A little M42 Yashica oddity
Apr 19, 2021 22:51:46 GMT
on Apr 19, 2021 22:51:46 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 19, 2021 22:56:58 GMT by lumiworx
There's something that seemed a little off about this lens to me. I'm not sure if it's because it looks different, or the subtle differences in construction, or the fact that some of it's styling doesn't match any other models in the M42 lineup over the years, so I thought I'd risk the $25 asking price to get a better look.
It definitely is a Yashica lens. There are several photos on the web, and if you have one already, you'll see it matches in every respect. A quick inspection of the photos should hopefully show the differences you might see as well, but to be specific...
The aperture ring is wider than I'd expect, and the numbers sit above the mid-line. The barrel is attached with screws that are exposed and on the outer focus grip barrel, on a narrow ring below the grip itself, as opposed to exposed screws on the main barrel. The distance markers on the focus scale are green with the usual white, and not an orange (DS-M, or DS) or even yellow like the DX models. The taper on the focus scale is at a slight angle, and is more similar to the Zeiss Sonnar 135's, than the straight ones found on most other Yashica models of the era. Although it isn't easily seen in the 2 photos, there's also the double-cut silver rings at the front edge... one right on the edge at a bevel, and another one about 1mm below it as a .5mm v-cut line.
You may have noticed that one section of the name ring is somewhat hidden, and if it weren't it would show this is a Yashikor, and not a Yashinon. Which leads me to wonder if Yashica enlisted the help of another maker for either certain parts of the shell, or maybe the lens as a whole.
As far as performance goes, it isn't a multi-coated lens but it certainly stacks up well for my eyes with any other 135 for sharpness and low distortion. It might be a tad more saturated with color that the others, but it doesn't appear to be an economy model either - which is what I always assumed the Yashikors were meant to be sold as.. It's sturdy in construction, and has more glass (and weight) than the other 135's, and it does have one slightly better aspect to it that the others don't. It handles CA much better, in that it seems to confine it to within the object's boundaries and doesn't offset it as a ghost of a different color outside the lines of whatever it captures.
I'm aware there's also a 28mm f/2.8, but I have no idea if it's performance rivals the 135mm - but - it does share the same overall look, paint scheme, and ramped focus scale angle.
Does anyone have any details to account for the differences, or have I finally leapt into the wrong end of the pool?
More samples here: testbed.lumiworx.com/#16188694252283
It definitely is a Yashica lens. There are several photos on the web, and if you have one already, you'll see it matches in every respect. A quick inspection of the photos should hopefully show the differences you might see as well, but to be specific...
The aperture ring is wider than I'd expect, and the numbers sit above the mid-line. The barrel is attached with screws that are exposed and on the outer focus grip barrel, on a narrow ring below the grip itself, as opposed to exposed screws on the main barrel. The distance markers on the focus scale are green with the usual white, and not an orange (DS-M, or DS) or even yellow like the DX models. The taper on the focus scale is at a slight angle, and is more similar to the Zeiss Sonnar 135's, than the straight ones found on most other Yashica models of the era. Although it isn't easily seen in the 2 photos, there's also the double-cut silver rings at the front edge... one right on the edge at a bevel, and another one about 1mm below it as a .5mm v-cut line.
You may have noticed that one section of the name ring is somewhat hidden, and if it weren't it would show this is a Yashikor, and not a Yashinon. Which leads me to wonder if Yashica enlisted the help of another maker for either certain parts of the shell, or maybe the lens as a whole.
As far as performance goes, it isn't a multi-coated lens but it certainly stacks up well for my eyes with any other 135 for sharpness and low distortion. It might be a tad more saturated with color that the others, but it doesn't appear to be an economy model either - which is what I always assumed the Yashikors were meant to be sold as.. It's sturdy in construction, and has more glass (and weight) than the other 135's, and it does have one slightly better aspect to it that the others don't. It handles CA much better, in that it seems to confine it to within the object's boundaries and doesn't offset it as a ghost of a different color outside the lines of whatever it captures.
I'm aware there's also a 28mm f/2.8, but I have no idea if it's performance rivals the 135mm - but - it does share the same overall look, paint scheme, and ramped focus scale angle.
Does anyone have any details to account for the differences, or have I finally leapt into the wrong end of the pool?
More samples here: testbed.lumiworx.com/#16188694252283
