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on Oct 26, 2022 5:38:30 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 26, 2022 5:44:35 GMT by lumiworx
This has me a bit stumped.The lens case that came along with the most recently purchased "S' serial numbered Auto Yashinon 13.5cm lens is holding a secret that I failed to notice right away. I have nothing in the way of OEM photos or dealer list descriptions that I can hazard a guess on whether the case and lens were meant to be a matched set, or even if the case was destined to be released for an earlier or later series of lenses. I have several cases of differing sizes that came with M42 era lenses, and they are similar in design with full leather coverings and snap closures, with the upper text logo insert resting atop a silver metal ring -but- this one is very unique. None of these M42 types have any indications of what lenses they were designed for or what they might generally fit. There are no model numbers stamped on the bottom, like those on later cases designed for protecting the C/Y mount lenses. Without any identifying marks, it impossible to do much in the way of associating them to any particular lens or lens family... other than whether a lens will physically fit and allow the snap to close. The first photo shows the odd case on the left, and what I'd consider to be the traditional type of case on the tight. There are some variations in the typeface used between the two of them, an the oddball has a longer external strap attachment piece, as opposed to the other's single stick out tab style. The other noticeable difference is that the oddball has a much deeper top cavity - plus - what's on the inside, which is where the two of them greatly differ. The reason for the deeper cavity is apparent when you see there's an interior 42mm threaded end-cap that's permanently attached, shown in the second photo. It does rotate independently, as there's a flush surround covered in the same plush velvet found inside the rest of the case. Think of it like a free-floating T-Nut behind the surround piece. The auto Yashinon will certainly screw into the embedded cap, but there's absolutely no way to close the case with the lens in that position, so it's obvious that the case was never meant for use with that particular lens in that manner. It's the only clamshell type leather case I've ever seen that's configured this way, and I'm wondering what lens this was designed to house. Anybody have any ideas?   |
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on Oct 26, 2022 9:47:12 GMT
Posted: Oct 26, 2022 9:47:12 GMT
I'd be inclined to think that the 42mm screw ring was simply added by the previous owner of the case for some personal quirk. The well it occupies would fit a long lens inverted with the rear body cap fitting neatly into it.
The fact that it can be rotated makes me doubt it was intended for the box. The scuff on the inside of the body, where the front of the lens would strike, suggests that whatever lens was used inside the box didn't fit which would suggest it was not being used as the manufacturer intended. If you put in a 55 1.2 would that slightly larger diameter than a conventional 50mm scrape that inner surface, or perhaps a 24mm or even the Tomioka 60mm....? If the original owner decided to use the long case to house a shorter lens, it would make sense to try and fix it to the lid as pulling a short lens from a deep case can be very fiddly, even if you have full manual dexterity.
As Yashica didn't make a M42 teleconverter (not one I can recall but you may know differently) I don't think it would be a clever combination of a short telephoto with a teleconverter in the lid. I also doubt it would be to hold an extension tube set plus a separate standard lens in the base but you could probably check that out.
It is a puzzle - I've not seen one like it.
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on Oct 26, 2022 18:43:44 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 26, 2022 18:45:04 GMT by xkaes
That seems a really odd place to place a permanent rear lens cap. It could only be used for a short lens -- which would mean a short case -- or a tele-converter or other lens accessory like a lens reversing ring. A tele-converter would probably only be used for a 135mm or longer -- which might not fit -- and a reversing ring would mostly be useful for a macro lens -- 50mm or 100mm. Those usually come with an extension tube, but a 50mm with tube might fit.
It probably comes down to does it look factory made?
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on Oct 27, 2022 2:59:43 GMT
Posted: Oct 27, 2022 2:59:43 GMT
It crossed my mind that it may have existed to hold a matching pair of 'somethings', and both of you provided sound possibilities for what those two items might have been. biggles3 ... It's slimly possible that there was some type of OEM branded M42 teleconverter made, but like you, I've never seen any that had Yashica's name on one before the C/Y mount lenses showed up. If there was, I'd have to think it was really limited in number and pretty rare. As for the question of it being a DIY retrofit of some kind, I highly doubt it is. The black lining material used inside the case is the same throughout the interior, and matches what's used in similar M42 era Yashica lens cases. The fit and finish looks to be production quality, with the reversed cap mounted dead center and the thickness and adherence of the surround piece smacks of precision engineering. Although time hasn't exactly been kind to things cosmetically, it's still very solid. With it being held firmly inside that top cavity, it would probably not come out in a single replaceable assembly either, so I can't be certain if the ability to rotate the attached item in place was by design, or the result of adhesive failure. I can only state that it can be turned as it is now. I should note something about the fitment of lenses inside. The other case in the first pic came with a DS-M 135mm. I have no idea of they were a matching pair either, or if they are both from the same period of time -but- the DS-M has a little wiggle room in both height (at any focus turn) and width, where the Auto Yashinon is very tight in both dimensions, and needs to be distended to fit properly. I do have a Tomioka 60mm macro tucked away, so I'll dig that out and see how it fits. If memory serves, it didn't require an extension tube to get 1:1, and I don't recall if there was a single tube sold as a matching item, like Nikon or Konica, and others produced in later bayonet versions as kits. |
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on Oct 27, 2022 10:47:01 GMT
Posted: Oct 27, 2022 10:47:01 GMT
As for the question of it being a DIY retrofit of some kind, I highly doubt it is. The black lining material used inside the case is the same throughout the interior, and matches what's used in similar M42 era Yashica lens cases. The fit and finish looks to be production quality, with the reversed cap mounted dead center and the thickness and adherence of the surround piece smacks of precision engineering. Although time hasn't exactly been kind to things cosmetically, it's still very solid. With it being held firmly inside that top cavity, it would probably not come out in a single replaceable assembly either, so I can't be certain if the ability to rotate the attached item in place was by design, or the result of adhesive failure. I can only state that it can be turned as it is now. I'm sure that the flock interior is completely original; my suspicion is that the ring is an addition by the previous owner. Although I may well be wrong, I'm pretty confident that if the case is from Yashica's M42 days, an original rear lens cap will fit inside the well perfectly which would imply that was the purpose for which it was always intended.I do have a Tomioka 60mm macro tucked away, so I'll dig that out and see how it fits. If memory serves, it didn't require an extension tube to get 1:1, and I don't recall if there was a single tube sold as a matching item, like Nikon or Konica, and others produced in later bayonet versions as kits. You are absolutely correct in saying the 60mm is a true 1:1 lens and has no need of an extension tube. The suggestion was merely that if this was a bespoke adaptation to allow short lenses to be attached to the lid in preference to trying to dig them out of the base of the case, it's of a size that might have caused the scuffing seen on the inside rim.There was one Yashica item, other than an extension tube set, that could also use that m42 ring and that was the short microscope adapter but why you might carry that in a case with a lens beats me so I doubt that's it. One question: the Yashica logo on top - is its style commensurate with the DS-M period or an earlier time? I love mysteries like this; thanks for bringing it to the Forum's attention! I'll keep looking through old pieces of Yashica or US photographic literature in the hope of finding an explanation other than a bespoke version by the original owner. I fear that means hours of reading....but the nights are getting longer so what the heck... |
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on Oct 27, 2022 13:49:52 GMT
Posted: Oct 27, 2022 13:49:52 GMT
One more question about the case in question. It may or may not be Yashica, correct? If it were Yashica, it probably would be marked YASHICA, correct? If is is not YASHICA, it could be for anything!
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on Oct 27, 2022 17:02:04 GMT
Posted: Oct 27, 2022 17:02:04 GMT
They are both definitely Yashica branded cases, and they represent - at least to me - the 2 last type styles that I'd associate with the end of the M42 period. The oddball case (left) has the thinner consistent character width serif type, while the newer case uses the varied width, 'squatty' sans-serif type that also made it into the early C/Y era. The photo is not that great on showing the 2 different logo inserts, since the newer style on the right is rather deep set, and the one on the left is lightly struck and not very pronounced.  |
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on Oct 28, 2022 9:44:27 GMT
Posted: Oct 28, 2022 9:44:27 GMT
Hi Randy,
Thanks very much; the photo of the tops of the cases is very useful as it suggests the one on the left is from the early to mid-1960s which reduces the parameters of the accessories search. It should make it a tad easier...
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on Oct 28, 2022 21:47:30 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 28, 2022 21:56:56 GMT by xkaes
That's really odd. It can't be a case for TWO different lenses, so it must be for an accessory of some sort -- and I can only think of a between the lens & camera converter (which seems unlikely for the time period) or a reversing ring (for an M42 macro lens). There aren't that many optics it could be designed for!!!
Here's a shot of a Minolta 50mm macro lens -- and the ENORMOUS case for it. The top part is for the accessories -- extension tube & reversing ring. (The bellows in the picture has nothing to do with this -- please ignore).
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