Avotius
Some guy
Every time I use my wee Yashica GSN and get the results back I think...."why do we buy anything else?"
The answer to that is simple for some and not for others. For me it was the viewfinder. Im sure I could get mine cleaned somehow but it just never was bright enough, although I was able to use it in some very demanding situations. For others its everything from size (not the smallest rangefinder for sure) to lack of bragging rights. Somehow 13 dollar camera (what I paid for mine) doesn't seem something that you can boast about unless the person you are showing off to is a fellow super geek.
But anyway, I love this camera for its discrete clicking shutter, the lack of movement when those thin metal leafs spring into action. I love the light meter, its absolutely fabulous, in dozens of rolls of film I think I have no more then 3 shots that were off, situations that would make my Canon 20D cry like a baby are simple for this little masterpiece. But the main reason I love this camera is that its lens is just top notch for my style of shooting. Its got character, its got sharpness, its got smooth gradients, great out of focus qualities, its fast, and best of all, its a normal. A hair wider then a 50, and thats just great. The metal on the barrel, the double focus nubs, the confident aperture ring...its all a tactile experience that make it just that much better. If I could have this lens in M mount I would sell my Zeiss Planar on the spot. For me this lens is just the business.
And now that I have gushed about the lens so much, how about a few pictures recently developed by yours truly. Ilford HP5 in LC29 1:29.
The alley way I took this photo in had the perfect lighting, the sun was situated in just a way that it didn't illuminate the wall but did cast a glow on the person sitting in the middle of it. She just looked at me on that hot day with barely a response as I snapped a few shots and walked on.
Old guys wasting away the hot Chongqing days playing cards in a little tea shop. Hard to imagine some of these practices lasting much longer and younger generations have found new alternative entertainments.
A couple of boys cooling off by the river on a particularly hot day. Actually it seemed pretty nice, I could have used a dip myself.
An old style Chinese country house with many of the old style things still in it makes it a quaint little place to grow up in, even if they may dream of opportunities in the cities.
Two boys playing around someones door, who knows what mischief they are up to.
Little girl takes a stretch after waking up from a nap on the chair.
Lighting up the pipe of tobaco and bark chips they grow in the countryside. Only the older people smoke this stuff as it is considered too vile by younger city people.
Cheers!
The answer to that is simple for some and not for others. For me it was the viewfinder. Im sure I could get mine cleaned somehow but it just never was bright enough, although I was able to use it in some very demanding situations. For others its everything from size (not the smallest rangefinder for sure) to lack of bragging rights. Somehow 13 dollar camera (what I paid for mine) doesn't seem something that you can boast about unless the person you are showing off to is a fellow super geek.
But anyway, I love this camera for its discrete clicking shutter, the lack of movement when those thin metal leafs spring into action. I love the light meter, its absolutely fabulous, in dozens of rolls of film I think I have no more then 3 shots that were off, situations that would make my Canon 20D cry like a baby are simple for this little masterpiece. But the main reason I love this camera is that its lens is just top notch for my style of shooting. Its got character, its got sharpness, its got smooth gradients, great out of focus qualities, its fast, and best of all, its a normal. A hair wider then a 50, and thats just great. The metal on the barrel, the double focus nubs, the confident aperture ring...its all a tactile experience that make it just that much better. If I could have this lens in M mount I would sell my Zeiss Planar on the spot. For me this lens is just the business.
And now that I have gushed about the lens so much, how about a few pictures recently developed by yours truly. Ilford HP5 in LC29 1:29.
The alley way I took this photo in had the perfect lighting, the sun was situated in just a way that it didn't illuminate the wall but did cast a glow on the person sitting in the middle of it. She just looked at me on that hot day with barely a response as I snapped a few shots and walked on.
Old guys wasting away the hot Chongqing days playing cards in a little tea shop. Hard to imagine some of these practices lasting much longer and younger generations have found new alternative entertainments.
A couple of boys cooling off by the river on a particularly hot day. Actually it seemed pretty nice, I could have used a dip myself.
An old style Chinese country house with many of the old style things still in it makes it a quaint little place to grow up in, even if they may dream of opportunities in the cities.
Two boys playing around someones door, who knows what mischief they are up to.
Little girl takes a stretch after waking up from a nap on the chair.
Lighting up the pipe of tobaco and bark chips they grow in the countryside. Only the older people smoke this stuff as it is considered too vile by younger city people.
Cheers!
Last edited:
nikola
Well-known
Great! Love the last one.
You can have it in Leica mount, someone is doing conversions but I can't remember exactly... I read it here tough, do a search.
You can have it in Leica mount, someone is doing conversions but I can't remember exactly... I read it here tough, do a search.
Avotius
Some guy
nikola said:Great! Love the last one.
You can have it in Leica mount, someone is doing conversions but I can't remember exactly... I read it here tough, do a search.
Thanks, I like the last one too! Some group out of japan I think but they dont sell outside of japan and I didnt see any info about the yashinon on there, mind you my japanese stinks but searching for the word yashica and then looking at what the specs of the lenses are I didnt see it
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Very nice indeed ... pic number two is my favourite ... they are all wonderful shots though. I just bought a black GT and was out yesterday running a roll of Plus-X through it to make sure all was well ... while scanning the very ordinary pics last night was reminded of just how good the lens is!
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
You can't argue with those photos, I enjoyed everyone.
Bob
Bob
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Please stop posting photos made with this lens. That is all.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Trius said:
Sorry can't do that ... it's such a good lens!
BW400CN
Plus-X
Last edited:
Terao
Kiloran
Just excellent all round, shots with great character, nice development, nice everything.
*heads off to search classifieds *
*heads off to search classifieds
*
Avotius
Some guy
Trius said:
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................no
pesphoto
Veteran
I sold my GSN after a CLA to a RFF member and am having major seller's remorse! All for what? To help pay a lousy bill! Maybe he'll sell it back to me?
Avotius
Some guy
pesphoto said:
Bills suck, best not to pay them at all.
pesphoto
Veteran
Avotius said:
I'm starting to lean that way. I recently picked up a GS but the meter seems dead. Even bought a battery adapter from Yashica Guy
Here is one with my old GSN that I sold:
Last edited:
Avotius
Some guy
Oh what the heck, one more cant hurt:
In Dazu there is a bunch of weird looking doors in places that look as if no one has passed through in years. The whole area is thousands of years old with stone carvings and artifacts scattered all through the mountain side (which is now the most unholy of tourist traps) but some times you can see something uniquely out of place like this door and take it all in.
In Dazu there is a bunch of weird looking doors in places that look as if no one has passed through in years. The whole area is thousands of years old with stone carvings and artifacts scattered all through the mountain side (which is now the most unholy of tourist traps) but some times you can see something uniquely out of place like this door and take it all in.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
one more for luck ...
Joe Vitessa
Well-known
Wow, Avotius, great tonality on the hands shot. Really beautiful. I had no idea this little (and inexpensive!) wonder was so good. Who needs my pricey Konica S3?
stuken
Established
Theres one of these cameras at one of the local thrift shops right now that is going for i think 15 bucks. It's in need of a CLA by the looks of things, but man, how tempting.
mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
I have a GTN that arrived (fairly) recently that I haven't had a chance to use at all (not even run a film through it yet to see if it works). This thread has seriousluy motivated me to change that!
The GTN gets used this weekend.
...Mike
The GTN gets used this weekend.
...Mike
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Avotius and Keith, simply marvelous. Guess what I need to pull out and use? But I sure won't get photo essay-like results as Avotius is getting. You really need to publish these, my friend.
Anyway, the lens and meter of the camera are great. I'm not wild about the focusing ring grip, though (rather cramped), and the shutter button has awfully long travel before it trips, it seems to me. In short, ergonomically the GS/GT series isn't the greatest, not by a long shot. But it's true, the results from the camera are fantastic.
Anyway, the lens and meter of the camera are great. I'm not wild about the focusing ring grip, though (rather cramped), and the shutter button has awfully long travel before it trips, it seems to me. In short, ergonomically the GS/GT series isn't the greatest, not by a long shot. But it's true, the results from the camera are fantastic.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
KoNickon said:
You've identified the two things that irk me about the camera also. Those little plastic grips on the focusing ring are not where they need to be and I keep thinking there must be a way to improve the design. The shutter travel issue is much improved with a Luigi soft release on mine ... it makes a huge difference!
It's hard to force this lens out of it's comfort zone
