Yashica | cameracollection

In 1968, Yashica introduced the TL Electro-X 35mm single lens reflex (SLR) camera and produced it until 1974. It had a screw thread lens mount, the M42 lens mount for its interchangeable lenses. It also had an all-electronic through the lens exposure meter in the viewfinder using LEDs. The Copal Square SE shutter, a vertically-travelling metal blade focal plane shutter made by Copal Corporation, used in the camera, was electronically controlled.

Yashica-A is a medium format 120 film camera camera made by Yashica and introduced in 1959 .

Yashica-C is a medium format film TLR camera made by Yashica and introduced in c.1958 .

Yashica-635 is a double format film TLR camera made by Yashica and introduced in c.1958.

It is enhanced Yashica - D with the added ability to use 35mm film as an alternative to 120. To use 35mm requires an adaptor kit. This feature is very useful, effectively making two great cameras in one. When shooting 120 film, the standard 80mm lends itself well for landscape or architecture but lacks focal length needed for portraits. However, when loaded with 35mm the 80mm lens is ideal for portraits. Conversion kit includes mask assembly, pressure plate, take-up spool adapter and cartridge and adapters. The lens is Yashikor 80mm f/3.5 in Copal-MXV shutter with speeds 1-1/500. Rewind knob for 35mm is on upper left side of the camera. Among collectors, the 635 is more desirable than the Yashica-D and can be found for around $200.

The Yashica J is a 1961 rangefinder camera. It has a high quality lens and a rather limited set of shutter speeds. At the time of release, it was probably considered a budget model, since the better equipped Yashica Lynx 1000 and Yashica Minister series were being marketed at approximately the same time.

Yashica Minister D, manufactured around 1963 in Japan. This 35mm rangefinder camera has a Yashica Yashinon 5 elements in 4 groups 4.5cm f/2.8 lens, helical focus 2.6 ft to infinity, Copal-SVL shutter (speeds 1 to 1/500 sec + B, M,X, delay action) and an uncoupled CDS exposure meter. It has a parallax corrected viewfinder.

The Minister D accepts 46 mm screw-in filters and 48 mm push-on lens hoods

Well-designed and well-machined pro-quality TLR, with a classic look and solid feel. It is the forerunner to the well-known and wildly popular 124G, the last of a dynasty of quality Yashica TLRs and the culmination of all that came before it. Before them – among others – came the 12 (120 film only) and 24 (220 film only) but both the 124 and 124G take either 120 or 220 film. You re position the film pressure plate to tell the auto frame counter which number to count to.