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on Mar 26, 2019 22:32:40 GMT
Posted: Mar 26, 2019 22:32:40 GMT
I've succumbed to curiosity for some unknown reason. I have a Yashica 230 AF on the way w/ a 28-70mm, and have just received a 50mm f/1.8 that only has its front cap. There won't be any rear cap or body cap included with the 230 that I know of.
I've poked around the usual places and haven't seen any source for new or old caps for any AF lenses. In the event I'm ever bitten by the Contax AF bug, I've also searched for them without any luck either, since I suspected they'd be scarce too.
Is there a source I'm unaware of, or would another maker's rear caps work as alternatives to either of them in a pinch? Nothing I have on hand seems to be large enough in diameter to even be close.
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on Mar 28, 2019 2:55:11 GMT
Posted: Mar 28, 2019 2:55:11 GMT
Yeah, that is a problem with Yashica AF gear. There is not a big enough market for the third party companies to make copies, and original ones are very scarce. It's just that the AF cameras just never caught on with the general public, though there was nothing wrong with them (well, other than the design of the 230). I suggest seeking out camera shows, or old camera shops.
PF
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on Mar 28, 2019 5:49:50 GMT
Posted: Mar 28, 2019 5:49:50 GMT
Thanks PF... I assumed they might be elusive. I did a quick search on a few of the 'pedia sites, and found that there is something close in size that I might be able to make work.
The Yashica AF 50/1.8 measures in at exactly 50mm for the throat width, and the nearest size match is the Minolta A (Sony A) that's reported to be 49.7mm. these are fairly common, so I'll order a rear/body cap pair and see if there's enough play to handle the .3mm difference. If not, I suppose a bit of trimming might be possible. The next nearest in size is a Leica L mount at 51.6mm, but that uses 4 tabs on the bayonet and won't work at all, for that bit alone. Everything else that's close is either too small (Mamiya 7, 49mm), or is a breech-lock style (Aaton Cine, 50mm).
I think if there's a reason to keep and actually use these AF lenses, I could always get a cheap e-mount adapter and side-step the rear cap issue entirely. The downside is that $39 isn't all that cheap for the adapter when used as a cheap cap replacement.
I'm not sure what to expect for the Contax N mount, as it's 55mm at the throat, and has a 3-tabbed bayonet. The Nikon Z is also 55mm, but has 4 tabs like the Leica - and the Adaptall 1/2 series are too small at 54mm to get close enough. If I ever do decide to dip my toes in this water, I guess I'd better make sure there are caps included in the deal.
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on Mar 28, 2019 6:28:07 GMT
Last Edit: Mar 28, 2019 6:32:01 GMT by matthiasausk
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on Mar 28, 2019 20:13:32 GMT
Posted: Mar 28, 2019 20:13:32 GMT
Thanks for the link. A bit too pricey for me though - at least at this stage. After getting the 230 today, I found it had its original pair of caps tucked into a pocket of its camera bag, so I've at least been able to properly cover the 50mm while I wait on a pair of Minolta caps to try. After getting the 230 in-hand, I also have a better grasp of why the Yashica AF camera line generated so little enthusiasm. |
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on Apr 1, 2019 19:30:49 GMT
Posted: Apr 1, 2019 19:30:49 GMT
I finally got the Sony versions of the Minolta A caps today, and neither the rear or body cap will work as-is. It seems that the 3 tabs/ears of the bayonet aren't in quite the same position between the 2 mount types, and there are some extra 'bits'on the rear cap that also interfere in getting it fully seated. I think they can both be reworked to fit well enough. At least they're plastic and not metal, so I can use the tools I have to trim them easy enough. The throat size is slack enough in size on both and won't require any extra trimming at all.
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on Apr 2, 2019 1:53:42 GMT
Posted: Apr 2, 2019 1:53:42 GMT
I should have warned you about the Minolta caps (didn't see the post until just now). Though the mounts look familiar, they are totally incompatible.
PF
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on Apr 6, 2019 19:46:11 GMT
Posted: Apr 6, 2019 19:46:11 GMT
Although I cannot lay my hands on it, and my memory may be playing tricks, I'm fairly sure that I have a photocopy of an early AF230 review somewhere, in which the reviewer wrote that the YAF series was supposed to be a joint development with Konica, until they parted ways, but the YAF mount was the same. I'll look harder to see if I can find that elusive review.
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on Apr 17, 2019 9:44:50 GMT
Posted: Apr 17, 2019 9:44:50 GMT
Although I cannot lay my hands on it, and my memory may be playing tricks, I'm fairly sure that I have a photocopy of an early AF230 review somewhere, in which the reviewer wrote that the YAF series was supposed to be a joint development with Konica, until they parted ways, but the YAF mount was the same. I'll look harder to see if I can find that elusive review. Not KONICA, it was MINOLTA at that time (as the rumors say). And rumors say, that this was the basis for the Minolta 7000AF.
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on Apr 17, 2019 9:57:34 GMT
Posted: Apr 17, 2019 9:57:34 GMT
After getting the 230 in-hand, I also have a better grasp of why the Yashica AF camera line generated so little enthusiasm. The 230 was more or less on the same level as the other AF-cameras of that time. It had 2 features which were outstanding: The focus trap and the correction of +/-3 EV. The 230 could have been the beginning of a high-level amateur camera line-up. The lenses worked out very well - you may have a look: matthiasausk.blogspot.com/search/label/YASHICA%20230 . The design was just characteristic for that time, the MINOLTA 7000 or the CONTAX 167 and the CANON T70 look very much the same ...
But, as I said earlier: Yashica reduced the complexity of both the AF and the non-AF-series (look at 103, 107,108,109) with every generation, maybe they would have been successful with a top-level AF-setup. The top-level seemed to be reserved to the CONTAX brand - and at that time ZEISS was not convinced of AF, even the responsible product manager told, that ZEISS-quality could not be reached with AF-cameras at that time.
So the market has decided and YASHICA and KYOCERA remain as chapter 3 in the book "HOW NOT TO DO IT" (following directly after Atari and PSION).
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on Apr 17, 2019 23:13:56 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 17, 2019 23:14:23 GMT by biggles3
I fear the only solution for the absence of the caps is going to be 3D printing as scanning and then printing them would be well within the scope of a domestic 3D print set-up. I've seen 3D-printed C/Y rear lens caps appearing more often over the last 12 months and bought one to check it out. It's a perfect fit though the feel and finish of the material is not so good - but it does what's needed perfectly.
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