Yashice Wide Angle Conversion lens?

They are pain to use, for most. I could swallow it if it would convert lens into 28mm, not 37.7mm

This were cool in times of FL RF's though it's up to you in days when SLR with 28/24mm lens can be had for cheap.
 
I had an original Yashica set with: 1) add-on tele lens 2)add-on wide-angle lens 3) viewfinder 4) leather case. Actually I have to say that the best part was the viewfinder, as it could be used in other cameras with wide lenses. The lenses made my 35 GSN more heavy, I sold everything after a while. I've seen similar sets for Yashicamade by other Japanese brands.
Regards
Joao
 
By and large, conversion sets were accessories sold to those who wanted multiple focal lengths and could not afford a Leica or similar interchangeable-lens camera. Very popular prior to the heyday of the SLR, not so much afterwards. Opinions vary as to their quality, but having used a couple different kinds, I am unimpressed by them in general.
 
I've seen some renewed interest in the Yashica set just for the sake of the VF, which is popular with Panasonic LX3 users. I kept mine just to see what happens when used with SLR lenses, but haven't picked up the SLR in ages.
 
I find the accessory lenses uselss unless you set the camera to infinity. At infinity you actually get some decent results. I only bought the lenses to complete my collection Electro 35 G.

Here are some results.....

The first and third are with the telephoto and the second with the tele wide. Both set to infinity.

Mike
 

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Maiku said:
I find the accessory lenses uselss unless you set the camera to infinity. At infinity you actually get some decent results. I only bought the lenses to complete my collection Electro 35 G.

Here are some results.....

The first and third are with the telephoto and the second with the tele wide. Both set to infinity.

Mike
Click to expand...

I don't know about the Yashica sets, but some of the others I've tried had written instructions on converting the RF distance to the actual distance with the accessory attached - in other words, RF focusing did not work anymore. There was a conversion factor you had to apply and then change the focus on the main lens to match. A regular PITA. You are right, at infinity, it was fine, no adjustment needed.
 
I had a Spiratone fish-eye converter lens that I used on my Hasselblad. It was slow but I mostly used it from the balcony of churches for a shot of the entire interior, including the stained glass windows down the sides, during the ceremony. It was more than sharp enough for an 9 inch circular image on a 10x10 print. Brides loved it and nobody cared that you couldn't stick a loupe on the print and see the pattern of the lace on the veil. Biting sharpness is very over rated in the real world.
 
Believe it or not, I've attached both the WA and TF attachments to my Canon AE-1 with very nice results , and even tried it on my Canon AF SLR but never printed up any pictures from that rig. The WA on my AE-1 came out great.
 
Harlee said:
Believe it or not, I've attached both the WA and TF attachments to my Canon AE-1 with very nice results , and even tried it on my Canon AF SLR but never printed up any pictures from that rig. The WA on my AE-1 came out great.
Click to expand...

You don't see too many comments on the quality of the lenses. It's mostly about what a PITA they are to use on a RF. I don't have any, but I have read the instructions for some and decided that I'm not missing anything. If I was using them on an SLR, then I can see that the operation would be greatly simplified, sort of like using a 2x converter.
 
These remind me of the accessory lenses for the Kodak Retina. They require a lot of attention from the photographer and take time to use.

I think it's one of those photographic ideas that seem good on paper but not as good in actual use. A bit like the panoramic mode of 35mm point and shoots in the 1980s and 1990s.
 
The focusing conversion is right on the lenses. They work fine, IMO, just slow to use. I admit that 37.7mm is a pretty weak WA, but it has made the difference a couple of times for me. Sharpness is fine.
That said, I don't use mine much - I just have them to complete my Yashica set.
 
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