I saw an odd camera today - a Yashica Electro AX

[johnf04]

Made in the early 1970s - it has looks reminiscent of an early 1960s Praktica, with a leatherette insert in the top of the prism housing, and a button on the front, where the Praktica's shutter release is found.

It has a vertical metal bladed shutter, which is electronically timed, and a very unusual aperture priority exposure measurement system. When you wind the camera, the lens stops down. Press the shutter release half way - if no lights come on, the exposure is correct, and you can release the shutter. A light on the camera top stays on while the shutter is open. The button on the front is for temporarily opening the diaphragm for focusing, when the shutter is wound. The manual recommends focusing before you wind.

It is possible to use the camera in manual mode, by turning the shutter speed ring off "Auto", to a manual speed. There is no metering available in manual mode.

I gather this camera was not a market success.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

It is possible to use the camera in manual mode, by turning the shutter speed ring off "Auto", to a manual speed. There is no metering available in manual mode.

I gather this camera was not a market success.

IDK whether or not it was a market success, but it certainly was a weird mixture:

To an extent, it was ahead of its time — lots of electronics, and it wanted to be a fool proof camera for the cheerfully-go-ahead-amateur.

OTOH, there is one feature that is rather professional: the viewfinder blind.

 

[oftheherd]

Made in the early 1970s - it has looks reminiscent of an early 1960s Praktica, with a leatherette insert in the top of the prism housing, and a button on the front, where the Praktica's shutter release is found.

It has a vertical metal bladed shutter, which is electronically timed, and a very unusual aperture priority exposure measurement system. When you wind the camera, the lens stops down. Press the shutter release half way - if no lights come on, the exposure is correct, and you can release the shutter. A light on the camera top stays on while the shutter is open. The button on the front is for temporarily opening the diaphragm for focusing, when the shutter is wound. The manual recommends focusing before you wind.

It is possible to use the camera in manual mode, by turning the shutter speed ring off "Auto", to a manual speed. There is no metering available in manual mode.

I gather this camera was not a market success.

I remember when the AX came out. I never owned one nor even saw one, but did read all the magazine reviews. I had a purchased a Yashica TL Super and was looking for an auto exposure camera. I don't remember if I had already bought an auto exposure or not, but I remained interested in Yashicas. And other cameras that had auto exposure. That was the big upcoming thing. I think it had match arrow manual exposure.

I agree it is hard to understand the manual. It was rather poorly written I thought. But the photo could have been taken on auto just by cocking the shutter and making sure no arrows appeared.

I was surprised to see that it apparently couldn't take the older Yashica lenses which were great lenses. I suppose the later lenses were good as well since they would have been Tomioka lenses also.

Did you purchase the AX? Have you used it? Do you like it?

 

[johnf04]

It's at an auction - we'll see if the bid I left on it is high enough, next week.

 

[Jack Conrad]

It appears that I have that camera with a DS 50/1.4 lens.
Never tried it. In fact I forgot all about it. Don't know if it even works.
Has an M42 screw mount. The aperture doesn't respond to the button
on the front.

Tossed in a battery. Auto mode doesn't seem to work. Light comes on but doesn't effect the shutter speed. Manual mode is fine in all speeds.

 

[oftheherd]

It appears that I have that camera with a DS 50/1.4 lens.
Never tried it. In fact I forgot all about it. Don't know if it even works.
Has an M42 screw mount. The aperture doesn't respond to the button
on the front.

Tossed in a battery. Auto mode doesn't seem to work. Light comes on but doesn't effect the shutter speed. Manual mode is fine in all speeds.

How old/strong is the battery? The manual mentions that as a problem when trying to use auto. You might have a perfectly working camera after all

 

[Jack Conrad]

How old/strong is the battery? The manual mentions that as a problem when trying to use auto. You might have a perfectly working camera after all

The camera itself is probably ok. The problem is that the lens auto aperture pin is somehow frozen in it's pushed in position.
An issue for another day, perhaps.

 

[johnf04]

My bid wasn't high enough.

 

[Beemermark]

My bid wasn't high enough.

Consider yourself lucky -🙂