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on Feb 11, 2021 16:54:40 GMT
Posted: Feb 11, 2021 16:54:40 GMT
I'm not generally a fan of Kyocera's compact AF zoom cameras but this little one is capable of producing some great piccies - under optimum conditions. It is the compact Yashica Zoomate 105SE; I assume the Special Edition refers to the inclusion of the IR Transmitter and top quality, padded case. Zoomate 105SEAlthough it carries the Yashica name, it is really a Kyocera camera and does not even feature a Yashica lens. The negative issues for me are the tiny viewfinder and the slow ( f11.2!) aperture. That being said, a consequence of that aperture is the amazing depth of field exhibited in photos. A further consequence is that you need to use 400ASA film as a minimum and hope for good weather. But under good conditions, the lens is capable of delivering pretty decent images.
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on Feb 11, 2021 22:06:57 GMT
Posted: Feb 11, 2021 22:06:57 GMT
With that aperture, all they need to do is control exposure with the shutter (and flash) -- makes for an inexpensive camera.
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on Feb 12, 2021 10:05:01 GMT
Posted: Feb 12, 2021 10:05:01 GMT
Do you still have its stablemate ... the Zoomate 140? My OH found it to be a versatile little p&s in its day!
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on Feb 12, 2021 15:26:50 GMT
Posted: Feb 12, 2021 15:26:50 GMT
I had no idea how many different ZOOMATES there are. A quick EBAY search shows DOZENS. There are even several 140SE's -- starting at $20 with free shipping! There's even a few 165SE -- but it looks very different. Quite a lens though.
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on Feb 12, 2021 17:06:46 GMT
Posted: Feb 12, 2021 17:06:46 GMT
Do you still have its stablemate ... the Zoomate 140? My OH found it to be a versatile little p&s in its day! Yes - I still have the 140. It's a nice little camera and can still take a mean piccie...
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on Feb 12, 2021 17:47:43 GMT
Posted: Feb 12, 2021 17:47:43 GMT
Excellent!
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on Feb 20, 2021 22:52:28 GMT
Posted: Feb 20, 2021 22:52:28 GMT
Do you still have its stablemate ... the Zoomate 140? My OH found it to be a versatile little p&s in its day! I've got the Elite 140 Zoom which is identical to your model except that there is no lettering around the lens front (I suspect it got lost due to rough handling over the years), and says "Quartz Date Back" below the front badging, with the "Date" button residing on the top just behind the shutter release. Cost a whole 99 cents.
PF
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on Feb 22, 2021 14:33:41 GMT
Posted: Feb 22, 2021 14:33:41 GMT
I had not noticed the evolution of the Zoomate 105 until by chance I had both models on the same table; the Zoomate 105 from 1997 evolved into the Zoomate 105SE in 2000. How different they are.... Zoomate 105_105SEIn just three years, the constant move towards compactness is clearly demonstrated by these two nominally similar models... I will be curious to see whether there is any appreciable difference between the original Yashica 38-105 lens and the later Kyocera version.
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on Feb 23, 2021 14:34:18 GMT
Last Edit: Feb 23, 2021 14:37:29 GMT by bobblehat
You're starting a nice collection of silver P&S there! The Zoomate/Elite/Brava 80 of 1998 sat in the middle in terms of size between the two you show. As Xkaes mentioned, there were dozens of Zoomate models up to 2001, with the ever-extending (and slightly comical) 165mm model being the last with the Zoomate name. By 2001 the digital compacts were starting to take off in a big way with plenty of Finecam models, so the last of the 35mm compacts like the EZ Zooms and the excellent T (orT4) zooms finished off the 35mm compact line. Over in Brazil the MC-28's and Plena models ended the 35mm run there in 2002, with possibly one exception. I think they made an EZ Zoom 70 about 2004 but I'm not 100% on the date. Zoomate 80 EZ Zoom T (T4) Zoom If anyone is interested, I can post pics of the last 35mm Brazil models.
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on Mar 1, 2021 16:53:05 GMT
Posted: Mar 1, 2021 16:53:05 GMT
I had not realised that Yashica/Kyocera made country-specific models of the Zoomate range which I think may explain the name of the camera below... Zoomate 105 BravaThis arrived from an Italian owner which I assume is why Kyocera decided to give it the 'Brava' label. Other than the colour and name, it is of course identical to the silver/champagne 105 with the Yashica zoom shown previously. Thank also for the info bobblehat on the EZ Zoom and Zoomate 80 models; I have also spotted a T Zoom being sold on which Kyocera has finally dropped the Yashica logo.
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on Mar 2, 2021 12:27:02 GMT
Posted: Mar 2, 2021 12:27:02 GMT
Strangely, I cannot find any reference to Brazilian made Zoomate 105, with or without Brava! Looking back through my chart notes, I actually cannot find any reference to Brazil producing any model using the Zoomate name. My reference to MC-28, Plena and EZ Zoom were merely to illustrate the end of the 35mm film era in Brazil, so I'm sorry for diluting the subject slightly and not being clear on that point. I include images of those 3 below (apologies for poor quality in advance) to give a comparison to other K/Y P&S cameras of that era. Back to the 105 discussion ... I think that the Zoomate/Brava/Campus/Elite/EZS/Power Zoom variations may have been for specific markets (apparently not Brazil!) rather than for specification variations, but the latter is not out of the question! Biggles3 has posted the Zoomate 105 and Brava versions of the earlier model, so here are a few others to complete the picture ... I've left out the ones Biggles3 has posted and the usual Black/Champagne/other colour variants to save boring the members! Campus closed and open .... Elite 105 EZS Zoom 105 Power Zoom 105 The last image has a oddity associated with it. There are images on the internet of a Power Zoom 105 that has no Kyocera or Yashica on it ... nothing ... nowhere! Make of that what you will!
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on Mar 29, 2021 14:11:20 GMT
Posted: Mar 29, 2021 14:11:20 GMT
This has just turned up - the EZS Zoom 105 QD. EZS ZOOM 105 QDThis looks to me just like the Zoomate 105. However, this model has QD attached to its name which I assume stands for Quartz Date as it has a Date-Back and... EZS Zoom 105 QD Date Back...unlike most of Yashica's Date-Backs, this one is still working in 2021 as you can see.
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on Mar 30, 2021 9:28:03 GMT
Posted: Mar 30, 2021 9:28:03 GMT
A lot of these 105 variants were available with the Date Back .... good to see it is still working! I'm intrigued to know where they have hidden the QD letters ... is it only on the packaging?
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on Mar 30, 2021 17:42:04 GMT
Posted: Mar 30, 2021 17:42:04 GMT
A lot of these 105 variants were available with the Date Back .... good to see it is still working! I'm intrigued to know where they have hidden the QD letters ... is it only on the packaging? Yes - it was on the packaging. What is interesting is that the Zoomate series cameras with the date capability use the camera's battery to power it but all of the ones I have ended in 2020. This EZS Zoom is like the Date-Backs of old in that it uses a CR2025 battery housed inside the back to provide power, independent of the AA cells in the body. I wonder if cameras powered by CR2 or CR123A batteries have sufficient reserves of power to accommodate the needs of the Date-Back whereas AA cells would be drained too quickly. Are all date-backs subsequent to the one here in the EZS Zoom still working in 2021?
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on Apr 6, 2021 17:20:59 GMT
Posted: Apr 6, 2021 17:20:59 GMT
This little Zoomate has just been added to the inventory - the Zoomate 80. Zoomate 80With a limited zoom range of 35-80mm, it's the most compact of the bunch to date; I'm certain that there may be a few more out there in the Zoomate range as I'm currently limited to 3 versions of the 105, 2 versions of the 140 and one 165EF. I might try for a 110W if I can find one for a sensible price and then call it quits on the Zoomate series. Despite being an all-plastic camera, it has a comforting weight to it; I have yet to see how the Kyocera zoom performs...
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