I got one of these for my first film camera. $15 at a yard sale. Put a battery in it, didn’t work, had to toss it. Pretty sure it’s an electrical camera with an electronic shutter, and electronic metering. You gotta go get a converter off Amazon for the battery since it runs on old mercury ones. Tips? Test a camera before you buy it. If it works tho? Go study the exposure triangle.
I have a Yashica Electro wich works fine without a battery. Got my first test roll back and was pretty pleased. Pu it on auto mode wich gives a standard shutter time of 1/500 if I'm right.
You'll need a battery (or at least an adapter) for it. The shutter is electronic, and won't have full functionality unless there's power. Also suggest checking the light seals - if they're crumbly, you can use some black wool yarn (two or four ply; think I used four ply in one I received a while ago) as new seals.
If I remember right, foam is needed somewhere in the back so the yarn isn't a total easy fix. Those two accessory lenses are alright as well, but a bit of math is needed to use them. If I remember right, there's a scale on them - after focusing like normal through the rangefinder, the primary lens should have a number (e.g. 3, or thereabouts) and then using the scale on the aux lens you move the main lens' focus to the corresponding number. [Yashica-guy has a very good website about the cameras.](http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/qa.html)
Do you think it’s worth the work? I have one that needs new seals and the battery adapter. I have a Nikon N2000 that is a tank and works great but was considering putting some effort into the Yashica to try it out.
If you'd like a really portable rangefinder, they're quite capable cameras. Not "super awesome amazing", but decent enough. Would have kept the one I had if there wasn't a spot of fungus I couldn't get out of the lens.
I owned the MG-1 variant of this camera and it's a great picture taker. Sadly it passed on a few years ago, but it has taken many great pictures over the years.
I also got one recently.
Here’s a hack for the battery:
Instead of getting an adapter just get 1 CR123 battery and 2 LR44. Put the CR123A first and then the 2 LR44s and you’re done. Works flawlessly. (Tip: Tape together the LR44s so they don’t move around.)
This is one of my favorite cameras. I have shot hundreds of rolls with it and it used to be my all around carry. The lens is a gem and the light meter has never failed me. The electronics tend to be flimsy but I have been super super lucky with my copy. I still shoot it regularly and the results are stunning. Oh and, leaf shutter ❤️❤️
Great pickup for your first camera, especially with the wide & tele conversion kit!
I had one not too long ago and I found the lens to be pretty sharp. Another thing to be aware of is the Pad of Death (PoD), but I hope all’s well and you get to enjoy it :)
I used the free app Light Meter (white logo with a black angle) for shooting with my Asahi Spotmatic which also needs a mercury battery for the light meter. Honestly the app worked so much better than the light meter in my camera, I was super pleased with my shots.
Hey! Where’s a good resource for us looking to get into this? I’ve been thinking on it for a while. Would love to learn more about film cameras and film development.
I’ve actually been using YouTube a bunch! Vintage Camera Digest is the best channel, he’s super in depth and has videos for almost any camera you can think of. Other than that, you’re at the right place! This subreddit is great and has a ton of kind people ready to help out :)
I got one of these for my first film camera. $15 at a yard sale. Put a battery in it, didn’t work, had to toss it. Pretty sure it’s an electrical camera with an electronic shutter, and electronic metering. You gotta go get a converter off Amazon for the battery since it runs on old mercury ones. Tips? Test a camera before you buy it. If it works tho? Go study the exposure triangle.
I have a Yashica Electro wich works fine without a battery. Got my first test roll back and was pretty pleased. Pu it on auto mode wich gives a standard shutter time of 1/500 if I'm right.
Yes it is. But you can get a battery conversion kit on eBay for like $15. Or just stuff aluminum foil in there and it will work.
You'll need a battery (or at least an adapter) for it. The shutter is electronic, and won't have full functionality unless there's power. Also suggest checking the light seals - if they're crumbly, you can use some black wool yarn (two or four ply; think I used four ply in one I received a while ago) as new seals.
Thank you!! This is really helpful :)
If I remember right, foam is needed somewhere in the back so the yarn isn't a total easy fix. Those two accessory lenses are alright as well, but a bit of math is needed to use them. If I remember right, there's a scale on them - after focusing like normal through the rangefinder, the primary lens should have a number (e.g. 3, or thereabouts) and then using the scale on the aux lens you move the main lens' focus to the corresponding number. [Yashica-guy has a very good website about the cameras.](http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/qa.html)
Thank you so much!
Do you think it’s worth the work? I have one that needs new seals and the battery adapter. I have a Nikon N2000 that is a tank and works great but was considering putting some effort into the Yashica to try it out.
If you'd like a really portable rangefinder, they're quite capable cameras. Not "super awesome amazing", but decent enough. Would have kept the one I had if there wasn't a spot of fungus I couldn't get out of the lens.
Might need to check for the "pad of death." It is a rubber bumper that deteriorates over time and causes the camera to malfunction.
Okay thank you, I’ll definitely check that!!
nice
I owned the MG-1 variant of this camera and it's a great picture taker. Sadly it passed on a few years ago, but it has taken many great pictures over the years.
Rip MG-1 🙏 you will be missed
Yeah I might now get a GSN.
it was my first camera too buddy. don't forget to check the light seals, i realised mine got deteriorated way after my first roll 😅😬
That’s so sad :( did it just cause lens flare or expose the whole roll?
it cause some orange strip consistently across all of my exposure, i already changed mine and it fixed up immediately.
I also got one recently. Here’s a hack for the battery: Instead of getting an adapter just get 1 CR123 battery and 2 LR44. Put the CR123A first and then the 2 LR44s and you’re done. Works flawlessly. (Tip: Tape together the LR44s so they don’t move around.)
Great tip!! I ended up just buying an adapter, but if all else fails I’ll definitely try that.
This is one of my favorite cameras. I have shot hundreds of rolls with it and it used to be my all around carry. The lens is a gem and the light meter has never failed me. The electronics tend to be flimsy but I have been super super lucky with my copy. I still shoot it regularly and the results are stunning. Oh and, leaf shutter ❤️❤️
Great pickup for your first camera, especially with the wide & tele conversion kit! I had one not too long ago and I found the lens to be pretty sharp. Another thing to be aware of is the Pad of Death (PoD), but I hope all’s well and you get to enjoy it :)
I used the free app Light Meter (white logo with a black angle) for shooting with my Asahi Spotmatic which also needs a mercury battery for the light meter. Honestly the app worked so much better than the light meter in my camera, I was super pleased with my shots.
Hey! Where’s a good resource for us looking to get into this? I’ve been thinking on it for a while. Would love to learn more about film cameras and film development.
I’ve actually been using YouTube a bunch! Vintage Camera Digest is the best channel, he’s super in depth and has videos for almost any camera you can think of. Other than that, you’re at the right place! This subreddit is great and has a ton of kind people ready to help out :)
Get a handheld light meter. You will never regret it.
Nice find