The iconic design of the Yashica Electro 35 still inspires many friends of rangefinder photography today and despite playing with design elements from earlier days, it was ahead of its time.
The design
The industrial design of this camera is subtly thought out and looks absolutely coherent. The rounding of the vertical and horizontal edges each have the same radius and you can see in the details that modern production machines have been at work here, because the geometry is absolutely perfect. On the other hand, if you look at other cameras – especially top caps – from that time, you can often see irregularities in the shape. This is particularly the case with oneReview 400 SEfor example on. In the past, housing parts were often soldered together from several pieces of brass, ground and then refined. Depending on how precisely the worker has processed the workpiece, one sees more or less small errors at the end. Not so with the Yashica Electro 35. Here we find the merciless perfection of machine manufacturing.
processing and technology
One might say that this is not craftsmanship and that is absolutely correct, but here you get the optical and haptic perfection (in the impression) of a Leica for the price of a Yashica. And Yashica seems to have learned from previous models: the chrome finish is considerably more valuable than on theLynx. With the rangefinder cameras of this time, we actually always only find mechanical solutions for the "problems" of photography, which in my opinion is okay but not very innovative. If the term “electronics” appeared in the designation of a camera back then, or if a stylized electron was attached – as with the Yashica Electro 35 – then this term only stood for exposure measurement using a battery, photo cell and galvanometer. The galvanometer always served as a transition to the mechanics, which were then responsible for the actual control of the aperture and shutter. Seen in this way, most cameras do not deserve the term “electronics”. The Yashica Electro 35 is completely different. It is the first compact rangefinder camera with real electronics and therefore real electronic exposure control. In it we find for the first time a real PCB (Printed Circuit Board) with transistors, resistors and capacitors. There are also lots of cables to connect a series of switches, the measuring cell, lamps and the electromechanical shutter.
The electronic shutter
The shutter of the Yashica Electro 35 - a Copal Elec - still uses a spring mechanism as the energy for the shutter movement, which is wound up via the transport lever, but the important shutter brake is taken over by 2 electromagnets, which are controlled by the electronics. The timing is therefore on a completely different level than with a mechanical shutter, although unfortunately the times are not reproducible. Multiple releases under the same conditions lead to times that differ by up to one stop. TheKonica Electroncan do it much better. The Yashica Electro 35 does not allow manual adjustment of shutter speeds, i.e. it always works with aperture priority (A). You choose an aperture manually and the camera determines the appropriate shutter speed. The special thing about the Yashica Electro 35 is that the measurement and calculation is still carried out during the shutter process and thus influences the shutter speed at all times. So if the light changes during the shutter release, the Yashica adjusts the shutter speed. However, this effect is only really noticeable with longer shutter speeds, because the CdS cell has a certain sluggishness. Between 1/30 and 1/500 the Yashica Electro 35 is fine with the world. Outside of these times, a small lamp warns of shutter speeds that are too slow or too fast.
times
Of course, the camera can't get too fast, because 1/500 second is the top speed, but below 1/30 the Yashica goes on almost endlessly. This makes them extremely interesting for correct long exposures, but then requires a tripod or a solid base. The camera uses engraved arrows to indicate the direction in which to turn the aperture ring to correct the exposure. Even a less experienced person is well supported here. Or to put it another way: you can't really take bad exposures with the Yashica Electro 35 and in addition to the lamps on the top cap, these are also displayed in the viewfinder.
In addition to all the subtleties of exposure control, there is also a bulb mode for long exposures and a flash mode that relates aperture, distance and a fixed guide number in a very classic way. This isn't a real plus for creative flash photography, but who needs a flash when a maximum aperture of f/1.7 is available. This is the perfect transition to the lens.
The optics
As I said in the report on theYashica Lynx 14Yashica made really good lenses and the 45mm Yashinon-DX 1:1.7 is such an outstanding lens. Unlike the Lynx 14, the Electro 35 is much less sensitive to backlight. The sharpness and contrast from wide open are quite impressive and make the Yashica Electro 35 a desirable camera.
The close-up limit of 80cm makes a good portrait lens out of the 45mm focal length.
When it comes to rangefinders, the Yashica is good, but not very good. With a 0.7x magnification and a usable recognizability, the viewfinder can be used quite properly, but it doesn't set any standards. Conveniently, it has parallax correction that moves the bright-line frame across the viewfinder, but the diamond-shaped metering spot looks very undefined. However, the base of measurement and the adjustment path on the objective harmonize perfectly. Exact focusing is no problem with the Yashica Electro 35. However, very dark environments are not quite its forte.
power supply
Because of its electronics, the Yashica is not as sensitive to exact voltage as other cameras of the time are used to. The lower threshold is around 4V and goes up to 6V. At that time, a PX32 5.6V mercury battery was used, which can now be easily replaced with 4 SR44 batteries. If you like 3D printing, you will find nice adapters for your own construction at thingiverse.com, or you can rely on ready-made adapters from the Far East. So if the shutter speed isn't right, you don't have to try to twist the electronics on the Yashica. First and foremost you have to take a look at the mechanical adjustment of the ASA controller, the ASA aperture and the release mechanism. These are all points that, among other things, make the maintenance of the Electro 35 more complicated and that brings us to the weaknesses that this camera certainly carries around these days.
To note
The first major weakness is the so-called Switch Coupling Pad. This is a rubber buffer that the Yashica uses to hold the two trigger rods in a specific position. This starting position is important for the correct control of the shutter speed when the shutter is released. This rubber bumper disintegrates over the years and it is very rare that that rubber is still intact today. As the rubber dissolves, it flattens out, causing the rods to progressively change their position in relation to each other, eventually reaching the point where the camera always fires at the same shutter speed. You can twist and turn it as you like, but this pad has to be replaced when it is serviced. Important: When buying, you should check the condition of the rubber. This works relatively well, because when you cock the camera to release, pressure is exerted on the rubber. If the rubber is gone, you can hear a dominant “click” at the end of the elevator. Ideally, you hardly hear anything, except maybe a dull "knock". The bright "click" comes from the mechanics hitting the bare metal of the trigger (because the rubber is no longer there).
maintenance
If you buy such a camera, you have to be prepared for a somewhat more extensive repair. Unfortunately, the camera has to be disassembled quite a bit in order to replace the rubber and then a comprehensive adjustment is required. Of course you can also be lucky. If the camera comes from Europe and has been stored well, it can still function without problems today.
In maintenance, however, it becomes tricky again, because very often a leaking battery has left behind a bad picture of corrosion and, above all, affected the wiring and the soldering points. Unfortunately, it often happens that a camera that is still in very good condition on the outside is so damaged on the inside that cables and solder joints break during maintenance. From this point on, the repair becomes very time-consuming. By the way, that's the reason why we don't offer a flat-rate CLA for the Yashica Electro series. These cameras almost always need a restoration.
The practice
In practice, the Yashica Electro 35 is an ergonomic camera that can be operated intuitively. The abysmal design feels good in the hand and the aperture preselection can be operated with a long index finger without having to put the camera down. It would still have been perfect if the aperture were reflected in the viewfinder. Unfortunately, you then have to set the camera down – if a very specific aperture is to be used for the design.
facts
- Copal Elec central locking
- electronically controlled shutter speeds from 30 sec to 1/500 sec and B
- Aperture 1.7 to 16 locked in whole steps - pre-drive approx. 10 seconds
- Objective Yashinon-DX 45mm 1:1.7
- CdS exposure metering
- Gekuppelter Mischbildentfernungsmesser 0,7x
- Focusing from 0.8m to infinity
- Frame counter, self-resetting
- Overexposure and underexposure warning
- battery control
- ASA 12 to 500
- X and M flash sync via socket
- Coldshoe (Serie 1)
- tripod thread
Conclusion
In any case, the Yashica Electro 35 belongs in a collection of iconic cameras of the analog era and is a lot of fun in practice. Camera isn't the best choice for those looking for full exposure control, but for the stylish way to create analog images, the Electro 35 is one of my favorites. An alternative is theKonica Electron, which does not suffer from the technical problems of the Electro 35, but is also equipped with an electronic Copal shutter.
FAQs
Can the Yashica Electro 35 be used without battery? ›
Battery. All Yashica Electro 35s are electronically controlled cameras and will not work without a power supply.
What is the shutter speed of Yashica Electro 35 GSN without battery? ›Without a battery to power the meter, the shutter defaults to its top speed of 1/500 second. The Electro 35 G was introduced in 1968 with largely cosmetic changes.
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.
What is the shutter speed on a Yashica 35 GSN? ›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.
Is it bad to not fully charge camera battery? ›Batteries last longest if they're only topped up when a recharge is needed. If you're in a rush and the battery is not fully charged it's safe to use; it needn't be fully charged every time. Keep at least two batteries at hand and when the camera's battery becomes low on power, exchange it for a fresh one.
Can you charge a camera battery while it's in the camera? ›The battery pack will only charge if you turn off your camera and connect it to a computer, or to an AC adaptor, using the USB cable. If you turn the camera on, it will not charge. If your camera has a built-in USB cable, use it for charging. Not all cameras are supplied with an AC adaptor.
Can I power my camera without battery? ›There are several ways to power a DSLR camera without a battery. The most popular methods include using an AC adapter, a DC coupler, a power bank, a solar panel, or a USB cable.
What is the slowest recommended shutter speed for hand-holding a 35mm camera with a normal lens? ›So what is the slowest shutter speed you can use when hand-holding the camera? In my professional experience, it lives anywhere between 1/80 and 1/ 50 of a second. I can quite confidently shoot at 1/80 of a second and see no blur. A number of people I know can shoot at 1/50 of a second and see no blur.
What is the max shutter speed without tripod? ›Sometimes you want to take a picture and you do not have a tripod at hand. The slowest shutter speed you can use safely without a tripod and without getting any blur is the length of your focal distance. If your focal distance is 100 mm, then, the slowest shutter speed you can use without a tripod is 1/100.
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.
Is Yashica still in business? ›
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 is the best shutter speed to shoot? ›It's my experience that many portrait photographers prefer using faster shutter speeds when taking portrait photos. While 1/125 sec should suffice depending on the lighting conditions, a safe starting point would be 1/250 sec or faster.
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.
As a good rule of thumb, your shutter speed should be double your frame rate whenever possible. So if you're shooting at 60 fps, it's best to have a shutter speed of 1/120th or more. This will prevent motion blur and give you smooth, clear video.
Does camera drain a lot of battery? ›Battery drain may be caused by several problems/faults.
Digital cameras require quite a lot of power to run efficiently. The monitor (LCD) and the flash are the two main components that use the highest amount of battery power in a standard digital camera.
It's impossible to provide exact figures that cover all the different sizes of batteries on the market but, as a guideline, you should expect your camera battery to last at least five years - provided it's been handled properly and hasn't malfunctioned in the first place.
How often should you charge your camera battery? ›Charge and discharge the battery at least once every six months. Turning the camera on or off repeatedly when the battery is fully discharged will shorten battery life. Batteries that have been fully discharged must be charged before use. The internal temperature of the battery may rise while the battery is in use.
Is it safe to leave camera battery charger on overnight? ›However, charging your camera battery overnight should not be too much of an issue. The battery won't be in the charger long enough for multiple charging cycles to cause too much harm. It will only be of concern if you want to maximize battery life or if you are constantly charging the battery overnight.
Can I charge my camera battery through USB? ›Most camera batteries in DSLR and full frame mirrorless cameras are 7.4V and USB is only 5V. To charge the battery, the camera adapter boosts the voltage from 5 to 8.4. At that higher voltage, the USB cradle is able to charge the 7.4 Volt camera battery.
How can I charge my camera if I lost the charger? ›You can also use your automobile's USB port to recharge your camera's battery if it has one. I use the USB connector to charge my phone in my car, which always works well. However, most of the time, your automobile must be in motion for the USB port to recharge your camera's battery.
Do cameras still record if power goes out? ›
Generally, the security cameras will stop working when the power is out, whether it is for recording, motion detecting, or sending push. But battery powered security camera is an exception, which runs on battery power and will continue to record without electricity.
Do 35mm cameras need batteries? ›Many classic 35mm SLRs were designed to use the very long lasting Mercury type batteries. Mercury type batteries had some very attractive properties for camera manufacturers needing a stable power supply for sensitive electronics like light meters.
Does a camera still work if you unplug it? ›Cameras with a battery that is recharged will still record when unplugged, so long as the device has been plugged in long enough for the battery to recharge sufficiently.
What is the rule of thumb in photography? ›Generally speaking, using the standard rule of thumb is to make the shutter speed equal to your focal length when hand-holding your camera. For example, if you are shooting with a 200mm lens then you want to keep your shutter speed at 1/200 sec or above to avoid any blur occurring from camera shake.
What is the rule of thumb for shutter speed? ›As a rule of thumb, your shutter speed needs to be double (or more) than the lens focal length. So, for example, if using a 50mm lens, your shutter speed should be 1/100th sec or faster. If shooting with a 75mm lens, your shutter speed should be at least 1/150th sec.
What is the F stop rule of thumb? ›WHAT IS THE SUNNY 16 RULE? The Sunny 16 Rule is a way to meter for correct exposure during daylight without using the camera's meter. So for example, if your ISO is 200 at f/16, then your shutter speed will be 1/200 seconds. If your ISO is 100, then your shutter speed will be 1/100 seconds.
What shutter speed is not blurry? ›Increase Shutter Speed
If you want a clear shot of a moving subject, speeds of 1/500 and up (depending on how fast your subject is) will allow you to get a sharp image without motion blur.
The Focal Length vs.
So if you're shooting with a 50mm lens, the rule says that you shouldn't pick a shutter speed slower than 1/50 if you want a sharp picture. So you could shoot at 1/80 or 1/100 and be just fine, but don't go to 1/40 or 1/20.
- Shoot in Raw.
- Get a correct exposure.
- Keep the ISO under control.
- Be careful when taking long exposures.
- Use large apertures.
- Turn on your camera noise reduction.
- Take advantage of your camera high ISO noise reduction (if you shoot in Jpeg).
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 is the price of Yashica Electro 35? ›
Buy Yashica Electro 35 GSN Online @ ₹12000 from ShopClues.
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.
Who is the owner of Yashica? ›Sanjay Bhatia - Owner - Yashica Decor,India | LinkedIn.
Do photographers use light meters? ›Most photographers today use the exposure meter in the camera rather than a separate handheld device. However, handheld light meters are extremely important in some cases as we'll see below. Another use of light meters is finding which aspects of a scene or subject are the most intensely illuminated.
How accurate is a light meter? ›Popular Light Meters
As you can see, all of these devices have an uncertainty percentage. But this uncertainty is typically negligible and any reading you take from them will be nearly 100% accurate. However, if you prefer to reduce these small uncertainties in a known context, then you have to rely on calibration.
One testway is to shoot a roll or two in a variety of situations using the meter "normally" and see if the results match your expectations. If the shadows and neutrals fall "in the right spot" it's probably working fine.
What is a realistic shutter speed? ›The film industry has a rule of thumb often used to achieve natural-looking motion blur in video content called the 180° Shutter Rule. The 180° Shutter Rule states that your shutter speed should be set to 1/frame rate x 2. So at a frame rate of 24 fps, the correct shutter speed is 1/48 sec.
Which ISO should I use? ›A basic guide for best ISO for video: 100 or 200 is the best ISO for a sunny day or bright setting with lots of light. 400 ISO for cloudy days or indoor shots. 800 ISO for indoors without an external light.
Which ISO is best? ›ISO 9001 and related standards — Quality management
The ISO 9000 family contains the world's best-known quality management standard for companies and organizations of any size.
The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open.
What ISO is best for action shots? ›
If your camera has an Auto ISO feature, turn it on and set the Max Sensitivity to ISO 1600 and the Min Shutter Speed to 1/60 of a second. You may need to adjust this setting if you find that 1/60 of a second isn't fast enough to freeze the action.
What is the best f-stop for action shots? ›It's best to shoot sports photos in aperture priority mode to give you full control over your aperture. The wider the aperture, the more distinct your subject will become – most sports photographers favour aperture settings at around f/2.8 to f/3.5.
Should I shoot in 24 30 or 60fps? ›More fps also means more details, making the scene look unrealistic. That is why most filmmakers stick to 24 or 30 fps. On the other hand, 60 fps allows you to capture more movement and slow down the shots. In projects with fast movement, it is usually beneficial to shoot it at 60 fps.
Is it better to shoot in 30 or 60 fps? ›Generally speaking, 60 FPS video recording has better quality and watching experience than 30 FPS video recording. However, 60fps videos require more while recording and they take much more storage space than 30fps videos.
Should I shoot everything in 60fps? ›30fps is well-suited for live broadcasts of news and sports action. It's also great to add more detail to fast-moving videos. 60fps, on the other hand, is ideal for shooting slow-mo content. It produces a smooth effect for high-quality footage.
Can you use a 35mm camera without a battery? ›Very simple film cameras don't need batteries, but most do use a battery to work the exposure meter. Sophisticated ones may have a battery to wind the film, and for autofocus, flash, and other automation.
Do disposable cameras work without batteries? ›Disposable cameras work mechanically, so they don't need batteries unless they have a flash. The flash of the camera does need batteries to operate.
Do you need a battery for a digital camera? ›Even though some cameras come with an add-on specialist battery pack, most digital cameras require standard AA batteries. These come in multiple options: alkaline, lithium and rechargeable.
What happens when film camera battery dies? ›When the battery dies or is near death, likely the camera stops functioning. Under these circumstances you will have little choice; you must charge or replace the battery. Often, replacing or charging a complete dead battery resets the cameras logic. The film counter may revert to zero; the time and date may be lost.
How can I charge my camera without a battery pack? ›How to charge camera battery without charger? To charge a Canon camera without a charger, you can use a USB cable to connect the camera to a power source such as a computer or wall adapter.
What happens when film camera runs out of battery? ›
In most film cameras, the battery only powered the light meter. With no power, your camera is basically in manual exposure mode. That means that if you did not pay attention to the aperture, shutter speed and lighting conditions, your negatives may be over or under exposed.
Can you charge your camera with USB? ›Most camera batteries in DSLR and full frame mirrorless cameras are 7.4V and USB is only 5V. To charge the battery, the camera adapter boosts the voltage from 5 to 8.4. At that higher voltage, the USB cradle is able to charge the 7.4 Volt camera battery.
How long do unused disposable cameras last? ›HOW LONG UNTIL DISPOSABLE CAMERAS EXPIRE? You won't notice much difference in the quality of film until about 2 years after the date of manufacture.
What happens if you don't use flash on a disposable camera? ›If you are in any situation that is not in full, direct sunlight, you'll want to use the flash. This guarantees that the film is well exposed and the developed results are high quality. It even has the effect of giving your pictures that trademark disposable camera look!
What film camera does not require a battery? ›Mechanical SLRs are single lens reflex cameras which can function without electrical power (usually supplied by batteries). These cameras instead charge their mirrors, shutters, and other mechanisms by way of human-powered movements of levers or knobs.
Can you use regular AA batteries in a digital camera? ›Most digital cameras accept standard AA batteries, but you have options in what kind of AA batteries you use. Disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries, and even battery packs can get your camera snapping photos.
Why are camera batteries so expensive? ›OEM batteries are designed by the camera manufacturer. So, they come at a premium cost. To buy even a couple of extra name-brand batteries may cost you hundreds of dollars.
Are lithium batteries better for cameras? ›Lithium batteries will increase the amount of time your camera can stay in the field, many times by multiple months.