Rare Yashica 400mm lens
Dec 10, 2021 15:41:28 GMT
on Dec 10, 2021 15:41:28 GMT
Posted: Dec 10, 2021 15:41:28 GMT
This is the Auto Yashinon-DX 400mm f5.6 telephoto lens.
Auto Yashinon-DX 400 f5.6
Few of these made it to Europe which is a shame as it's a very sharp lens which offers plenty of contrast and almost no CA.
The 400mm comprises 5 elements in 5 groups and offers an aperture range from f5.6 to f32. The tripod collar is essential as it weighs a hefty 1.67kgs (3.7lbs); its minimum focus is 26ft (8m). Its hood is long and built-in.
The 400mm focal length for 35mm cameras was far less popular than the 300mm and 500mm lenses which are abundant, the latter being most commonly found as mirror lenses. There were also a fair number of 350mm mirror lenses produced, especially in the 1970s and early '80s. The major exception was from Tamron; their SP 400mm f4 remains one of the most sought-after pieces of glass - with a price to match! Sigma produced a couple of perfectly decent 400 f5.6 lenses, one with Apochromatic glass, in both C/Y and Yashica AF mounts.
The fabled ML 400 f5.6 which was offered for sale in Europe, although it is doubted that any orders were fulfilled, was essentially the same lens with ML cosmetic styling and a C/Y mount - all its specifications matched those of this lens. With the quality of the ML 300 f5.6 and the Reflex 500 f8, later enhanced by the introduction of the ML 300 C version and the fabulous ML 500 f8, there was little room for the 400mm. I've yet to see a higher serial number for the Auto Yashinon-DX than 322 in its series which suggests that demand was not very high; this too might have hastened the speed with which Yashica quietly removed all references to the lens after 1977.
Auto Yashinon-DX 400 f5.6
Few of these made it to Europe which is a shame as it's a very sharp lens which offers plenty of contrast and almost no CA.
The 400mm comprises 5 elements in 5 groups and offers an aperture range from f5.6 to f32. The tripod collar is essential as it weighs a hefty 1.67kgs (3.7lbs); its minimum focus is 26ft (8m). Its hood is long and built-in.
The 400mm focal length for 35mm cameras was far less popular than the 300mm and 500mm lenses which are abundant, the latter being most commonly found as mirror lenses. There were also a fair number of 350mm mirror lenses produced, especially in the 1970s and early '80s. The major exception was from Tamron; their SP 400mm f4 remains one of the most sought-after pieces of glass - with a price to match! Sigma produced a couple of perfectly decent 400 f5.6 lenses, one with Apochromatic glass, in both C/Y and Yashica AF mounts.
The fabled ML 400 f5.6 which was offered for sale in Europe, although it is doubted that any orders were fulfilled, was essentially the same lens with ML cosmetic styling and a C/Y mount - all its specifications matched those of this lens. With the quality of the ML 300 f5.6 and the Reflex 500 f8, later enhanced by the introduction of the ML 300 C version and the fabulous ML 500 f8, there was little room for the 400mm. I've yet to see a higher serial number for the Auto Yashinon-DX than 322 in its series which suggests that demand was not very high; this too might have hastened the speed with which Yashica quietly removed all references to the lens after 1977.
