theotse
Theo Tse
I have a Zorki 4 right now with a Jupiter 8 Lens and im loving it. Im thinking of buying a Yashica Electro and I would love to hear what you guys think. What are the main differences?
theotse
Theo Tse
and maybe a canonet?
btgc
Veteran
Main diff is control over exposure. With Zorki you can have any exposure you want, with Electro you don't have direct control over speed. In most cases Electro does just fine though you don't have other means to tweak exposure than ISO dial. Electro doesn't lock exposure when half-pressing shutter release.
Other minor differences like ability to swap lens and mech/battery powered we will count as self-evident.
Other minor differences like ability to swap lens and mech/battery powered we will count as self-evident.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Quality! The Yashica and the Canonet feel firmer and better built than the Zorki or any other FSU camera. And while they don't have interchangeable lenses, their glass is fast and of good quality.
I had one of each (Canonet and Yashica) and also a Kiev (not a Zorki, but close). The FSU camera lasted in my inventory a lot less than the Yashica... and I kept the Canonet.
I had one of each (Canonet and Yashica) and also a Kiev (not a Zorki, but close). The FSU camera lasted in my inventory a lot less than the Yashica... and I kept the Canonet.
robin a
Well-known
Hey,just buy them all...........They're cheap
Robin
Robin
gilpen123
Gil
Yeah right get both though if I have to have one I'll get the Canonet due to compactness and IMO a bit better lens
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Frontman
Well-known
The Yashica Electro is light years ahead of the Zorki in quality and technology. There are several variations of the Electro out there, but the only real differences between the G, GS, GT, GTN, and GSN are the flash shoes (and sometimes the film ISO range) otherwise they are about the same.
The Zorki is fully mechanical, which is good if you carry a light meter or can read the light well. Unfortunately for the Zorki, build quality is an issue. I have found with more than one Zorki or FED that shutter speeds can change noticeably by turning the camera sideways. The fact that you can interchange lenses is a definite plus, provided you use quality lenses.
The lens on the Yashica Electro is truly nice, and in my experience it is near the top of the hill among fixed-lens rangefinder cameras. You can find a working Yashica Electro pretty easily for less than the price of any Zorki, they are probably the best deal out there for a rangefinder camera. You should check out the images in the Yashica forum.
The Zorki is fully mechanical, which is good if you carry a light meter or can read the light well. Unfortunately for the Zorki, build quality is an issue. I have found with more than one Zorki or FED that shutter speeds can change noticeably by turning the camera sideways. The fact that you can interchange lenses is a definite plus, provided you use quality lenses.
The lens on the Yashica Electro is truly nice, and in my experience it is near the top of the hill among fixed-lens rangefinder cameras. You can find a working Yashica Electro pretty easily for less than the price of any Zorki, they are probably the best deal out there for a rangefinder camera. You should check out the images in the Yashica forum.
Brian Legge
Veteran
Totally disagree on quality. The FSU cameras can feel just as solid as the Japanese compacts. Aside from needing some service (it doesn't look like it ever had any), my Kiev 4a feels like as polished as a Canonet with a brighter, more accurate rangefinder. Be careful with the stereotypes. 
I'd say autoexposure is the biggest difference. Some of the other Japanese cameras definitely win on size. As leaf shutter cameras, they are also quieter (though winding is often loud).
Personally many of the Yashicas larger than I'd prefer. I love my Lynx but it is the same size as a small SLR. The GSN is only a bit smaller. Personally I like small cameras so I'd probably pick something else, but thats just me. I'm hooked on the Olympus rangefinders and the Canonet 17 GIII as my primary shooters in this class. If you want aperture priority though, Yashica is where you probably want to be.
Edit: That said, Frontman is right about the best deals. The Yashica cameras, the Konica Auto S2 and the Minolta Hi Matic 7s (manual + aperture priority) prices are dirt cheap for what you get.
I'd say autoexposure is the biggest difference. Some of the other Japanese cameras definitely win on size. As leaf shutter cameras, they are also quieter (though winding is often loud).
Personally many of the Yashicas larger than I'd prefer. I love my Lynx but it is the same size as a small SLR. The GSN is only a bit smaller. Personally I like small cameras so I'd probably pick something else, but thats just me. I'm hooked on the Olympus rangefinders and the Canonet 17 GIII as my primary shooters in this class. If you want aperture priority though, Yashica is where you probably want to be.
Edit: That said, Frontman is right about the best deals. The Yashica cameras, the Konica Auto S2 and the Minolta Hi Matic 7s (manual + aperture priority) prices are dirt cheap for what you get.
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Mablo
Well-known
I'm a fan of Yashica Electros. The size of a GSN is about the same with Zorki-4 but it's more refined and much easier to use because of the semi-automatic exposure. The only downside is that a fully working G, GS, GT, GTN or GSN is sometimes hard to find.
Olympus 35 RC could be another option if you are looking for something smaller.
Olympus 35 RC could be another option if you are looking for something smaller.
domagojs
Established
I'd say that the electro is more solidly built camera, but i still prefer my zorki over it for how rugged it feels also. i don't like the fact that electro doesn't give you any info on the shutter speed - i got some blurred photos because i was shooting them on 1/30, although i would've been satisfied with them taken at 1/125.
but for me, the rendering of the photos is definitely on the Jupiter-8 side! i just love how classic those b&w photos look. electro's lens is sharp but nothing more, those photos look "plane" to me...
but, since they are both so cheap, get them both and decide what you like...
also. i don't like the fact that electro doesn't give you any info on the shutter speed - i got some blurred photos because i was shooting them on 1/30, although i would've been satisfied with them taken at 1/125.but for me, the rendering of the photos is definitely on the Jupiter-8 side! i just love how classic those b&w photos look. electro's lens is sharp but nothing more, those photos look "plane" to me...
but, since they are both so cheap, get them both and decide what you like...