Yashica Electro 35 AF-mini Test Shots 傻瓜相機試拍

2025/7/26

I was surprised to stumble upon a Yashica Electro 35 AF-mini autofocus point-and-shoot camera on a shopping website. I had always thought that Yashica’s Electro 35 series came to an end in the 1980s with the advent of autofocus cameras. Unexpectedly, after Kyocera took over, they brought back this historically significant and classic name for a mass-market, fully automatic compact camera. Since the camera body didn’t indicate the lens specifications, I looked it up online — it has a 34mm focal length and an f/4.5 aperture, which were pretty standard specs for consumer-grade cameras of that era (similar to those from Konica, Nikon, etc.).

偶然在購物網站上發現一台 Yashica Electro 35 AF-mini 自動對焦傻瓜相機，讓我非常驚訝。原以為 Yashica 的 Electro 35 系列早在 1980 年代自動對焦相機問世後便已劃下句點，沒想到在 Kyocera 接手後，竟將這個具有歷史意義的經典名稱重新應用在大眾化全自動便攜相機上。由於這台相機的機身並未標示出鏡頭的規格，上網查了一下，焦距為34mm，光圈是f4.5，大概是當時這類大眾化相機的基本規格(同時期Konica、Nikon ...)。





Recently, traditional film cameras have become trendy among young people. My daughter jumped on the bandwagon and asked if I had a suitable camera she could try out. I handed her the Yashica Electro 35 AF-mini that I had acquired some time ago, loaded it with Kodak ISO 400 film, and it ended up accompanying her on trips to Chiayi and Kyoto, Japan. She came back with some pretty nice travel photos (nowadays, we scan the film and upload digital files). Back in the days when this camera was new, film only cost about a quarter of what it does now. Thinking back, I’m grateful I got to experience that golden era of traveling abroad with a dozen rolls of film and coming home with so many tangible memories

最近年輕人開始流行起傳統底片相機，女兒也趕流行，問我是否有合適的相機可以給她玩一玩。這台入手一陣子的Yashica Electro 35 AF-mini 後來就裝了柯達400度底片，陪女兒去了嘉義和日本京都旅遊，拍了一些還不錯的旅遊相片回來(現在都掃描底片上傳數位檔了)。在這台相機的年代，底片的價格只要現在價格的1/4，想一想，還好我有經歷過帶著一打底片出國旅遊的黃金年代，留下了許多實體回憶。


Yashica Electro AF-mini, 34mm f4.5, Kodak UltraMax 400


Yashica Electro AF-mini, 34mm f4.5, Kodak UltraMax 400

NONS SL42 II + Yashica Lens ML 35mm f2.8 Test Shots 曝光測試

2023.09.09

This time, I tested the shutter of the NONS SL42 II camera using the Yashica Lens ML 35mm f2.8. The lens has a minimum aperture of f16, and if it could reach f22, it would be more suitable for Fujifilm Instax ISO 800 film. The NONS SL42 II is equipped with a 1.8x multiplier lens on top of the Yashica lens, so the film's ISO value will be approximately 800/1.8/1.8=247, close to 250 (based on past experience, I prefer to slightly overexpose Instax film, so I set the light meter to ISO 200). Under sunny conditions, the optimal combination would be f16 and 1/250. Since 1/250 is the maximum shutter speed of the NONS SL42 II, it's challenging to choose a larger aperture like f5.6 or f8 to capture a well-focused subject with a blurred background in bright sunlight.

這次來測試NONS SL42 II相機的快門，使用的鏡頭是Yashica Lens ML 35mm f2.8，最小光圈是f16，如果可達f22將更適合Fujifilm Instax ISO 800的底片。由於NONS SL42 II還會再裝上一個1.8倍鏡，再接上Yashica鏡頭，所以底片的 ISO值將會相當於 800/1.8/1.8=247 接近 250 (依過去使用經驗，我習慣讓Instax底片多曝光一點，所以測光表我設訂成ISO 200)。如過在拍照的Sunny rule下，會是f16和1/250的組合，1/250已經是NONS SL42 II這相機的最高速快門了，所以想要選擇較大光圈如f5.6、f8來拍點主體清楚且背景模糊的相片，在大太陽底下幾乎不可能。

The first set of test shots was taken under a tree shade, creating a somewhat overcast feeling, approximately 3 stops lower than f16, resulting in the combination of f5.6 and 1/250. Under the same EV value, subsequent photos were taken with the combinations of f8 and 1/125, f11 and 1/60, and f16 and 1/30, respectively. Upon closer inspection, except for the fourth photo, the central area of the other photos shows slight overexposure, suggesting that the shutter speed scaling in the center might be slower. The fourth photo itself is clearly underexposed, and my guess is that the lens might have over-closed at f16, requiring a compensation of 0.5-1 stop.

第一組測試點是在樹蔭下，大概是陰天的感覺，比f16低3級，也就是f5.6與1/250的組合，再相同EV值下依序拍得f8與1/125、f11與1/60、f16與1/30組合的相片。仔細看除了第4張相片，其他相片的中央，都有些許過度曝光，推測這快門的縮放在中央的速度可能較慢。而第4張相片本身也很明顯曝光不足，我的推測是鏡頭在f16光圈可能縮過頭了，可能要補償0.5-1級才行。

First Set - No ND4 Neutral Density Filter 

第一組 無ND4減光鏡

#1. f5.6 1/250

#2. f8 1/125

#3. f11 1/60

#4. f16 1/30

The second set of test shots captured the exterior of a building with reflective beige tiles. The metering result should have been adjusted by an additional 1 stop of exposure, but I overlooked this while focusing on the installation of the ND4 neutral density filter. The light meter's ISO value needed to be adjusted to 50 when using the ND4 filter. It can be observed that, under slight underexposure conditions, only the central point (windows) of the fifth photo shows a slight white overexposure. Similarly, the eighth photo with f16 shows underexposure.

第二組測試點拍攝的建築物外觀是會「反光」的土黃色磁磚，測光的結果應該要再加1級曝光，但拍攝當下我忽略了，只專注於鏡頭加裝ND4減光濾鏡後須將測光表的ISO值調整為50。可以觀察到，再曝光較為不足的情況下，只有第5張相片的中心點(窗戶處)有些許泛白的過曝。同樣的第8張f16曝光不足。

Second Set - No ND4 Neutral Density Filter

第二組 無ND4減光鏡

#5. f5.6 1/250

#6. f8 1/125

#7. f11 1/60

#8. f16 1/30

The third set of test shots was taken under a tree shade, capturing backlit leaves. Due to a large area of overexposed sky in the frame, the overexposure in the central area of the photo becomes apparent, especially when the overexposed sky area is larger (as seen in the tenth photo), resulting in overexposure above the tree shade.

第三組測試點是在樹蔭下拍攝背光的樹葉，由於畫面中有較大面積的過度曝光天空，相片中央的過度曝光區域變得很明顯，當過度曝光天空面積更大時(如第10張相片)，樹蔭上方也出現過度曝光的現象。

Third Set - No ND4 Neutral Density Filter

第三組 無ND4減光鏡

#9. f5.6 1/60

#10. f8 1/30

Based on the above tests, it is speculated that when there is a large area of overexposure in the photo, it leads to overexposure in the central area and even other sections of the image. This issue persists even at slow shutter speeds of 1/30 and 1/60.

經過以上測試，推測當相片畫面中有較大面積的過度曝光區域時，就會造成畫面中心，甚至其他區塊的過曝，即使是在慢速快門1/30、1/60下仍是無法避免。

CONTAX S2/Aria, YASHICA FX-3 Viewfinder Rubber Eyepiece Replacement 相機的眼罩代用品

2022.2.6

The original viewfinder rubber eyepiece model for YASHICA FX-3, CONTAX S2, and Aria is F-3. Since these cameras have been discontinued for many years, it's nearly impossible to find the original eyepiece on the internet. Of course, using the camera without the eyepiece is still possible. However, for photography enthusiasts who wear glasses, it can be inconvenient because the plastic frame of the viewfinder constantly hits the lenses of the glasses. This repeated contact may cause the coating on the lenses to peel off. Therefore, I believe installing a rubber eyepiece has its advantages, providing both light shielding and protection for glasses. Are there any non-original replacement options? Yes, let's try two non-original rubber eyepieces here.

After installation testing, the rubber eyepiece with the code EF (for EOS 450D/550D/600D/650D/700D) and EB (for EOS 60D/50D/5D2/40D/30D/20D/10D) from Canon EOS digital cameras fits perfectly.

YASHICA FX-3 、CONTAX S2及Aria的原廠觀景窗橡膠眼罩型號是F-3。由於這幾款相機已經停產多年，所以原廠眼罩在網路上幾乎是買不到了，當然沒有眼罩也是可以用啦。這對戴眼鏡的攝影同好來說倒是有些不便，因為觀景窗的塑膠外框會一直敲到眼鏡的鏡片，多敲幾次難免鏡片的鍍膜會脫落，所以我覺得裝個橡膠眼罩還是有好處，除了遮光還有保護眼鏡。那麼有沒有非原廠的替代品呢? 有的，這裡就讓我們來試試兩個非原廠的橡膠眼罩吧。

經過安裝測試，Canon EOS 數位相機的觀景窗橡膠眼罩編號 EF (EOS 450D/550D/600D/650D/700D 及 EB (EOS 60D/50D/5D2/40D/30D/20D/10D) 剛好可以適用。



CONTAX S2 Viewfinder 觀景窗



CONTAX S2 Viewfinder 觀景窗 + F-3 Eyepiece 橡膠眼罩



CONTAX S2 Viewfinder 觀景窗 + Canon EF Eyepiece 橡膠眼罩



CONTAX S2 Viewfinder 觀景窗 + Canon EB Eyepiece 橡膠眼罩



Left to right: CONTAX/YASHICA F-3、Canon EF、Canon EB

Yashica Electro 35 GT and Tele/Wide Lens Set @ Songshan Tobacco Factory 松山菸廠

2013/7/10

Can non-interchangeable lens RF cameras capture wide-angle or telephoto shots?

The answer is yes, we can achieve this by using external wide-angle and telephoto lenses.

However, we need to address the issue of the RF camera's viewfinder first. Generally, non-interchangeable lens RF cameras only have a framing frame for one focal length in the viewfinder. Therefore, when we attach a wide-angle lens, the original framing frame becomes too small. Conversely, when attaching a telephoto lens, the framing frame becomes too large. To solve this problem, besides jokingly drawing new framing frames on the original viewfinder (just kidding!), we can use an external viewfinder.

For example, if the lens focal length on the RF camera is 50mm, attaching a 0.7x wide-angle lens is equivalent to 35mm. At this point, we just need to find a 35mm external viewfinder to attach to the flash hot shoe of the RF camera for framing.

不可換鏡頭的RF相機可以拍廣角或遠景嗎?

答案是可以的, 我們可以用外接式的廣角鏡和望遠鏡來達到這個目的.

但是要先解決RF相機觀景窗的問題. 一般不可換鏡頭的RF相機的測距觀景窗都只會有一個焦段的構圖框. 因此, 當我們外接廣角鏡頭後, 原構圖框就變得太小了. 反之, 接上望遠鏡頭, 構圖框就又變得太大. 為解決這個問題, 除了在原測距觀景窗上自己畫上新的構圖框(開玩笑的!), 就是採用外部光景窗.

舉例來說, RF相機上的鏡頭焦距是50mm, 裝上0.7倍的廣角鏡後, 就等於35mm, 這時只要找一個35mm的外接觀景窗裝在RF相機的閃燈熱靴上, 就可以用來構圖了.


The Yashica Electro 35 series RF cameras have designed a set of lens accessories to meet this demand: (1) 0.8X external wide-angle lens, (2) 1.3X external telephoto lens, and (3) an external viewfinder with framing frames for both wide-angle and telephoto shots. The fixed lens focal length on the Yashica Electro 35 is 45mm, so after attaching the external lens, the new focal lengths become 36mm and 58.5mm. While 36mm may be considered wide-angle, 58.5mm should still fall within the range of standard lens focal lengths.


Yashica Exectro 35系列的 RF相機, 因應這項需求就設計了一組鏡頭附件 (1)0.8倍外街廣角鏡頭,
(2)1.3倍外街望遠鏡頭, (3)具有廣角與望遠2個構圖框的外接觀景窗. Yashica Electro 35上的固定鏡頭焦距是45mm, 所以裝上外接鏡頭後, 新的焦距便成為 36mm 和 58.5mm. 36mm或許可稱為廣角, 但58.5mm應該還算在標準鏡頭焦段的範圍內.



Yashica Electro 35GT and Tele/Wide lens set



The Songshan Tobacco Factory has been converted into a cultural and creative park for some time now, and I hadn't had the chance to take some old (building) photos. Taking advantage of a few days off, I went to Taiwan this time to visit, and also to test the Yashica Electro 35 GT and the external wide-angle and telephoto lens set. Below are several sets of photos comparing the perspectives of 36mm, 45mm, and 58.5mm.

The first set of comparison photos is of the maternity ward next to the Xiaoshandang.


松山菸廠改成文創園區有一陣子了, 一直沒有機會去拍些老(建物)照片. 趁著連休幾天出發去台年前走這一遭, 順便測試一下Yashica Exectro 35 GT和外接廣角望遠雙鏡頭組. 以下就是幾組 36mm, 45mm, 58.5mm 視角比較的照片.

第一組比較照片是小山堂旁的育嬰房


f = 45mm x 0.8 = 36mm


f = 45mm


f = 45mm x 1.3 = 58.5mm


The second set of comparison photos is of the skyscrapers in the Xinyi District. The 58.5mm one clearly has vignetting.


第二組比較照片是信義區的摩天大樓群, 58.5mm這張明顯有暗角



f = 45mm x 0.8 = 36mm


f = 45mm


f = 45mm x 1.3 = 58.5mm


This dual lens set does not have coated lenses, so it may not have anti-glare capabilities. In practical terms, it's more convenient to use at the wide-angle end. The inconvenience lies in the four-step process for focusing: (1) using the parallax of the built-in viewfinder in the camera for rough focusing, (2) reading the focusing distance on the fixed lens, (3) checking the corresponding table on the external lens to obtain the actual distance, and (4) adjusting the focusing distance on the fixed lens to match the actual distance.


這套雙鏡組是沒有鍍膜的鏡頭, 所以應該沒有抗耀光的能力, 實用上還是以廣角端使用的機會較多. 較不方便的地方是需要四個步驟來玩完成對焦 (1)由相機內建觀景窗的疊影成向來對焦(2)讀取固定鏡頭上的對焦距離 (3)查詢外接鏡頭上的對應表取得實際距離 (4)調整固定鏡頭上的對焦距離至實際距離.

YASHICA FX2 and FX7

When using a CONTAX/YASHICA SLR, a common question often arises: 'Which mechanical cameras can use C/Y lenses?' The answer is quite simple: CONTAX S2/S2b, YASHICA FX2, and FX3 series. Among them, the CONTAX S2 is considered the top-tier model with its titanium body indicating its excellent pedigree. However, its price is exorbitant, comparable to the CONTAX ST, around NT$29,000 at the original selling price. Due to the discontinuation of CONTAX bodies, the second-hand prices have surged, starting at around NT$25,000, with the rarer black titanium CONTAX S2b even reaching over NT$40,000. Is it out of reach for the average person? Not necessarily. YASHICA has provided us with some alternatives, namely the YASHICA FX2 and FX7 cameras.

使用CONTAX/YASHICA SLR時常常會問一個問題「有哪些機械相機可用C/Y鏡頭？」 答案很簡單CONTAX S2/S2b、YASHICA FX2與FX3系列，其中CONTAX S2算是最頂級 的機種了，鈦金屬機身說明了她的優良血統，但價位也高不可攀，原始售價 與CONTAX ST同級，約台幣29,000。近來因CONTAX機身陸續停產，二手價也 水漲船高，約莫台幣25,000起跳，較稀有的黑鈦CONTAX S2b甚至飆到台幣40,000 以上。那一般的平民百姓就無緣分享了嗎？倒不竟然。YASHICA還是留給了我們 一些選擇，那就是以下要介紹的 YASHICA FX2與FX7相機。

Left: YASHICA FX-7, Right: YASHICA FX-2

YASHICA FX2

In the second year of the CONTAX/YASHICA SLR release, the YASHICA FX2, a purely mechanical camera, emerged as the only one of its kind. It shares a similar appearance with its sister model, the YASHICA FX1 (an electronically controlled aperture-priority camera). Despite nearly thirty years passing, after a bit of refurbishment by a camera technician, the weight in your hands and the sound of the shutter, along with the damping of the film advance, tell you that this is a sturdy camera – a tool for creative photography that will remain so even after another thirty years. The YASHICA FX2 features a horizontally-traveling cloth focal-plane shutter, and one of its drawbacks is that the rubber material on the shutter curtain is prone to hardening (if left unused for an extended period) or deteriorating in high temperatures. Therefore, a moisture-resistant box and a dark storage environment are crucial. If the shutter curtain is damaged, repair is nearly impossible.

在CONTAX/YASHICA SLR上市的第二年 YASHICA FX2 是唯一的一台機械相機，與 姐妹機 YASHICA FX1 (電子式光圈優先)有著類似的外觀，拿在手上沉甸甸的， 雖然經過了近三十年，經過相機師傅稍許的整理後，那快門聲響與過片的阻尼 告訴你這是一台扎實的相機，再過三十年，仍然是攝影創作的利器。 YASHICA FX2 採用橫向布質簾幕快門，她的缺點是簾幕上的橡膠材質容易硬化(長期未使用) 或高溫變質，因此防潮箱與陰暗的儲存環境非常重要，如果快門簾幕損壞， 維修幾乎是不可能的了。

YASHICA FX2 的上視圖

YASHICA FX7

Derived from the YASHICA FX3 mechanical camera, the YASHICA FX7 is positioned as a simplified version of the FX2. In terms of camera functions, it lacks the depth of field preview button. Regarding the camera structure, the shutter curtain is changed to a vertically-traveling metal focal-plane shutter, and the body extensively uses plastic, significantly reducing the size and weight by 15%-30%. In the 1980s, the YASHICA FX3/7 became one of the most affordable C/Y Mount bodies. The FX3/7 was redesigned in 1985 as the FX3/7 Super, with the main difference being a small grip added to the right side of the body to enhance handheld stability, and the integration of the metering button with the shutter button. The FX3 Super 2000 further increased the maximum shutter speed to 1/2000 seconds. Later versions of the FX3 Super 2000 moved production to China due to cost considerations, and not long after, the production of the YASHICA FX3/7 series was discontinued for almost 20 years.

源自YASHICA FX3的機械相機，定位是FX2的精簡版，就相機功能而言，少了預觀景深紐。 就相機結構而言，快門簾幕則改為縱向金屬簾幕快門，機身則大量採用塑料，使得機身 大小與重量大幅縮減15%-30%。80年代後，YASHICA FX3/7 算是最便宜的C/Y Mount機身了。 FX3/7在1985年改款成為FX3/7 Super，最大的差異在於機身右邊多了一個小握把以加強手持 穩定性，測光鈕整合於快門鈕上。FX3 Super 2000 則進一步將最快快門速度提升到 1/2000秒。後期的FX3 Super 2000則因成本考量移往中國生廠，之後不久, 近20年的 YASHICAFX3/7系列的生產也中止了。

YASHICA FX7 的上視圖

YASHICA 機械式相機 發售年 YASHICA FX2 (Chrome/Black) 1976 YASHICA FX3 (Black) 1979 YASHICA FX7 (Chrome) 1979 YASHICA FX3 Super (Black) 1985 YASHICA FX7 Super (Chrome) 1985 YASHICA FX3 Super 2000 (Black/Chrome) 1993

機身規格 規格比較 機身 YASHICA FX-2 YASHICA FX-7 生產者 Yashica Japan Yashica Japan 發售年 1976 年 1979 年 底片型式 24mm x 36mm 24mm x 36mm 鏡頭接環 Contax/Yashica 插刀式接環 Contax/Yashica 插刀式接環 快門型式 橫走式布質簾幕 縱走式金屬簾幕 快門速度 B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500-1000 B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500-1000 對焦方式 反射式+磨砂/微菱鏡對焦屏 反射式+磨砂/微菱鏡/裂像式對焦屏 自拍器 有，機械式 有，機械式 閃燈同步 1/60秒 1/125秒 閃燈接點 有，X接點 有，X接點 機身高度 94mm 84.5mm 機身寬度 144.5mm 135mm 機身深度 51mm 50mm 重量 690g 450g 　 相關網站  1. Okie's Camera List 提供YASHICA單眼相機個人收藏展示(含規格與照片)。 2. YASHICA SLR FAQ 提供YASHICA單眼相機與鏡頭基本資訊介紹。

Yashica Auto Focus S v.s. Kyocera T Scope @ Yuan Shan and Shezi Island 圓山、社子

2012.11.27

Annual leave is down to just 4 days, and on the first day, I planned a simple cycling and photography trip from Dajia Riverside Park to Shezi Island. Despite having lived in Taipei for almost 20 years, this was my first visit to Shezi Island. Due to ongoing construction on a river embankment road, I attempted to find an alternative route within the industrial area of Shezi Island. Unfortunately, the industrial zone proved to be too chaotic, with unpleasant odors of chemicals, hardware, and drainage, prompting me to retrace my steps back to the entrance of the Zhumei Expressway. From there, I headed towards Shezi Island (junction of Keelung River and Tamsui River) along the Tamsui River embankment until I saw Guandu Bridge and returned.

年度特休僅剩4天，第一天規劃了簡單的騎單車運動和攝影的行程，從大佳河濱公園騎到社子島。到台北近20年，這還是我第一次到社子島，由於有段河堤道路正在施工，所以我試著繞到社子島內的工業區另尋捷徑，無奈工業區內太過雜亂，而且化學藥品、五金、排水溝等異味讓人聞之卻步，只好循原路走回洲美快速道路的入口，從淡水河河堤這邊往社子島(基隆河與淡水河交界處) 前進，直到看到關渡公與關渡大橋才折返。

Yashica Auto Focus S

 
I brought along two point-and-shoot cameras today: the Yashica Auto Focus S, an early 80s autofocus point-and-shoot camera with traditional mechanical film loading and rewinding methods, and the Kyocera T scope (sister model to Yashica T scope), a 90s autofocus point-and-shoot camera featuring a Carl Zeiss Tessar 2.8/35 T* coated lens. The Kyocera/Yashica T series point-and-shoot cameras all use Carl Zeiss Tessar lenses, with this particular model having a wider aperture of 2.8, while the others likely feature a 3.5 aperture.

今天帶了2台傻瓜相機：Yashica Auto Focus S是台早期80年代的自動對焦傻瓜相機，過片和回片的方式還是傳統機械式的，很有趣。Kyocera T scope (其姊妹機是 Yashica T scope)是90年代的自動對焦傻瓜相機，賣點是採用了Carl Zeiss Tessar 2.8/35 T*鍍膜的鏡頭。Kyocear/Yashica T 系列傻瓜相機均是採用Carl Zeiss Tessar 鏡頭，除了這台採用了2.8光圈以外，其他的應該都是3.5光圈。

Kyocera T scope

Grand Hotel 圓山飯店 

Yashica Auto Focus S
Yashica Lens 38/2.8, Kodak TMAX400


Grand Hotel 圓山飯店

Kyocera T scope

Carl Zeiss Tessar 35/2.8 T*, Fujifilm RDPIII


Zhumei Expressway 洲美快速道路 

Yashica Auto Focus S
Yashica Lens 38/2.8, Kodak TMAX400


Zhumei Expressway 洲美快速道路  

Kyocera T scope
Carl Zeiss 35/2.8 T*, Fujifilm RDPIII

 

 For more photos, please refer to the Yuan Shan and Shezi Island Photo Album.

 
其他相片請參閱 圓山2社子 相簿。

Yashica MAT-124G @ Vanilla Fifi 宜蘭香草菲菲

2012.10.12

Discovering Vanilla Fifi was somewhat accidental. This year, for our anniversary on Qixi Valentine's Day, I ordered a soda maker as a birthday gift for my wife. Along with the package came three tickets to Vanilla Fifi, which I've been holding onto. Today happened to be the day for the parents' profession explanation activity at my daughter's school during morning reading time. My wife and I took a day off to cycle around Meihua Lake and decided to visit this emerging attraction. 

會知道香草菲菲這個地方算是偶然，今年七夕情人節訂了一台氣泡水製造機給老婆當生日禮物，包裹中送了3張香草菲菲的門票，也就一直收著。剛好今天是晨讀時間到女兒學校解說家長的職業的活動日，跟老婆一起請了一天假到梅花湖騎單車也順便到這個新興景點瞧一瞧。

The entire building is designed with the concept of a ventilated factory, both in its exterior and interior, presenting a consistent white color scheme. Therefore, I had initially prepared black and white film to better capture the structure and texture of the building. For the camera, I brought along my trusty Yashica MAT-124G, a portable 120 film camera. Inside, while taking photos, a guide, around 20 years old, struck up a conversation with me about the camera I was using. For him, it seemed like an antique, probably his first encounter with a TLR camera. I had to start explaining from the basics of film, and luckily, he was familiar with 35mm film. In a few more years, young people might not even know what film is, and even companies like Kodak could become unknown to them!

整棟建築設計是以通風廠房的概念來設計，外觀和內部清一色是白色調，所以我一開始就準備了黑白底片，這樣比較能呈現建物的構造和質感。相機不多說，就是120底片的隨身機 Yashica MAT-124G。室內拍攝當下，一位現場約莫20來歲的解說員和我聊起手上的相機，對他而言真的是骨董了，大概是第一次看到TLR相機，我只好從底片該始講起，還好他知道135底片，再過幾年，年輕人應該都不知到底片是何物? 連Kodak這家公司也毫無所悉了吧!


Photo 1: Vanilla Fifi Exterior 香草菲菲外觀, Yashica MAT-124G


Photo 2:Vanilla Fifi Interior 香草菲菲內部, Yashica MAT-124G

Yilan Vanilla Fifi Photo Album
宜蘭香草菲菲 相簿

Japanese RF Cameras in 60's

The 1960s can be considered the glorious era of RF (rangefinder) cameras, especially with the Japanese camera industry gradually posing a threat to Western camera brands during this period. When you pick up these cameras for appreciation in the 21st century, you'll undoubtedly be captivated by the solid feel of the metal body and the image quality of the large aperture standard lenses. If you're interested, you can easily collect these cameras on online auction websites.

The two cameras I want to introduce here are the YASHICA LYNX-5000 and the KONICA auto S1.6. The YASHICA LYNX-5000 was a gift to my grandfather from someone in Japan. It wasn't until I graduated from graduate school, and my grandfather found out about my interest in photography, that he took out this camera from the cabinet. At that time, the viewfinder had some mold, but the lens was still clean. The KONICA auto S1.6, on the other hand, was my father's camera, accompanying our family for over a decade until it retired with the rise of point-and-shoot cameras. Currently, both cameras are waiting for the right moment in my humidity-proof box.

60年代可說是RF測距式相機的輝煌時期，尤其是日本的相機工業更是在這個時期逐漸威脅到西方品牌的相機。在二十一世紀的今天再度拿起這些相機賞玩時，絕對會著迷於那金屬相機的扎實感與大光圈標準鏡頭的成像品質。有興趣的話上上拍賣網站，很容易就可收藏這些相機喔。

這裡要介紹的兩部相機分別是YASHICA LYNX-5000與KONICA auto S1.6。YASHICA LYNX-5000是祖父的日本有人送他的，直到我研究所畢業，祖父知道我喜歡攝影才從櫥櫃中找出這台相機，當時看機況，觀景窗有些發霉，鏡頭到還乾淨。KONICA auto S1.6則是父親使用的相機，陪過我們家五口有十幾年的時間，直到傻瓜相機開始流行後才退休。目前兩部相機都在我的防潮箱中等待時機重出江湖。

YASHICA LYNX-5000

During the era when RF rangefinder cameras were popular, YASHICA launched the flagship model LYNX-14, boasting a 1.4 large aperture lens. Subsequently, they released more affordable cameras such as the LYNX-1000 and LYNX-5000. The LYNX-5000 in hand features a 45mm f1.8 standard lens. Like the typical structure of RF rangefinder cameras, starting from the front of the lens, there are the shutter ring, aperture ring, and focus ring in sequence. The body has only the shutter button and the film advance/rewind mechanism. Even the film sensitivity adjustment and self-timer are designed on the lens barrel, giving the body a clean and minimalist appearance. The metering uses a non-coupled external metering system, requiring a PX-625A battery for operation. The rangefinder patch in the viewfinder is circular, providing a quick and clear focusing experience.

YASHICA在RF測距相機流行的時代，推出了旗艦機種LYNX-14，標榜了1.4大光圈的鏡頭，之後陸續推出了LYNX-1000與LYNX-5000等較平價的相機，手邊的LYNX-5000採45mm f1.8的標準鏡頭。如一般RF測距相機的結構類似，由鏡頭前方起算，依次是快門轉環、光圈轉環與對焦環，機身則僅有快門鈕與過/回片機構。就連底片感光調整與自拍計時器也都設計在鏡筒上，機身看起來相當簡潔。測光採用非連動式外部測光，需要一顆PX-625A的電池來驅動。觀鏡窗內的疊影區域是圓形的，對焦感覺快速且清晰。 

YASHICA LYNX-5000 上視圖


YASHINON 1:1.8 f=4.5cm


KONICA auto S1.6 

In the late 1960s, Konica also produced an RF rangefinder camera with a large aperture, similar in structure to most cameras of this type but incorporating what is commonly known as an "electric eye (EE)" automatic exposure system. The operation mode involves (1) using the shutter ring to link the size of the incoming light to the metering component (the slower the shutter, the larger the incoming light), (2) generating a current based on the size of the incoming light (larger incoming light results in a larger current), and (3) using the generated current to drive the aperture magnetic valve (larger current leads to a smaller aperture). The combined action of (1), (2), and (3) achieves a metering effect where the slower the shutter, the smaller the aperture, or the faster the shutter, the larger the aperture – a precursor to shutter priority functionality.

60年代末期Konica也堆出了標榜大光圈的的RF測，距式相機，結構上與大部分這類型的相機類似，但卻加入了俗稱「電眼(EE)」的自動曝光系統。其操作模式是 (1) 利用快門轉環連動測光元件的進光口大小(快門越慢進光口越大)，(2)利用進光量的大小來產生電流(進光量越大電流越大) (3) 利用產生的電流來驅動光圈磁閥(電流越大光圈越縮小)。綜合(1)(2)(3)的動作，即可達到快門越慢光圈越小或快門越快光圈越大的測光效果，可說是快門優先功能的起源。

KONICA auto s1.6 上視圖 

HEXANON 1:1.6 f=45mm

機身規格

詳細機身 規格比較
機身	YASHICA LYNX-5000	KONICA auto S1.6
生產者	Yashica Japan	Konica Japan
發售年	1962 年	1967 年
底片型式	24mm x 36mm	24mm x 36mm
鏡頭	YASHINON 45mm F1.8 (6群7枚)	HEXANON 45mm F1.6 (5群7枚)
快門型式	鏡間快門	鏡間快門
快門速度	B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500-1000	B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500
對焦方式	手動測距式疊影對焦	手動測距式疊影對焦
測光	外部測光	外部測光+EE光圈連動
自拍器	有，機械式	有，機械式
閃燈同步	所有快門	所有快門
閃燈接點	有，X接點	有，PC/X接點
機身高度	86mm	82mm
機身寬度	127mm	138mm
機身深度	74mm	74mm
重量	710g	770g

Yashica Electro 35 GT @ The Riverside Bikeway 河濱自行車道

2011.11.16

Today is the third day of my special vacation clearance, and after two consecutive days of rain, the weather has finally cleared up. After having lunch with my wife, I set out from the Zhongxiao Bridge water gate towards the Huajiang Bridge on my bicycle. Along the way, I passed through Zhongxiao Bridge, Zhongxing Bridge, Huajiang Bridge, Wanban Bridge, Huacui Bridge, Guangfu Bridge, and finally reached Huazhong Bridge before turning back to Dadaocheng. Heading north, I passed through Taipei Bridge and Chongxin Bridge before turning back towards the area around Dihua Street. It can be considered as having had some exercise.

今天是特休假清倉的第三天，連下兩天的雨終於放晴了。跟老婆一起吃完午餐後，我從忠孝橋水門出發往華江橋騎自行車，一路經過忠孝橋，中興橋，華江橋，萬板大橋，華翠大橋，光復橋，到了華中橋再折返回大稻埕，往北經過台北橋和重新橋再折返回迪化街一帶，算是有運動到了。


The Zhongxing Bridge connects New Taipei City and Taipei City 連接新北市和台北市的中興橋



The Xindian River Bikeway runs along the riverside of the Xindian River 新店溪河濱自行車道

Joining me in this cycling activity were my YASHICA Electro 35 GT and Kodak TMAX400 cameras. The YASHICA camera is a straightforward aperture-priority electronic shutter range-finder camera, and there are many discussions about it on the internet. My experience with it is that it's easy to focus, and when shooting negative film, I don't have to worry too much about exposure compensation. It's a handy camera for spontaneous shots, with its only drawback being its weight and size.

陪我一起騎車運動的是 YASHICA Electro 35 GT 和 Kodak TMAX400。這台相機是很單純的光圈優先的電子快門測距相機，網路上相關的討論很多。我使用上的感覺是對焦容易，拍負片時不用太考慮曝光補償，隨手可拍的相機，唯一的缺點是重量和大小。



YASHICA Electro 35 GT, YASHINON-DX 1:1.7 f=45mm

Please refer to the photo album for Huazhong Bridge-Chongyang Bridge.

請參閱 華中橋-重陽橋 相簿

Yashica AF J3 @ Lukang Folk Arts Museum 鹿港民俗文物館

2011.9.11




It's been a long time since I last used a film camera. I recently purchased a budget-friendly point-and-shoot camera, the Yashica AF J3, from an online auction. Equipped with Fujifilm RDPIII slide film, I decided to test the camera's functionality during my trip to Lukang. Fortunately, the camera's exposure turned out to be quite accurate, capturing vibrant colors of the historical landmarks in Lukang Folk Arts Museum. However, there are drawbacks; the camera's fixed 33mm lens exhibits noticeable distortion at the edges of the images and occasional focus issues.

This camera boasts a unique feature called N.A. Scope, with N.A. standing for New Angle. Essentially, it's a waist-level viewfinder, particularly useful for low-angle shooting scenes. In the era of film cameras, especially point-and-shoots, the idea of having a digital camera with a flip-out screen supporting various angles for composition was unimaginable. Yashica later incorporated this viewfinder into almost all the models in the T series of point-and-shoot cameras, with the Yashica T3 Super being the most renowned.

Apart from delicious local snacks, Lukang is home to must-visit historical sites such as Lungshan Temple, Mazu Temple, and the Folk Arts Museum. The museum's exhibition halls are pleasantly air-conditioned, likely for artifact preservation, making it tempting to leave a jacket behind. Both the exterior and interior of the museum are well-maintained, making it a worthwhile destination for enthusiasts of architectural photography, offering a place to savor and appreciate in detail


很久沒有用底片機了，從網拍上購得一台千元傻瓜相機 Yashica AF J3，搭上Fujifilm RDPIII 正片，利用這次鹿港之旅測試看看相機是否正常。很幸運的，相機的曝光非常正常，幾張鹿港民俗文物館的古蹟發色不俗。不過也有缺點，這相機的鏡頭是定焦33mm，影像邊緣變形以及失焦的情況略為嚴重。

這台相機有個特別的功能，Yashica 叫它 N.A. Scope，N.A.據說是 New Angle 的意思，其實就是邀坪觀景窗，這對低角度的拍攝場景很有用，現在的數位相機都提供了多角度的可翻轉螢幕來支援特殊角度的構圖，這在底片相機的時代，尤其是傻瓜相機，根本是想都不用想。Yashica後來在T系列傻瓜相機中幾乎都加了這個觀景窗，最有名的應該是Yashcia T3 Super了。

鹿港除了美味小吃以外，龍山寺、天后宮和民俗文物館可說是不能缺席的古蹟。民俗文物館內有幾個展廳冷氣蠻強的，應該是保存文物除濕所需，一直讓人覺得少帶一件外套。建築外觀跟內部陳設一樣，維護保養得很好，對喜歡建築攝影的同好來說，絕對是個值得花時間細細品味的地方。


Lukang Folk Arts Museum Exterior 鹿港民俗文物館外觀


Bicycles available for borrowing inside the museum 館內可供借用的腳踏車

For more selected photos, please refer to the Lukang Folk Arts Museum album.

其他精選相片，請參閱 鹿港民俗文物館 相簿

Yashica MAT-124G @ Ju Ming Museum 朱銘美術館

2009.5.8

The first time I went to the Ju Ming Museum was on a company trip with my wife. It's been about 5 or 6 years since then. I took a day off from work before Mother's Day to accompany my mother, who was visiting from the north, and we also arranged a trip to the Ju Ming Museum. It's rare to find a museum or art gallery that allows photography both indoors and outdoors. The difficulty of sculpture photography is not high, and you can spend a lot of time composing and framing. However, the biggest challenge is how to add your own photographic style to such outstanding works.

Link to Ju Ming Museum

第一次到朱銘美術館是老婆的公司旅遊，算一算也有5、6年了。母親節前請了一天假陪北上的母親，順便安排了一趟朱銘美術館的是影之旅，很難得有個美術館或博物館是室內室外都開放拍照的，雕塑攝影的難度不高，可以花很多時間取景與構圖，不過在如此精采的作品之下 如何加入個人的攝影特色才是最大的挑戰。

連結 朱銘美術館

I still prefer to use 120 black and white film for photography. In addition to the larger print size, it is also easier to scan into digital images. Because I wanted to keep things light for the trip, I didn't bring a tripod. TMAX400 film combined with a TLR with a leaf shutter can be used to compose and shoot even in low light indoors. The last five images in this series were taken in indoor light. These photos also tested a Vivitar +1 Close-Up Lens to reduce the TLR's closest focusing distance to 45cm-50cm.

拍黑白底片還是喜歡用120，除了一般的印樣成像較大以外，再翻拍成影像檔時也較為方便。因為出遊的輕便所以不帶腳架，TMAX400度底片搭配鏡間快門的TLR，就算在室內微光下也能取景拍攝，這一系列影像中，最後5張就是在室內光源下拍攝。這幾張照片同時也試用了一組 Vivitar +1 Close-Up Lens 將TLR的最近對焦距離降到 45cm~50cm。


Photo 1: Miniature Navy sculpture model 縮小版的海軍雕塑模型

Photo 2: Miniature Army sculpture model 縮小版的陸軍雕塑模型

See other photos in the "Ju Ming Museum" album.

其他照片請參閱 相簿 - 朱銘美術館。

Yashica MAT-124G @ Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭

2008.8.18

YASHICA MAT-124G and TMAX400 are a recent favorite combination for my snapshot photography. With a light meter, phone, keys, wallet, and other small items, everything fits easily into my Domke F5--XB camera bag.

YASHICA MAT-124G與TMAX400是近來常用的組合，非常適合不用腳架的snap-shot拍攝方式，加上測光表、手機、鑰匙、錢包等等一些小東西，通通塞到Domke F5--XB的相機包裡頭，真是輕便。


Yashica MAT-124G TLR

The news that the number of visitors to the Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf has declined prompted me to remember that I hadn't been there in five years. I decided to take a day off from work and go for a walk around the area by myself. The day was sunny and cloudless, and the boardwalk was closed, so there were only boats and the bridge to explore. I took 12 shots in just half an hour. I also happened to have my Canon A570IS with me, so I took a photo of the Fisherman's Wharf with the YASHICA MAT-124G to commemorate my visit.

 
報紙上說淡水漁人碼頭的遊客銳減，讓我想到這個景點已經有5年未曾到訪，索性向公司請了個特休，自己一個人去拍拍照片。當天風和日麗一點雲都沒有，木棧道沒有開放，只有漁船和跨海大橋可逛，12張底片半個小時內就拍完了，剛好隨身攜帶了Canon A570IS，就幫YASHICA MAT-124G和漁人碼頭的景緻留下一張到此一遊的紀念照。


Photo 1: A boat nearby Fisherman's Wharf  漁人碼頭邊的漁船


Photo 2: Fisherman's Wharf bridge 漁人碼頭的跨海大橋

See other photos in the "Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf" album.

其他照片請參閱 相簿-淡水漁人碼頭。