ML 300 C but a Photax bezel
Mar 22, 2024 18:11:54 GMT
on Mar 22, 2024 18:11:54 GMT
Posted: Mar 22, 2024 18:11:54 GMT
I had been watching a listing on the UK eBay site for a while of what was advertised as a Photax 300mm f5.6 lens.
A glance at the side-on image of the complete lens showed it to be identical to the Yashica ML 300mm f5.6 C model. So, why has it got an over-painted Photax bezel?
ML 300 Photax bezel
I assumed that it had suffered damage and someone substituted a Photax front element and bezel. I was prepared to ignore it but the seller made me an offer which was too good to ignore so I grabbed it. It arrived today and I quickly fired off a couple of shots alongside an original Yashica lens - no difference. So, the good news is that the front element is original. I can only surmise that the lens was sent away for cleaning (it is incredibly clean inside) and somehow the technician either lost or damaged the ML's bezel and realised that the Photax would fit in place of the original. It's great to have secured another late numbered ML 300mm compact lens for only £15. All I need to do now is clean up the bezel and get some decent graphics added; the tricky bit will be filling/removing the engravings for Photax and the serial number.
A glance at the side-on image of the complete lens showed it to be identical to the Yashica ML 300mm f5.6 C model. So, why has it got an over-painted Photax bezel?
ML 300 Photax bezel
I assumed that it had suffered damage and someone substituted a Photax front element and bezel. I was prepared to ignore it but the seller made me an offer which was too good to ignore so I grabbed it. It arrived today and I quickly fired off a couple of shots alongside an original Yashica lens - no difference. So, the good news is that the front element is original. I can only surmise that the lens was sent away for cleaning (it is incredibly clean inside) and somehow the technician either lost or damaged the ML's bezel and realised that the Photax would fit in place of the original. It's great to have secured another late numbered ML 300mm compact lens for only £15. All I need to do now is clean up the bezel and get some decent graphics added; the tricky bit will be filling/removing the engravings for Photax and the serial number.