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Post: 2,039 (562 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Mar 17, 2021 17:13:17 GMT
Posted: Mar 17, 2021 17:13:17 GMT
This has proved one of those elusive models; there are a few Penta J cameras about and I have a bog-standard version with the PENTA lettering inscribed in black. However, a small number were produced in which the letters were inscribed in gold and at last one has appeared. It takes a clip-on meter like the Reflex 35 and has the same top speed too of 1/500s. It's built like a tank - as is the lens; it's from that golden age of photographic engineering. The fact that it is working properly after almost 60 years is testament to the build quality of both camera and lens.  Yash Penta J Gold logoIt's shown attached to a lovely, old Auto Yashinon 5cm f2. lens with exceptionally clear glass. |
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on Mar 22, 2021 11:35:13 GMT
Posted: Mar 22, 2021 11:35:13 GMT
Nice find, I was not even aware of such model with gold letters, you are really into the collector's items.
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,039 (562 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Mar 22, 2021 11:55:19 GMT
Posted: Mar 22, 2021 11:55:19 GMT
Nice find, I was not even aware of such model with gold letters, you are really into the collector's items. I was very lucky to spot it on a well-know auction site; it came from a Japanese seller and he evidently didn't know that the version with the gold lettering is quite rare. It was also fortunate in that the price was low enough not to attract customs charges when it arrived in the UK. That leaves only 1 variant of the Yashica M42 series that I don't have but that camera (J-3 in black) is so rare and distinctive that sellers are only too aware of its value and it's way beyond my budget. There's a lovely looking one on Ebay right now and it's non-working but they still want over £320 for it. I'm not that mad... |
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Join date: August 2021
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on Aug 26, 2021 20:49:21 GMT
Posted: Aug 26, 2021 20:49:21 GMT
I picked up one of these , a Penta J with Yashinon 5cm f2. It too has the gold lettering and looks very handsome. It’s in beautiful condition but the focus screen has a few marks. The negative diopter of the VF is rather stronger than I’m used to. I have to use +2 diopter reading glasses to focus.
I’ve only had the chance to put a test film through it but I’m delighted. The lens in particular is a real jewel. I’m ordering an additional C/y to M42 adapter . This’ll need to be modified to allow the lens to be used on any of my C/Y bodies
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Join date: August 2021
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on Sept 1, 2021 18:20:20 GMT
Posted: Sept 1, 2021 18:20:20 GMT
I’d welcome any advice on how to successfully use the Yashinon 5cm f2 on any of my C/Y bodies. My fotodiox adapter compresses the aperture pin to the extent that this prevents the focus mechanism from moving. I’ve a cheap adapter on the way but I expect to have to modify it - but not exactly sure how and whether it’ll work!!
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Group: Administrator
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Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Sept 1, 2021 21:07:19 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 1, 2021 21:10:10 GMT by lumiworx
I’d welcome any advice on how to successfully use the Yashinon 5cm f2 on any of my C/Y bodies. My fotodiox adapter compresses the aperture pin to the extent that this prevents the focus mechanism from moving. I’ve a cheap adapter on the way but I expect to have to modify it - but not exactly sure how and whether it’ll work!! I'm not sure if my M42 to C/Y adapter is an original Yashica or an older 3rd party steel type, but it's definitely not one of the ultra-light aluminum cheapo versions flooding in from China. I just tried it with one of the 5cm's borrowed from a J-3, and it didn't have any issues with focusing. I did notice that if the lens was reset/cocked with the lever before screwing on the adapter - it would activate and release the pin by the time I turned it to maybe the 2nd thread, but it worked for me whether it was cocked or not. The pin does seem to be 0.5mm longer in the cocked position, but otherwise it slid in far enough that there were no problems once the adapter was set at full depth. Cocking again after it was screwed on did nothing, so I assume it would be the same for other adapters. It could be that the through-hole for the rear of the inner optical block has interference issues with the adapter. There's sufficient clearance on mine, but it seems to be the obvious choice for causing problems if it's too small for the 5cm to get that section to go through. BTW... the adapter I'm using has a legend stamped into the outer ring - "M42 - Yashica/ Contax Japan", if that help to identify it. |
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on Sept 2, 2021 6:43:16 GMT
Posted: Sept 2, 2021 6:43:16 GMT
Thanks. I’ll see how I get one with a couple of new adapters I’ve ordered. One is cheap Chinese the other apparently made from brass and presumably older. It’s very hard to tell from images whether these will perform any differently.
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on Dec 20, 2021 12:31:02 GMT
Posted: Dec 20, 2021 12:31:02 GMT
I'm trying to see if I can get an eyecup for the Penta J - anyone have any experience of types that might fit. The modern C/Y eyecup won't fit unfortunately
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Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Dec 22, 2021 15:19:05 GMT
Posted: Dec 22, 2021 15:19:05 GMT
I'm trying to see if I can get an eyecup for the Penta J - anyone have any experience of types that might fit. The modern C/Y eyecup won't fit unfortunately The Penta J's will accept either a rectangular framed metal eyepiece or eyecup meant for a 19mm slot to match the surround of the viewfinder's eyepiece. They will look a little odd with the cushioned rectangular eyepiece, but the round eyecups were the original style fitted to the early brass bodies. Essentially the slot size hasn't changed on Yashica SLR's from the Penta-J up to the last of the FX series of camera bodies. The metal framed black-paint versions from the FR-I/FR-II work well, or even the plastic/rubber OEM F-3 meant to fit the FX-D, Fx-3, etc., will work in a pinch... so that would also include some alternate eyepieces from Canon and any of their clones from China. There might be some universal round eyecups made by other OEM's or 3rd party makers in 19mm slot sizes, but they might not have the same clearance in depth to slide in properly. |
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on Dec 28, 2021 13:19:15 GMT
Last Edit: Dec 28, 2021 13:25:06 GMT by lenslover
Cool find, i managed this week to snag a Yashica TL Super for a good price. 
And what's more, i grabbed also another ML 28-85, after ca. 7 years. Initially, i had over the decades (don't ask me...) about 6 copies, and sold them all, but kept only one, the best sample, haze free, into it's own maker box. Because literally the 28-85 ML is prone to dust out adhaesive into between lens elements - a thing that is way hard to clean, if your name is a) not lumiworx or someone with the skills like that, and b) with the expertise and equipment for that, and last but not least c) the internal cleaning costs usually much more, than the lens you paid for...so...that's why i got rid of 5 samples over the years..now you know.
Same story - but different, is with the ML 35-70 F4, it does suffer often from oily aperture blades, that issue also needs being fixed...so it's costly, too.
So buyers beware, if you're interested into one of these lenses. |
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on Dec 28, 2021 13:20:41 GMT
Posted: Dec 28, 2021 13:20:41 GMT
I'm trying to see if I can get an eyecup for the Penta J - anyone have any experience of types that might fit. The modern C/Y eyecup won't fit unfortunately I tell you my secret - just buy and use a Pentax PB Eyecup! I have these on all my Yashica SLRs, also fits Minolta SLRs very well! I do this so for at least the last 15+ years, it might fit perhaps a bit more or less tight on some Cameras, but then when it sits, perfectly!
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