Yashica Collection suggestions...

C

Chinasaur

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Soo..

I already have an Electro 35 CC, and a GX on the way from Japan.

If I get a GTN, a CCN and a GS..would I have a decent sample?

Flush or Full House?

(And yes I'm looking at your's Frontman :) )
 
The CC and CCN are basically the same camera. Also one from the GS,GSN,GTN lot will do. I suggest a lynx and or minister model to give you some full manual option.
 
I first got drawn to Yashicas for the strangest of reasons. I liked the font on the GT and GS Logos. I think I saw the logo on a magazine spread alongside other significant camera logos in a graphic for an article. The logo changed with later models but the earlier Electro logo as on the GT and GS is where it started for my collection. So I think a collection is nice if it had a GT. I know it has nothing to do with the camera's functionality but the white on black Electro logo of the GT is a classic. IMO.

+ 1 for f16sunshine. the lynx14e is one I'd like to have but the prices are stopping me cause they're pretty old now and don't want to get stuck with someone else's problem - again.
 
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Lynx 14 isn't complete without small half frame Mimy or 72-E (there should be also other variants of HF). Like a dad and newborn.
 
How bout the Yash early autofocus. What's so great about it? It's first gen that has a nice quiet mechanical (non-motorized) transport... This neglected genre of camera make for some of the best street photography tools. And they're cheap (but don't come up all that often...) Has a nice 35/2.8 Tomioka lens...

yashica_autofocus_motor-d.jpg
 
An ME (later version with self timer and hot shoe), an MC, and a GL. And maybe a 35 MF. Has a slightly more sofisticated look I think, and built in flash. Don't forget that Yashica also had miniature cameras, the 16EE (16mm), and the Atoron and Atoron Electro (Minox film). And for something funky looking, the 'Flash-O-Set'.

PF
 
The GX came in from Japan today. Not as nice as the CC, but feels good in the hand AND it shoots without batteries..which the CC doesn't. First roll in it.

Now for the next ones.... Good idea f16sunshine.
 
An interesting camera is the old Yashica "Professional", which was the first black Yahica Electro. I have 2 of them buried somewhere... Also the old LTM Yashicas are really cool, especially the old YF, which is the closest Jpapanese copy of the Leica M cameras.
 
Chinasaur said:
The GX came in from Japan today. Not as nice as the CC, but feels good in the hand AND it shoots without batteries..which the CC doesn't. First roll in it.
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I think both CC and GX (as well as any other Electro rangefinder/scale focus camera) without battery default to 1/500.

This doesn't apply to scale focus ME-1 which won't budge without battery but then it's not Electro.
 
wow nice, both a cc and a gx!
I used a gx, it's a lovely little camera. (Was stolen later on :( )

I see you dont mention yashica RANGEFINDERS so... how about a TLR :D
 
btgc I think you're right :) And one of the GS, GTN, GSN as f16 mentions will do. I don't know what the miniser or lynx will cost and that kinda creeps me out. Have they appreciated like all the other film cameras out there?
 
Did not see this site mentioned....

Did not see this site mentioned....

When I was into Yashica rangefinders, almost all my information came from Yashica Guys site:

www.yashica-guy.com

I had various GT's (black) and GS models (chrome). Had a CC and a CCN.

I wouldn't consider a collection complete without a number of others by Yashica......

But the one "must have" Yashica for me would be Yashica Lynx 14e. Easily identified by the plastic IC plate on the front, indicating the Integrated Circuitry in the system. That huge hunk of 1.4 glass on the front was phenomenal. It's a big camera, but hey, my walkaround camera is an early interchangeable lens Fuji GL690.

The only serious drawback for me on Yashica range finders was that they shoot such a tiny film format....135.
They were almost built big enough to shoot 120 roll film... to bad they stopped so short of the mark.
 
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Chinasaur said:
The 1.4 lens is sooo tempting. But I prefer smaller bodies, and at that size, it's almost the size of an SLR. Thanks Jan!
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There is the Yashica Half 14 (scale focus half-frame) to consider (if you can find one) if you want a 1.4 lens on a small body.
 
Lynx series, especially 14 are superb for handheld shots with longer than average times. Due to lack of AE shutter release travels short and is super smooth, contrary to Electro G/GS/GSN. Large body of 14 works as OIS for this kind of shots. But then I must confess tiny AE-less 72-E halfframe also has very smooth release although small weight doesn't adds stability hadholding long times.

My point is really good fixed lens RF cameras mostly are AE-less. Not because it's cool to calculate exposure, it's because of ergonomics.
SLRs that came later are different - loaded with features they still have very smooth releases - but we can not directly compare them, they are different by design.
 
for true RF action why not the Yashica 35YF (Nicca) -with Yashinon 50f1.8 - a late-model Leica copy looking halfway between ltm and M - also has tele bright line in finder (but rareish) - a good user too

with SLRs the interesting collector's Yashica might be the first series from about 1960 with a bayonet mount (before they switched to 42mm and then back to bayonet) - Yashica Pentamatic - rareish and extra lenses definitely rare.

danny
 
My favorites are:

Electro 35 CC / CCN (unbeatable lens combo: 35mm f/1.8)

Yashica-Mat 124G (yes, these are overpriced but if you find one in good condition, they are excellent cameras)

I had a very nice collection of Electros at one point:

3x CCNs
1x CC
3x GXs
2x GSNs
1x GTN
1x MC

All beautiful, fairly cheap little rangefinders capable of delivering excellent results. I should add the Sequelle and Half 17 as both being quite interesting, exquisite cameras. The Sequelle is similar to the Canon / Bell & Howell Dial 35 while the Half 17 is just one of the cutest little half-frame cameras around with a 32mm f/1.7 lens.
 
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