Bill58
Native Texan
Terrence said:
My GX beats the pants off ALL my other compact RFs. Get one if you can find one--mine came from Japan.
bensyverson
Well-known
There's a GX on the 'bay right now that's already above $100...
My "broken" Yashica CC arrived today. It was kind of cruddy, like it had been in a glove compartment for 30 years... There was an insert in the film reminder pouch -- it was a piece of cardboard that obviously shipped with the camera, explaining what the film reminder pouch was, in English and Japanese! There was a little bit of yarn stuck where the lens attached to the body.
I went over it and cleaned it out thoroughly. At some point, someone had left a battery in there, and it coroded a good deal of the interior... So that took some time to clean up. There was even a strange smudge inside the rangefinder, which I removed very very very carefully from a non-silvered surface with a q-tip. The seals of course needed replacing.
After I got it all cleaned up, the electrical system started working again, so I closed it up and reassembled it... and then the cap on the film advance lever snapped off its thread. I was really careful, but I think the metal was coroded from the battery leak. The threaded part of the cap was still screwed into the film advance shaft, with nothing sticking out. It looked impossible to remove, but after 10 minutes with a pin, I was able to rotate it out of the advance shaft.
So... does anyone have a spare film advance cap from an Electro they'd be willing to part with? As a stopgap, I'm going to just use a washer and screw to attach the advance lever, but obviously that's not ideal...
Overall, it looks like a great camera though. Especially now that it's sparkly clean!
My "broken" Yashica CC arrived today. It was kind of cruddy, like it had been in a glove compartment for 30 years... There was an insert in the film reminder pouch -- it was a piece of cardboard that obviously shipped with the camera, explaining what the film reminder pouch was, in English and Japanese! There was a little bit of yarn stuck where the lens attached to the body.
I went over it and cleaned it out thoroughly. At some point, someone had left a battery in there, and it coroded a good deal of the interior... So that took some time to clean up. There was even a strange smudge inside the rangefinder, which I removed very very very carefully from a non-silvered surface with a q-tip. The seals of course needed replacing.
After I got it all cleaned up, the electrical system started working again, so I closed it up and reassembled it... and then the cap on the film advance lever snapped off its thread. I was really careful, but I think the metal was coroded from the battery leak. The threaded part of the cap was still screwed into the film advance shaft, with nothing sticking out. It looked impossible to remove, but after 10 minutes with a pin, I was able to rotate it out of the advance shaft.
So... does anyone have a spare film advance cap from an Electro they'd be willing to part with? As a stopgap, I'm going to just use a washer and screw to attach the advance lever, but obviously that's not ideal...
Overall, it looks like a great camera though. Especially now that it's sparkly clean!
Bill58
Native Texan
You might try Mark Hama in GA/ USA (http://markhama.home.comcast.net/) for the part and a CLA--he's an ace Yashica repair guy. Otherwise, you're SOL I think.
bensyverson
Well-known
Cool, I'll see if Mark has the part.
I don't think a CLA is necessary anymore -- it's working great!
I don't think a CLA is necessary anymore -- it's working great!
Terrence
Established
Bill58 said:
i know, i had been wanting a GX for so looong... it's my most wanted fixed lens range finder but the price always were higher than what i am willing to pay... :bang:
gimme some time
Bill58
Native Texan
Terrence:
I got lucky and bought one off a Japanese RF enthusiast....but the source has dried up. He won't answer my emails anymore.
Bill
I got lucky and bought one off a Japanese RF enthusiast....but the source has dried up. He won't answer my emails anymore.
Bill
NickTrop
Veteran
I have several of these cameras. I use them all. Here's how I use them:
Lynx 14e - 1.4 lens on a leaf shutter range finder. All manual. Yes its big. Lens is flare-prone. I use this camera mostly as an indoor candid camera. Its lens behaves like a good 1.4 should. It is surprisingly sharp at lower apertures, peaking probably at f4 or f5.6 but not much more gain at f8. I think of fast lenses not so much as "wow, I can shoot at f1.4" but more as "wow, look how sharp f2.8 is!"
This camera is always loaded with film. It's used as my "family and friends indoor with ambient light" shooter. It's a bit too big for outdoor walking around stuff, or I should say I prefer other cameras for "street photography". Howver, it gets a lot of use. I like this camera a lot and use it often.
Konica Auto S3. Leica anything out of your price range? This is the quintessential diminutive black metal body street shooter with a lens Moder Photography rated "the best semi-wide optic they've ever tested". The lens lives up to its billing. It's brilliant with center resolution of 60+ to 80+ across all apertures. (The XA has max resolution in the 60's, so the Konica out-performs it at 1.8). Just a fantastic street shooter but shutter priority only. The shutter is whisper quiteon this one, and has a higher top ss of 1/640.
Yashica Electro CC. Another great street shooter. Fine lens with a 35/1.8 spec (another Yashica "first and only" in this category. Notice a trend here?) and that great (imo) aperture priority/step less shutter system and that fine Eletctro metering system. Has some downsides - top ss of 1/250 and slow shutter capabilities up to a minute or more. This camera takes second place to the Konica by a hair but another great street shooter. You would be surprised how nicely you'll do with 400 speed film in darker situations - bars, restaurants, walking around at night. No worries about the battery by the way. Takes a commonly available photo cell and will meter just fine with it.
In summary, these cameras, though all fixed lens rangefinders are quite different. All are good for general photography. The Lynx 14e you have the most control over and is an "honest" camera - full manual control parallax corrected viewfinder, very fast lens (only one to hit the 1.4 spec), normal (45mm) focal length (which I like), leaf shutter syncs with flash at all speeds. Really the only downside is its size and definitely isn't the stealthy street shooter. The Auto S3 and the CC are stealthy black street shooters - both great rangefinders with terrific glass. I prefer the S3 by a hair because it accepts higher film speeds and has a faster shutter. The CC, however, is no slouch and have been amazed of the fine optics on both cameras. The CC is a little larger and has better build quality than the Auto S3.
Lynx 14e - 1.4 lens on a leaf shutter range finder. All manual. Yes its big. Lens is flare-prone. I use this camera mostly as an indoor candid camera. Its lens behaves like a good 1.4 should. It is surprisingly sharp at lower apertures, peaking probably at f4 or f5.6 but not much more gain at f8. I think of fast lenses not so much as "wow, I can shoot at f1.4" but more as "wow, look how sharp f2.8 is!"
This camera is always loaded with film. It's used as my "family and friends indoor with ambient light" shooter. It's a bit too big for outdoor walking around stuff, or I should say I prefer other cameras for "street photography". Howver, it gets a lot of use. I like this camera a lot and use it often.
Konica Auto S3. Leica anything out of your price range? This is the quintessential diminutive black metal body street shooter with a lens Moder Photography rated "the best semi-wide optic they've ever tested". The lens lives up to its billing. It's brilliant with center resolution of 60+ to 80+ across all apertures. (The XA has max resolution in the 60's, so the Konica out-performs it at 1.8). Just a fantastic street shooter but shutter priority only. The shutter is whisper quiteon this one, and has a higher top ss of 1/640.
Yashica Electro CC. Another great street shooter. Fine lens with a 35/1.8 spec (another Yashica "first and only" in this category. Notice a trend here?) and that great (imo) aperture priority/step less shutter system and that fine Eletctro metering system. Has some downsides - top ss of 1/250 and slow shutter capabilities up to a minute or more. This camera takes second place to the Konica by a hair but another great street shooter. You would be surprised how nicely you'll do with 400 speed film in darker situations - bars, restaurants, walking around at night. No worries about the battery by the way. Takes a commonly available photo cell and will meter just fine with it.
In summary, these cameras, though all fixed lens rangefinders are quite different. All are good for general photography. The Lynx 14e you have the most control over and is an "honest" camera - full manual control parallax corrected viewfinder, very fast lens (only one to hit the 1.4 spec), normal (45mm) focal length (which I like), leaf shutter syncs with flash at all speeds. Really the only downside is its size and definitely isn't the stealthy street shooter. The Auto S3 and the CC are stealthy black street shooters - both great rangefinders with terrific glass. I prefer the S3 by a hair because it accepts higher film speeds and has a faster shutter. The CC, however, is no slouch and have been amazed of the fine optics on both cameras. The CC is a little larger and has better build quality than the Auto S3.
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OlympusRF
Established
Its an interesting talk about the little great rangefinders with fixed lens, so I thought of putting it alive again and in top of the group:
I still didn't had the Konica S3 or the Yashica 35 GX, but the Minolta 7SII was the only of the group that I sold. In my opinion it didn't give me anything I didn't had better in the other cameras
My rangefinders:
OLYMPUS 35 RC RD & SP, Canon QL17 GIII black, Zorki 1, Zorki 4, Kiev 4, Olympus 35-S f1.9, Olympus 35-S f1.8, Olympus ACE, Olympus Auto electro-set f1.8, Olympus ACE E, Olympus Auto-eye, Voighlander vitoret DR, Olympus 35 ED, Yashica 35 CC.
The rangefinders I've sold (and that I remember):
Minolta Hi-Matic 9, Olympus 35 LC, Olympus 35-S f3.5, Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super, Ricoh 500G, Olympus XA (didn't work), Minolta Hi-matic 7SII
My cameras collection:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olympusrf/sets/
I still didn't had the Konica S3 or the Yashica 35 GX, but the Minolta 7SII was the only of the group that I sold. In my opinion it didn't give me anything I didn't had better in the other cameras
My rangefinders:
OLYMPUS 35 RC RD & SP, Canon QL17 GIII black, Zorki 1, Zorki 4, Kiev 4, Olympus 35-S f1.9, Olympus 35-S f1.8, Olympus ACE, Olympus Auto electro-set f1.8, Olympus ACE E, Olympus Auto-eye, Voighlander vitoret DR, Olympus 35 ED, Yashica 35 CC.
The rangefinders I've sold (and that I remember):
Minolta Hi-Matic 9, Olympus 35 LC, Olympus 35-S f3.5, Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super, Ricoh 500G, Olympus XA (didn't work), Minolta Hi-matic 7SII
My cameras collection:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olympusrf/sets/
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Trius
Waiting on Maitani
I have a 35RC, 35SP (x2), XA (2), Auto Electroset, Tower 51, Minolta 7Sii and I've had Minolta 35LC, Konica C35, Minolta 7S and maybe a couple more I don't recall.
I won't be without an SP, an XA and the 7Sii. If I had a Konica S2, an Olympus 35RD or a Yashica I might reconsider selling the 7Sii, but its combination of features and small size are really nice.
I won't be without an SP, an XA and the 7Sii. If I had a Konica S2, an Olympus 35RD or a Yashica I might reconsider selling the 7Sii, but its combination of features and small size are really nice.
lam
Well-known
I just saved a little Konica Auto S3 from death.
Picked it up from the local thrift for a few dollars.
The viewfinder glass had popped out, flying around loosely..
Battery wire corroded, no meter..
hot shoe bent up, meter not working.
I took it apart, fixed it up and back to working condition
I LOVE the day glow orange for the S and the Arrow for the flash G.N ft.
Here it is, a camera I saved! by lamlux.net, on Flickr
A shot from the test roll; sharp!
Anyone remember these BP service signs? Kid memories. by lamlux.net, on Flickr
The local garage of Chagrin Falls. by lamlux.net, on Flickr
Next project, See if my Olympus Trip 35 actually works, and fix it!
Picked it up from the local thrift for a few dollars.
The viewfinder glass had popped out, flying around loosely..
Battery wire corroded, no meter..
hot shoe bent up, meter not working.
I took it apart, fixed it up and back to working condition
I LOVE the day glow orange for the S and the Arrow for the flash G.N ft.
Here it is, a camera I saved! by lamlux.net, on Flickr
A shot from the test roll; sharp!
Anyone remember these BP service signs? Kid memories. by lamlux.net, on Flickr
The local garage of Chagrin Falls. by lamlux.net, on Flickr
Next project, See if my Olympus Trip 35 actually works, and fix it!
Russ
Well-known
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
The OP wanted to shoot wide open. On the G III, with its shutter preferred auto, that would mean shooting in manual. That might work out quite well for your intended use.
I'll second the suggestion for the GX. Excellent camera, ASA 800, and (unlike the CC) a real iris for the aperture.
dbarnes
Well-known
Used to own a black 7sii and a chrome GIII/QL. The Minolta worked great; the Canon jammed as soon as I replaced its light seals, so I have more experience with the Minolta. I found it light and sharp and the controls were easy to use. The Canon was heavier and I remember that either the aperture or shutter speed ring was rather hard to grasp, the ring being thin.
Neither viewfinder holds a candle to a $250 Bessa R body, which is what I moved on to.
But between the 7sii and the GIII/QL, I'd pick the Minolta for its better controls.
FWIW, the black body 7sii is lovely -- but I covered mine up with black masking tape to keep it from getting scratched. Honestly, I might as well have started with a much cheaper chrome body.
Your mileage may vary.
Neither viewfinder holds a candle to a $250 Bessa R body, which is what I moved on to.
But between the 7sii and the GIII/QL, I'd pick the Minolta for its better controls.
FWIW, the black body 7sii is lovely -- but I covered mine up with black masking tape to keep it from getting scratched. Honestly, I might as well have started with a much cheaper chrome body.
Your mileage may vary.
jazzwave
Well-known
I have Canonet GIII QL, and sold it I after got Konica Auto S2.
The S2 has better lens (hexanon) than the canon, i love it.
Yesterday, I bought another Konica, the black S3.
I like S3 because smaller than S2 and black..
For me Konica, is the best RF fixed manual lens....beside Contax T3 (Autofocus).
Hexanon RF lens give big contribution for Konica Auto S quality.
~ron~
The S2 has better lens (hexanon) than the canon, i love it.
Yesterday, I bought another Konica, the black S3.
I like S3 because smaller than S2 and black..
For me Konica, is the best RF fixed manual lens....beside Contax T3 (Autofocus).
Hexanon RF lens give big contribution for Konica Auto S quality.
~ron~
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