My name is Salman Rameli, a 23 years old software developer from Surabaya, Indonesia. My interest in photography started when I was 6 years old, after my father bought a Canon PowerShot A200 to replace his Nikon F-501. Being a child, I did not know how to operate the contraption that the adults use to take photos. The mystery of photography also baffled me back then. How can you confidently know that you have captured the moment you wanted perfectly, if you could not see the result instantly? The Canon, being a digital camera, answered all of my questions. Even though it has small screen, at least I could see the picture I just taken in an instant. My younger self was satisfied. Throughout the years growing up, my interest in photography was slowly declining, due to the advancement in digital photography which made my Canon’s felt outdated (it was).
Tired hearing my complaints, and also wanting to have newer camera, my father bought me a new camera in 2010. It was a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W220. My interest in photography spiked again, which made me bring it daily to school to document silly things we did. I also love showing the pictures I have taken to my grandparents, especially my grandfather who also shared passion for photography back when he was younger. One day, after showing pictures I have taken since the last time I visited him with my parents, he went to the storeroom and brought out a big plastic bag. I looked inside and saw that it contained his various photography equipment in dilapidated condition – a Canon AE-1 which I have not previously seen him using it, various lenses for the Canon, an Olympus Trip Junior which I remembered that he always brought when we went for vacation, and a shabby black leather case that looked like it held a camera inside.
I took the content of the plastic bag one by one and carefully inspected them. The last item I took out was the mysterious leather case. It had an emblem that said “Yashica” with a symbol of atom beside the text. I have heard camera brands like Canon or Olympus, but not Yashica. I remove the case and laid my eyes on one of the most beautiful camera I have ever seen.
I instantly fell in love with its retro design. I knew that it certainly was not an SLR, nor a point-and-shoot, given various symbols on the lens, so it must be something else. Unfortunately, it also was in the worst condition compared with the others. The focusing mechanism was jammed, the viewfinder was clouded, the lens and the film chamber were covered in fungus. Nevertheless, it was my favourite of the bunch. When it was time to go back home, I put all of it back inside the plastic bag and gave it to my grandfather. He told me that he wanted to give it all to me, as he did not need them anymore. I thanked him and we went back home.
Fast forward to 2019
One day I found my sister browsing an Instagram account that sold various film cameras. She told me that she was interested in film photography and wanted to try it. I’d recently been paid for building application for a large company in Indonesia, I was flushed with cash and keen on spending my money to broaden my skills. I had learned about the rangefinder camera form factor, and wanted to try one. Thinking of killing two birds with one stone, I told my sister to find an affordable rangefinder film camera which I would pay for.
My first purchase in my journey to find the perfect rangefinder camera was a Ricoh 500GX. I am not going to write much about the camera as I did not enjoy using it. I am the kind of person who has sweaty palms, and the size of the camera made it slip easily out of my hands. Its viewfinder is cramped, with small focusing patch, which made focusing difficult.
The lens contained aperture, shutter speed, and focusing ring. The focusing ring took sizeable area on the lens and located furthest from camera body, which made it easy to identify. Next to it is the shutter speed ring. It has two grips on opposite side to made it easier to turn. Finally, located almost flush with the camera body is the aperture ring. It has the smallest size compared with the other two, and the hardest to rotate. If I wanted to change the aperture, I have to take the camera off my eyes, hold the camera with my left hand while my right hand tried to grip and rotate it to my desired value.
It was clear to me that the Ricoh 500GX is not the camera that I wanted, so I continued my search for another rangefinder camera that might suited me. Before purchasing the Ricoh, I already searched for secondhand Yashica Electro 35. What I found was that it still commanded high prices even after all these years, and the circulation was fast too. Even though I felt that I could not justified its high price, from time to time I still trawled online marketplace, hoping that maybe I can find an affordable one.
My search lasted for several weeks. In that time, I found several Yashica Electro 35s priced under one million Rupiah (my target price), but usually they had either cosmetic damage on the body or fungus on the surface of the lens. I already pondered to contact one of the sellers, but I still believed that out there still existed the one that I want.
That is until one day, I stumbled upon what I felt was the perfect Yashica Electro 35 for me. I accidentally found it after jumping from one seller to another in Tokopedia (one of many online marketplaces in Indonesia). The pictures in the listing showed how good the body was, the seller described that the camera was still fully functional, and it was sold with its original strap, lens cap, and the case. On top of that, the seller was also located in Surabaya, and was able to send using instant delivery service. Even though it was priced a bit above my threshold, I felt the price was justified because of the accessories that came with the camera. It was already late at night, so I bookmarked the listing and went to sleep.
Early next morning, I contacted the seller to ask whether the camera was still available or not, and if instant delivery is possible. In the afternoon, the seller finally replied to me and confirmed that it was for sale and they could send it with instant delivery service. I made the payment, and rushed back home to wait for the courier. Not two hours later, the package arrived. I quickly unboxed it, hoping that my purchase was not a dud.
My worries were proven unfounded. The camera was in a very good condition, and it even came with a battery that was made compatible for the camera’s discontinued mercury battery. I found out that apparently the previous owner was a smoker, as the case reeked of cigarette smoke. The original strap was unusable as it has hardened over the years. I did not mind as I intended to use the strap from my grandfather’s Yashica instead. Over the next few days, I carefully cleaned the camera to get rid of grime that has accumulated over the years, and most importantly to get rid of the smell. I also loaded it with a roll of Kodak Ultramax 400 I had bought at Sunday market on previous weekend.
Using the camera, I found joy that I did not experienced when using the Ricoh. The size of the Yashica perfectly fit my hands. I did not have any difficulty turning the rings on the lens without taking my eyes off the viewfinder, unlike the Ricoh. The viewfinder was spacious, with big rangefinder patch to make focusing easier. It also has parallax compensation, which I felt was cool and unavailable on Ricoh 500GX. When shooting, I saw that the rewind knob sometimes did not turned as I crank the advanced lever. I was afraid that I did not load the film properly, so back at home I decided to open the back of the camera quickly to see whether the film was correctly loaded or not. Luckily I saw that the film was loaded properly, so all was well.
Seeing the result after finishing the roll, I was amazed. The lens rendered colors beautifully, and tact sharp even when near the maximum open aperture. The Yashinon lens was sharper at f/2 than the Ricoh’s Rikenon lens at f2.8.
As for the downsides of the camera? I really wish that Yashica did not limit the Electro 35 as aperture priority camera, or at least show me the shutter speed it chooses. There are also several features on Ricoh 500GX that I wish Yashica has, such as indicator to show if film is loaded inside the camera, and if the current film frame has been exposed or not. I also appreciate the short throw of Ricoh’s film advance lever. Several people have called it as abrupt, but I prefer it than the long one on Yashica.
I know that judging a camera after only finishing one roll seems premature, but I do love this camera. Learning analog photography also helps me to fight my anxiety. I used to hate participating in public events, but now I always looking forward for weekend so I can go to car free day events that are hold in my city every Sunday. Now, I only have to change my way of thinking from avoiding taking pictures worrying if better situation comes later to just shoot and not having regret later.
My Instagram account:instagram.com/annoying_salman
My Github account:github.com/salmanrameli
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FAQs
What is the price of Yashica GSN Electro 35? ›
Buy Yashica Electro 35 GSN Online @ ₹12000 from ShopClues.
How old is the Yashica Electro 35? ›History. The original Electro 35 was introduced in 1966. It has a "cold" accessory shoe and the meter accepted film speeds from 12 to 400 ASA. Light levels are measured using a cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor and powered by a mercury battery.
Does a Yashica Electro 35 GSN work without a battery? ›Yes it will release without battery but you will only get an untimed speed somewhere close to 1/500. Thank you. The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera. You can't buy the battery any more .
When did the Yashica Electro 35 GSN come out? ›The Yashica Electro 35 was very advanced, being electronic, when it came out in 1966.
Which is better Yashica or Kodak? ›The yashica has the best grip thanks to the rubberised coating an handgrip but it's let down by the spongy feeling winding. The Kodak has the best viewfinder and the Ilford trails as being the hardest to hold.
What happened to Yashica cameras? ›In 1984, Yashica was acquired in full by Kyocera, which eventually spun down camera production in 2005. The Yashica name has since been sold to a Hong Kong-based branding company, but the contemporary (and horrific) modern-day products that bear the name have no relation to the stalwart brand that used to be.
What country is Yashica from? ›Yashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, originally active from 1949 until 2005 when its then-owner, Kyocera, ceased production.
Where are Yashica cameras made? ›The Yashica A is a Japanese-made twin lens reflex camera manufactured between 1956 and 1960.
What is the range of the Yashica Electro 35? ›The camera has three exposure modes: auto, B and flash. The first Electro has an ISO/ASA range of 15 to 500; all subsequent models have an ISO/ASA range of 25 to 1000.
Is Yashica Electro 35 good for beginners? ›Aperture priority is when you set the aperture and the focus, then let the camera's light meter set the shutter speed based on the first one and the film speed. The shutter speed is anywhere between 30 seconds (in B mode) to 1/500. This is good for beginners because it eliminates the hardest part of taking the picture.
Is it OK to leave camera batteries without using? ›
Lithium ion chemistry prefers partial discharge to deep discharge, so it's safe to recharge camera batteries at any time. You can also leave a battery with less than half its full charge on charge overnight, although it's best to avoid charging longer than necessary wherever possible.
What film is best for Yashica Electro 35? ›Possible films for the 35mm camera are Kodak Gold 200 for color photos and Kodak TRI-X for B&W images. The color film is processed in the C-41 process. The C-41 process is performed by almost all photo labs.
What is the price of Yashica camera f35? ›Buy Yashica Electro 35 Camera With Accessories Online @ ₹12000 from ShopClues.
What battery does a Yashica Electro 35 take? ›Exell Battery L28PX Fits Yashica Electro 35 Rangefinder, Canon AE-1, Nikon EL2.
What is the maximum shutter speed of Yashica Electro 35 GX? ›The Yashica Electro 35 GX has a shutter range of 30 seconds to 1/500.
What is the #1 camera brand? ›Canon and Nikon could be the two top camera brands. And they have the biggest range of quality cameras. They have DSLRs and mirrorless cameras for beginners, enthusiasts, and professionals. Sony has become the biggest hitter in full frame mirrorless cameras.
Which is the best camera ever made? ›“The Nikon SP is certainly the best film rangefinder ever made and might just be the best camera ever. Why? It represented the best of Leica and Contax melded into a fine Japanese-designed mechanical camera with a complete system. The SP would be the stepping stone Nikon made to the legendary F system.
Why is 35mm so popular? ›One of the reasons 35mm was so successful was the small size of the camera itself. Their lightweight nature made them easy to carry, taking up very little room. This made them popular with both causal photographers and professionals such as photojournalists where the use of bulky equipment would be prohibitive.
What old cameras are worth money? ›When we talk about classic vintage cameras brands like Leica, Nikon, Canon, Rolleiflex, and Hasselblad are among the most valuable. Leica and Rolleiflex hold a high collector's value for over a century so these will bring you a nice amount of money no matter the condition and functionality.
What is the oldest camera brand? ›George Eastman Museum, gift of Eastman Kodak Company. The first successful roll-film hand camera, the Kodak, was launched publicly in the summer of 1888. Inventor George Eastman received a patent (number 388,850) for the camera's shutter and the trademark (number 15,825) for the Kodak name on September 4, 1888.
Does Yashica have a light meter? ›
Released in 1964, the Yashica-Mat EM features an uncoupled light meter and an 80mm f/3.5 Yashinon shooting lens. The "EM" stands for Exposure Meter, referring to the uncoupled selenium cell exposure meter in front of the viewfinder. It's an all-mechanical camera; even the light meter doesn't need a battery.
Why is Yashica T4 so expensive? ›Why is the Yashica T4 so expensive? Simply put, many film cameras just aren't being made anymore. With every passing year, and with the supply of 35mm point-and-shoots deteriorating, the sheer scarcity of these cameras is leading to a sky-high increase in demand, and ultimately, price.
Does the Yashica Electro 35 have a light meter? ›For taking pictures, the Yashica Electro 35 GT has a light meter. The light meter was built for film with a sensitivity of ISO 25 to ISO 1000.
Who is the owner of Yashica? ›Sanjay Bhatia - Owner - Yashica Decor,India | LinkedIn.
What camera is made in Germany? ›The Leica M10 is not only made from 1,100 individual components, it is also built with our legendary passion for quality, precision, and perfection. Production principles that define how quality is made in Germany and are manifested in the precision instrument that is the Leica M10.
What camera is made in Sweden? ›Victor Hasselblad AB is a Swedish manufacturer of medium format cameras, photographic equipment and image scanners based in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Are 35 mm cameras good? ›Whether you're looking for your first camera, your second, or your twelfth, these 35mm champions are a terrific way to get great shots while using film that's relatively cheap and easy to get developed. Sure, there are more exotic options available, but 35mm is never a bad choice.
What size is Yashica Electro 35 GS? ›The area of the 35mm camera negatives is 24 mm × 36 mm. On a normal roll of film at this size fit about 36 pictures.
What is a Super 35 camera? ›4-perf Super 35 is simply the original frame size that was used in 35 mm silent films. That is, it is a return to the way the film stock was used before the frame size was cropped to allow room for a soundtrack. Super 35 competes with the use of the standard 35 mm format used with an anamorphic lens.
Will a Nikon lens fit a Yashica? ›The Contax/Yashica Lens to Nikon Z-Mount Body Lens Mount Adapter from NOVOFLEX allows a Contax/Yashica lens to be mounted to a Nikon Z-Mount mirrorless camera. Although the lens will fit physically, automatic diaphragm (AE metering), or any other functions are not retained using this adapter.
How much does the Yashica Electro 35 weight? ›
The Yashica Electro 35 GTN weighs 750 grams without batteries.
What happens if I leave my camera battery charging overnight? ›As mentioned above, leaving the battery in a charger for longer than necessary will tend to degrade the battery. Keeping the camera battery at high temperatures will also accelerate self-discharge and have a detrimental effect. Letting the battery discharge until it is exhausted is another way of abusing the battery.
Should I store camera batteries fully charged? ›Recommended storage is around 40 percent state-of-charge (SoC). This minimizes age-related capacity loss while keeping the battery operational and allowing for some self-discharge. Nickel-based batteries can be stored in a fully discharged state with no apparent side effect.
How do I stop my camera from draining my battery? ›Battery drain may be caused by several problems/faults.
Where possible, if you can minimize the use of the LCD by using a viewfinder if available, and also reducing the amount of flash shots by adjusting your settings when shooting conditions allow, you will greatly extend the camera's battery life.
Professional photographers usually purchase wide-maximum-aperture camera lenses with f/1.4, f/1.8, or f/2 apertures. With these wide apertures, you can shoot in any environment regardless of available light. That's why these are among the best lenses on the market.
Does 35mm film fit all cameras? ›Although 35mm films will fit into all 35mm cameras, there are still things you need to consider to make sure you are shooting the appropriate film for your camera. The main thing to keep in mind is whether your camera has the necessary ISO settings.
What camera do movie makers use? ›Some of the most used professional digital movie cameras include: Arri Alexa. Blackmagic URSA. Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras.
How much is the new Arri Super 35? ›The ARRI ALEXA 35 is available in three packages: ALEXA 35 Production Set: $77,940. ALEXA 35 Lightweight Set: $75,100. ALEXA 35 Body & LPL Mount: $64,880.
What is the price of professional mirrorless camera? ›| Camera | Price | Available From |
|---|---|---|
| Sony ILME-FX30 20.1MP Cinema Line Camera (Body Only) | ₹1,79,990 | Mar, 2023 |
| Nikon Z9 46MP Mirrorless Camera | ₹4,75,995 | Feb, 2022 |
| Sony a7 IV 33MP Mirrorless Camera | ₹2,18,490 | Feb, 2022 |
| Sony a7 III 24.2 Mirrorless Camera with FE 28-70mm F/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens | ₹1,59,990 | Nov, 2018 |
| YASHICA CAMERAS PRICE LIST | PRICE IN INDIA |
|---|---|
| Yashica YAC-400 Sports & Action Camera | 10,999 |
| Yashica EZ F9 Point & Shoot Camera | 4,900 |
| Yashica YAC-300 Sports & Action Camera | 6,498 |
| Yashica EZ TP-9 Point & Shoot Camera | 5,050 |
Can you use electro 35 without battery? ›
Battery. All Yashica Electro 35s are electronically controlled cameras and will not work without a power supply.
How old is Yashica Electro 35? ›History. The original Electro 35 was introduced in 1966. It has a "cold" accessory shoe and the meter accepted film speeds from 12 to 400 ASA. Light levels are measured using a cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor and powered by a mercury battery.
Can I use the Yashica Electro 35 GSN without a battery? ›The shutter control is electronic and needs the battery. Yes it will release without battery but you will only get an untimed speed somewhere close to 1/500.
What shutter speed gives the sharpest image? ›To maximize sharpness, you would generally want to use a small aperture (f/16-22) and a fast shutter speed. But how fast is fast when you are dealing with tiny fractions of a second? It's very hard to create a sharp image, especially with a hand-held camera, using a shutter speed of less than 1/60 of a second.
What is the fastest mirrorless camera? ›The EOS R3 is Canon's fastest mirrorless camera to date and the best pick for system photogs who capture action scenes, subjects in motion, and exotic wildlife. Its Stacked CMOS sensor snaps 24MP Raw photos at up to 30fps, without any interruption in the viewfinder.
What is the best shutter speed for shooting people? ›Shutter Speed Cheat Sheet
1/500 - This shutter speed works best for wildlife, sports, and action photography. 1/250 - Here is an excellent shutter speed for slower-moving animals or walking people. 1/125 - Use this to take a photograph of a moving vehicle. 1/60 - This is the standard shutter speed on a camera.
The camera has three exposure modes: auto, B and flash. The first Electro has an ISO/ASA range of 15 to 500; all subsequent models have an ISO/ASA range of 25 to 1000.
When did Yashica stop making cameras? ›Yashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, originally active from 1949 until 2005 when its then-owner, Kyocera, ceased production.
What is the most expensive F 35 variant? ›Under the terms of the agreement, an F-35A will cost $77.9 million in Lot 14, with the F-35B short takeoff and landing variant coming in at $101.3 million and the F-35C carrier variant at $94.4 million during the same period.
Where is Yashica camera made? ›The Yashica A is a Japanese-made twin lens reflex camera manufactured between 1956 and 1960.
Which camera is so expensive? ›
The Leica M line of cameras and lenses, in particular, are known for their high cost. The main reason for the high cost of Leica cameras and lenses is the quality and craftsmanship that goes into their production. One of the main reasons for this is that Leicas are handcrafted.
What is the highest price red camera? ›RED's RANGER MONSTRO, with its starting price of $59,950 for the body only, is currently the most expensive body in RED's lineup. It was used to shoot films and shows like James Gunn's The Suicide Squad.
Is Yashica and Kyocera the same? ›Kyocera continued to make point-and-shoot film cameras under its own name and that of Yashica, as well as premium rangefinder and SLR models.
Are Contax and Yashica the same? ›In 1973 the Contax name was licensed to the Japanese maker Yashica by Carl Zeiss to create a prestigious brand of 35mm cameras and interchangeable Yashica / Contax lenses in cooperation with the German company.