Minolta Autocord vs. Yashica D

I got decent results with my Yashica A which also has a Yashikor lens. The trick is to keep the stopped down to f8 or lower (i.e. f11, f16, f22). http://www.williamsphotographic.com/yashica.html has a very good writeup on the Yashica lenses.

Joseph, I have been a Yashica D owner for a while now and it is a remarkably capable camera. You have to remember this camera is somewhere between 29 and 45 years old and corner sharpness would be the last thing on my mind when I am using it. Get yourself a roll of slide and a loupe and decide for yourself before you put it down. Regards, MJ.

If it really bothers you (either because you do a real test and don't like what you find, or just for psychological reasons), I suspect you can find a nice Yashica with the better Yashinon (4-element, rather than 3) 80mm f/3.5, which most people seem to consider in the same league as the Rokkor 75mm f/3.5, on E-Bay for $50 or so. Just get a basic Yashica Mat, or if you insist on the light meter, a Mat LM or Mat EM, and skip the more expensive 12's, 124's, and 124G's. Autocords seem to be getting a real premium right now, maybe even more than Rolleicords. I got a nice Yashica Mat EM for $62. That said, you still need to stop it down for best performance. Not too long ago I took a picture of a building, using the exact same set-up, but with one exposure at 1/60 s around f/10 and one at 1/30 s around f/15. The difference in the sharpness of the lettering on the building was quite apparent, even on a 5x5" proof print. Even the Yashinon lenses are at their peak somewhere around f/13-f/16.

Dave

I never quite know what is ment by "superior results." What do you want to accomplish with a medium format that you can't accomplish with a Canon FD? That's a question you need to consider. I used a Yashica 635 for years with good results...the 635 is a D with 35mm capability. I never had a problem with the results. The Rokkor lens is very sharp, edge to edge, at almost all apertures. If that's what you need, then look for an Autocord. They have a focus lever that is uncomfortable for me...below the lens and the knob tends to break. That's why I like Rolleicords and Yashica D style cameras...focus knob on the right side. If you want to sell the D, let me know. A really good Autocord will cost about $200.

Joseph:

I've been using a Yashica 635 (same as previous poster). It has the 3-element Yashikor lens (though later models, along with later-model Ds, came with the 4-element Yashinon). My experience: stopped down to f/11-f/16, the Yashikor gives good results. I'm using the camera for a personal project: Hawaiian beaches shot in B/W (Tri-X). I've had 11x14s done that are quite sharp. That said, as another photo.net member noted above, this is an old camera and as such, it has its limitations. Still, like you, I purchased my camera as a cost-effective way to get into medium format. I looked at other TLRs -- for my needs and interest, couldn't justify the cost of a very good condition Rolleiflex, and the Mamiya C-330s were too heavy and bulky for me. My suggestion: enjoy your Yashica D, get a feel for 6x6, and put the money you'd have spent on another older TLR into a contemporary MF system. If you buy anything else now, I'd strongly suggest a Bay 1 lens hood. Absolutely necessary because these lenses are flare prone.

I guess your first mistake was to buy the camera and *then* do the research. Yes, the Yashinon is the preferred lens and you probably should have bought a Yashica D with the Yashinon. But take some pictures and find out for yourself. I have a friend who shoots exclusively with a Yashica A with the Yashikor lens, and I have seen amazing results. To be honest, his photos are tack sharp, and he shoots mostly at F16 and F11. He crops and prints as big as 11x14 and the stuff looks great.

I have seen pics from other three element lenses, such as ones found on old folders. The Yashikor blows those away. If the lens is completely clean and clear, you'll probably get great results, too.

I have both cameras--my Yashica D has a Yashikor lens. The Autocord has a superior lens to the Yashica and is very good at all apertures, but the Yashikor is only good at f/11 to f/16. The Yashica body is mechanically more solid compared to the Minolta--if I had to bury one and use ten years later, I'd pick the Yashica. I can find nothing wrong with the Rokkor lens.

Hello. Get yourself a tripod and cable release. Using f22 for your exposures along with a medium speed film / developer combination (Ilford FP-4 in PMK-Pyro is my suggestion), you have the perfect MF introduction set up. Within a year you should be able to write a Phd thesis on what you really need, verses what you want, in your next MF camera. Enjoy, Bill