David Smith , Jan 24, 2012; 01:25 p.m.
Having collected a decent army of old photo gear over the last year I am planning on getting rid of most of it. It has been a wonderful journey and film has really rejuvenated my interest in photography and taught me much about this art of ours. But due to the rising cost of film and decreasing options for good local development I recently purchased a Canon 40D to use with most of my old lenses.
Im not getting out of film entirely mind you, its just that I dont really need the 20+ film cameras I currently own. I will be keeping just a few that I plan to use on a somewhat regular basis to complement my 40D. Lens selection is the main criteria for the brand I plan on keeping which is Yashica. With a couple of film Yashica/Contax cameras I can focus on my lenses which as we all know is what really makes a photo anyway, not so much the camera body itself. With C/Y mount cameras I can use Yashica glass (DX, DS, DS-M, DSB, YUS, ML) in both C/Y and M42 mounts (with an adapter) along with just about any other M42 lens ever made. And of course being able to use Zeiss glass if I can ever afford it is a big bonus. This works perfectly for my Canon as well since C/Y and M42 transition over to EOS cameras quite nicely.
So goodbye to my Canon FD collection, most of my Minolta gear (keeping that XE-7, just cant get over how good that old tank is) and all the onsie twosie cameras I picked up along the way. The gear I keep is what I want to use. I will also be keeping my two old Yashica Electro 35's for when the rangefinder bug bites. Which it does from time to time.
My only current C/Y mount camera is a Contax 167MT which I absolutely adore. It rivals the XE-7 as my favorite 35mm of all time. The issue I have is that I need a camera to take with me on long motorcycle trips that will use the lenses I will be keeping. The 167MT is a possibility and I have taken with me once before on a long, 400 mile day trip. But life on the bike can be rough with the constant vibration and bumps and I was cringing most of the trip and really felt the MT was a bit fragile. I would rather keep that one at home as I have found it to be a wonderful film camera for Macro photography. So (and here is where my wife rolls her eyes) I need just one more camera...
Yashica FX-1 or FR-1? Whats your opinion? I have googled up most of the available info on these two and Im pretty sure they will fit the bill perfectly as a semi-rugged bike camera. I have compared their stats and they seem to be quite similar actually. The main difference is the FX uses a CDS meter and the FR uses a more modern SPA cell. (Which I am assuming is the same as an SPD). Other then that they are both aperture priority light tight boxes with the C/Y mount ready to go.
Any personal experience stories with these two? Any differences I am missing? One more rugged then the other? One telling thing seems to be the fact that finding a working FX1 thats not listed as Parts Only on the auction site over the last couple of months has been like a "Wheres Waldo" game. This makes me think the FR1 might be a little more sturdy.
Any comparison you can make between these two would be greatly appreciated. If it helps, I really like the 3 button setup with shutter lock on the FX vs the two button arrangement on the FR. But thats trivial.
And since this is a photo site...a few from my single 167MT bike ride. (Yashic ML 50/1.9)
Tom Cheshire , Jan 24, 2012; 02:21 p.m.
FR1 (of course). It uses the same shutter as the Contax RTS. It has a great viewfinder with all the information.
What do you have in Canon FD? I got a honey of an FR1 to swap.
Michael McBroom , Jan 24, 2012; 03:11 p.m.
I agree with Tom, get an FR-1. Both cameras have basically the same features, exposure-wise, but the FR-1 can be thought of as a more deluxe model with its RTS shutter and mirror box and all. Plus it will accept the Contax motor drives and winders, which the FX-1 won't.
Keep the shiny side up!
John Shriver 
, Jan 24, 2012; 03:15 p.m.
Silicon photodiodes much more reliable than CdS cells, another reason for the FR-1.
Matthew Currie , Jan 24, 2012; 04:02 p.m.
I had an FX-1 for years, and it was a very nice, reliable shooter, with good metering and good basic operation. Eventually the shutter started hanging up, and I didn't think it worth repairing. Recently I responded to an appeal for a rewind crank/battery cover, sent mine away, and it apparently disappeared in the mail! So goodbye FX-1. I bought an FR-1 out of a junk bin, hoping I could get it working, but found that it had a plastic gear in its wind mechanism that had stripped. It looked as if it might have been a nice machine, but I'm temporarily in Yashica moratorium.
But my impression is that, although the FR-I may be more modern and advanced, the FX-1 may be more sturdily built, with fewer plastic parts.
Chuck Foreman , Jan 24, 2012; 04:34 p.m.
I too have an FX1 and give it my vote for a sturdy camera. The FR1 I don't know. It was a more "upmarket" camera than the FX series.. The promising amateur vs the the market entry? How the shutter s differ? I don't know. The FX1 though needs a battery to run the shutter! The FX2 doesn't. The meter in the FX2 needs 1xA76/S76, but the shutter is manual. Both are heavy duty metal cameras. While we're on the FX2, how about the FX3. This is a much lighter variant with a vertical 3 pcs Cosina shutter. The later model (FX3 Super) is supposed to be really sweet, with a 2000 of a second! Either the FX2/3 are readily available. If weight is an issue....do consider the FX3!
Mike Gammill 
, Jan 24, 2012; 08:13 p.m.
Or the FR. It is match diode, but will accept the Contax infrared remote if you can find it. All FR series cameras require a
battery for the shutter. While not nearly as well made the Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 is a bargain and will work at all
shutter speeds without a battery. I use my FX-3 Super 2000 with a Contax 45mm f2.8 for compactness.
David Smith , Jan 24, 2012; 08:39 p.m.
Tom- I had forgotten the RTS tie in on the FR1. Thanks for reminding me. And I will send you a pm soon on what FD goodies I have. Thanks also for the offer for a possible trade.
Michael- Thanks for pointing out the winder information and another FR vote. And yes, rubber side down and shiny side up. :)
John- Very true about the metering. Although I must say I have come to completely trust the CDS meter on my old XE-7. Maybe its the fact that it uses two CDS meters with its CLC meter setup (contrast light compensation) but it has never really let me down. I dont think I would really have any issues with the CDS in the FX except for the whole slight time delay thing. The instantaneous response of SPD' is very nice.
Matthew- Sorry to hear of your Yashica woes. That is truly unfortunate. But you bring up a good point. This may very well turn into a 'more modern' vs 'more sturdy'. If thats the case I will have to go with more sturdy, the FX1. But like I said, finding a working FX1 for sale anywhere is like finding ocean front property in Arizona, which doesnt speak to its reliability. Maybe people just used the heck out of them and know they are all gone. Who knows? Your response got me thinking tho so I emailed Mark Hama (Mr. Yashica) and asked him which camera has the more solid internals. I figure he has been tearing them down all these years so will probably know best. If he emails back I will update this thread with his response.
Chuck- Thanks for the heartening note on the durability of the FX1. Since you have one I know now that there is at least one working model out there! As for the others, the FX2 might work, but adjusting the shutter dial while the camera is jammed up into the front of my flip up helmet is a bit of a chore. Aperture priority is much more handy for this. As for the FX3 and beyond, I just really dont want a Cosina made camera. Call me a snob but if it says Yashica then I want it to made in a Yashica factory. And the Cosina made versions are a little plasticky for me. I want my remaining film cameras to be mostly metal so when I pick it up I know its an old film camera. :)
Mike- The FR is a possibility. But I may as well just get the FR1 for the RTS style upgrades if I go that route. Your super 2000 with that 45mm does sound like a sweet combo however. I would love to see some photos from it if you have any to post here.
Erik Magnuson , Jan 24, 2012; 08:47 p.m.
I also have an FR-1 as one of my onsie twosie cameras that I need to pass on. One advantage over the FX1 seems to
be that it has a (diagonal) split image focus aid instead just micro prism. It also has the electronic soft touch release which
may or may not be what you like.
Les Sarile , Jan 24, 2012; 08:58 p.m.
It seems yesterday you didn't have 20 cameras . . . ;-)
I have the Yashica FR - no aperture priority compared to the FR1, and the shutter switch is literally a very soft pushbutton switch. The reasoning behind it was so that there is no vibration introduced by pressing the shutter. The Contax infrared remote is a cool accessory.
