cubastreet
Member
Hi,
I just bought a couple of GSNs off the bay.
I've been shooting only digital, but came across a kodak retina IIIC at a yard sale and fell in love.
Long story short, I received the cameras this week.
First impression: wow this thing's big.
To me, the retina would class as compact ... ish.
Big compared to compact digital cams, but....
The GSN is a monster!
One of them is mint in box - very clean inside and out.
OK next - I'm not all that into the design. To me it's not pretty or handsome.
Build quality is definitely not as high as the retina. Both the lenses feel slightly loose at the aperture ring, and one at the body too. I guess Hong Kong assembly helped make these cheap enough to be as plentiful as they are now, so I can forgive that and just fix them up.
The lens does look very nice. I've got a roll of fujichrome in it at the moment to test the metering, so can't comment on the results yet. It would be nice if the lens stopped down to f22 though, since the shutter will only go to 1/500.
All it took was a clean of the contacts in the battery compartments, a fresh 6v cell, and both the GSNs beamed into life. That's pretty good.
It's very simple and intuitive to use. I love some of the night shots I've seen from them, and available light is the big reason I bought this camera.
In the night time the looks don't matter, and the size is less of an issue too.
I got the yashica tele-wide lenses which I don't plan to use. The auxillary viewfinder is cool though, probably why it often gets separated from the lenses. They'll probably end up back on ebay.
I would love to take the lens, rangefinder and shutter and build a custom body, but that's way down my list of overambitious projects so don't expect anything soon.
Anyway, I'll post my thoughts when I get the film back.
I just bought a couple of GSNs off the bay.
I've been shooting only digital, but came across a kodak retina IIIC at a yard sale and fell in love.
Long story short, I received the cameras this week.
First impression: wow this thing's big.
To me, the retina would class as compact ... ish.
Big compared to compact digital cams, but....
The GSN is a monster!
One of them is mint in box - very clean inside and out.
OK next - I'm not all that into the design. To me it's not pretty or handsome.
Build quality is definitely not as high as the retina. Both the lenses feel slightly loose at the aperture ring, and one at the body too. I guess Hong Kong assembly helped make these cheap enough to be as plentiful as they are now, so I can forgive that and just fix them up.
The lens does look very nice. I've got a roll of fujichrome in it at the moment to test the metering, so can't comment on the results yet. It would be nice if the lens stopped down to f22 though, since the shutter will only go to 1/500.
All it took was a clean of the contacts in the battery compartments, a fresh 6v cell, and both the GSNs beamed into life. That's pretty good.
It's very simple and intuitive to use. I love some of the night shots I've seen from them, and available light is the big reason I bought this camera.
In the night time the looks don't matter, and the size is less of an issue too.
I got the yashica tele-wide lenses which I don't plan to use. The auxillary viewfinder is cool though, probably why it often gets separated from the lenses. They'll probably end up back on ebay.
I would love to take the lens, rangefinder and shutter and build a custom body, but that's way down my list of overambitious projects so don't expect anything soon.
Anyway, I'll post my thoughts when I get the film back.
Encinalense
Established
Welcome to the club! You'll get used to the look -- I felt the same way about the looks when I first got mine (but, given how cheap it was, I didn't care), but now I think it's kind of beautiful.
If you really need something faster than 1/500, consider an ND filter and set the ASA dial to compensate (somewhere -- maybe here -- I've seen the values for this) for the non-TTL metering. But yeah, you'll probably love the lens.
Enjoy!
If you really need something faster than 1/500, consider an ND filter and set the ASA dial to compensate (somewhere -- maybe here -- I've seen the values for this) for the non-TTL metering. But yeah, you'll probably love the lens.
Enjoy!
oftheherd
Veteran
Welcome to the forums cubastreet. I think you will like the Yashicas. Many here have them and do like them. Strangely I have never really lusted after them, other than the Lynx with the f/1.4 lens. I say strangely since I bought my first Yashica about 1963, a movie camera. My first SLR was a Yashica about 1971. I like their SLR line. I tend to be brand loyal once I find something I like. But that is just me.
Good luck on the project you have set for your future. It sounds interesting. Look forward to seeing it when you do get around to it.
Good luck on the project you have set for your future. It sounds interesting. Look forward to seeing it when you do get around to it.
cubastreet
Member
Thanks for the welcomes.
Don't think I'll bother with ND filters etc, like to keep it simple, and don't want any unnecessary layers on the lens.
As for the project - the chances of it ever getting off the ground are VERY slim
Don't think I'll bother with ND filters etc, like to keep it simple, and don't want any unnecessary layers on the lens.
As for the project - the chances of it ever getting off the ground are VERY slim