End of the Line
The last two Leica clones from a line that originated with Nicca before they were bought out by Yashica. The YE in the foreground is an improved version of a Leica IIIf based on the Nicca 33, while the YF in the background is a mishmash of features gleaned from Leica IIIf and M3 models that were used on the Nicca 3L
Improvements on the YE include: Consecutive speeds on the Slow Speed dial (though they only go down to 1/2 second); Lever winding; and a better Viewfinder/Rangefinder.
The YF looks and handles like an M3, with a view/rangefinder that is equivalent to a 35mm FOV with parallax corrected fixed bright lines for 50mm and 100mm; a film loading Back Door for bottom loading; and a single stroke Winder Lever that is mounted below the top cover of the camera. The lens mount is LTM (L39, M39).
These were also the last two interchangeable lens 35mm rangefinder cameras produced by Yashica which decided they didn't want to participate in the high-end camera market, catering instead to the consumers who didn't need all the features of the YE and YF.
Info on the entire Nicca line of rangefinder cameras: www.canonrangefinder.org/Nicca_Cameras.htm
It's taken me a while to get this pair together. I had the Yashikor lens that came on a different camera, and the YF body, but they were not a match as the Yashikor 50/2.8 came standard on the YE, and the YF had the Yashinon 50/1.8 (later the Super-Yashinon, a change in name only for marketing purposes). I'd like to say they are ready to go now but the YF has a busted shutter curtain. Now that I have the proper lens for it, I am incentivized to send it off for repairs.
End of the Line
The last two Leica clones from a line that originated with Nicca before they were bought out by Yashica. The YE in the foreground is an improved version of a Leica IIIf based on the Nicca 33, while the YF in the background is a mishmash of features gleaned from Leica IIIf and M3 models that were used on the Nicca 3L
Improvements on the YE include: Consecutive speeds on the Slow Speed dial (though they only go down to 1/2 second); Lever winding; and a better Viewfinder/Rangefinder.
The YF looks and handles like an M3, with a view/rangefinder that is equivalent to a 35mm FOV with parallax corrected fixed bright lines for 50mm and 100mm; a film loading Back Door for bottom loading; and a single stroke Winder Lever that is mounted below the top cover of the camera. The lens mount is LTM (L39, M39).
These were also the last two interchangeable lens 35mm rangefinder cameras produced by Yashica which decided they didn't want to participate in the high-end camera market, catering instead to the consumers who didn't need all the features of the YE and YF.
Info on the entire Nicca line of rangefinder cameras: www.canonrangefinder.org/Nicca_Cameras.htm
It's taken me a while to get this pair together. I had the Yashikor lens that came on a different camera, and the YF body, but they were not a match as the Yashikor 50/2.8 came standard on the YE, and the YF had the Yashinon 50/1.8 (later the Super-Yashinon, a change in name only for marketing purposes). I'd like to say they are ready to go now but the YF has a busted shutter curtain. Now that I have the proper lens for it, I am incentivized to send it off for repairs.