Group: Member
Post: 26 (6 liked)
Join date: January 2022
Status: old digital compact enthusiast, owns several kyoceras
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on Jan 13, 2022 13:21:49 GMT
Last Edit: Jan 13, 2022 13:22:57 GMT by sofi
Hello everyone,
I wanted to make a more proper introduction. I'm Sofia [or Sofi], I reside in the Netherlands. I mainly collect and shoot retro digital cameras, but I've had many Yashicas and related cameras throughout the years. I ended up here because I was doing research on the Finecams.
My Yashica/Contax/Kyocera camera collection (models currently in possession are bolded). Film SLR
| Contax 137MA
| Film P&S
| Yashica T2, Yashica T3,
Yashica T4, Yashica T5,
Contax TVS III
| | Digicam | Kyocera Finecam L4v,
Kyocera Finecam S3,
Kyocera Finecam S5R,
Kyocera Finecam SL400R,
Contax i4R
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I got my i4R recently, which is swiftly becoming my favourite camera since it fits so neatly in my bag! Hopefully I can contribute some of my own knowledge I've picked up about these devices! 
Sofia
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Group: Member
Post: 285 (39 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status:
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on Jan 14, 2022 10:57:39 GMT
Posted: Jan 14, 2022 10:57:39 GMT
Hi Sofia ... that's a nicely selected set of cameras you have there! My introduction to Contax cameras was the 137MA. When I was shown a couple of them by a UK Bat expert many years ago, I knew I had to have one!
I know from recent PM's you have some interesting findings on the early Yashica/Kyocera Digital cameras ...... I'm sure the forum members would be interested to see what you have found ... when you are ready, of course.
Regards, Bob.
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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 Jan 14, 2022 11:06:32 GMT
Posted: Jan 14, 2022 11:06:32 GMT
Hello sofi It's always a pleasure to encounter a fan of the i4R! It has to be one of the quirkiest cameras produced in the last few decades yet despite it's small pixel count (by current standards) it is capable of producing superb, sharp images with lots of contrast. And it's a decent little performer for short movie clips. When riding my motorbike, I always carried an i4R or SL300RT so that I could record anything that could be a matter of controversy such as a parking dispute, vehicular damage or an accident. As both cameras fit easily into a pocket and can start shooting within a second of being switched on, they remain very practical. And the i4R's design is iconic; although I have the three versions, I think it looks most elegant in piano black. It remains one of those rare cameras that always starts a conversation when you use it. The Contax TVS-D is what we in the UK might call a Marmite camera: that is to say, a product that people either love or hate, with a minority of neutral opinions. I love the minimalist design although it has to be admitted that its nickname 'The Titanium Brick' is well deserved. Again, great picture quality BUT it takes a fortnight to start up which is so unlike the i4R, SL300RT and U4R. As for the Finecam range, you have a very nice selection. There is a Finecam in which you can find both Yashica and Kyocera branding: the M410R; I have only seen its sibling, the M400R, as a Kyocera model. Both cameras take a pretty good photo! The Kyocera DA-1 deserves a place in any collection of early digital cameras as does the Yashica KC-350. But working models are hard to find (there's a DA-1 on Ebay right now) - even more so at a sensible price. Concerning your request elsewhere in this Forum for examples of the IQ of the Yashica KC-600 and Samurai 2100DG, I'll organise a comparative shoot along with a Finecam SL300R which should illustrate the progress made by Kyocera over those few, short years. |
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Group: Member
Post: 26 (6 liked)
Join date: January 2022
Status: old digital compact enthusiast, owns several kyoceras
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on Jan 24, 2022 9:44:26 GMT
Posted: Jan 24, 2022 9:44:26 GMT
Thank you for the warm welcome everyone!  biggles3, I agree with you on your observations about the i4R. It is a very quirky one indeed. I got mine for a steal because the seller wasn't able to test it, and I was lucky enough to find batteries from a seller in Belgium. I've been carrying it with me whenever I go out and I like it a lot! Its tone is a bit muted compared to the Kyoceras, which I'm still getting used to, and I miss the zone focusing of the Kyoceras, but otherwise it's a joy to use. It's funny you should mention the TVS-D. In fact, I had wanted one for years, but ended up getting the Finecam S5R when someone pointed out the similarities. I liked that one so much that I got myself an S3, the L4V and SL400R immediately after. I ended up giving the L4V away since I personally didn't like how it handled, but I appreciate that they have zone focusing. With these cameras, I shoot everything on manual focus and just eyeball how far my subject is. Plus, all these cameras have some interesting lo-fi character that I've been after, especially at high ISO settings. I might do a review of the S3 at some point if I have a chance. If I do, I'll be sure to mention some of my other findings as bobblehat mentioned. I got to hold a broken M410R the other day for the first time in my life. I was surprised by how small it was! It really made me want a working one someday, actually. |
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