Yashica EZ F521 - ordered!

[Phantomas]

Oh what the hell - while viewing the initial review on Japanexposures yesterday I just clicked on "add to shopping cart". Why not, it's just ~€75 and while I'm not too much into digital (although do own a couple that I never use) this might prove fun to play around with. Seeing how I might be the first one in Europe to own it ( 🙂 it's on pre-order) I might even write a review for the first time! Heh. Later I'm also curious what I could do with that screw-on lensboard. Maybe I can rebuild it, make my own by slapping an M mount on it, we'll see if that's possible.
Well, hopefully first units are not delayed and it will really ship next week!

(For the uninitiated: it's a low cost low quality low spec camera. Plastic construction, plastic (?) lens, 5MP, 42mm fixed lens, minimal controls, retro looks. From the start it got dubbed "Digital Holga" and that I predict will be it's strongest selling point.
There is no shutter, hence the sensor can provide some interesting distortions while "exposing". Let's wait and see...)

 

[Pherdinand]

what the heck?
is this real?🙂)

where did u pre-order it?

is that focusing or two different apertures, the "flower" and "mountain" modes?

 

[johannielscom]

The idea of slapping an M mount lens on there really appeals to me.

I even consider getting one myself and see if I can fit sensor and attachments into an M body, that would be cool

if all buttons could easily be relocated that would possibly work. Shooting at one shutter speed only might be the result though, unless it has Auto-ISO.

I'll be looking forward to that review of yours!

 

[Phantomas]

Yes, as a matter of fact it ONLY has auto-ISO, can't be changed. Not sure about the aperture/shutter sped changes, I assume they're automatic too. Max aperture is f/3.

The little simbols next to the lens are for Macro/regular shooting.

I orderedm it based on "digital Holga" hype. Not that i particularly like Holga, but then again I don't particularly like digital compacts either. This is just a toy.

You can view the initial review under the below link. That's where you can pre-order too:

http://www.japanexposures.com/2009/10/31/a-first-look-at-the-yashica-ez-f521/


Later I'll see how much space there is between sensor and the lensmount. Maybe i can modify it. Seeing the price and the type of the camera I don't think I need to worry about being highly scientific 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

Looking forward to seeing your reviews on the camera itself, and even more on you modification experiments.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

An entire new field for engineers, creating computer models to design crappy cameras and bad lenses! As we all walk around with the word "chump" stamped on our foreheads and pay money for deliberately bad gear. 😉

Welcome to the 21st century. 😛

 

[Phantomas]

Well, this "delibarately bad gear" has "delibarately low price". Chumps might be those who pay high premium for the cameras that provide results not much better than this piece of plastic.

 

[btgc]

"Coating alone is worth the price", rewriting Konica's ad 🙂

Font used to write Yashica is same as on late models from days of real Yashica, cool.

 

[chambrenoire]

"First look" video:
http://vimeo.com/7347064

 

[shadowfox]

Why can't I buy this in red?

I mean if we're set out for fun, why not go all the way, yes? 😀

 

[NickTrop]

Sad to see the proud Yashica name exploited to sell crap cameras... Oh well... Hey, why not make a cheap digital - just like this, that accepts M42 or K-mount lenses?

 

[Phantomas]

Yes, someone should do that actually. If these Chinese Yashica guys had a head on their shoulders they'd just put a quick mount of something on their plastic lens. Wouldn't cost them a lot more.
I should really buy some out of business camera business. There's so much stuff that can still be done. Those big players are just stallin. What names are still available? Is Linhoff out there? I'm gonna make a Linhoff action-sampler. Half-frame.

 

[cmedin]

Sad to see the proud Yashica name exploited to sell crap cameras... Oh well... Hey, why not make a cheap digital - just like this, that accepts M42 or K-mount lenses?

You could, but stick a 50mm M42 lens on that tiny cheap sensor and you have a serious telephoto. 🙂

Mine was delivered though I won't be home until Wed night to play with it... I have a thing for silly photo gear, sometimes it's nice to take the Holga out instead of my Canon DSLR + L-glass. 😉

 

[photony texas]

My tOy left Japan today on it's way to teXas...soon some Mad-Scientist play...

 

[rjporter]

sample shot yet?

 

[bmattock]

Sad to see the proud Yashica name exploited to sell crap cameras... Oh well... Hey, why not make a cheap digital - just like this, that accepts M42 or K-mount lenses?

Sensor size.