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on Jan 23, 2017 14:06:02 GMT
Posted: Jan 23, 2017 14:06:02 GMT
Just for interest, I found a copy of Practical Photography from 06/1976 and spotted these three advertisements from the UK distributor, my old friends at Photax. What was interesting (to me at least) was that Yashica's M42 cameras were still being heavily marketed at the same time as their new C/Y range in the form of the FX-1 (the FR was still in pre-marketing).
Looking through the retail ads, the Yashica cameras being pushed were the TL-Electro (the newest camera), the TL-Electro X ITS and the Electro AX (most expensive). What still intrigues is the complete absence of the FFT, which was the final M42 camera, given that the new C/Y cameras were already appearing in the shops.
  
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on Jan 23, 2017 22:46:36 GMT
Last Edit: Jan 23, 2017 22:47:17 GMT by Deleted
That's indeed one of the many unsolved mysteries of Japanese camera production, biggles3. Looks almost like some sort of safeguard measure, as if the Yashica marketing boys were doubting their own courage and not too confident as to whether the new bayonet mount would go down so well with the customers. Interesting reminder of the fact, by the way, that Yashica in its day indeed did have an excellent name as an innovative manufacturer--and sad to see how underrated this marque seems to be nowadays. At least here in Germany, Nikon and Canon reign supreme, followed by Minolta and Pentax, I should think. Even the (beautifully designed yet not too rugged and reliable) Olympus SLRs seem to attract many more aficionados than there are Yashicanos. Then again, it is precisely this misconception that keeps prices within reasonable limits, isn't it?  |
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on Jan 24, 2017 0:32:59 GMT
Last Edit: Jan 24, 2017 0:33:17 GMT by tts
I do have Canon now, had Nikon ( and beautiful Nikon stuff ) in the past. I have overcome my FEAR of "must have the best otherwise I do not count" so now I can enjoy these great Yashica quality lenses without feeling small.
Yeah, I know Nikon has a far more detailed collection of goodies.... to BUY....
If one really need that, go ahead...
Most pictures are made in the head..... or rather, heart..
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on Jan 24, 2017 3:49:42 GMT
Posted: Jan 24, 2017 3:49:42 GMT
'Then again, it is precisely this misconception that keeps prices within reasonable limits, isn't it? ' That's a very good point gentlegiant!
And yes, tts, great images are often produced with the heart as much as the head.... |
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Status: Hello all! Nice to be back on all things Yashica!
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on Mar 1, 2017 19:27:31 GMT
Posted: Mar 1, 2017 19:27:31 GMT
  Hey all... This is the cover of a Yashica published sales brochure rather large in scale and scope for Yashica. It was printed in Japan around 1971 or so. Yashica still was using its Shibuya-ku address in Tokyo at the time. It's 45 pages long filled with some pretty awesome images by famed Japanese photographers of the day using the ITS. The book reminds me of similar books by Canon for the original F-1, the F-1n and the not so much F-1 (matte version). There are plastic overlays, tables, charts and images of the internals of the camera. It also includes the most comprehensive gallery of the lenses available for the ITS. It's about 21cm x 27cm. I believe hidden in the introduction you'll see Yashica's best case for the ITS being part of a 'system'. Hence ITS = Integrated Technology System. Yashica was bringing all their technology into play - IC, computer brains and electronic exposure an electronically controlled shutter. Remember, in the early 1970s Yashica was up against the new Canon F-1 system and of course the Nikon gear. Where I believe Yashica missed it was by not developing a power winder (like the Canon A winder) and a full fledged motor drive. Mistakes that cost them especially since with their electronic and electrical backgrounds winders and motor drives would have been an easy sell. Remember, with the acquisition of Tomioka Optical, Yashica had a real player lens to compete with the big boys... the 55mm f1.2 glass. |
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on Mar 2, 2017 3:35:01 GMT
Posted: Mar 2, 2017 3:35:01 GMT
It may sound sort of counter, but if they had priced their cameras and lenses a bit higher, they may have gotten some respect by the pros, and thus opened up another segment of the market. But at that point in time, they were still wedded to the M42 mount, and that just wasn't cutting it anymore. While it made sense in the consumer market, with more choice in lens selection, the pros were more interested in gear that was made specifically for their style of usage.
After selling so many rangefinders to non-pros, perhaps Yashica felt that they could duplicate that success with the SLRs (keep the cost down with not as robust a construction as you could find in a Canon or Nikon, and stress the automation), and thus lost any chance of getting much pro interest. It took them too long to go back to a bayonet mount, which they never should have abandoned in the first place.
I know when I wanted a pro style camera, the last thing I wanted to deal with was a screw mount.
PF
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on Mar 2, 2017 13:08:02 GMT
Last Edit: Mar 2, 2017 13:08:58 GMT by yashican
Hi PF... Yashica went "all in" with the Pentamatic bayonet mount in the opening years of the 1960s and fell flat on their faces. More than likely there was a group at Yashica that felt that M42 was the way to go with the Pentamatic but engineers wanted something exclusive, so the Pentamatic got its bank vault mount. The M42 people were able to get their way by late 1961 (after a short time of getting their butts kicked). So now Yashica is THE M42 go to guys and they have Tomioka Optical crank out lenses like crazy all through the 60s and into the 70s. Yashica IMHO, was always a camera and company for the masses - high quality at affordable prices. Their decision to not make the ITS a pro-level system was probably based on whether or not they could lure away enough pros from Nikon and Canon (remember the F-1 was still new at this time) to make money with the investment in a more robust body with a pro mount. I believe the marketing of the TL Electro-X and ITS was solidly aimed at serious amateurs and semi-pro photographers and never at the full time pro. I don't know the "when" Yashica first started developing the RTS with Contax but I'm sure it was talked about as early as 1970 (a guess). My point is that I was surprised that they did not develop a simple winder or even a high speed motor drive for the ITS. It could have added some much needed cash for them in their troubled money and management period between 1972 to 1974. I'm pretty sure any designer who proposed leaving the M42 mount and going to a Canon style breech or another bayonet mount was probably thrown out the window at HQ.
I was a dedicated Yashica guy and enjoyed my TL Electro-X when I purchased it new in 1972 but left Yashica (while living in Japan) for the Canon F-1 in 1978. My X was a great camera and I used the heck out of it during those years - but, when comparing the RTS to the F-1 at the Navy Exchange it was no contest in my mind.
Chris
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on Mar 3, 2017 3:33:49 GMT
Posted: Mar 3, 2017 3:33:49 GMT
I came into the Yashica fold much later, Chris. My first 35mm SLR was a Sears TLS branded Ricoh Singlex. I switched to Nikon (Nikkormat FTN with a Nikkor-S 1.4/50) after getting tired of screwing lenses on the Singlex. That, and they weren't that good of lenses to start with, and one couldn't tell where they came from.
My first TLR though was a Yashica-Mat 124G. Then a couple decades later I got a GTN rangefinder. It's only been in the last few years that I've delved deeper into the Yashica line-up. I don't want to call myself a collector, but I have accumulated enough of them to qualify I guess. And I still don't like the M42 mount. :-)
PF
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