Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Apr 22, 2020 11:17:26 GMT
Posted: Apr 22, 2020 11:17:26 GMT
This is a lens one doesn't see too often.
Auto Yashinon-DS 20mm f3.3
I was fortunate to find a near mint copy - only the front cap has signs of wear - and I plan to test it against the ML 21mm. Being only single-coated, I am expecting contrast and flare-resistance to be its weak points when compared with the ML - but who knows.... |
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Group: Administrator
Post: 770 (71 liked)
Join date: August 2016
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on Apr 22, 2020 14:31:36 GMT
Posted: Apr 22, 2020 14:31:36 GMT
Very nice lens, indeed. It reminds me very much of my Auto Vivitar 21mm f3.8 -- made by Tokina. I would venture to guess that this 20mm has a 72nn filter thread -- the same as my Vivitar. Am I right?
The filter thread sure would be a nice thing to have on the Yashica lens list!
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Apr 22, 2020 18:09:38 GMT
Posted: Apr 22, 2020 18:09:38 GMT
Hello xkaes,
You are quite correct in judging the filter thread to be 72mm.
I've not tried the Tokina-made Vivitar 21mm f3.8 but did once have their 20mm f3.8, made by Kiron, which produced images of superb contrast and colour but was a bit soft in the corners.
I love the build-quality of the Yashica - it inspires confidence. It's not a light lens at some 380g but that weight feels re-assuring. Central sharpness is very good, even wide-open but the corners remain soft until f8. I'm already falling for this lovely piece of glass.
I'll give some thought to the issue of filter size being added to the lens list.
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Group: Administrator
Post: 1,370 (301 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Apr 22, 2020 22:13:58 GMT
Posted: Apr 22, 2020 22:13:58 GMT
I've found the contrast and color between them are similar, but there's a notable difference in sharpness, with the ML being considerably better from the mid to outer edges. I suppose that's to be expected because of them getting better in later designs. The one thing I didn't persue testing betwen them was flair, but I have noticed the ML 21 doesn't seem to be glaringly bad. [pun intended!] :) My two contenders were...  A lovingly used DS 20mm  A near-mint ML 21, with perfect optics. One note on the lens caps for these... The 20mm didn't have the original cap with it, but all the ML 21's I have don't have tight fitting originals that I'd trust using on-camera. Both the 20 and 21 have very short clearance with the front element, and the generic 'center pinch' caps can risk the coatings being scuffed. I opted to get some cheap 'edge pinch' caps that had nothing protruding near the center, and they also hold really well versus a slip-on. |
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