Yashica Electro Half

[avidmaster]

Hi All,

New to the forum and really excited to be a part. I came across this half frame a few weeks ago. I snapped it up on ebay when the seller listed it as an Electro 35 GSN. I knew right away that it was not that at all.

Overall nice exterior. Unfortunately, years of mercury battery leakage has pretty much destroyed the electronics. Didn't pay much so it's a nice display piece and historical artifact.

Thanks for looking!

Mike

Yashica Electro Half by Michael Kaplan, on Flickr

Yashica Electro Half by Michael Kaplan, on Flickr

Yashica Electro Half by Michael Kaplan, on Flickr

Yashica Electro Half by Michael Kaplan, on Flickr

Yashica Electro Half by Michael Kaplan, on Flickr

Yashica Electro Half by Michael Kaplan, on Flickr

 

[farlymac]

Hi All,

New to the forum and really excited to be a part. I came across this half frame a few weeks ago. I snapped it up on ebay when the seller listed it as an Electro 35 GSN. I knew right away that it was not that at all.

Overall nice exterior. Unfortunately, years of mercury battery leakage has pretty much destroyed the electronics. Didn't pay much so it's a nice display piece and historical artifact.

Thanks for looking!

Mike

Now, if I could only see the photos......

PF

 

[avidmaster]

Sorry,

Working on it.

 

[avidmaster]

I think I have them posted now.

Thanks!

 

[Solinar]

It looks wonderful - a very unique and unheard of Yashica camera.

 

[avidmaster]

Thanks. Interesting camera. Perhaps at some point, I'll dive into it to see if I can facilitate any repairs. For now, though, I have other projects on the table.

Mike

 

[Darthfeeble]

Don't you just hate it when an item is so well cared for but a mistake like not removing the batteries kills it? Beautiful camera, I love silver RFs.

 

[Darthfeeble]

A thought occurred to me, might the battery components from a more common Yashica work?

 

[zuiko85]

Very clean, pity about the electronics.
Been a fan of 35mm half frame for decades. If you ever decide to try it out then my recommendation would be the original Olympus Pen, introduced in 1959. They are full manual with no meter. The 2 blade Copal shutter is more often found working than the 5 blade Copal on the higher spec Pen S 2.8 and (much rarer S3.5).
Not a wide range shutter, 1/25-1/200 +B, it is still usually sufficient.

 

[avidmaster]

Nice, thanks for the rec. I'm afraid this little camera has more issues than the electronics. Aperture blades are at issue, as well and a modest dive into camera through the top and bottom plates revealed a wiring nightmare that makes the Electro 35 look like a walk in the park.

This one is, unfortunately, a very attractive bookend.

Mike

 

[Steve M.]

This is why I prefer beater cameras to pristine examples. Years of dealing w/ erratic FSU stuff taught me that one. If it's beat up, it's going to work fine. If it looks mint, there's a reason for that, and it's usually not a good one.

 

[farlymac]

I can see them now! Too bad about the battery issue, but that's fairly common with any Yashica of that era that you find. It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't battery dependent.



The 72-E was an earlier model with selenium metering that sometimes you can find one still in operating condition. Mine overexposed quite a bit, which could also be indicative of a slow shutter, but I think maybe it would do better with b&w film.



Yashica 72-E Half Frame 35mm by P F McFarland, on Flickr


A somewhat corrected image



Bedford County, VA Masonic Lodge circa 1895-1906 by P F McFarland, on Flickr


PF