batmat
MG1 Happy owner :)
Hello everybody !
I'm from France, and i just fell on your forum, wich sounds to be very interesting, so i would like to share some ideas and to ask some questions! I'm sorry for my english, you will maybe not understand me well ...
So, i just bought a Yashica MG-1 for a couple of €uros. I just found the handbook on the internet so i'll have a look in it. But the question i want to ask, is if the camera could work without a battery ??? !!! And, aparently it says the time can go from like 1/1000 to 2sec, but i wonder how ?
Thanks you very much for your great help !
I'm from France, and i just fell on your forum, wich sounds to be very interesting, so i would like to share some ideas and to ask some questions! I'm sorry for my english, you will maybe not understand me well ...
So, i just bought a Yashica MG-1 for a couple of €uros. I just found the handbook on the internet so i'll have a look in it. But the question i want to ask, is if the camera could work without a battery ??? !!! And, aparently it says the time can go from like 1/1000 to 2sec, but i wonder how ?
Thanks you very much for your great help !
Whisper
Member
It needs a battery to work. A PX28A will operate it fine.
The shutter chooses the speed according to input from the meter system.
The shutter chooses the speed according to input from the meter system.
btgc
Veteran
I'd stick to 4 silver-oxyde "piles", stacked. OK, I use GSN with PX28L and it works, same as MG-1 will do.
P.S. MG speed tops at 1/500, I believe, though I don't own one.
P.S. MG speed tops at 1/500, I believe, though I don't own one.
ErnestoJL
Well-known
Hi, and welcome to the forum.
Unless you have a battery in the MG1, the shutter will fire only at 1/500 which is the max speed it can reach.
The camera is a simple shutter priority AE, but the results are worth the price you payed for it. The slower speed is well beyond 2 seconds, but there are no specified limits to how long can it be (I got about 15 - 20 sec).
The lens is tack sharp and a bit slow but this is easy to overcome, just use any high speed film (ISO 400) and expose it to ISO 800. Its a Tessar clone so it´s sharp and well contrasted, even if it doesn´t say "Color" Yashinon DX. BTW, I used allways ISO 400 and was enough for any lighting condition.
The battery can be replaced by 4 silver oxide cells put together with a piece of tape and a spring to assure the contact in the battery chamber.
There are many threads here dealing with this, just look under the sub forum Yashica RF.
Enjoy the camera, it´s an execellent one!
cheers
Ernesto
Unless you have a battery in the MG1, the shutter will fire only at 1/500 which is the max speed it can reach.
The camera is a simple shutter priority AE, but the results are worth the price you payed for it. The slower speed is well beyond 2 seconds, but there are no specified limits to how long can it be (I got about 15 - 20 sec).
The lens is tack sharp and a bit slow but this is easy to overcome, just use any high speed film (ISO 400) and expose it to ISO 800. Its a Tessar clone so it´s sharp and well contrasted, even if it doesn´t say "Color" Yashinon DX. BTW, I used allways ISO 400 and was enough for any lighting condition.
The battery can be replaced by 4 silver oxide cells put together with a piece of tape and a spring to assure the contact in the battery chamber.
There are many threads here dealing with this, just look under the sub forum Yashica RF.
Enjoy the camera, it´s an execellent one!
cheers
Ernesto
batmat
MG1 Happy owner :)
Hi ! Thank's all for your answers ! i really love my camera, i took some photos yesterday with it, without a battery so i guess it took them at 1/500...but then i saw that i putted the button on the Flash selection, who apparently mean that shoot at 1/30...great! haha
The goal i bought a very old cheap camera is that i want to take kind of Artistic photo, not really in a serious way. I want them to be a bit bad ! yes...that can sounds weird... I also used a expired 400Iso film! I'm not sure yet about the result, but that's exactly what i want !
I'll look for a battery in my city, the 4 silver oxide cells sounds to be a great solution !!!
A question came in my mind :
Can i take 2 photos on the exact same position of the film ? ...well i guess that should be hard. i want to be able to take a photo, and then take another photo on the one i just took...to make a superimposition of 2 photos.... will that be posible?
Thank's for all, cheers !!!
The goal i bought a very old cheap camera is that i want to take kind of Artistic photo, not really in a serious way. I want them to be a bit bad ! yes...that can sounds weird... I also used a expired 400Iso film! I'm not sure yet about the result, but that's exactly what i want !
I'll look for a battery in my city, the 4 silver oxide cells sounds to be a great solution !!!
A question came in my mind :
Can i take 2 photos on the exact same position of the film ? ...well i guess that should be hard. i want to be able to take a photo, and then take another photo on the one i just took...to make a superimposition of 2 photos.... will that be posible?
Thank's for all, cheers !!!
btgc
Veteran
1/30 at flash setting works only with battery installed, at least on Electro 35 series, and MG1 has same idea under hood. So I think you shot at 1/500.
For multiple exposures you have to sneak for Ricoh 500 ME rangefinder, it natively has multiple exposure capability (ME in name).
Or modify your MG1 but I guess that it not as easy as replace light seals or POD, there you will need to make some parts and understand camera. In fact you want to add button which when pressed, disengages film transport though allows to charge metering system (is it similar to G/GS/GSN ?). Heck, I'd skip doing this myself
For multiple exposures you have to sneak for Ricoh 500 ME rangefinder, it natively has multiple exposure capability (ME in name).
Or modify your MG1 but I guess that it not as easy as replace light seals or POD, there you will need to make some parts and understand camera. In fact you want to add button which when pressed, disengages film transport though allows to charge metering system (is it similar to G/GS/GSN ?). Heck, I'd skip doing this myself
batmat
MG1 Happy owner :)
haha yes thats sounds a bit hard to modify it ! Can it exist a way to rewind the film, so it can take the foto on the same place the last foto was taken...but yes, thats sounds be a bit hard, knowing how much i have to rewind the film to fall at exactly the same place than before...i hope its well say in english ...
i'm gonna go buy my battery after work, i can't wait !!
thank's
i'm gonna go buy my battery after work, i can't wait !!
thank's
batmat
MG1 Happy owner :)
Hello
A new problem happened !!! Yesterday i luckily found a battery in my house. A 4LR44. So i did some DIY (not sure about that in english "Do it yourself" ?) ...to make fit the battery inside. Well that apparently worked as the camera was doing funny noise like if the captor were working ! But trying to press half way the button, the 2 lights on the top of the camera didn't respond ! So i'm wondering if my camera is break :'( !!!
As well, it says on the handbook, that i should see kind of arrows in the viewfinder...but nothing here too !!!
I really need your help Thank's all !!!
A new problem happened !!! Yesterday i luckily found a battery in my house. A 4LR44. So i did some DIY (not sure about that in english "Do it yourself" ?) ...to make fit the battery inside. Well that apparently worked as the camera was doing funny noise like if the captor were working ! But trying to press half way the button, the 2 lights on the top of the camera didn't respond ! So i'm wondering if my camera is break :'( !!!
As well, it says on the handbook, that i should see kind of arrows in the viewfinder...but nothing here too !!!
I really need your help
Thank's all !!!
ErnestoJL
Well-known
Hi again!
Well, it´s not easy to modify the mechanics inside to allow the advance lever to cock the shutter keeping the film at a steady point. It can be done, but ít implies to redesign/modify the film transport system, and that´s not an easy task. I wouldn´t like to do it, specially because the external modifications the camera will get if done.
Regarding the battery and lights on/off, check if the battery makes a good contact inside the battery chamber with the camera body. Usually you´ll need a small spring to ensure a good contact with the battery and the screw cap.
Try using a small diameter tube made of thick paper or carton to hold the battery, and a spring to keep the battery in contact with the camera contacts.
If everything is OK, one of the lights should be on as soon as the button is pressed halfway. If not, either the battery is dead, not supplying the metering circuit (because of a bad contact), or (what is usually the worst case) the cable that runs fron the inner contact (the one in the inner end of the battery chamber) to the meter board is either corroded, unsoldered or just cut. If thats the case you must open the camera top cover and carefully repair the fault (usually I replace the whole wire, but this requires some tools and practice).
Basically the MG 1 is a low priced and less featured Electro 35, but even having the same design concept behind, the electronics in the MG 1 are based on an IC instead of four transistors as the Electro 35.
Hope this helps. Feel free to email (or PM) me if you have more questions.
Cheers
Ernesto.
Well, it´s not easy to modify the mechanics inside to allow the advance lever to cock the shutter keeping the film at a steady point. It can be done, but ít implies to redesign/modify the film transport system, and that´s not an easy task. I wouldn´t like to do it, specially because the external modifications the camera will get if done.
Regarding the battery and lights on/off, check if the battery makes a good contact inside the battery chamber with the camera body. Usually you´ll need a small spring to ensure a good contact with the battery and the screw cap.
Try using a small diameter tube made of thick paper or carton to hold the battery, and a spring to keep the battery in contact with the camera contacts.
If everything is OK, one of the lights should be on as soon as the button is pressed halfway. If not, either the battery is dead, not supplying the metering circuit (because of a bad contact), or (what is usually the worst case) the cable that runs fron the inner contact (the one in the inner end of the battery chamber) to the meter board is either corroded, unsoldered or just cut. If thats the case you must open the camera top cover and carefully repair the fault (usually I replace the whole wire, but this requires some tools and practice).
Basically the MG 1 is a low priced and less featured Electro 35, but even having the same design concept behind, the electronics in the MG 1 are based on an IC instead of four transistors as the Electro 35.
Hope this helps. Feel free to email (or PM) me if you have more questions.
Cheers
Ernesto.
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puderse
Established
MG-1 ready for film?
MG-1 ready for film?
Found an MG-1 @ Goodwill and couldn't find anything that wasn't correct so I made the $20 bet.
This weekend I bought a 6 volt L28 battery @ Wally World, cut a Raisin Bran box to keep the battery in the center of the hole, found a short/fat screw and nut to fill the space, and it seems to work as designed!!! I may have won the bet.
A roll of ASA 200 just waiting in the butter compartment of the fridge.
One question; seems to be baffeled pretty good, are seals ever an issue?
Will require betting a test roll to be sure.
FORWARD---INTO THE LIGHT!
MG-1 ready for film?
Found an MG-1 @ Goodwill and couldn't find anything that wasn't correct so I made the $20 bet.
This weekend I bought a 6 volt L28 battery @ Wally World, cut a Raisin Bran box to keep the battery in the center of the hole, found a short/fat screw and nut to fill the space, and it seems to work as designed!!! I may have won the bet.
A roll of ASA 200 just waiting in the butter compartment of the fridge.
One question; seems to be baffeled pretty good, are seals ever an issue?
Will require betting a test roll to be sure.
FORWARD---INTO THE LIGHT!
batmat
MG1 Happy owner :)
Hello ! THank's for your answers !
So i guess my battery isn't dead, and the contact is good, because i can feel that the opening time of the lens depends of the light. So i guess the mecanic inside is working, and so is the battery. (i stuck the battery with some paper and i added a thing to make the contact better) I guess just the lights aren't working, so maybe this wire is break...I'll try to open the camera as soon as i finish the roll inside. I'm not sure how it is inside the camera, and i hope its not very hard to follow the wire inside, but i'm sure i'll understand the moment i'll have open it !!!
By the way, my 12 firsts fotos are amazing, and i'm very proud of this Yashica ! I couldn't expect so much !
I'll try to post them as soon as i can scan them !
I'm sure i'll come back to ask some questions
CHEERS and MERCI ONCE AGAIN !!
So i guess my battery isn't dead, and the contact is good, because i can feel that the opening time of the lens depends of the light. So i guess the mecanic inside is working, and so is the battery. (i stuck the battery with some paper and i added a thing to make the contact better) I guess just the lights aren't working, so maybe this wire is break...I'll try to open the camera as soon as i finish the roll inside. I'm not sure how it is inside the camera, and i hope its not very hard to follow the wire inside, but i'm sure i'll understand the moment i'll have open it !!!
By the way, my 12 firsts fotos are amazing, and i'm very proud of this Yashica ! I couldn't expect so much !
I'll try to post them as soon as i can scan them !
I'm sure i'll come back to ask some questions
CHEERS and MERCI ONCE AGAIN !!
Harlee
Well-known
I presently have a GSN, a GTN, a silver MG-1 and a black MG-1. All have razor sharp lenses. I personally like the metering system on the MG-1 better than the GSN and am willing to give up the F1.7 for the F2.8 aperature. There are a number of combinations for a useful battery from stacking 4 X 1.5V button batteries, to a 6 volt battery and a home made connector to take up the extra space. My latest one consists of a 123 3V battery with two 1.5V button batteries taped to the negative side of it. This makes the battery long enough so you don't have to use a spacer and in the process the 3V 123 is usually a Lithium which lasts longer. If the battery combination gets weak, simply replace the two 1.5V button batteries. I've been shooting these Yashicas for over 35years and I probably have had one in my possession all through that time. Along with everything else, they're quite easy to work on if need be. Cleaning the viewfinder is a snap as the top comes off very easily. Treat yours right and it will serve you for many, many years.
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puderse
Established
Mg-1
Mg-1
I was wondering if top removal was as easy as it appeared. Cleaning may help with the dim rangefinder spot. I think it should be easier to focus in dim light.
Thanks for the battery dope too!
Mg-1
I was wondering if top removal was as easy as it appeared. Cleaning may help with the dim rangefinder spot. I think it should be easier to focus in dim light.
Thanks for the battery dope too!
Harlee
Well-known
You can have the top off in 3-5 minutes. I use a pair of pliers used for opening horseshoe clips. The tips fit nicely into the cap screws with the two 180 degree holes. Unscrew the advance lever, open the back and place a small rod or screwdriver into the place where the film goes to keep it from turning, and unscrew the rewind cap. Remove the screws with a set of jewlers screwdrivers, and that's about it. the top cover comes right off. Be careful however, the flash wire is soldered to the flash switch on the top cover. You can unsolder the wire and the top is unconnected and free from the body.
The MG-1 is a little different than the GSN series in that there is a copper shield over the top of the viewfinder which can be removed carefully with a pocket knife to expose the focusing prisms for cleaning. Take a Q-Tip and very carefully clean off the prisms. Better not to try to clean off the yellow focusing patch - if you decide to do that, use extra care. Generally, it's just dust or a light coating of grime that accumulates over the years. Also clean off the look through glass on the top cover. This is a simple and quick way to get a much clearer viewfinder.
Make sure you keep the screws in a small container along with a container to hold the wind lever, take up spool handle, etc., and don't forget to resolder the flash to the inside of the top cover before you button it all back up. The entire operation will take around 15 minutes.
Have fun and get out there and shoot some pictures!
The MG-1 is a little different than the GSN series in that there is a copper shield over the top of the viewfinder which can be removed carefully with a pocket knife to expose the focusing prisms for cleaning. Take a Q-Tip and very carefully clean off the prisms. Better not to try to clean off the yellow focusing patch - if you decide to do that, use extra care. Generally, it's just dust or a light coating of grime that accumulates over the years. Also clean off the look through glass on the top cover. This is a simple and quick way to get a much clearer viewfinder.
Make sure you keep the screws in a small container along with a container to hold the wind lever, take up spool handle, etc., and don't forget to resolder the flash to the inside of the top cover before you button it all back up. The entire operation will take around 15 minutes.
Have fun and get out there and shoot some pictures!
batmat
MG1 Happy owner :)
puderse
Established
Put some ASA 200 in it and was wondering if I should set the ASA at something different to make up for a different voltage battery than the voltage for which the camera was designed.
puderse
Established
Finally loaded it up but I'm disappointed by the slow focus and dim view and focus spot! I've been using F's since I bought them new when Ektachrome was 3 and wondering why some rangefinder people are so enthusiastic. Seems like they are anachronistic and people use them out of "retroness".
P.S. I traded an M-3 system for the first Nikon and have never looked back
P.S. I traded an M-3 system for the first Nikon and have never looked back
btgc
Veteran
puderse, slow focus, if you means tight focus ring, has nothing with anachronism - this phenomena is called gummed grease plus dirt.
As for dim viewfinder - probably you already have googled up concept of "cleaning RF glass", which relies to 30-50 years old cameras and is routine task if camera have not been services is last decades.
You know, people need rest, food and medicines, and cameras need use, care and service. In the end, most of us are getting them unserviced for a small money, so why expect results without investment ?
btw cleaning RF is easy task even for novice (like me, hehe). Go through it and enjoy clear and crispy finder. Oh, if you did then I'm sorry for rant and hope you get your hands on something better than this cameras.
As for dim viewfinder - probably you already have googled up concept of "cleaning RF glass", which relies to 30-50 years old cameras and is routine task if camera have not been services is last decades.
You know, people need rest, food and medicines, and cameras need use, care and service. In the end, most of us are getting them unserviced for a small money, so why expect results without investment ?
btw cleaning RF is easy task even for novice (like me, hehe). Go through it and enjoy clear and crispy finder. Oh, if you did then I'm sorry for rant and hope you get your hands on something better than this cameras.
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racoll
Well-known
batmat, very cool shot of the Eiffel Tower. I much prefer the older Yashica RFs like the Lynx 1000 (a masterpiece of a camera!), but I've got a black MG-1 with its first roll of film in it, so I'm eager to see how it turns out, especially since I bought it at a flea market and was about to throw it away because I thought it didn't work. Once I cleaned off the battery contacts, it came to life and I feel like I've got a treasure of a camera. Congrats on your great purchase, and post more pictures.
Andy
Andy
btgc
Veteran
I'm kind of sorry for snobs answer, but fellows, this cameras deserve some care and then they respond to us, truly !