Yashica Electro 35 GSN manual settings???

[MIkhail]

Hello,
I recently was given Yashica Electro 35 GSN in totally mint condition (old lady story, you know bought it hundreed years ago and hardly used). No scratches, nothing.
It did not have battery, but I bough 6V battery and battery adapter from the guy on e-bay, I am sure you know- Yashica Guy.
I replaced light seals with self-stick felt and cotton yarn, common knowlege too.

Anyway, I have supposedly fully working camera now, and I have 2 questions:

1 Does the fact that I use 6 volt battery alter the reading on camera's electronic brains? What does have to be adjusted -if anything- so that my camera take right readings.

2 (more important question) O'kay, now I can adjust my camera's exposure by changing the apperture setting and shutter speed changes automatically, is that right? Because what I normally do on other cameras (and I like to shoot in fully manual mode) is I set my aperture (depending on subject I am shutting), check what shutter speed I need for it and given ISO and tehn manipulate with shutter speed to make image overexposed or underexposed if needed.
How do I do it here???

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[MIkhail]

Sorry, what do you mean by saying "untill the lights go out"?

 

[CleverName]

Sorry, what do you mean by saying "untill the lights go out"?

The over/under lights. There is a range of equivalent exposures you can choose. If you go too far one way the "over" light comes on, too far the other way and the "under" light comes on. Any aperture you select within that range should be a correct exposure. This is also the only way you can (sort of) select shutter speed. Using the biggest aperture within the range will give you the faster shutter, and vice versa.

 

[ErnestoJL]

The only way to go "manual" with any YElectro35, YE35GT/GS/ GSN is either "B", "flash" (a lightning sign in the first ring) which is 1/30th of a sec), or taking out the battery, which gives you a fixed 1/500th of a sec. (default speed of the shutter in no battery condition).
In AUTO position, when both lights are "off" you get any shutter speed between 1/30th to 1/500th depending on iris aperture and lighting conditions. When in AUTO, there is no info about camera´s shutter speed.
This camera was designed in 1967/68 and it was at least 5 to 6 years ahead of the electronic revolution in shutter control.

 

[MIkhail]

So essentially it is a "rangefinder point and shoot". That's sad.
I think I will be selling this camera...
Thanks a lot, everybody.

 

[MIkhail]

If I was you.🙂 I would run a couple of rolls through it. It has a great lens and is quick and accurate.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against shooting camera in automatic mode, but I personally like to have a control over it, I play with depth of field a lot and I love to have a nice bokeh in my pictures.
I guess you are right, I will try and shoot few rolls, or at least one.
I'll go get some ISO400 Kodak and see what happens 🙂

 

[brians]

Yes, aperture priority does make a difference. Even if it might seem like its really "automatic," it's a gem of a camera equipped with a gem of a lens.

 

[ErnestoJL]

Shoot one or two rolls of ... say HP5 or BW400CN and check the results...
You won´t be dissapointed. The lens is great, its sharp and contrasty, a real gem at bargain price, and the shutter´s ability to self adjust it´s speed on the fly from 30+ full seconds to 1/500th would allow you to do things that otherwise would be almost impossible.
It´s in no way an RF point and shoot as long as you must adjust iris aperture (you also have a DOF scale). Anyway, DOF checking is impossible unless it´s an SLR
I do also prefer full manual control, but the four RF automatics I have (Canonet QL17, YE35GT, YE35GSN and YMG1) allow me to select iris (or speed in the Canonet) and that´s not so different from what you have to do when metering manually. Just saves some time.
Only thing to complaint for: the meter cell is located outside of the lens barrel, then if using filters you should readjust iSO setting for the filter factor... a minor issue.
Good luck and enjoy it!

 

[MIkhail]

I also have Canonet QL17 GIII and it has both controls, and I do use both. YOu are right, it is not SLR and you dont get a preview, but I have a pretty good feel for wht will happen, and sometimes it gets interesting.
Thanks!