Yashica Electro 35
Encyclopedia
The Electro 35 is a rangefinder camera
made by Japanese company Yashica
from the mid-1960s
with a coupled and fixed 1:1.7 45 mm lens
. It was the first electronically controlled camera, operating mainly in an aperture priority
'auto' mode. The only other modes of operation are 'flash
' (1/30th) and 'bulb
'.
s from 12 to 400 ASA. Light levels are measured using a cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor
and powered by a mercury battery
. The film speed adjustment is not implemented electronically; instead a simple twin-bladed diaphragm closes in front of the light sensor as the film speed is reduced. The light metering electronics works by accumulating the measured light level and only releasing the shutter when it has determined enough light has fallen on the film. This system allows the shutter speed to be completely step-less and to adapt to changing light levels. SLR's would wait many years for a similar capability with off-the-film metering. The metering system can keep the shutter open for up to 30 seconds. Without a battery to power the meter, the shutter defaults to its top speed of 1/500 second.
The Electro 35 G was introduced in 1968 with largely cosmetic changes. The range of usable film speeds was extended a little up to 500 ASA. The lens was labelled a "Color Yashinon" to reassure the buying public that it was colour corrected
at a time when the use of colour film was growing quickly. The Electro 35 GT was released in 1969 with a body painted black instead of the satin chrome finish.
The Electro 35 GS and GT were introduced in 1970 . They (and all later Electro 35's) have all internal electrical contacts gold
plated
to prevent oxidation from impeding the flow of electricity around the circuits. The range of usable film speeds was doubled to range from 25 to 1000 ASA.
The Electro 35 GSN (satin chrome) and GTN (black) were introduced in 1973. The major change for these cameras was the addition of a hot shoe
while keeping the PC socket.
but these have now been banned due to environmental concerns. However a 6V alkaline battery (PX28A or 4LR44) with an adaptor works just as well.
s. The seals are fairly easy to replace.
Rangefinder camera
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
made by Japanese company Yashica
Yashica
Yashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras.-History:The company began in December, 1949 in Nagano, Japan, when the Yashima Seiki Company was founded with an initial investment of $566. Its eight employees originally manufactured components for electric clocks...
from the mid-1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
with a coupled and fixed 1:1.7 45 mm lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
. It was the first electronically controlled camera, operating mainly in an aperture priority
Aperture priority
Aperture priority, often abbreviated A or Av on a camera mode dial, is a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific aperture value while the camera selects a shutter speed to match. The camera will ensure proper exposure...
'auto' mode. The only other modes of operation are 'flash
Flash (photography)
A flash is a device used in photography producing a flash of artificial light at a color temperature of about 5500 K to help illuminate a scene. A major purpose of a flash is to illuminate a dark scene. Other uses are capturing quickly moving objects or changing the quality of light...
' (1/30th) and 'bulb
Bulb (photography)
Bulb, abbreviated B, is a shutter speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for long exposure times under the direct control of the photographer. With this setting, the shutter simply stays open as long as the shutter release button remains depressed...
'.
History
The original Electro 35 was introduced in 1966. It has a "cold" accessory shoe and the meter accepted film speedFilm speed
Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
s from 12 to 400 ASA. Light levels are measured using a cadmium sulphide (CdS) photoresistor
Photoresistor
A photoresistor or light dependent resistor is a resistor whose resistance decreases with increasing incident light intensity. It can also be referred to as a photoconductor or CdS device, from "cadmium sulfide," which is the material from which the device is made and that actually exhibits the...
and powered by a mercury battery
Mercury battery
A mercury battery is a non-rechargeable electrochemical battery, a primary cell. Due to the content of mercury, and the resulting environmental concerns, the sale of mercury batteries is banned in many countries. Both ANSI and IEC have withdrawn standards for mercury batteries...
. The film speed adjustment is not implemented electronically; instead a simple twin-bladed diaphragm closes in front of the light sensor as the film speed is reduced. The light metering electronics works by accumulating the measured light level and only releasing the shutter when it has determined enough light has fallen on the film. This system allows the shutter speed to be completely step-less and to adapt to changing light levels. SLR's would wait many years for a similar capability with off-the-film metering. The metering system can keep the shutter open for up to 30 seconds. Without a battery to power the meter, the shutter defaults to its top speed of 1/500 second.
The Electro 35 G was introduced in 1968 with largely cosmetic changes. The range of usable film speeds was extended a little up to 500 ASA. The lens was labelled a "Color Yashinon" to reassure the buying public that it was colour corrected
Chromatic aberration
In optics, chromatic aberration is a type of distortion in which there is a failure of a lens to focus all colors to the same convergence point. It occurs because lenses have a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light...
at a time when the use of colour film was growing quickly. The Electro 35 GT was released in 1969 with a body painted black instead of the satin chrome finish.
The Electro 35 GS and GT were introduced in 1970 . They (and all later Electro 35's) have all internal electrical contacts gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
plated
Electroplating
Electroplating is a plating process in which metal ions in a solution are moved by an electric field to coat an electrode. The process uses electrical current to reduce cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object with a thin layer of the material, such as a metal...
to prevent oxidation from impeding the flow of electricity around the circuits. The range of usable film speeds was doubled to range from 25 to 1000 ASA.
The Electro 35 GSN (satin chrome) and GTN (black) were introduced in 1973. The major change for these cameras was the addition of a hot shoe
Hot shoe
A hot shoe is a mounting point on the top of a camera to attach a flash unit.- Design :The hot shoe is shaped somewhat like an inverted, squared-off "U" of metal. The matching adapter on the bottom of the flash unit slides in from the back of the camera and is sometimes secured by a clamping screw...
while keeping the PC socket.
Use today
With proper care, an Electro 35 may still be used today. However, there are a number of issues."Pad of death"
Part of the internal mechanism involves a spring-loaded slider operating a set of switch points. As the film-advance lever is operated, this slider shoots up to its original position, hitting a small rubber pad at the top. Over time this rubber degenerates and prevents proper (internal) operation of the camera, in particular its metering circuits. The camera needs to be disassembled for this pad to be replaced.Mercury battery
The Electro 35 was designed to operate using a 5.6V mercury batteryMercury battery
A mercury battery is a non-rechargeable electrochemical battery, a primary cell. Due to the content of mercury, and the resulting environmental concerns, the sale of mercury batteries is banned in many countries. Both ANSI and IEC have withdrawn standards for mercury batteries...
but these have now been banned due to environmental concerns. However a 6V alkaline battery (PX28A or 4LR44) with an adaptor works just as well.
Light seals
Like many older cameras, the original foam light seals around the film compartment will eventually break down and cause light leakLight leak
A light leak is a hole or gap in the body of a camera where light is able to "leak" into the normally light-tight chamber, exposing the film or sensor with extra light. This light is diffuse, although parts within the camera may cast shadows or reflect it in a particular way. For most purposes this...
s. The seals are fairly easy to replace.
External links
- Yashica 35mm Rangefinder Chronology & Specifications by Yashica Guy
- Yashica Electro 35 by Karen Nakamura at Photoethnography.com
- Yashica Electro 35 by Ken Rockwell