Yashica MF Family

Thanks for the pictures.

There are a lot of similar rangefinder "series" of cameras that dropped features over time -- to compete with the SLR market -- by providing less expensive rangefinder cameras. In some ways it's odd because there are a lot of rangefinder cameras that added features -- in order to compete with the SLR market, early-on.

The other interesting note is that many cameras that turned into series camera started out with a single number or letter and then had to add on a number or letter for later, more advanced cameras. The Nikon F becomes the Nikon F2. There was no F1. The Minolta Cable Release evolved into the Minolta Cable Release II. Occasionally, you will see a "X1" or "F1", but that is not the norm.

Here we see an MF, and MF-1, and an MF-2. Just another item to ponder, I guess. Why was the MF-1 not labeled the MF-2?

I've never heard of the MF-S - I wonder if the S was another 'Super' variant though the only MF with a Super in its name I have come across is the new MF-2 Super.  Perhaps it might have been one of Yashica's models for exclusive sale in Japan?

Incidentally, concerning your superb list of Contax & Yashica cameras, I have a teensy issue with the production date for the Preview as I was using one in Romania in 1981; it had the non-standard production issue of a silver Polaroid back instead of the normal black one.  I received mine directly from Yashica, Hamburg although I no longer have the paperwork so can't confirm the date of receipt.

Th Konica Eye is a lovely little half frame with a decent, fast lens. I picked one up in a charity shop a few years back and put a couple of rolls through it, very enjoyable.

biggles3 ... That was my initial thought as well, that the "S" might refer to Super, and the possibility that there's no actual "S" model, and it was just a common user reference that wasn't anything official. This leads me to the origin of the model data that I've pretty much relied upon as the basis for every model detailed in my published web lists, for most models up until 1993. The primary list I have supposedly came from Yashica's own corporate sales department, and was sent to either a US distributor's sales rep or a US retailer's sales manager after they requested a model lineup to cover everything they'd produced prior to the request. The list they sent included model names/numbers, and beginning and ending dates, with no other details. That list did include 'kits' or special promotional bundles available via retail outlets over the same time period, and not just the base models. I don't have a photocopy of the letter and list, and only have the details -as posted online - by the receiver of the document.

The mystery MF-S model is in that same list, and that's why I also have it on the site - complete with it's detailed start and end date. It isn't likely to be the only one that may or may not exist as an actual camera or kit, as I've suspected of a couple of others over the years as I've been tracking them down. When these don't pop up during a deeper search, it makes it difficult to leave them in the list, but I'm in a 'between a rock and a hard place' without having first-hand knowledge to make corrections to reflect 100% accuracy. I think that's an almost impossible task.

Which leads to your dating of the Preview model. At least the first model is in that same list, where it too has a year/month release date - which is out of sync. I don't have any reason to think you aren't 100% correct, and unfortunately I have no way of finding out why the dates wouldn't match. I've tried contacting the original receiver of the list to ask about it (and other issues), but have gotten no responses. It could be that the dates are tied to US release dates, and that those may not always coincide with the dates tied from other regions, but that's just a best-guess. For the most part, the details have matched up pretty well, but it's obviously not perfect, as-is. I just try to be as accuarate as possible, given the limitations.

The Brazilian web site used to claim it was .... "The first exclusive model for Brazil. 1.2 million units produced".

I have always wondered about the "exclusive" part of that statement!


They did however produce a couple of odd ones ... the Carnaval Rio and a nice Yellow one.

                                   
As is usual for Yashica, they like their colour variants ...... (sorry for poor image quality!) ......

                      

This is the Yashica Flasher, looking very like the Yashica MF-1.  



Yashica Flasher

Indeed, it sports the same 38mm f2.8 Yashica lens as the MF-1, constructed from 4 elements in 3 groups.  

Manufactured in Hong Kong in 1978 alongside the Snap and Diary cameras, it is very easy to use.  The camera won't function until the flash is raised as it acts as a shutter-lock in its retracted position.  The CdS meter and flash are powered by two AA batteries.  Like many of these P&S models, operation is automated.  Focusing is done manually, using zone symbols which are visible on the top part of the lens.  Interestingly, on the underside of the focusing ring is a full distance scale in both feet and metres.  Aperture values are shown in the viewfinder along with the meter's needle.  The camera also has a self-timer.