Bill58
Native Texan
Take the UV filter OFF and only use it if you're in a sandstorm sometime, but get a hood. I use a rubber one on mine. The UV filter just degrades images from a great lens.
SYD_TRIBE
Member
Finally shot a roll of film (after wasting 2 because I didn't load the film right, don't ask!!! I'm a child of the digital generation, what can I say).
1st 5 exposures of 3rd roll didn't come out, I think because I was trying to work out how to load film and must have exposed the film by accident when working that out.
Very happy with some of the photo's that did come out…a step up in quality from my old Sigma dp1. After watching Bill Cunningham New York, itching to get out but wet weather in Sydney today's killed off that idea.
Waiting for refurb'd Epson scanner to arrive so can't scan anything yet.
Anyway, 3 questions
1. The accessory shoe is abit loose. How can I tighten it?
2. The frame in the viewfinder doesn't seem to move diagonally to compensate for parallax. How can I test this to see if it infect works or needs to be repaired?
3. Any recommendations on good hood? Rubber or metal?
1st 5 exposures of 3rd roll didn't come out, I think because I was trying to work out how to load film and must have exposed the film by accident when working that out.
Very happy with some of the photo's that did come out…a step up in quality from my old Sigma dp1. After watching Bill Cunningham New York, itching to get out but wet weather in Sydney today's killed off that idea.
Waiting for refurb'd Epson scanner to arrive so can't scan anything yet.
Anyway, 3 questions
1. The accessory shoe is abit loose. How can I tighten it?
2. The frame in the viewfinder doesn't seem to move diagonally to compensate for parallax. How can I test this to see if it infect works or needs to be repaired?
3. Any recommendations on good hood? Rubber or metal?
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Syd, the frame moving for parallax is a bit subtle. I had to look twice. Only noticable when you get up to pretty close focus.
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Hood... It's 52mm, so lots are available. Trick is to find one that doesn't block the range/view finder.
Here's the one I found on eBay from a Chinese seller (seems to change names, but search 52mm vented slanted lens hood). It's not perfect, but very close, and doesn't vignette.
Here's the one I found on eBay from a Chinese seller (seems to change names, but search 52mm vented slanted lens hood). It's not perfect, but very close, and doesn't vignette.
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Well damn, I thought I was the only one roaming around Sydney with a GX. Ha, congrats on the acquisition. The GX is one of my favourite Yashicas for a free and easy walkabout camera. Put a wrist strap on it and a spare roll of film in your pocket and just roam around taking available light snaps of whatever interests you. It's quite liberating. The 40mm lens is also a really happy field of view for me.
My framelines were a bit skewed as well when I got mine. I adjusted it a little to straighten it up but I honestly can't remember how I did it. So many different models that I've had the top covers off to clean the glass. I think I might have adjusted the stamped metal frameline stencil itself on it's mounting point. Will check mine later tonight to see how much the paralax correction works.
If you're in doubt and want to do a CLA I recently got mine done by an old school repairer in Melbourne (originally from Japan) and can pass on the details. He re-calibrated it to within half a stop over the full range of apertures and light values. He also drew me a table of tested values to highlight at what values it was not possible to correct the meter after recalibration. (I have my doubts if it was ever more accurate. At least now I know exactly what it's doing). Yes I had a baffling light meter issue which I thought was batteries but turned out to be a calibration issue which would under expose and then over-expose at the opposite ends of the light values and apertures. That's where I draw the line and send it to a pro. He fixed it so that the small variation now is at a very acceptable level especially given the amount of lattitude you get with everything but slide film. Eventually I also want to try some slide film and test it out but for the moment I'm more than happy to get my GX back in good shape.
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Bill58
Native Texan
Hood... It's 52mm, so lots are available. Trick is to find one that doesn't block the range/view finder.
Here's the one I found on eBay from a Chinese seller (seems to change names, but search 52mm vented slanted lens hood). It's not perfect, but very close, and doesn't vignette.
Thanks--I just ordered one to replace the collapsible rubber one I had on it. The rubber one blocked too much of the window to suit me when I took it out last weekend.
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Those vented hoods look good don't they?
I beleive the original metal one is rectangular. Hard part to find. I bought one about a week ago but has not arrived. I wonder if it will obsure the VF or vignet. I like collecting those small accessories even if I don't use them. Settles the GAS urges without to much pain, if you know what I mean????
btgc
Veteran
I think Electro RF's didn't have rectanglar hoods (TLR's did). I've seen small straight metal "Yashica" labeled hoods in various diameters (clamp-on fitting, 2mm larger than filter thread size), fitting MC, GX, G/GSN, even 58mm hood for Lynx 14.
And yes, I have one for 35MC, but haven't used it as lens is recessed and hood makes lens larger. But it's nice to have it, matching my black 35MC which I use on daily basis
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
I think Electro RF's didn't have rectanglar hoods (TLR's did). I've seen small straight metal "Yashica" labeled hoods in various diameters (clamp-on fitting, 2mm larger than filter thread size), fitting MC, GX, G/GSN, even 58mm hood for Lynx 14.
And yes, I have one for 35MC, but haven't used it as lens is recessed and hood makes lens larger. But it's nice to have it, matching my black 35MC which I use on daily basis
You could be right that it is not a genuine part but it's definitely not a TLR bay1 hood.
The ad specifically read that is was a yashica hood for GX, 54mm push on over any 52mm filter and in the pic was a rectangular hood with what appeared to be a genuine logo but I don't have high expectations. It also said it came with a hood case that attaches to the camera strap and a box. I'm hopeful!
SYD_TRIBE
Member
Hi Paolo, I'll keep a look out for you, can't be too many of us in SYD Yup, size and image quality seems to make this the perfect anywhere anytime! I'll probably do a CLA after I get thru this current roll…I'll grab the Melbourne CLA details if you can get them to me. Any experience with Camera Service Centre on Castlereagh? http://www.cameraservicecentre.powerup.com.au/index.html.
Gotta confess, I'm a point and shoot guy from way back so anything technical, and my eyes glaze over however its never too late to learn I guess. Dig some of your Flickr work too, something about giant rabbits that freaks me out but I couldn't stop looking at it.
Gotta confess, I'm a point and shoot guy from way back so anything technical, and my eyes glaze over however its never too late to learn I guess. Dig some of your Flickr work too, something about giant rabbits that freaks me out but I couldn't stop looking at it.
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Hey that pic of the freaky rabbit is one of my fav's.
About the castlereagh st camera repairer - I took my first Yashica there to get the rangefinder glass cleaned and my dead Minolta himatic light meter assessed. they could not fix the light meter on the himatic 7s and IMO overcharged me silly for the glass cleanup. I learnt how to clean the glass myself after that experience so at least one good thing came of it.
I now send my cameras to Yoshi Nagami in Melbourne.
http://nagamicamera.com.au/
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Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
OK more on the rectangular hood. I received it and yes it is genuine but I really doubt it was ever intended for the GX (as the seller stated) or even the CC which also has 52mm filter ring. They are the only yashicas in my collection which have a 52mm filter but damn you lose viewfinder real estate. At least 1/3 is totally hidden with the rectangular hood. The Rangefinder double image is still visible but only just.
To anyone considering it, don't bother. These hoods must have been made for something else which I have yet to pinpoint. Possibly one of the movie cameras or maybe the SLR's but I don't own any so cannot check.
I might make use of it though. My Nikons have 52mm filters at it kinda looks really groovy on my d7000 with a 35mm f1.8 lens and a battery grip. Old meets new!
To anyone considering it, don't bother. These hoods must have been made for something else which I have yet to pinpoint. Possibly one of the movie cameras or maybe the SLR's but I don't own any so cannot check.
I might make use of it though. My Nikons have 52mm filters at it kinda looks really groovy on my d7000 with a 35mm f1.8 lens and a battery grip. Old meets new!
farlymac
PF McFarland
Paolo, if you can't find the vented hood, look for one that is no deeper than 18mm. S&W 52mm Wide Angle is the model (and 55mm for the G series), but I can't remember the sellers name right now. I think I posted it here sometime ago in another thread.
PF
PF
Frontman
Well-known
The original hood shown in my GX owners manual is a simple metal hood with a chrome base ring and a knurled lock screw. The same hood is used on the CC and CCN. It is a smaller version of tne metal hoods which come on the full-size Electro rangefinders. I sometimes sell them, but they are not common.
There are vented hoods which are copies of the Leica 128## series of hoods available on eBay. These are screw-on hoods, and they actually work pretty well, and they also look good.
There are vented hoods which are copies of the Leica 128## series of hoods available on eBay. These are screw-on hoods, and they actually work pretty well, and they also look good.
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Thanks Farlymac and Frontman. I'll get one of those vented ones I think. I actually don't think I will like using a hood on the GX because I use that in a very minimal way with a wrist strap, two rolls of film and a very small messenger type shoulder bag but there are times when I really wish I had one.
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btgc
Veteran
In that very moments I use my palm....to shade a lens, of course!
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Vented Slanted Hood from eBay seller shamino123
Vented Slanted Hood from eBay seller shamino123
My vented slanted hood came from eBay seller shamino123
It's an excellent product, shipped instantly and arrived quickly to me in the US. This is a Hong Kong seller.
His current 52mm vented slanted hood listing is priced at US$12.90 with free shipping to most of the world. Mine arrived very promptly. It's eBay item 200626039372 right now, but that of course will change.
Now, about using it on the GX: If I screw it down tight, it works pretty well, but the vent is not quite in the right position so it blocks the viewfinder. I stick a piece of paper in the filter threads, then the vent is in exactly the right place. Both viewfinder and rangefinder spot can see through the vent.
Hood screwed down tight, blocks viewfinder:
Hood in best position, both viewfinder and rangefinder spot can see through the vent:
Vented Slanted Hood from eBay seller shamino123
My vented slanted hood came from eBay seller shamino123
It's an excellent product, shipped instantly and arrived quickly to me in the US. This is a Hong Kong seller.
His current 52mm vented slanted hood listing is priced at US$12.90 with free shipping to most of the world. Mine arrived very promptly. It's eBay item 200626039372 right now, but that of course will change.
Now, about using it on the GX: If I screw it down tight, it works pretty well, but the vent is not quite in the right position so it blocks the viewfinder. I stick a piece of paper in the filter threads, then the vent is in exactly the right place. Both viewfinder and rangefinder spot can see through the vent.
Hood screwed down tight, blocks viewfinder:
Hood in best position, both viewfinder and rangefinder spot can see through the vent:
btgc
Veteran
Sometimes I wonder if those cheapo hood makers have used their makes, just to see how useful they are. Non-matte inner surface (regular paint), inadequate dimensions are casual with 'em. This ^^^ hood could be machined to have much larger cut-outs (and hood still would be rigid) but no, probably they just made it looking like Leica? hood and didn't check if visibility is good.
Well, I realize they don't cost you fortune but neither they are $2 incl. shipping when you simply do not have right to object.
Well, I realize they don't cost you fortune but neither they are $2 incl. shipping when you simply do not have right to object.
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
I'm wondering if that vented hood obscures the RF patch at all. It seems to cross the small square at top center?
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Paolo, yes, it does block a diagonal line across the RF patch. The patch is still very usable. Any hood on the GX will obscure some of the VF and RF; this is the best I've found.