question about "additional" GTN lenses

[chris91387]

hello all, i'm looking in to picking up a GTN or GSN but have a question of the extra lenses available.

while checking ebay i see that sometimes you can pick up just the body or the body with up to 3 lenses. was this an option when a new camera was purchased or where they all sold together? i guess i'm really wondering if they're matched to a particular body or not? i did some google'ing but couldn't really get my questions answered.

thanks!

- chris

 

[pshinkaw]

The "Supplemental" lenses were sometimes sold in a package with the camera and sometimes not. Also, there were Yashica labeled lenses as well as lenses labeled by Spiratone, Accura and most likely others as well.

For a fixed lens rangefinder, Yashica's tend to have comparatively large diameter filter rings (55mm). Many contemporaries used 46mm or 48mm front ends. So, a generic supplemental lens has some risk of corner cut-off if it is too small.

One thing that should be matched is the viewfinder since the lense did vary in apparent magnification.

On the whole, these lenses gave very little change in apparent image size. I think most of the telephotos gave the appearance of a 50-60mm lens on a Yashica Electro. They were mostly a marketing tool to try and keep selling these cameras in the face of increased competition from SLR's.

I don't think they will enhance photo opportunities very much, although they will add a nice "retro" appearance to the camera.

If you do decide to try them out. I strongly recommend that you verify the focusing position with a groundglass focusing screen and magnifier from the back of the camera, unless you have a genuine Yashica set made for the Electro.

-Paul

 

[chris91387]

hmmm....interesting info. thanks, paul.

 

[chris91387]

Paul,

So, are the lenses on the Electros fixed? Do these "additional" lenses just thread on the front of the fixed lens?

Thanks.

 

[colyn]

Paul,

So, are the lenses on the Electros fixed? Do these "additional" lenses just thread on the front of the fixed lens?

Thanks.

The Electro 35 lens is a fixed non-removable lens.
The accy lens thread onto the front of the Electro lens.
I have used these lens and can tell you from personal experience they are not worth the money.

 

[JohnM]

The auxilliary lenses are pretty dire in use - much better to either take a couple of steps forward or a couple of steps back rather than using the tele or the wide auxilliary lenses.

The gear head in me, however, thinks they look pretty cool on the camera.

 

[amateriat]

The auxilliary lenses are pretty dire in use - much better to either take a couple of steps forward or a couple of steps back rather than using the tele or the wide auxilliary lenses.

The gear head in me, however, thinks they look pretty cool on the camera.

That, they do (especially with the auxilliary finder), but, optically? Forget it. I'll try to dig up one of the very few "interesting" shots I took with the wide-angle aux optic around 1974/5: still like it, went through hell to get it.


- Barrett

 

[jan normandale]

I think these lenses slightly "funk up" images and that is kind of intriguing for me. The optics are marginally messed up so the shot looks just a little different than it should. I like that.

 

[ChrisN]

If anybody wants a set, PM me.

 

[bsdunek]

I like my aux. lenses - but then, I'm a 'Completionist', and like to have all the accessories made for a camera.
I have been glad to have the wide-angle lens in marginal conditions. It just made the diffeence.
As stated above, they are very mild. The WA gives about a 38mm effect, whild the Tele is about 60mm.
These lenses are slow to use, except at infinity, as the focus must be compensated for using the table on the lenses. You focus with the rangefinder, read the distance, check the table, and re-focus the lens per the table.
I guess the neat thing is the looks, especially the aux. viewfinder. 😎

 

[filmgoerjuan]

Shot comparing wide, normal and tele lens for GSN

The manual states that the wide is 37.7mm and the tele is 58.4mm. I find the tele adaptor to be rather useless; the wide is more useful as most fixed lens rangefinders I have are around 45mm. The adaptors are fun to have but kind of pain to carry around and use.

 

[chris91387]

i'm not very interested in the tele. i often find myself wishing for something wider rather than closer. might be fun to play with. i just got my first yashica (GTN) and i'll pickup the extra lenses and play around. maybe i'll shoot a test between the lenses and put up the results if anyone's interested.

thanks everyone for the clarification,
chris

 

[chris91387]

okay, i picked up a GTN locally yesterday and just won some aux lenses off Ebay. need to buy some film and go shootin'.

yippppeeeee!

- chris