wamjam
Well-known
is this still considered a rangefinder? does this have a fully manual control system?...meaning can i operate it even without batteries?
yashica lynx 14
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JeffGreene
(@)^(@)
Kat
Well-known
Yep. I was lusting after it for a while, but gave up because I didn't even want to deal with the Electro 35's size and weight.
Check out matt denton's site and karen's (can't remember the surname but her website is something like photoethnography). Cameraquest, too. They have good information and reviews of many fixed-lens RFs.
Check out matt denton's site and karen's (can't remember the surname but her website is something like photoethnography). Cameraquest, too. They have good information and reviews of many fixed-lens RFs.
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NickTrop
Veteran
Sitting next to me right now is a Yashica Lynx 14 IC (There are two. The first is just a Lynx 14. It has a meter on the top and match stick metering. The 14 IC did away with the meter on the top plate and uses an "under / over" lighting scheme in the viewfinder like the electros...) I just got back from the lab where I picked up some Ilford XP2 prints from Thanksgiving. Very nice (didn't get a CD for these or I would put up some samples...)
This is rapidly becomimg my "go to" camera despite its down sides. It's large, it's heavy, its lens is flare prone (see my next post for a recommendation on this...)
However, there is no other rangefinder that has a f1.4 lens and a leaf shutter. Not even a Leica. It is a /very/ unique camera - one of a kind really, and it has practical applications. And, yes, that extra bit over the GSN or other 1.7/8 lenses means a lot. The lens is very sharp and optimized to wider apertures.
This is one of the very best cameras for natural light candids. This is a serious lens on this camera, and its parralex corrected frameline + leaf shutter + manual control + 7 element f1.4 lens results in a camera capable of some serious stuff. This ain't no toy.
It takes a bit of getting used to. You need to get used to the weight, and need to use it enough to become "one" (sorry) with it... that is, know where to reach on the lens barrel to focus, set shutter speed, and set aperture. As a fully manual camera, you can use it both as a shutter priority /and/ an aperture priority.
Get the best sample you can find, send it off to Greyhoundman (check with him first), or Mark Hama, or Essex, or any competent repair shop. Bit the bullet and have it CLA'd/repaired/restored. Then use it. You might hate it at first but eventually you'll warm up to it. This has become the camera I reach for when shooting 35, even over the wonderful GSN.
This is rapidly becomimg my "go to" camera despite its down sides. It's large, it's heavy, its lens is flare prone (see my next post for a recommendation on this...)
However, there is no other rangefinder that has a f1.4 lens and a leaf shutter. Not even a Leica. It is a /very/ unique camera - one of a kind really, and it has practical applications. And, yes, that extra bit over the GSN or other 1.7/8 lenses means a lot. The lens is very sharp and optimized to wider apertures.
This is one of the very best cameras for natural light candids. This is a serious lens on this camera, and its parralex corrected frameline + leaf shutter + manual control + 7 element f1.4 lens results in a camera capable of some serious stuff. This ain't no toy.
It takes a bit of getting used to. You need to get used to the weight, and need to use it enough to become "one" (sorry) with it... that is, know where to reach on the lens barrel to focus, set shutter speed, and set aperture. As a fully manual camera, you can use it both as a shutter priority /and/ an aperture priority.
Get the best sample you can find, send it off to Greyhoundman (check with him first), or Mark Hama, or Essex, or any competent repair shop. Bit the bullet and have it CLA'd/repaired/restored. Then use it. You might hate it at first but eventually you'll warm up to it. This has become the camera I reach for when shooting 35, even over the wonderful GSN.
caspert79
Dutch User
Very nice camera indeed. I'm lucky to own one. Another very great available light camera is the Electro 35 CC. True, it isn't a f1.4 but a f1.8, but because of its 35mm more usefull for indoor shots!
ErnestoJL
Well-known
I have a Lynx 14 with a shutter problem, so it´s gettting dust right now.
The pictures it brought were really impressive even being a flare prone lens.
Mine has also a poor/dim RF patch so I´m sure I didn´t pick the right sample.
Another camera with a nice lens is the Mamiya Super Deluxe 1.5 (it uses the same shutter assy as the Lynx). This camera has a Mamiya Sekor 48 mm f 1.5 lens, feels solid as a rock, VF/RF is better than my Lynx and having less chromed parts it results a bit less noticeable. Another advantage , it takes 55 mm flters/hoods.
Ernesto
The pictures it brought were really impressive even being a flare prone lens.
Mine has also a poor/dim RF patch so I´m sure I didn´t pick the right sample.
Another camera with a nice lens is the Mamiya Super Deluxe 1.5 (it uses the same shutter assy as the Lynx). This camera has a Mamiya Sekor 48 mm f 1.5 lens, feels solid as a rock, VF/RF is better than my Lynx and having less chromed parts it results a bit less noticeable. Another advantage , it takes 55 mm flters/hoods.
Ernesto
NickTrop
Veteran
I had cravings for a Mamiya Super Deluxe. Looks cool, actually but I was a little reluctant since there's not a lot out there about the lens performance. They're hard to come by, especially the 1.5 version. I bid on one a few months ago but got outbid.
I've since come to my senses, and decided NO MORE CAMERAS! (Well, I still want to get my Iskra folder repaired, but AFTER THAT.... : )
I also have an Electro CC... another great Yashica cam but I prefer the Konica Auto S3 by a hair. The difference between the 38mm and 35mm field of view isn't really all that much... negligable, really. The Auto S3 has a top shutter speed of 650. Found with the CC I needed an ND filter on bright summer days but not the S3.
I've since come to my senses, and decided NO MORE CAMERAS! (Well, I still want to get my Iskra folder repaired, but AFTER THAT.... : )
I also have an Electro CC... another great Yashica cam but I prefer the Konica Auto S3 by a hair. The difference between the 38mm and 35mm field of view isn't really all that much... negligable, really. The Auto S3 has a top shutter speed of 650. Found with the CC I needed an ND filter on bright summer days but not the S3.
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Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Nick: You funny.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
BTW, Rich Silfver has an entry on his Super Deluxe (f1.7) in his blog.
Marko
Established
I owned both, the Lynx 14 and the Mamiya Super Deluxe 1.7. The Mamiya looks cool in black and the lens flares not so heavy and the Mamiya is smaller then the Lynx. But.. the Lynx has the better bokeh and is simply cult! For the batterys you can use the Wein cells without problems. I could not decieded with camera is the better one...
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