farlymac
PF McFarland
I had been hankering for an AF70-300mm lens for a while, so when one came up in a Yashica set on an action site (camera, three zooms, and bag to hold it all plus some odds and ends) that was going for much less than just the lens alone would normally sell for on eBay, I jumped on it. So with shipping factored in, it was $36 for the lot.
Well, it finally arrived today. Everything was dirty, and reeked of Fabreeze. The three lenses were the 35-70, 70-210, and 75-300. I checked out the big zoom first, as that was what I was after. Had to take the wrenches to it to get the filter off. Then the zoom was almost stuck. Took a heck of a pull to finally work it loose. I noticed what looks like something dried up along the focus barrel where it extends from the outer barrel. Since the battery was dead in the shipped camera, I used the body I already had to test the functions. The camera had trouble focusing in the low light inside the apartment, so I pointed it out a window, and it seemed fine then. Noisy though. I wanted the lens for birding, but don't know if that would be a good idea. Then I need to order a hood for it, as it didn't come with one.
I then put the battery from the present camera into the one that just arrived. Everything worked, except for the built-in flash. If I put it on the pre-flash (redeye reduction) setting, the pre-flash would work, but the main flash never did. So, that tells me the switch on the back of the camera works fine, but the electronic control is buggy. Not the first time this has happened (this is the fourth AF-230 Super I've gotten), and I've read where this is a weak point with the camera. And it's apparently not fixable. However, there is the outside chance that mounting an external flash would solve the issue. Now if I could only find where my Yashica flashes are.
The third thing I noticed right off the bat is that the 70-210 that came today is of a more compact design than the one I already had, so I'll have to investigate what's up with that. It's a good excuse for a lens shootout.
All of this points out the weaknesses of the system, including the lack of any comprehensive information in the viewfinder. Two different lens designs, including how the hoods mount. Well, three actually, if you count the power zooms for the AF300, which will only zoom manually on the AF230. Really plasticy, even the shutter blades (my first camera body came with the shutter having had a finger put through it, and it didn't show in the lousy photos).
It's not a really sought out system, and apparently Yashica didn't sell as many as their previous systems. Probably something about the Kyocera logo on the front that did them in. And from what I've seen, most owners did not treat them very well. It's hard to find OEM hoods and caps for the lenses (there were plenty that came with the latest lot, but the front caps were mostly generic).
I don't think I'm going to pursue this system much more. I've got too many Nikons to keep me busy.
PF
Well, it finally arrived today. Everything was dirty, and reeked of Fabreeze. The three lenses were the 35-70, 70-210, and 75-300. I checked out the big zoom first, as that was what I was after. Had to take the wrenches to it to get the filter off. Then the zoom was almost stuck. Took a heck of a pull to finally work it loose. I noticed what looks like something dried up along the focus barrel where it extends from the outer barrel. Since the battery was dead in the shipped camera, I used the body I already had to test the functions. The camera had trouble focusing in the low light inside the apartment, so I pointed it out a window, and it seemed fine then. Noisy though. I wanted the lens for birding, but don't know if that would be a good idea. Then I need to order a hood for it, as it didn't come with one.
I then put the battery from the present camera into the one that just arrived. Everything worked, except for the built-in flash. If I put it on the pre-flash (redeye reduction) setting, the pre-flash would work, but the main flash never did. So, that tells me the switch on the back of the camera works fine, but the electronic control is buggy. Not the first time this has happened (this is the fourth AF-230 Super I've gotten), and I've read where this is a weak point with the camera. And it's apparently not fixable. However, there is the outside chance that mounting an external flash would solve the issue. Now if I could only find where my Yashica flashes are.
The third thing I noticed right off the bat is that the 70-210 that came today is of a more compact design than the one I already had, so I'll have to investigate what's up with that. It's a good excuse for a lens shootout.
All of this points out the weaknesses of the system, including the lack of any comprehensive information in the viewfinder. Two different lens designs, including how the hoods mount. Well, three actually, if you count the power zooms for the AF300, which will only zoom manually on the AF230. Really plasticy, even the shutter blades (my first camera body came with the shutter having had a finger put through it, and it didn't show in the lousy photos).
It's not a really sought out system, and apparently Yashica didn't sell as many as their previous systems. Probably something about the Kyocera logo on the front that did them in. And from what I've seen, most owners did not treat them very well. It's hard to find OEM hoods and caps for the lenses (there were plenty that came with the latest lot, but the front caps were mostly generic).
I don't think I'm going to pursue this system much more. I've got too many Nikons to keep me busy.
PF
oftheherd
Veteran
Too bad you have had such lousy luck with that system. I think their TL Supers and Electro X cameras have held up well. Also their FX series. I have an FX3 still working after 30+ years, and four FX103's from the same era that continue to work well, and they were not original purchases like the FX3.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I think the system itself just was not well thought out, Herd. The AF230 Super is a great looking camera, but it lacks features the original AF230 has. And with the switch from ML to just plain Yashica branded lenses (which were no longer being made by Yashica), it just didn't have the same appeal to folks as before.
I've got a couple of FX-2's, an FX-3 Super 2000, and an FX-D, but not many ML lenses (one Zeiss Contax branded 135mm though). I need to concentrate more on the FX's, and less on the AF's. Or forget about the SLR's, and stick with the rangefinders, which I tend to use more of.
PF
I've got a couple of FX-2's, an FX-3 Super 2000, and an FX-D, but not many ML lenses (one Zeiss Contax branded 135mm though). I need to concentrate more on the FX's, and less on the AF's. Or forget about the SLR's, and stick with the rangefinders, which I tend to use more of.
PF