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on Jun 9, 2021 4:04:31 GMT
Last Edit: Jun 9, 2021 4:22:00 GMT by lumiworx
This was another of those impulse buys, but at $25 USD with shipping thrown in, I thought it was worth a look. Since it was listed at the Goodwill site, at least it wouldn't be a waste of coinage if it turned out to be a basket case. There's a few spots that show a wee bit of wear, but otherwise it's spotless and looks like everything just came off a dealer shelf. It came with the OEM hood and case too, so those were nice bonuses. This is spec'd to be 1370g / 3.02 lbs, but it sure feels like it's heavier when in-hand, and it is certainly not small either. This isn't a lens you'd want to hold, so the tripod mount will save both your wrists and your camera's mounting ring from torquing into uncomfortable territory. I probably wouldn't have bought this when new, and using it now for it's intended purpose isn't at the top of my list. A few quick shots really show off some weak spots in resolution and CA... and did I mention, it's massive and heavy? :) I might give this a better trial run on digital, but I have my doubts if I'd strap this on a film body for a test roll after the initial impressions it gave me. I'm still happy to have it as another member of the Yashica family, but otherwise, it will likely sit on a shelf. It still looks impressive though. And like a few other of this era's M42 Yashinons - I think it's safe to say that this isn't a Tomioka product. Some pieces of it might be from their parts bins, but it doesn't seem to match anything optically that I've ever seen from them in pre-bayonet mount lenses. The Yashica Auto Yashinon 75-230mm f/4.5 Zoom...   |
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on Jun 9, 2021 12:01:55 GMT
Last Edit: Jun 9, 2021 12:11:11 GMT by xkaes
Very reminiscent of a Sun 80-240mm f4.0 zoom that landed in my lap a few weeks ago.
It's fast and heavy with a nice macro setting and a rotating collar. Y/S mount. I would have kept it despite everything, but it had a little too much fungus for my taste.
But back to your Yashinon. I'm unclear why you don't think it's a Tomioka lens. It reminds me of several of the Super-Yashinon-R models -- 600mm, 800mm (now THERE"S a MONSTER!!!), etc.
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on Aug 19, 2021 16:01:09 GMT
Posted: Aug 19, 2021 16:01:09 GMT
Wow, these look almost like a Bazooka, in terms of Lenses.  Very big, old Zooms, especially that Auto Yashinon 75-230mm f/4.5 Zoom. |
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on Aug 20, 2021 18:50:07 GMT
Posted: Aug 20, 2021 18:50:07 GMT
Wow, these look almost like a Bazooka, in terms of Lenses. ;) Very big, old Zooms, especially that Auto Yashinon 75-230mm f/4.5 Zoom. They aren't as long as the Spiratone 400mm, a.k.a. "The Sharpshooter" lenses, or even the M42 Mamiya 400mm, but they definitely are hard to handle without using them on a tripod... no matter what focal length they're set to. You'd think that the Yashica wouldn't be too bad at the 75mm end, but there's a lot of waving the lens around, just to get anywhere close to the right framing. Then all the twisting to get it in focus without loosing the framing, adds one more pain when using it hand-held. I shudder to think of users in the 70's trying to make do with the wobbly sticks that got sold as tripods back then. I remember them as being barely passable, and am so glad that makers decided to upgrade them to beefier and stiffer materials. And those from the 50's and 60's... oh my, what a horrible way to go, with the greasy telescoping 'click-stop' legs! |
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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Aug 20, 2021 19:52:53 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 20, 2021 19:53:23 GMT by biggles3
Here's another of those 1980s monsters - Tamron's 70-350mm f4.5 attached to a Contax ST.  Tamron 70-350 f4.5At around 5lbs (2.2Kgs) in weight, it's not for the faint-hearted and I have used it hand-held a couple of times - it's a bit like using a rifle where you're forced to go down on one knee and rest your elbow on the other to give support to the ensemble. It can be done provided you are photographing a static subject. However, you don't want 2kgs of lens hanging from your camera mount when you finally stand up again! And for goodness sake, don't use it in an area of conflict as it does look like a weapon from distance! |
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on Aug 21, 2021 0:20:17 GMT
Posted: Aug 21, 2021 0:20:17 GMT
That one is only surpassed by its big brother, the Tamron 200-500mm f6.9 that comes in at slightly over SIX pounds. It's four inches longer but keeps the same 82mm filter thread. Then Tamron came out with a bigger 200-500mm SP model with an f5.6 aperture and a 95mm filter thread. You can find these at decent prices, but do you really want to lug one around?
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on Aug 21, 2021 10:10:05 GMT
Posted: Aug 21, 2021 10:10:05 GMT
Thanks for showing guys. I'm okay with my 80-200/F4 ML, on one of my Yashica, or Contax SLR Bodies from time to time (handheld).
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Status: My first SLR was an FX-2 in 1979. I’ve been shooting and collecting Yashica/Contax gear ever since.
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on Aug 25, 2021 12:51:28 GMT
Posted: Aug 25, 2021 12:51:28 GMT
I wonder, given the amber color of the Yashinon lens elements, if it might be a thoriated lens. Do you have a geiger counter?
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on Aug 25, 2021 20:05:35 GMT
Posted: Aug 25, 2021 20:05:35 GMT
I have no counter to test with, but I'd be surprised if any lens on the slower end of the scale would have radiated glass. I have several 1.4's from different makers that are known and measured to be radioactive, but anything at f/2 or slower would surprise me if it had any at all. Amber coatings? That absolutely would be my first guess, but not Thorium or Lanthanum additives. There's probably a diminishing return on using it, and the gains fall off to zero at some point. Before everyone started using Anti-Reflective coatings, lots of lenses used the High-Reflective amber coatings,. A quick search turned up Canon using amber on 9 of their earlier FL lenses... www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fllenses/index.htm |
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Very big, old Zooms, especially that Auto Yashinon 75-230mm f/4.5 Zoom.
