Yashica thread mount cameras -
Taken from long gone website
Yashica Company, Kyocera Corp., Tokyo, Japan
Yashica Penta J, 1962-??
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 1/2-1/500,B
Flash:??
Metering: none
Finder: microprism spot in ground glass screen
Battery: none
Non automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror (?)
Yashica J-3, 1963-??
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 1/2-1/500,B
Flash:Standard F and X synch at 1/50 (?), no hot shoe
Metering: selenium meter
Finder: microprism spot and ground glass collar.
Battery: none
Non automatic diaphragm (?)
Instant return mirror
Self timer
Yashica J-P, 1964-??
Like J-3 but without meter
Yashica J-5, 1964-??
Like J-3 but with automatic diaphragm and shuter 1/2-1/1000 (?)
Yashica J-7, 1966-??
(Also Wards SLR-600) Like J-5 but with shuter 1/2-1/500 (?)
Yashica TL Super, 1967-??
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 1-1/1000,B (mechanical)
Flash:X-synch hot shoe and standard X and F sockets at 1/60(?)
Metering: stoped-down TTL metering
Finder: microprism spot and ground glass collar in full focusing
screen; metter needle.
Battery: ?
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self timer
Mirror lock up
Yashica TL, 1968-??
As TL Super but shutter 1/2-1/500 and there is no mirror lock up.
Yashica TL Electro X, 1969-??
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 2-1/1000,B (vertical electronic metal; stepless 1/60-1/1000)
Flash:X-synch hot shoe and standard X and F sockets at 1/125
Metering: stoped-down TTL metering, diode in viewfinder
Finder: microprism spot and ground glass collar in full focusing
screen
Battery: PX28, 6v
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self timer
Mirror lock up
Yashica TL Electro X ITS, 1970-??
As TL Electro X, but arrows in viewfinder instead of circles.
Yashica TL E, 1970-??
As TL Electro X, but shutter 1/2-1/500 mechanical
Yashica TL Electro, 1972(?)-??
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: 1-1/1000,B (mechanical)
Flash:X-synch hot shoe and standard X and F sockets at 1/60
Metering: stoped-down TTL metering, diode in viewfinder
Finder: microprism spot and ground glass collar in full focusing
screen
Battery: 2xRM640R
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self timer
No mirror lock up
Yashica Electro AX, 1973-??
Fixed pentaprism
Shutter: metal, 8s-1/1000,B and auto (electronic)
Flash:X-synch hot shoe and standard X and F sockets at 1/125
Metering: stoped-down aperture priority TTL metering
Finder: microprism spot and ground glass collar in full focusing
screen
Battery: PX32, 5.6v
Automatic diaphragm
Instant return mirror
Self timer
Mirror lock up (?)
(Unususal lens diaphragm arrangement?)
Should you buy a Yashica?
From [1]: "Yashica of the J series are less then reliable ... The TL electro
cameras ... are better designed and manufactured. Find one that has not had very
much use and you you will have a fine camera at a very moderate price."
From Turkay Cevik: About Yashica Tl-electro: These are very built cameras. I
also had a Yashica fx-2. It also has cloth shutter just like the Tl-electro, but
lacks led light-metering. I found the Tl-electro smaller and lighter than the
fx-2. The only drawback is its thread mount. If you find a very good thread
mount lens,this camera is a very good and at the same time cheap option, please
note that these are very well made cameras, but underrated.
From Iain Ross
I found my fathers old TL Electro X of early 70s vintage in the roof space. With
some TLC, including replacing all foam to repair a light leak & replacing the
focus screen with one out of a broken TL Electro, it now works great!
It is a little heavy, but its a solid camera, of the highest quality, and i get
some stunning photographs from it. I find it easier to use and more faithful to
the real scene than my Nikon F70! (modern bells n whistles SLR).
I have nothing but love and respect for this camera. You need to get good lenses
though...
Any personal experience?
To Camera Pages
