I have a Yashica Electro 35 GX and a Canonet QL 17, among others. One gripe about the Yashica is that shutter release travel is longer than the others, can cause camera shake if you're not careful.
I was interested in the Canon AE1 as an early teen in the 70s. My Mother had been a photographer and developed her own black n white photos at one point in her own History, though not at this time, She suggested I start with the Canonet 28 viewfinder camera to start learning basics, I imagine. I loved the form factor and did shoot many great photos on it that simple canonet 28 I owned from around 74 to 83 when I finally splurged on a different 35 mm camera (sigh, a Minolta x370 kit from monkey wards). I would not own an AE1 until the late 90s. Now I own many different 35 mm cameras, some Automatic, some basically manual, some dslr, some mirrorless, but I recently purchased another canonet 28 and am loving it. I am purchasing the G3 QL17 Canonet for its more functional manual mode and am looking forward to keeping both, till I die. I may be just nostalgic, I admit, but I love the form factor and the simplicity. To me, My Leica! (Though I’d still LOVE to have one of those to compare! T😊hanks for sharing!
Thanks for this video! I have enjoyed a number of Yashicas over the years (MG-1 purchased in the 70's(and still going) , Electro 35's, CC, MC) plus Konica S35, C35, etc. and it is great that you are keeping these going and that a new audience appreciates them. Re: GX no power/mechanical default shutter speed, I realize that you are referring to the manufacturer's published data and I imagine you are well aware of the following. -My experience as an amateur repairer, is that one would be lucky to achieve 1/500 shutter speed on the common leaf type shutters used in 35mm cameras, even if that speed is shown as available. In fact, I've heard it suggested suggested that the camera never likely achieved that speed from new. Based on the measurements I've made on (1950's German) mechanical cameras I've serviced, one can achieve pretty good correlation between the shutter settings and the actual speeds through the low speed escapement and up to about 1/125 but after that the measured speeds are usually lower than advertised ie: 1/500 setting could result in anything from 1/250 to 1/350 measured, 1/250 is often in the1/150 to 1/200 range, etc. My experience is that the actual (mechanical) shutter speed will be repeatable, just a half to a full stop lower than indicated. The point is that, for the users of these cameras, whatever the "no power" mechanical default setting is, it could be up to a stop slower than the manual indicates, however well within the latitude of most colour or B&W print film. For what it's worth, my opinion, your experience might differ.
The canonet only does the winding quirk after you opened the back, so you dont have to trigger the shutter as you load the film. It starts working normally when you hit 1 on the counter
I own both of these cameras. The light meter on the Yashica seems to be more accurate. Although the Canon QL is more feature-rich, I find the Yashica more user-friendly in actual use. The lens coating on the Canon QL is particularly prone to oxidation and fogging; I've seen many cameras with this issue.
I have a Yashica GX and CNN. Would slightly recommend the GX over the CNN. The film winding handle flopping out is the biggest pain, aside from that nothing else that bugs me about the camera really. I think I’ll keep using it for a long time. I do wish it had a ‘handheld’ switch so no matter what the light reading is it won’t go under 1/30 shutter speed or something in low light but I don’t know of any cameras that do have this actually. I always look forward to your videos and have watched some of them multiple times. If you could and are interested, I’d love a video on the Contax Aria one day. I’m strongly considering getting one…
Back in early 2000’s I briefly owned a Canonet and a Yashica Electro 35. Didn’t keep either very long. I got an Olympus 35RC and liked it a lot, kept it longer (digital was coming in like a lion and I didn’t end up keeping many film cameras). The Yashica lens was sharp, just as everyone says. I just didn’t like the camera.
I became aware of the lens shortcomings on the Canon several decades ago which is why the 17 is not in my collection. In the meantime I have five of the Electro 35 but not the GX. Electro 35 is not bad. My favorite for using a rangefinder, I am more an SLR guy, is the Minolta HiMatic E. I used one to shoot four years of B&W photos for my grad school yearbook and it never let me down. Great size for surreptitious photography.
You didn't mention the pod of death so maybe the GX is one of the later models without that problem. I believe the Korean made models used a different material for the pod. I have a Korean made GSN and the shutter button sticks down until I wind the film. The shutter works fine. I think that can be adjusted by removing the bottom plate, but I don't know which way to turn the screw down there.
So I’ve been shooting the 35GX off and on over in China and the moderately cold weather (0 to 5 degrees C) we get around 4 months out of the year absolutely kills the camera. The metering system stops responding and the camera defaults to 1/500, which I can work around in the daytime, but I bought this for Christmas lights and Chinese New Year Lights, but the camera will not cooperate. Chinese shops won’t even look at the electrical system because there are so few GX around to use for parts. Any ideas or suggestions?
Interesting overview. I’ve been thinking about adding a smallish rangefinder to supplement my Olympus XA which tends to be a challenge to focus as my eyes age.
Mildly into the canons. I have a canonet 28 and I really like it. None of the extra stuff and manual aperture settings are really fun to mess with. If you want the same camera but with lens applications to ease the eyes, perhaps you’d benefit from a canon ql17
Is the Yashica more prone to fail as it is more heavily dependent on the electronics? I read comnents thst as it gets older rhe photometer lights may not work accordingly, usually lighting just the yellow one never rhe red one
The GX has two common issues you have to look for. One is the deterioration of the small plastic lens which sits just in front of the CDS light meter, this can turn opaque, or dissolve into chalk, and not allow light to get through. The other issue is the meter lamps. Fortunately, the meter lamps are not difficult to replace, they are simply 3 volt incandescent bulbs, I scavenge these from broken cameras and have them on hand when I have to replace a dead bulb.
Do you replace the light seals before you sell film cameras? I love Yashica rangefinders. I have an old Electro 35 and used to own an MG1 long time ago.
I need help I opened up my Yashica electro 35 to replace the pod and clean the rangefinder and now the advance wheel won’t reset when I open the film door and advice would be great?
my Canon 1.9 QL, once you load film and close back you can wind the level 3 time without pressing the shutter button straight to film number 1. Quicker method of loading film on to position 1?
For me electronic shutters are not a downside, more on the contrary, my electronic cameras all still have perfect timing while almost all of my mechanical cameras suffer from sticky slow speeds.
Dang because of this video I found fungus on my Canonet lens. The front part is clear, but after you said to open the back and look at the back side of the lens I did and its covered in fungus. Deeply disappointed. I also have the Yashica Electro 35 GX. I found a ding on the lens but otherwise its very clear. The only problem with it is, the shutter doesn't work with just finger pressure. For some reason using a cable release works, so all is not lost. I've used it and it does fine but its a pain because using the cable takes away some of the "point and shoot" fun. Thanks for this excellent video. Over the last while I've been thinking of taking the Canonet out as I've never shot it but I'm thinking I might be wasting my film.
The problem is that the Compact Deluxe is nearly impossible to find in working or repairable condition. And if you manage to find a working example, it's usually very expensive.
@@andrewrothman7805 It took me about 9 months, yes, to get a mint copy from Japan for $175. The GX and QL prices are much higher than they used to be though.
@@andrewrothman7805 Also, the Fujica V2 is another rare but superior rangefinder. Versus the Compact Deluxe, the V2 adds parallax compensation, but it's bigger and uses a mercury battery where the C.D. uses a modern battery. Oh, and the light meter isn't in the lens on the V2.
@jw48335 I have a V2 with original box, and of course, it is unrepairable. It's also, as you state, much larger and heavier, and even harder to find in working condition than the Compact Deluxe.
Funny, I just got a Richoh 800 EES that tends to wind twice (or infinitely), like the Canon. Haven't figured it out yet but something seems to stick often during the winding. The camera looks remarkably similar to the Canon--I wonder if they were copying each other?
Just picked up a canonet as my first rangefinder. Excited to use it
I have a Yashica Electro 35 GX and a Canonet QL 17, among others. One gripe about the Yashica is that shutter release travel is longer than the others, can cause camera shake if you're not careful.
I was interested in the Canon AE1 as an early teen in the 70s. My Mother had been a photographer and developed her own black n white photos at one point in her own History, though not at this time, She suggested I start with the Canonet 28 viewfinder camera to start learning basics, I imagine. I loved the form factor and did shoot many great photos on it that simple canonet 28 I owned from around 74 to 83 when I finally splurged on a different 35 mm camera (sigh, a Minolta x370 kit from monkey wards). I would not own an AE1 until the late 90s. Now I own many different 35 mm cameras, some Automatic, some basically manual, some dslr, some mirrorless, but I recently purchased another canonet 28 and am loving it. I am purchasing the G3 QL17 Canonet for its more functional manual mode and am looking forward to keeping both, till I die. I may be just nostalgic, I admit, but I love the form factor and the simplicity. To me, My Leica! (Though I’d still LOVE to have one of those to compare! T😊hanks for sharing!
Thanks for this video! I have enjoyed a number of Yashicas over the years (MG-1 purchased in the 70's(and still going) , Electro 35's, CC, MC) plus Konica S35, C35, etc. and it is great that you are keeping these going and that a new audience appreciates them.
Re: GX no power/mechanical default shutter speed, I realize that you are referring to the manufacturer's published data and I imagine you are well aware of the following. -My experience as an amateur repairer, is that one would be lucky to achieve 1/500 shutter speed on the common leaf type shutters used in 35mm cameras, even if that speed is shown as available. In fact, I've heard it suggested suggested that the camera never likely achieved that speed from new. Based on the measurements I've made on (1950's German) mechanical cameras I've serviced, one can achieve pretty good correlation between the shutter settings and the actual speeds through the low speed escapement and up to about 1/125 but after that the measured speeds are usually lower than advertised ie: 1/500 setting could result in anything from 1/250 to 1/350 measured, 1/250 is often in the1/150 to 1/200 range, etc. My experience is that the actual (mechanical) shutter speed will be repeatable, just a half to a full stop lower than indicated. The point is that, for the users of these cameras, whatever the "no power" mechanical default setting is, it could be up to a stop slower than the manual indicates, however well within the latitude of most colour or B&W print film. For what it's worth, my opinion, your experience might differ.
The canonet only does the winding quirk after you opened the back, so you dont have to trigger the shutter as you load the film. It starts working normally when you hit 1 on the counter
I own both of these cameras. The light meter on the Yashica seems to be more accurate. Although the Canon QL is more feature-rich, I find the Yashica more user-friendly in actual use. The lens coating on the Canon QL is particularly prone to oxidation and fogging; I've seen many cameras with this issue.
I have a Yashica GX and CNN. Would slightly recommend the GX over the CNN. The film winding handle flopping out is the biggest pain, aside from that nothing else that bugs me about the camera really. I think I’ll keep using it for a long time. I do wish it had a ‘handheld’ switch so no matter what the light reading is it won’t go under 1/30 shutter speed or something in low light but I don’t know of any cameras that do have this actually.
I always look forward to your videos and have watched some of them multiple times. If you could and are interested, I’d love a video on the Contax Aria one day. I’m strongly considering getting one…
Back in early 2000’s I briefly owned a Canonet and a Yashica Electro 35. Didn’t keep either very long. I got an Olympus 35RC and liked it a lot, kept it longer (digital was coming in like a lion and I didn’t end up keeping many film cameras). The Yashica lens was sharp, just as everyone says. I just didn’t like the camera.
I became aware of the lens shortcomings on the Canon several decades ago which is why the 17 is not in my collection. In the meantime I have five of the Electro 35 but not the GX. Electro 35 is not bad. My favorite for using a rangefinder, I am more an SLR guy, is the Minolta HiMatic E. I used one to shoot four years of B&W photos for my grad school yearbook and it never let me down. Great size for surreptitious photography.
Ive used the cannonet 17 and the yashica gtn and much love the yashica heaps more
You didn't mention the pod of death so maybe the GX is one of the later models without that problem. I believe the Korean made models used a different material for the pod. I have a Korean made GSN and the shutter button sticks down until I wind the film. The shutter works fine. I think that can be adjusted by removing the bottom plate, but I don't know which way to turn the screw down there.
So I’ve been shooting the 35GX off and on over in China and the moderately cold weather (0 to 5 degrees C) we get around 4 months out of the year absolutely kills the camera. The metering system stops responding and the camera defaults to 1/500, which I can work around in the daytime, but I bought this for Christmas lights and Chinese New Year Lights, but the camera will not cooperate. Chinese shops won’t even look at the electrical system because there are so few GX around to use for parts. Any ideas or suggestions?
I wish the GX winding felt more... substantial. I did end up keeping the GL because the GX was just a bit too small.
Interesting overview. I’ve been thinking about adding a smallish rangefinder to supplement my Olympus XA which tends to be a challenge to focus as my eyes age.
Mildly into the canons. I have a canonet 28 and I really like it. None of the extra stuff and manual aperture settings are really fun to mess with. If you want the same camera but with lens applications to ease the eyes, perhaps you’d benefit from a canon ql17
You should do a review on the minolta himatic 7sII. It also has a 40mm f1.7
I prefer the Canonet, which is slightly smaller. Too bad its auto exposure mode is shutter priority. I prefer apperture priority...
If you focus on the f stop when turning the shutter speed ring, then it essentially becomes an aperture priority camera. Thank me later.
Hardly ever see that Yashica 35GX here in Australia, loads of Canonet 17's
Is the Yashica more prone to fail as it is more heavily dependent on the electronics? I read comnents thst as it gets older rhe photometer lights may not work accordingly, usually lighting just the yellow one never rhe red one
The GX has two common issues you have to look for. One is the deterioration of the small plastic lens which sits just in front of the CDS light meter, this can turn opaque, or dissolve into chalk, and not allow light to get through. The other issue is the meter lamps. Fortunately, the meter lamps are not difficult to replace, they are simply 3 volt incandescent bulbs, I scavenge these from broken cameras and have them on hand when I have to replace a dead bulb.
Do you replace the light seals before you sell film cameras? I love Yashica rangefinders. I have an old Electro 35 and used to own an MG1 long time ago.
I need help I opened up my Yashica electro 35 to replace the pod and clean the rangefinder and now the advance wheel won’t reset when I open the film door and advice would be great?
my Canon 1.9 QL, once you load film and close back you can wind the level 3 time without pressing the shutter button straight to film number 1. Quicker method of loading film on to position 1?
For me electronic shutters are not a downside, more on the contrary, my electronic cameras all still have perfect timing while almost all of my mechanical cameras suffer from sticky slow speeds.
I much prefer aperture priority.
much easier to shoot with.
Couldn't a sheet of light seals come in a regular envelope?
Dang because of this video I found fungus on my Canonet lens. The front part is clear, but after you said to open the back and look at the back side of the lens I did and its covered in fungus. Deeply disappointed. I also have the Yashica Electro 35 GX. I found a ding on the lens but otherwise its very clear. The only problem with it is, the shutter doesn't work with just finger pressure. For some reason using a cable release works, so all is not lost. I've used it and it does fine but its a pain because using the cable takes away some of the "point and shoot" fun. Thanks for this excellent video. Over the last while I've been thinking of taking the Canonet out as I've never shot it but I'm thinking I might be wasting my film.
google pad of death. probably you have the same problem. it's fixable.
Minolta HiMatic 7s ;D
I own both, but neither is what I would choose - I pick up the Fujica Compact Deluxe when I want a small rangefinder to carry :)
The problem is that the Compact Deluxe is nearly impossible to find in working or repairable condition. And if you manage to find a working example, it's usually very expensive.
@@andrewrothman7805 It took me about 9 months, yes, to get a mint copy from Japan for $175. The GX and QL prices are much higher than they used to be though.
@@andrewrothman7805 Also, the Fujica V2 is another rare but superior rangefinder. Versus the Compact Deluxe, the V2 adds parallax compensation, but it's bigger and uses a mercury battery where the C.D. uses a modern battery. Oh, and the light meter isn't in the lens on the V2.
@jw48335 I have a V2 with original box, and of course, it is unrepairable. It's also, as you state, much larger and heavier, and even harder to find in working condition than the Compact Deluxe.
The Canonet was better for me because it did not need batteries to take pictures.
Z9
Canonet as Yashica lacks any option but AE! No manual mode, a deal breaker.
It has manual mode, it just doesn’t meter in it.
@@valebliz That's why you carry a meter.
@@KentTeffeteller you said it doesn’t work in manual, not me.
@@valebliz Yashica is AE only. Canonet works in manual, just no built in meter.
Funny, I just got a Richoh 800 EES that tends to wind twice (or infinitely), like the Canon. Haven't figured it out yet but something seems to stick often during the winding. The camera looks remarkably similar to the Canon--I wonder if they were copying each other?