Yashica Fr-1

[Lobo]

hi,

Recently i got 2 new cameras, both SLRs. The Yashica FR-1 was a gift from an old man whom I have interviewed. He did not use it for a decade. He had switched to a digital compact.
Arriving home, I googled the lens, ML 50mm, 1.7. There is a video on youube that shows the lens as radioactive. I have not found much more about it. Did the cameras first taken to the basement. Should I be absorbed? For the same reason I have for some time, Yashica TL Electro X sold mine, radioactive lens (and because its has some quirks)

The other camera purchased, the porst compact reflex oe, was a complacency to an old flea marketsalesman, whom I visit often. Also not much found about it, except it was build from cosina and has the pentax k-lensmount.


I tend to sell to the yashica and retain the porst. But I have read that there are good lenses for the c/y lensmount, what do you experienced guys think?

 

[btgc]

probably this is discussed a lot - you have to keep camera permanently to your face to get significant exposure to radiation.
btw there are areas on Earth where natural radioactivity is much higher than somewhere else.

 

[tunalegs]

There is less than nothing to worry about. Unless you grind the lens into dust and inhale it, it poses less of a threat to your health than a cell phone or a brick house. Watching the video, the Yashica 1.7 is far less radioactive than the Takumar 1.4, so it's definitely negligible. Just don't tape the lens to your forehead for a week or something equally crazy.

 

[Greyscale]

Many of my lenses are radioactive, but I have found that my newly mutated third eye is very helpful when composing pictures.

To seriously answer part of your question, yes, there is some great glass available in the c/y mount, including your glow-in-the-dark ML 50/1.7. Most notable is the line of Carl Zeiss T* lenses designed specifically for the Contax and Yashica bayonet-mount cameras. Aside from a frame counter that is prone to breakage, the FR-1 is a solid, dependable camera, the poor-man's Contax RTS.

That being said, there are a massive amount of excellent K-mount lenses for your Porst camera, which seems like a nice-enough compact SLR body, so either way you can't really go wrong.

 

[Evanjoe610]

Lobo,

As GreyScale mentioned, the Yashica is a Poor Man's version of the Contax RTS. I have (2) of these bodies that i use with my Contax-Yashica optics.The Yashica optics, especially the ML line are actually very good and can hold their own with the Contax-Yashica in sharpness. I have the ML 50mmF1.7 and the Yashica 55mm F2.8 ML Macro lens. Both are plenty sharp.

The only difference is the way it renders color.
The Contax-Yashica Zeiss optics has a warm glow to it.
The Yashica ML and older DB has a Cooler look (Slightly Bluish)

I have all Prime Zeiss optics and the one zoom: 35-70mm.

When I need to shot film when I travel overseas, I use the Yashica FR-1 with my Zeiss optics. Its the glass that counts.

hi,

Recently i got 2 new cameras, both SLRs. The Yashica FR-1 was a gift from an old man whom I have interviewed. He did not use it for a decade. He had switched to a digital compact.
Arriving home, I googled the lens, ML 50mm, 1.7. There is a video on youube that shows the lens as radioactive. I have not found much more about it. Did the cameras first taken to the basement. Should I be absorbed? For the same reason I have for some time, Yashica TL Electro X sold mine, radioactive lens (and because its has some quirks)

The other camera purchased, the porst compact reflex oe, was a complacency to an old flea marketsalesman, whom I visit often. Also not much found about it, except it was build from cosina and has the pentax k-lensmount.


I tend to sell to the yashica and retain the porst. But I have read that there are good lenses for the c/y lensmount, what do you experienced guys think?

 

[Lobo]

I will sell it. I think many people are too unconcerned about this in everyday life, when it comes to chemicals, radiation, etc..

As one who has worked in cancer research, I know that small influences, over a long time frame also can have effects.

Professional workers protect themselves in a laboratory environment often more than normal people do in private life.

in this case, its less the radiation through the lens, with the death of the cells, but the induced mutations in the cells. Most mutated cells are not viable. but some cells can grow incessantly. if you get cancer its impossible over a long period to say what these mutations have caused. And not only the radiation can be dangerous, but also the irradiated air molecules.

 

[tunalegs]

If it is so dangerous... why would you try and get somebody else to pay you for it?

 

[Lobo]

it is not easy to evaluate risks. Smoking causes cancer, but some smoke a lifelong without problems, others dying in their youth to lung cancer (smoking)
PS: other people dont have my paranoia

 

[Addy101]

If it is so dangerous... why would you try and get somebody else to pay you for it?

My thoughts exactly.... 😕
If you really think it is dangerous, you shouldn't sell it, but dispose of it in a environmentally friendly way - even if others are more careless. As you're in Germany, it wouldn't be a problem doing that!

Anyway, be aware that there a lot of old lenses with radio-active traces. If it is important to you, you better check before you buy or accept a lens!

 

[Lobo]

I need not justify here, but if they'd give me e.g. a expensive gun or knife, and if I do not want them in my house because i cant deal with it, then I have to throw them away in the trash? The camera is far too nice for that. And it seems that not everybody shares my thoughts about harmfullness of radiation. And that was exactly my question. what is an unnecessary risk for me may not be a problem for others. Perhaps some people will be glad to get one.

My thoughts exactly.... 😕
If you really think it is dangerous, you shouldn't sell it, but dispose of it in a environmentally friendly way - even if others are more careless. As you're in Germany, it wouldn't be a problem doing that!

Anyway, be aware that there a lot of old lenses with radio-active traces. If it is important to you, you better check before you buy or accept a lens!

 

[Addy101]

Hey, it is your conscience.

Btw, your knife / gun analogy is flawed as a gun or knife is only dangerous when used in a specific manner, while you believe the lens is dangerous just being in your house.... (And you have a hard time selling that gun in Germany because, well, I guess, because it is dangerous 😱 )

 

[FrankS]

Lobo, don't worry, you do not need to explain yourself. Most people have no issue with lenses made with radioactive glass and IT IS THEIR CHOICE whether to buy or not. Ignore those who, IMO, are just trying to give you a hard time. They have no logical argument because it is the buyer's choice.

 

[Greyscale]

Personally, I would keep the FRI body, with or without the radioactive glass. There are plenty of non-radioactive lenses for it, and it is a fine camera.

 

[oftheherd]

I need not justify here, but if they'd give me e.g. a expensive gun or knife, and if I do not want them in my house because i cant deal with it, then I have to throw them away in the trash? The camera is far too nice for that. And it seems that not everybody shares my thoughts about harmfullness of radiation. And that was exactly my question. what is an unnecessary risk for me may not be a problem for others. Perhaps some people will be glad to get one.

No you need not justify. It's your lens and your life.

I am personally of the opinion that the radioactive lenses are not a danger. I don't recall the readings, but I have tried to measure with a geiger counter. I was inside a large granite sided building. The readings as I recall were below the outside background reading.

But again, the choice is yours for your own readings.

 

[Lobo]

Thank you guys. I will make my thoughts about it. A friend of mine has recently taken the camera to take pictures. I told him about my concerns, but he does not care, as you do. btw he wears a very beautiful vintage longiness wirtwatch with radium numerals ;-)

Here is the video that triggered my concerns:

http://youtu.be/KPMCMyNxbGY