jphotoarts
Yashica A-102
Here is the link to contest images,
www.flickr.com/photos/15184234@N02/sets/72157607248633988/
This is a review of the Yashica A twin lens reflex (TLR) camera.
This model was made in Japan by Yashica from 1958 to 1969. It was one of the cheapest TLR cameras that they made so it make for a great introduction in the world of 120 medium format. I pick mine up on E-bay after doing a search for “twin lens reflex”. This pop up on top of the list with 3 minutes to go and there were no bids. It was currently at $19.00. There was only one photo and it did not show much except that it did have a lens cap, the leather case, and bottom of the original box. The seller looked ok so I placed the bid with little time to think. I won the camera and was very pleased when it showed up in the mail. It was the next day that I heard of the $50 camera contest. I thought…Perfect! I really wanted to use my Polaroid 195, however I paid a bit more than $50 for it. Anyway, on with the review.
When you look at the camera you can see why it was so cheap. Mind you it is made very well and is all metal with coated optics. However its function is rather limited. The film advance is separate from the shutter cocking mechanism. Common for this vintage of camera. Also the shutter was limited to a range of 25 to 300. It also had a bulb setting and X sync with a PC socket. Frame counter is by the red widow on the back. The red window allows you to see the printed markings and frame number on the film backing paper. The lens cap is a slip on type. An adaptor is needed to use a cable release.
The picture taking lens is an 80mm, f3.5-22, 3 element coated optics by Yashikor. Minimum focus distance is about 3.3 feet. The Shutter is by Copal. The shutter cocking knob is on the left side of the picture taking lens while the aperture control is on the right. The shutter release on the face of the camera at the bottom left. The PC socket is on the bottom right. The film advance knob does have a ring to indicate ASA of film that is loaded. It also shows DIN numbers. In any case, if you don’t set it when you load the film, it won’t do much to remind you what is in it later on. :o)
As with most TLRs, it has a waist level view finder with a rather good clear focus screen. It also has grid lines to aid in composition. You will find that with these cameras that is a great tool! There is a pop up magnifying glass to help fine tune focus, this is also a MUST!
The camera is very simple and very well made. There is no light meter so you will need to have one on hand.
My experience:
I enjoyed using the camera however is does pose some special challenges if you have never used one before.
I mentioned before that the shutter cock and film advance are separated. This got me on my first three images. It was not until after I had take the third exposure did I realize I had not been advancing the film. In my defense I did have other distractions. I did it two more time on the next roll. Having a limited shutter speed range also makes you think and puts a lot of focus on your aperture setting. I don’t know if this good or bad, but I realized it made me approach my exposure decisions differently. I think that is a good thing personally.
Composition is also very different. The first thing you will notice when using a TLR that the image is flipped, not upside down, but left to right. So as you pan to the left, the image in the view finder seems to pan to the right. It can be very confusing at first and makes it a challenge to line up your shot nice and straight. Rotating the camera has the same effect. I practiced a lot before loading the first roll of film. None of these are issues with the camera but rather nature of the beast. In time it all becomes second nature. I notice that by the third roll, I was using the grid lines in the viewfinder to get every thing lined up.
What I liked:
I like the Bokeh that the lens produces. It takes on a circular pattern and is somewhat dreamy. None of the image in this roll show that, but its there. I like the way it involves me in the photographic process. Nothing automatic, not even the shutter cock. So I have to really think out what to do from composing to metering and holding steady. I find the fact the camera is at waist level, and not eye level, it changes your perspective and how you can frame the shot. Again making you think and bring you into the process in an organic way.
The lens is fairly sharp when you stop it down to f8 and beyond but is acceptable wide open.
I like that it is simple and easy with just basic manual functions. Another cool aspect, is peoples reaction when they see it. “Can you get film for that!?” “I remember my granddad had one like that” “ Do you actually use that?” The old timers love it too, it reminds them of a day gone by and they usually smile at like it’s an old friend. I look forward to teaching my kids how to use it one day.
For those that care, here are few links on the Yashica line of cameras and the history of the company.
www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Yashica Article.html
www.williamsphotographic.com/yashica.html
www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Yashica.html
Here is a copy of the manual for the camera
www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica/yashica_a/yashica_a.htm
Yashica A-102
Here is the link to contest images,
www.flickr.com/photos/15184234@N02/sets/72157607248633988/
This is a review of the Yashica A twin lens reflex (TLR) camera.
This model was made in Japan by Yashica from 1958 to 1969. It was one of the cheapest TLR cameras that they made so it make for a great introduction in the world of 120 medium format. I pick mine up on E-bay after doing a search for “twin lens reflex”. This pop up on top of the list with 3 minutes to go and there were no bids. It was currently at $19.00. There was only one photo and it did not show much except that it did have a lens cap, the leather case, and bottom of the original box. The seller looked ok so I placed the bid with little time to think. I won the camera and was very pleased when it showed up in the mail. It was the next day that I heard of the $50 camera contest. I thought…Perfect! I really wanted to use my Polaroid 195, however I paid a bit more than $50 for it. Anyway, on with the review.
When you look at the camera you can see why it was so cheap. Mind you it is made very well and is all metal with coated optics. However its function is rather limited. The film advance is separate from the shutter cocking mechanism. Common for this vintage of camera. Also the shutter was limited to a range of 25 to 300. It also had a bulb setting and X sync with a PC socket. Frame counter is by the red widow on the back. The red window allows you to see the printed markings and frame number on the film backing paper. The lens cap is a slip on type. An adaptor is needed to use a cable release.
The picture taking lens is an 80mm, f3.5-22, 3 element coated optics by Yashikor. Minimum focus distance is about 3.3 feet. The Shutter is by Copal. The shutter cocking knob is on the left side of the picture taking lens while the aperture control is on the right. The shutter release on the face of the camera at the bottom left. The PC socket is on the bottom right. The film advance knob does have a ring to indicate ASA of film that is loaded. It also shows DIN numbers. In any case, if you don’t set it when you load the film, it won’t do much to remind you what is in it later on. :o)
As with most TLRs, it has a waist level view finder with a rather good clear focus screen. It also has grid lines to aid in composition. You will find that with these cameras that is a great tool! There is a pop up magnifying glass to help fine tune focus, this is also a MUST!
The camera is very simple and very well made. There is no light meter so you will need to have one on hand.
My experience:
I enjoyed using the camera however is does pose some special challenges if you have never used one before.
I mentioned before that the shutter cock and film advance are separated. This got me on my first three images. It was not until after I had take the third exposure did I realize I had not been advancing the film. In my defense I did have other distractions. I did it two more time on the next roll. Having a limited shutter speed range also makes you think and puts a lot of focus on your aperture setting. I don’t know if this good or bad, but I realized it made me approach my exposure decisions differently. I think that is a good thing personally.
Composition is also very different. The first thing you will notice when using a TLR that the image is flipped, not upside down, but left to right. So as you pan to the left, the image in the view finder seems to pan to the right. It can be very confusing at first and makes it a challenge to line up your shot nice and straight. Rotating the camera has the same effect. I practiced a lot before loading the first roll of film. None of these are issues with the camera but rather nature of the beast. In time it all becomes second nature. I notice that by the third roll, I was using the grid lines in the viewfinder to get every thing lined up.
What I liked:
I like the Bokeh that the lens produces. It takes on a circular pattern and is somewhat dreamy. None of the image in this roll show that, but its there. I like the way it involves me in the photographic process. Nothing automatic, not even the shutter cock. So I have to really think out what to do from composing to metering and holding steady. I find the fact the camera is at waist level, and not eye level, it changes your perspective and how you can frame the shot. Again making you think and bring you into the process in an organic way.
The lens is fairly sharp when you stop it down to f8 and beyond but is acceptable wide open.
I like that it is simple and easy with just basic manual functions. Another cool aspect, is peoples reaction when they see it. “Can you get film for that!?” “I remember my granddad had one like that” “ Do you actually use that?” The old timers love it too, it reminds them of a day gone by and they usually smile at like it’s an old friend. I look forward to teaching my kids how to use it one day.
For those that care, here are few links on the Yashica line of cameras and the history of the company.
www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Yashica Article.html
www.williamsphotographic.com/yashica.html
www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Yashica.html
Here is a copy of the manual for the camera
www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica/yashica_a/yashica_a.htm