Yashica GX - Focus Tab Addition

[PatrickT]

I'll start this by saying that I just got my GX back from Mark Hama and couldn't be happier 🙂 Fixed!

Anyway, I was thinking about the camera while it was gone and the things I didn't like about it. There isn't much, but one of the things that stands out is the lack of a focus tab. My focus action is fairly stiff and not having a tab isn't doing me any favors. So it got me thinking...I'm a mechanical engineer, I have access to cad software, why not design my own?

It looks as if the plastic "grip" on the lens barrel is removable by two screws. I'm thinking about removing that grip and designing a focusing tab (a la Leica) to either screw into the holes, or adhere to the lens barrel (with some sort of). As of now, I'm thinking of making it screw in.

Once I design it, I'll either get it rapid prototyped or machined from Aluminum (or something). Shouldn't cost too much.

So...any thoughts? It seems as if this could be done to other Yashica rangefinders also. Not that anyone would want something like this besides me 🙂


Yashica GX by Patrick Trautfield, on Flickr

 

[Bill58]

Many people use plastic tie wraps for the same purpose. They can be put anywhere on the focus ring.

 

[Brian Legge]

I'd love an aperture tab for the Olympus 35RD. I adore the camera but changing the aperture is really annoying as its a small ring flush against the body.

 

[PatrickT]

Many people use plastic tie wraps for the same purpose. They can be put anywhere on the focus ring.

Thanks, but I think I'd rather have something a little more classy 🙂 Not that the cable tie method wouldn't work well, I just think I'd end up getting annoyed by it!

 

[PatrickT]

I'd love an aperture tab for the Olympus 35RD. I adore the camera but changing the aperture is really annoying as its a small ring flush against the body.

Ah yes, I see what you mean (just looked up a photo of it). The GX's aperture ring is great...it' just the focusing I don't like 🙂

 

[farlymac]

You could get a slider switch off an old radio, shape the bottom to match the contour of the focus ring, and attach it with some super bonding agent. That way, it could be removeable later in case you decide to sell it.

PF

 

[PatrickT]

Interesting idea, I may have to try that.

One wrinkle that I didn't intend for is that the black plastic piece that covers the bottom of the camera doesn't seem to be removable. Looks like it's held on by glue? Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Chinasaur]

Did you ever do anything about this for your GX? I haz one and I'm curious....