Yashica J

[vbarniev]

Anybody has any experience with this camera?

 

[Sparrow]

Anybody has any experience with this camera?

Yep, my first proper camera, got it new for my 12th birthday

 

[vbarniev]

What can I expect? How do I use it?

 

[vbarniev]

It might help someone:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-6849.html

 

[vbarniev]

Here is one more:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=965

 

[vbarniev]

And this:
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~rd2h-ari/YA_J.htm

 

[vbarniev]

I forgot to tell you; I paid 10 bucks for it.

 

[vbarniev]

http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/chrono2.html

 

[Sparrow]

Wow that brings back some memories, the VF seemed tremendous to me at the time, progressing from a Kodak 127 that is,

It had a brown leather IRC that smelled beautiful, and came packed in the first expanded polystyrene I had ever seen.

A good lens judging by the slides

 

[vbarniev]

I havent tried it yet. It feels solid.

 

[Sparrow]

i used it for seven years, film was expensive then so not that much film went through it, good young eyes and a steady hand helped the quality but it was very good

 

[vbarniev]

Well; the shutter doesn't work now. I'll have to send it for a CLAD.

 

[januaryman]

Mark Hama.

 

[vbarniev]

Thanks. I will.

 

[HankOsaurus]

Hello vbarniev.

As with "sparrow," my first "proper" 35mm camera was a Yashica J also. I was 18. It did a splendid job for me. Good, contrasty slides. I learned a lot with that little camera, and I now wish that I had kept it.

At the time (mid 60s) the fashion among young enthusiasts was to have an SLR with an internal meter. We thought that rangefinders and hand meters were "out" forever, defeated by newer technology. Wrong.

After a couple of decades of using SLRs I found myself coming full circle, back to rangefinders. They definitely have their place and their special capabilities.

Good luck with your J. What will you be using for a hand meter?

 

[januaryman]

Hello vbarniev.

As with "sparrow," my first "proper" 35mm camera was a Yashica J also. I was 18. It did a splendid job for me. Good, contrasty slides. I learned a lot with that little camera, and I now wish that I had kept it.

At the time (mid 60s) the fashion among young enthusiasts was to have an SLR with an internal meter. We thought that rangefinders and hand meters were "out" forever, defeated by newer technology. Wrong.

After a couple of decades of using SLRs I found myself coming full circle, back to rangefinders. They definitely have their place and their special capabilities.

This sounds a lot like my experiences, just add in a few years of using only a digital P&S camera. I was almost "out" of photography as a real hobby. Film drew me back in. I wonder how many members had this same circle game going on?

 

[vbarniev]

Me too. Nikon F, Nikon F2AS, Nikon F3HP, Canon New F-1, Canon A-1, Olympus OM-1, OM-2, OM-2n, Nikon F4, Minolta XD-11, X-700, etc. Now Yashica Electro 35 GSN, MG-1. Tryng to get a Lynx 14. Forgot all the Spotmatics and Super-Multi-Coated Takumars.

 

[januaryman]

Now you next step is either an FSU LTM camera like the Fed 2 or a Leica oldie-but-goodie like the M2, that I love. Or a Canon P for lots less cash! (I have one of those, too.) Anyway, good luck on your photo odyssey.

 

[vbarniev]

Now you next step is either an FSU LTM camera like the Fed 2 or a Leica oldie-but-goodie like the M2, that I love. Or a Canon P for lots less cash! (I have one of those, too.) Anyway, good luck on your photo odyssey.

I like your 'Older, but not wiser'. I have the little kid alive in me too. I started at 12 and I'm 70. Never stopped. I used to be a better photografer when I had the strenght to be one. I'm more of a colectionist now. My next proyect IS a Leica. Maybe M3 (I'm getting a Lynx 14 too)

 

[januaryman]

Get an M2, otherwise you won't be able to use a 35mm lens without a finder! Unles you're one of those weird guys that never shoots wider than 50...

PS - and at age 60, I think I'm finally past adolescence.