. Feels alot nicer than my GSN.
Sweet camera! still going through a first roll but the feel of the mechanics is like butter. Feels alot nicer than my GSN.
bmattock
Veteran
X360 said:
First off, congrats! The winder rotates further on the Lynx, so it has more mechanical advantage and can feel smoother, I agee. On the other hand, it is not as fast to wind as the GSN. But I have to agree with you - a great camera. Enjoy it!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
X360
Member
bmattock said:
yeah your right the winder is a little bigger than the GSN. I wonder if letting it whip back after advancing is bad for the camera.
The other thing I like it the short travel distance on the shutter release. Taking the shot seems almost instantaneous
and the camera doesn't budge.
izo
Established
just some common kodak gold. colors was tweak in ps, to get neutral tone.shutterflower said: