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on Nov 11, 2014 17:21:48 GMT
Last Edit: Nov 11, 2014 17:43:43 GMT by biggles3
At long last I have the ML zoom lenses covering the range from 70mm to 210mm.
I plan to shoot some photos with all of them to provide a comparison of their pictorial qualities and upload them to this site (if it ever stops raining!). In the meantime, I thought you might like to see them in a line up. Going from left to right as you look at the photo, the lenses are placed in order of manufacture. The eagle-eyed members of this Forum will have spotted that the 80-200 appears twice; that is because it was the first ML tele-zoom to be produced but, for a very brief period, the famed 70-210 f4 took over its role until production resumed again around 1980. One other thing that pops out of the photo - the 70-210 f4.5 (2nd from right) has its focal range reversed; all the others require you to zoom out for the wider angle.
The build quality of the lenses is generally very high although the 70-210 f4 is in a league of its own; the photo gives a broad hint as to the substantial nature of this 1kg+ lens which, as mentioned elsewhere, places it fairly alongside the celebrated Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 70-210 f3.5. Part of the reason for its demise, apart from being expensive to manufacture, may well have been its size and weight as by 1980, SLR cameras aimed at the consumer/enthusiast market were becoming more compact and lighter, with lenses naturally following suit. Yashica had already started to introduce its ML C (Compact) lenses at this time. The 70-210 f4 was Yashica's pro spec tele-zoom but the market for such a lens was too small to sustain - it was the most expensive lens produced by the company other than the ML 1000mm f11.
I hope to have some shots taken through these beauties available for you in the next few weeks.
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on Nov 22, 2014 2:34:01 GMT
Posted: Nov 22, 2014 2:34:01 GMT
That's a lovely grouping.
PF
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on Nov 27, 2014 20:01:55 GMT
Posted: Nov 27, 2014 20:01:55 GMT
Wow, looks good.
I've got the ML 4/80-200, the 4/70-210, the 4,5/70-210 and the 4-5,6/70-210.
Do you have some more information about the 4/70-210 (time of production, number of lenses/groups) ?
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on Nov 28, 2014 17:33:02 GMT
Posted: Nov 28, 2014 17:33:02 GMT
Wow, looks good. I've got the ML 4/80-200, the 4/70-210, the 4,5/70-210 and the 4-5,6/70-210. Do you have some more information about the 4/70-210 (time of production, number of lenses/groups) ? Delighted to note that you have such a comprehensive selection of ML tele-zooms!
The ML 70-210 f4 is one of the most enigmatic of Yashica's lenses as nothing on it exists in its promotional literature and I have never found a review of its performance. I have no desire to take mine apart to check on the elements/groups so those details remain a mystery too. Only Yashica can probably answer the questions - the lens predates the Kyocera involvement.
What appears certain from checking retail price lists from 1978-1980 is that the lens took over from the 80-200 f4 for about 1 year (mid/late 1978 to early/mid 1979) and then Yashica reverted to the 80-200. The reason for the volte face can't be performance as the 70-210 is as sharp as the Zeiss VS 70-210 f3.5 Macro - which is very impressive - and the build quality is truly outstanding.
Without an official comment from Yashica, one can also make assumptions as to the short life of one of the best lenses that they ever made: it was too expensive to manufacture for too small a market.
Most professional photographers that adopted the C/Y system tended to buy Zeiss glass - I was guilty of this and never even looked at Yashica back in 1978/79 which I now recognise was short-sighted and my loss. The cost of the Yashica zoom was very high - only the 1000mm f11 lens was more expensive - and too much for the average photographer to justify when the 80-200 would be more than adequate for most situations. It is interesting to note that not long after the ML 4/70-210 disappeared, Zeiss also abandoned the VS 70-210 in favour of the very mundane (by comparison) VS 80-200 f4.
I will keep digging in the hope of unearthing more information on the ML 70-210 f4; the lens is so good it deserves a little effort.
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on Dec 25, 2014 5:41:17 GMT
Posted: Dec 25, 2014 5:41:17 GMT
Wow, looks good. I've got the ML 4/80-200, the 4/70-210, the 4,5/70-210 and the 4-5,6/70-210. Do you have some more information about the 4/70-210 (time of production, number of lenses/groups) ? Although the optical formula remains unconfirmed, I found this advertisement in a February 1979 edition of SLR Camera magazine, a UK publication, which set the lens at £880 in today's money (1,120 Euros, $1370). The ML 80-200 f4 was also being sold at around two-thirds of the price.
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on Jan 7, 2015 0:19:08 GMT
Posted: Jan 7, 2015 0:19:08 GMT
Smart observers will have spotted that one lens was missing from the group that covered zooms with focal lengths between 70 and 210mm...
Although it needs an external wash & brush up, I've grabbed a quick piccie of this not too common ML zoom, the 75-150 f4, which arrived today.
Initial images snapped on a digital body suggest that this is another of the ML lenses that performs really well - sharp, hardly any distortion, good contrast. The only issue I have is that this particular lens exhibits some zoom creep - I suspect that a CLA by a good engineer will solve this but so long as the lens is used close to horizontal, there's no problem.
Yashica chose some interesting focal lengths for their ML zooms - the 28-50, 35-105 and 75-150 being the slight odd-balls; they had no direct match in the Contax Zeiss range so Yashica certainly contributed to the variety of options available to photographers. The 28-50 is one of my all-time favourite lenses - superb build quality too - and I'm looking forward to trying out the 75-150 in greater depth. Certainly, looking through some of the photographic forums, it has earned a pretty good reputation.
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on Apr 14, 2015 17:58:40 GMT
Posted: Apr 14, 2015 17:58:40 GMT
A few days ago, I introduced the Yashica ML Zoom 4/70-210cm in a german forum. There you will find some sample pics I hope it is OK for you to set a link to this introduction (in german): www.digicamclub.de/showthread.php?t=20490
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on Apr 15, 2015 1:32:41 GMT
Posted: Apr 15, 2015 1:32:41 GMT
A few days ago, I introduced the Yashica ML Zoom 4/70-210cm in a german forum. There you will find some sample pics I hope it is OK for you to set a link to this introduction (in german): www.digicamclub.de/showthread.php?t=20490Well, we have a few German members, so it shouldn't pose a problem for them. PF
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on Mar 22, 2020 9:43:43 GMT
Last Edit: Mar 22, 2020 9:45:01 GMT by lenslover
Wow, looks good. I've got the ML 4/80-200, the 4/70-210, the 4,5/70-210 and the 4-5,6/70-210. Do you have some more information about the 4/70-210 (time of production, number of lenses/groups) ? So when you do have -all- these ML Zooms by yourself, can you shoot a 1:1 comparsion between the 80-200/F4 ML and the 70-210/F4.5 ML please?
It's being said, that the latter one was being introduced -after- the 80-200/F4 Lens, so that means physically, albeit half a stop slower (F4.5 vs. F4) which is very neglible, it's the newer Lens. (And, i don't meant the "mighty" 70-210/F4 ML Yashica - but i do own that Lens by myself) My copy of the 70-210/F4.5 ML was very "battle-worn" and i've sold it cheaply a few months ago through eBay.
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on May 11, 2020 19:57:46 GMT
Posted: May 11, 2020 19:57:46 GMT
I agree, and maybe add some cross comparison ? Just before shut downs started happening I attended a giant outdoor flea market and scored my choice on lenses at a table; $5 each I bought 8, including a 28-85 ML and a 70-210mm 4.5 A85xxxxx which appears as if it came right of the box in fresh brand new condition, apparently never used. I have several near or within the 70-210 range in multiple brands and similar condition; Series 1 70-210 3.5 Kino, Konica 80-200 3.5, Konica UC 80-200 F4, a Canon New FD 200mm 2.8 IF. I have a Genetic flaw I'd sell any of the above, except just 1 ...the magnificent $5 lens that has superior IQ to each one above, and all cost as the priciest lenses for each label in their time Welcome to the Forum acihsay,
Don't worry about your Genetic Flaw; there are quite a few people here that have a penchant for amassing a lot of top quality glass. A ML 28-85 for $5 - that's one heck of a bargain!
By the way, if you really want to grab the best glass in the 70-210 range, you will have to find the Yashica ML 70-210 f4 and the Zeiss 70-210 f3.5 T* Vario-Sonnar. Once you have those, you'll not need another zoom of that type unless you're using an alternative analogue camera system.
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on May 13, 2020 3:06:08 GMT
Posted: May 13, 2020 3:06:08 GMT
I agree, and maybe add some cross comparison ? Just before shut downs started happening I attended a giant outdoor flea market and scored my choice on lenses at a table; $5 each I bought 8, including a 28-85 ML and a 70-210mm 4.5 A85xxxxx which appears as if it came right of the box in fresh brand new condition, apparently never used. I have several near or within the 70-210 range in multiple brands and similar condition; Series 1 70-210 3.5 Kino, Konica 80-200 3.5, Konica UC 80-200 F4, a Canon New FD 200mm 2.8 IF. I have a Genetic flaw I'd sell any of the above, except just 1 ...the magnificent $5 lens that has superior IQ to each one above, and all cost as the priciest lenses for each label in their time It's not genetic, but can be treated with repeated admissions to flea markets and junk shops. It's called G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), and presents itself as a rapid heartbeat, light sweat in anticipation, and sudden movements to get your wallet out of your pocket. Won't kill you, but could result in marital problems.
That was a nice find, acihsay, and I hope you have a lot of fun with them.
PF
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on May 15, 2020 7:34:38 GMT
Last Edit: May 15, 2020 7:40:19 GMT by lumiworx
Acihsay ... A few years ago, I found myself with a similar situation with an ML 28-50 and water damage, though it wasn't anywhere near the severity you describe. The seller was from the New Jersey shore, and I suspect that the FR I, it's winder, and the lens, were exposed to the wrath of Hurricane Sandy. The body and winder were a disaster, and eventually their cast bodies were literally eaten by the sea salt and started to disintegrate. They've been replaced by another pair to redo the original setup. Luckily the lens must have been above the standing water line, and only had some minor dried condensation on the surface of the front element, so it was an easy cleaning job to rescue it. Not long after getting the lens, I found another seller who had some Yashica camera and lens parts, and had two ML 28-50mm barrel housing assemblies. I bought the one that was complete, since the second one was missing the front rim. Unfortunately I didn't grab them both, and I don't see his account on ebay anymore, so I have no idea where he might be or even if there are any other remaining parts somewhere. The items were all the old repair stock from Roman Camera Repair after they closed... oddly enough, they were also in New Jersey. At least the label can offer the original part number to track one down. Two more photos of the ML 28-50.
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on May 17, 2020 7:59:17 GMT
Last Edit: May 17, 2020 8:02:02 GMT by lenslover
Ah, Lumiworx ! You're the Guy who had bought the 2 listed 28-50 ML Lens Bodies. I've seen them some years ago, really wanted to buy them as spare Parts, even i am not repairing Lenses myself, just as spare Part...but the Shipping Cost, Customs, etc. had meant too much stress for myself. So i let them go. One Housing was with a part more, than the other, some part of the Front Barrel was being missing with the 2nd Housing from the 28-50 ML. Well, i am keeping two Iterations of this Lens, into almost Mint Condition into my Collection. I am glad you managed to rescue a otherwise broken 28-50 3.5 ML and rebuild it, it does look like new! My thing is electronics, not Optics, or Mechanics, i can't repair these Things by my own.
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on May 17, 2020 16:57:39 GMT
Posted: May 17, 2020 16:57:39 GMT
Well, I got one of them anyway. I'm kicking myself because I didn't get them both. At $9.95 each, I should have.
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on May 18, 2020 12:15:12 GMT
Posted: May 18, 2020 12:15:12 GMT
That 70-210 f4.5 has to be the bargain of the month! Nice one. People would pay a lot more than $5 just to find a Yashica case without surface cracking...
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