Why Yashica?

C

Chinasaur

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For those of you that love your Yashica rangefinders..and who have other bodies from other manufacturers..or don't ...

What is it about the Yashica's that you like?

As a newbie to Yashica..I'm finding it hard to put into words. Maybe it's the low light performance? Maybe the "feel" of the smaller body and it's compactness? Some other quality?

I dont' have any other make of fixed lens rff (other than Oly PEN)...so I'm curious...
 
The Yashica E35 was my first serious camera : I got it in 1967 (aged 18).

At that time in France, the german cameras (Zeiss, etc.) were more reputed and the japanese cameras were very sparingly imported. When I first saw the E35 in a shop, what excited me most was the concept of an "electronic shutter" controled by an RC timer. But I was also impressed by the neat look and the luminous lens - compared with the 2.8 Zeiss (and al.) standard, 1.7 was more than 1 stop better - and it happened to be a great lens indeed !

As a number of my relatives soon also bought Yashicas RFs, and by now.all switched to digital, I could collect a lot of them - for free (all different models, including a Lynx 14-IC).

Today, I am more a MF fan, but I still use them from time to time. By the way, I had to repair two of them with the "aging POD" problem (I am aging too).

Paul
 
Form the typical Yahsica Electro the attractive features are form and function. The look is rugged and sturdy, simple, and easy to use. The performance is excellent, and the exposures are nearly always accurate. Yashicas shine even when using slide film.

My collection of Yashicas is pretty extensive, I have everything from the old YF/Nicca to the final variation of the GX. The only one I actually shoot regularly is my old CCN, it shares the bag with my black-paint M4/Summilux kit. The CCN is faster to use, handles low light conditions (due to it's 35/1.8 lens), and fits in my coat pocket.
 
I wanted the CC. Through some odd firewall weirdness, I didn't get his message til it was too late. I bought a ZI. Then I bought the CC. At the time I "KNEW" that the CC was what I needed. And now I have all these other distractions.

And now, through all the interchangable lens cameras, it's still the fixed lens Yashica's that call me.

It's like "Look...were simple. We're just a lens and a body. It's up to YOU to learn how to make us sing. YOU are the photographer. YOU are the one who will make us live. Learn how to use us."

And this is the discipline.
 
My first Yashica was a GTN, and other than being inexpensive to purchase, easy to operate, and a good working camera, it is very cool to look at. When I got it, rangefinders were definitely on the way out, but I liked the way this one felt when I looked through the viewfinder. It didn't hurt that it took excellent photos too, evenly exposed, and very sharp. It was the first AP camera I ever owned, and it took me a while to come to grips with not being able to select the shutter speed, but I got used to it, and now own several models of Yashicas from which to choose on any photo outing. I just think it is one of the best built Japanese consumer cameras that was put on the market, and the fact that they could manufacture and sell as many as they did bears this out. It's too bad they could not continue manufacturing pro-sumer style products in the rangefinder line, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

PF
 
For me, in 2010, this was an easy way to try out rangefinder type of photography. I like using aperture priority automation, and that took me to the Electro series. Because they are fixed lens, the cameras are simpler, smaller, and lighter.

New entrants beware: The $10 Yashica on eBay most likely won't work. Think of it as a great $100 camera, not as a potential $10 wonder.
 
RichardKarash said:
For me, in 2010, this was an easy way to try out rangefinder type of photography. I like using aperture priority automation, and that took me to the Electro series. Because they are fixed lens, the cameras are simpler, smaller, and lighter.

New entrants beware: The $10 Yashica on eBay most likely won't work. Think of it as a great $100 camera, not as a potential $10 wonder.
Click to expand...

Yes, the most difficult thing about the big Electros is finding one that works. I have started refurbishing Electros and selling them on eBay. I charge more than the usual price for these cameras, but the ones I sell have disassembled, cleaned, resealed, and tested, so in the end they are actually a pretty good deal.
 
Had a GSN for awhile. Great optics, accurate meter, good handling. Everything it did, it did really well - I only sold it because I couldn't deal with it not having manual exposure. I'd definitely like to get a Lynx at some point.
 
richardhkirkando said:
Had a GSN for awhile. Great optics, accurate meter, good handling. Everything it did, it did really well - I only sold it because I couldn't deal with it not having manual exposure. I'd definitely like to get a Lynx at some point.
Click to expand...

Lynx really are sweet cameras. Not only exposure controls - ergonomics is way better on Lynxes than on GSN and similar models.

Note, small body Electros have better shutter release than G/GS/GSN.
 
I also think the meters in the Electro's and optics are great. No they are not as ergonomic as some cameras but that doesn't bother me cause it's not terrible or unuseable. The picture results are nice though. Most people will admit to that. Prices are still climbing on the Electros. I see them steadily rising. But I think the potential to get one which requires POD fix will stop prices going very high. Having done two POD fixes myself it's not so bad but quite daunting for anyone who does not like to tinker.
 
Don't forget the addon lenses....

Don't forget the addon lenses....

The G series cameras were often outfitted with two very nice lenses addons that extended the range for wide and tele functions. They slipped onto the front rim of the lens, and were actually quite good.

Finding a good pair on eBay is not too hard and very inexpensive.

Here is one listing, although some are asking as much as $200 for a set of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yashica-Yashiko...89042000?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4aaa8e7250

Search Yashica conversion lens or Yashica wide tele lens
 
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I think even $20 is questionable for this not-wide-not-tele add-on lenses. Well, in case of 28mm and 70mm I'd go for hassle of using them, but not less.
 
If it is a Telewide kit for the GX or MG-1, these are much more expensive due to their rarity. A standard kit is worth $20-$30.
 
Seeing that were talking about those tele-wide kits, does anyone have a spare finder attachment for the GT telewide kit? I got a set of lenses with my GT but no finder came with it. Been looking around for one but nothing has come up.
 
Bottom Line -

Best price/performance ratio in photography... for decades.
They gave you what the overpriced CCC (conspicuous consumption cameras) gave you, at a fraction of the CCC prices both in medium format (Yashica Mat line) and in 35mm (Electros). Even in the point-n-shoot era, the same applies with their Yashica "T" line T, 3, and 4. In addition, they were innovative with their technology-leading "aperture priority" electronic shutter system with their Electros. The Yashica Mats were "sensibly-priced" Rolleiflexes... and later they improved upon the 80's AF point-n-shoot with a useful waist-level finder, that included a wicked real T*-coated Tessar. Their Lynx line of FLRFs is quintessential RF all-manual photography. They were the first to achieve a 1/1000 shutter speed, and the first FLRF to have an F1.4 lens.

Yashica.

Best. Camera. Company. Ever.
 
And don't overlook the Yashica SLR cameras, both in screw-mount and C/Y. The TL Electro X is my favorite fully manual camera, and the later FRI, FX3, and FXD are all outstanding cameras as well.

I think that the marriage of necessity between Zeiss/Contax and Yashica, while it certainly produced some outstanding cameras and lenses, may actually have been a mistake for Yashica. It is interesting to speculate if Yashica would have been as innovative with their SLRs as they were with their fixed-lens RFs, had they not been made to play stepsister to the Contax siblings.
 
I sold my GSN and bought Yashica 230-AF SLR. Packed with features, ergonomical and fitted with some nice lenses. What I want to say? Yashica is hell of a camera company!
 
The Yashica Lynx 14 offers an astonishing package of fast lens + rangefinder, but it's quite big and I prefer manual Konicas (smaller cameras, higher quality feel, better lenses, better rangefinder). Most other Yashica RF cameras struck me as pretty ordinary.

Cheers,

R.
 
I proudly own a Lynx 14E because it is the fastest fixed lens RF that didn't break the bank when I bought it, it is like buying a Leica MP or similar without all that cost.
I can use it in all manual mode, like the MP.
No flash needed so long as I buy the right stock film for what I need.
 
They're just fun...
Finding them for nearly a dime a dozen and working them into a new machine.
They produce great work for something mass produced and easily affordable i don't think they can be beat.
I'm currently down to a single GSN and had it reworked by Russ at camerarefurb.com, all I can say is he knows his stuff. It's like the first roll of film through it every time I pick it up. Sooo smooth. :)
 
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