Yashica rangefinder, test roll

Posted by Stovepipe (Ames, Iowa, United States) on 16 August 2008 in Transportation.

Recent garage sale find: a Yashica GS rangefinder camera, almost 40 years old. I had to replace the foam light seals in the film door, and the switch coupling pad, commonly known as the "Pad of Death" (see yashica-guy's repair notes).

Amazingly, the 5.6 volt mercury battery, for which there is no exact modern replacement, is at full strength and shows no sign of leakage.

This is a shot from the first test roll. Arista II iso100, developed in Kodak D-19.

Comments (6)

Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia

Congrats your your great find, it takes beautiful images, a lovely b&w, great tone! Well done.

16 Aug 2008 8:55am

@Kylie Greenan: It's always exciting finding old equipment ready to be salvaged! Thanks for your visit and comment.

Francesc B. from région parisienne, France

A very good result... I like the beautiful grey tones.
When I was young, my first camera was the one of my father, (a Retinette Kodak 1952) offered in 1968 for my 12 years, then 4 years later, his other camera, a Yashica Pentamatic 1961...
I learn B&W with him... In 1952 he had bought the fantastic (and expensively) Rolleiflex 6x6

16 Aug 2008 9:23am

@Francesc B.: Interesting! what ever did happen to Yashca??

gbe from kansas city, United States

looks good!. did you do the work yourself?

16 Aug 2008 4:26pm

@gbe: Yes, but not via the method shown on the yashica-guy page. The simpler 'microsurgery' method he mentions isn't very well documented, but I puzzled out how to do it after reading through a few descriptions, then taking the top off of mine and staring at it a while. Sometime maybe I'll come across another GS or GSN that needs the same repair, take pictures while doing it, and post more complete directions than exist on the web now.

Francesc B. from région parisienne, France

All our cameras are in a state of functioning. They are at home... One of these days, I shall make several photos, and I shall post them on Aminus.

16 Aug 2008 8:23pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

That's a brilliant photo, I love the exposure and tones. Yashica was a great make years ago...!

17 Aug 2008 12:10am

@Observing: Thanks.

Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States

Awesome camera. I own two GSN and feels like a true photographer every time I have it in my hand. The bokeh like your shot is one thing I like about it. I am using Yashicaguy's battery adapter and works fine since I bought it 2001.

17 Aug 2008 6:47pm

@Howard F.: Great! I wonder how many others on am3 have old rangefinders. I'll have a picture of the camera up in a few days here.

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