sooner
Well-known
Hi folks, I'm hoping for some advice. I just bought a Yashica fox-3 super 2000. I noticed the Yashica lens that came with it doesn't click firmly into place, though it's not loose and I'm able to take pictures. But when I mounted a Contax c/y lens and press the shutter the mirror stays up, blacking out the viewfinder indefinitely. I don't know if the shutter stayed open or it was just an issue with the mirror. The only way to get it down again was to start to remove the lens, after which the mirror goes down again. Is this a defective camera, or am I loading the lens wrong, or are some contax lenses not compatible? Any insight would be appreciated!
f16sunshine
Moderator
Yes mirror issue.
Either bumper is dissolving and sticky or maybe the mirror came loose.
Check carefully.
Either bumper is dissolving and sticky or maybe the mirror came loose.
Check carefully.
sooner
Well-known
Thanks for the thoughts, but the mirror works fine with the Yashica lens. It’s just with the Zeiss lens that the problem occurs.
retinax
Well-known
Just speculation here, I don't know the system. But the only way I can imagine the lens could possibly have a effect on the mirror (short of a rear element blocking the mirror) is if the stop-down-action is somehow coupled to the mirror release. Does the lens stop down or open up the aperture without undue resistance when you wiggle the little lever that the body activates?
f16sunshine
Moderator
The Zeiss lens may have a thicker flange tab.
Putting just enough extra pressure to cause the mirror to jam.
I use a lot of Zeiss/Contax gear for 30+ years... never had incompatibility.
I have had a mirror that had come loose on a 139 body but did not fall out.... It had to be re-glued.
I wonder if your mirror slipped forward??
It’s possible the lens was disassembled and re-assembled incorrectly.
Do you have another c/y camera to test it on?
If it helps to know, I have the Zeiss 45 Tessar on an FX3 2000 and it’s fine.
The camera has been used with Zeiss 50 1.4 and f2.8/85 as well with no problems.
Putting just enough extra pressure to cause the mirror to jam.
I use a lot of Zeiss/Contax gear for 30+ years... never had incompatibility.
I have had a mirror that had come loose on a 139 body but did not fall out.... It had to be re-glued.
I wonder if your mirror slipped forward??
It’s possible the lens was disassembled and re-assembled incorrectly.
Do you have another c/y camera to test it on?
If it helps to know, I have the Zeiss 45 Tessar on an FX3 2000 and it’s fine.
The camera has been used with Zeiss 50 1.4 and f2.8/85 as well with no problems.
santino
FSU gear head
Well, the mirror could slide towards the lens (a very common problem with the Contax RX e.g.), since it is only fixed with a strip of glue to the mechanism. This would not effect all lenses, Zeiss lenses typically protrude deeper into the camera body than their Yeshica equivalents (hence one cannot use most Zeiss lenses with the Eos 5d series).
sooner
Well-known
I’ll try a different lens, the problem one is a 50 1.7. Just to clarify, shouldn’t the Yashica lens “click” into place? I’m thinking it must have something to do with the fact the lens doesn’t snap all the way. But I tested it and the Yashica does stop down when the shutter fires.
santino
FSU gear head
Does the lens Yeshica lens "lock" or can you just twist it off? There might be a problem with the Yeshica lens and the mirror.
sooner
Well-known
Ok, so I tried the Contax 45 pancake lens. It mounted with no give but still had the mirror lockup problem as with the other Contax lens. Any other thoughts?
Yes, if it's a Yashica lens, it should latch with a notch in the top bayonet lug.
So either the notch in the bayonet lug is very worn (happens once in while), or it isn't a Yashica lens at all (just having a very similar-sized bayonet). (Well, the latter's unlikely, you said it's a Yashica lens.)
jim_jm
Well-known
Press the lens release button and look for the moving tab inside the top of the body's bayonet mount. This tab engages a notch in the bayonet on the lens. It's possible the tab mechanism is a bit sticky, or the notch on the lens is a bit worn. As long as the lens cannot be released without pressing the button, I wouldn't be concerned if it "clicks" into place or not.
Your issue with the mirror is unrelated to this. It's a known problem with many C/Y mount bodies, (and as others have mentioned here) it's caused by the mirror slipping forward towards the lens over time. I have a Contax RTSII body with the same problem - works fine with the Zeiss 28mm lens, but the mirror gets stuck with the Zeiss 50/1.7. Here's a link to the Camera Repair Forum discussing this: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/20735/17306.html?1261275696
Easy fix if you care to take the time to do so.
Your issue with the mirror is unrelated to this. It's a known problem with many C/Y mount bodies, (and as others have mentioned here) it's caused by the mirror slipping forward towards the lens over time. I have a Contax RTSII body with the same problem - works fine with the Zeiss 28mm lens, but the mirror gets stuck with the Zeiss 50/1.7. Here's a link to the Camera Repair Forum discussing this: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/20735/17306.html?1261275696
Easy fix if you care to take the time to do so.
Kai-san
Filmwaster
I have an FX-2 and if the mirror fixture is the same in the FX-3 (quite likely), the mirror cannot slide forwards because it sits in a metal frame that will not allow any movement. I have no problems with Contax lenses on the FX-2 and there shouldn't be with the FX-3 either.
Kai,
FX-2 on the one hand and FX-3 and the FX-3 Super 2000 in question on the other hand are *very* different. FX-2 = 690 g vs. FX-3 = 450 g, e.g.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Yashica_FX-2
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Yashica_FX-3
f16sunshine
Moderator
FX-3 2000 was built by Cosina around the same body as many other Cosina built model (nikon fm10, Olympus OM2000 others...)
It's a different body than all the other Yashica or Contax bodies built by Kyocera.
I like it.. Super lightweight and simple. The self timer locks up the mirror for slow Shutter speeds on a tripod.
Nice functional body with a good shutter but the other materials are cheap which is part of the lightweight.
It's a different body than all the other Yashica or Contax bodies built by Kyocera.
I like it.. Super lightweight and simple. The self timer locks up the mirror for slow Shutter speeds on a tripod.
Nice functional body with a good shutter but the other materials are cheap which is part of the lightweight.
Kai-san
Filmwaster
Well, it should be easy to check the mirror fixture and possibly rule it out as the cause of the problem.
monopix
Cam repairer
Your problem is a slipped mirror. Check the bottom edge of the mirror. It shouldn't overhang the frame. I suspect yours does.
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Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
@sooner, I believe you have a defective camera. The Yashica lens should click into place, as should the Zeiss.
I've mounted the 50 f/1.7 on many Yashica bodies and used it with no problems. I no longer have an FX-3 Super to try, but I'll bet yours has a problem.
sooner
Well-known
Thanks for the thoughts, I’ll return the camera as it was an EBay purchase and I’m not willing to risk messing up the mirror even more with my own remedy. Ugh.